The Health and Human Services Commission established the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee as the state mental health planning council in accordance with the state's obligations under 42 U.S.C. §300x-3.
The purpose of the committee is to provide customer/consumer and stakeholder input to the Health and Human Services system in the form of recommendations regarding the allocation and adequacy of behavioral health services and programs within the State of Texas. The BHAC considers and makes recommendations to the HHS Executive Commissioner consistent with the committee’s purpose.
Recommendations to Health and Human Services system agencies regarding behavioral health services include:
- The promotion of cross-agency coordination, state/local and public/private partnerships in the funding and delivery of behavioral health services;
- The promotion of data-driven decision-making;
- The prevention of behavioral health issues and the promotion of behavioral health wellness and recovery;
- The integration of mental health and substance use disorder services in prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services and supports;
- The integration of behavioral health services and supports with physical health service delivery;
- Access to services and supports in urban, rural, and frontier areas of the state;
- Access to services and supports to special populations;
- Rules, policies, programs, initiatives, and grant proposals/awards for behavioral health services; and
- The five-year behavioral health strategic plan and coordinating expenditure plan.
Members
Pedro Federico Alfaro, MD
Local Government
Laredo
Doug Beach
Family Member
San Antonio
Chris Carson
Managed Care Organization
Dallas
Vacant
Adult Consumer
Amy Curtis
Representative of the Interagency Coordinating Group for Faith and Community-Based Organizations
Dallas
Donna Fagan
Family Member & Parent of Child with Serious Emotional Disturbance
Seguin
Robert Gilmore
Advocate
Houston
Anna Gray
Adult Certified Peer Provider
San Antonio
Shannon Hoffman
Other Behavioral Health Member
Austin
Colleen Horton
Other Behavioral Health Member
Smithville
Jolene Rasmussen
Representative of the Texas Council of Community Centers
Austin
Gabriella Reed
Local Government
El Paso
Vanessa D'lise Vale Saenz
Advocate
Edinburg
Eric Sanchez
Representative of the Association of Substance Abuse Programs
San Angelo
Jordan Smelley
Youth/Young Adult
Burleson
Aghaegbulam Uga
Provider
El Paso
Wayne Young
Provider
Houston
Vacant
Other – Tribal Representative
Vacant
Adult Consumer
Meeting Dates
- February 5, 2021 (9:00 a.m.)
- May 7, 2021 (9:00 a.m.)
- August 6, 2021 (9:00 a.m.)
- November 15, 2021 (9:00 a.m.)
For More Information
Contact us at bhac@hhsc.state.tx.us.