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Press
Release
June 1,
2006
The
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Appoints New Program Officer
AUSTIN, Texas
–The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health today announced the
appointment of Deborah Berndt, M.Ed., as a program officer. Berndt,
a leading expert in the state's mental health services system, will
focus on building the Foundation's mental health policy initiatives.
"We are delighted to have someone of Ms. Berndt's stature and experience
join our staff," said Executive Director Dr. King Davis. "Her rich
background and deep knowledge of the Texas system will be invaluable
as we work to inform effective mental health service delivery in
the state."
Prior to her Foundation appointment, Berndt worked as a consultant
in mental health policy development and strategic planning to both
public and private organizations. She began consulting to the Foundation
in the fall of 2004, at which time she assisted the Foundation in
managing its Special Mental Health Services Initiative Request for
Proposals process. Following that project, she provided invaluable
assistance to the Foundation in its strategic planning process and
in the development of its Integrated Health Care and Cultural Adaptation
grant programs.
From 1998 to 2004, Berndt was the Director of Children's Services
for the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
(TDMHMR), an agency now subsumed in part under the Texas Department
of State Health Services. In this role, she was responsible for
policy and program development for the public mental health system
for children. Berndt provided leadership to the agency in numerous
initiatives, including the formulation and implementation of the
Resiliency and Disease Management Initiative, the promotion of systems
of care for children's mental health, and the development of child
behavioral health policy for the Medicaid and Children's Health
Insurance Programs.
Before joining TDMHMR, Berndt honed her mental health policy expertise
as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Texas Commission on Children
and Youth and as the Director of Public Policy for the Mental Health
Association in Texas.
Berndt received her Master of Education in Counseling Psychology
and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas
at Austin.
The Hogg Foundation
for Mental Health is an administrative unit of The University of
Texas at Austin. For over 65 years, the Hogg Foundation has accomplished
its mandate through grantmaking to mental health services, research,
policy, and public education projects in the state of Texas. More
information is available at www.hogg.utexas.edu.
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Media Contact:
Laurie Alexander
laurie.alexander@mail.utexas.edu
512-471-5041
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