Task Force, Committees, and Professional Organizations

State Advisory Committee on Mental Health Services

The State Advisory Committee on Mental Health Services was created as part of LB1083 Behavioral Health Reform. Members of the committee have a demonstrated interest, commitment and specialized knowledge, experience, or expertise relating to the provision of mental health services in the State of Nebraska. The committee consists of twenty-three members appointed by the Governor as follows:

• One regional governing board member
• One regional administrator
• Twelve consumers of behavioral health services or their family members
• Two providers of behavioral health services
• Two representatives from the State Department of Education, including one representative from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Education
• Three representatives from the Nebraska Health and Human Services System representing mental health, social services, and Medicaid
• One representative from the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
• One representative from the Housing Office of the Community and Rural Development Division of the Department of Economic Development.

The committee is responsible to the division and serves as the state's mental health planning council. As required by Public Law, 102-321, the committee will conduct regular meetings, provide advice and assistance to the division relating to the provision of mental health services in the State of Nebraska, including, but not limited to, the development, implementation, provision, and funding of organized peer support services, promote the interests of consumers and their families, including, but not limited to, their inclusion and involvement in all aspects of services design, planning, implementation, provision, education, evaluation, and research, provide reports as requested by the division, and engage in such other activities as directed or authorized by the division.

Current committee members include:

• Adrea Bace, Department of Education/Special Populations
• Beth Baxter, Region 3 Administrator
• James Burke, Consumer/Region 5
• Leslie Byers, Family Member/Region 6
• Dr. Chelsea Chesen, Provider/Region 6
• Roxie Cilessen, DHHS Medicaid
• Pat Compton, Housing Office – Department of Economic Development
• Cheryl Crouse, Consumer/Region 3
• Beverly Ferguson, Family Member/Child with SED/Region 3
• Scot Ford, Commission on Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Representative/South Sioux City Police Chief
• Dwain Fowler, Family Member/Child with SED/Region 3
• Chris Hanus, DHHS Social Services/Protection & Safety – Child Welfare, Domestic Violence
• Clint Hawkins, Family Member/Child with SED/Region 4
• Joleine Hall, Consumer/Region 1
• Morgan Hecht, Provider/Region 6
• Susan Krome, Family Member of Adult with SMI/Region 5
• Kathy Lewis, Family Member of Adult with SMI
• Frank Lloyd, Vocational Rehabilitation
• Jerry McCallum, Region Governing Board, Region 4
• Colleen Manthel, Family Member/Child/Region 5
• Vicki Maca, DHHS Administrator – Division of Behavioral Health Services
• Pat Talbot, Consumer/Region 5
• Diana Waggoner, Family Member/Region 6

More information about the Committee including meeting agendas and minutes can be found at the Department of Health and Human Services website at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/beh/mh/sacmhs.htm.