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Commission on Community Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention
Board Information
Policy Area
Health and Human ServicesPurpose
The commission shall: (1) promote an understanding of: (i) the science of prevention; (ii) population health; (iii) risk and protective factors; (iv) social determinants of health; (v) evidence-based programming and policymaking; (vi) health equity; and (vii) trauma-informed care; provided that the commission may use, as a guide for its work, the recommendations of the report of the special commission on behavioral health promotion and upstream prevention established pursuant to section 193 of chapter 133 of the acts of 2016; (2) consult with the secretary of health and human services on grants from the community behavioral health promotion and prevention trust fund established in section 35EEE of chapter 10; (3) collaborate, as appropriate, with other active state commissions, including but not limited to the safe and supportive schools commission, the Ellen Story commission on postpartum depression and the commission on autism; (4) make recommendations to the legislature that: (i) promote behavioral health and prevention issues at the universal, selective and indicated levels; (ii) strengthen community or state-level promotion and prevention systems; advance the identification, selection and funding of evidence-based programs, practices or systems designed to promote behavioral health and early intervention for persons with a mental illness and to prevent substance use disorders; and (iv) reduce healthcare and other public costs through evidence-based promotion and prevention; provided that the commission may use state and local prevalence and cost data to ensure commission recommendations are data-informed and address risks at the universal, selective and indicated levels of prevention; (5) hold public hearings and meetings to accept comment from the general public and to seek advice from experts, including, but not limited to, those in the fields of neuroscience, public health, behavioral health, education and prevention science; and (6) submit an annual report to the legislature as provided in subsection (e) on the state of preventing substance use disorder and promoting behavioral health in the commonwealth. (e) Annually, not later than March 1, the commission shall file a report with the joint committee on health care financing and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery on its activities and any recommendations. The commission shall monitor the implementation of its recommendations and update recommendations to reflect current science and evidence-based practices.Seat Restrictions
4 year termsLegal Authority
Board Members
↓↓ Sort members table by selecting table header for Member, Seat Name, Appointing Authority, or Term End Date.
| Member↓↓ | Seat Name | Appointing Authority | Term End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Lissette Blondet | Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers, Inc. | Governor | October 26, 2022 |
| Chief Justice Paula M. Carey | Chief Justice of the Trial Court | Ex Officio | - |
| Representative Daniel Cullinane | Appointed by Speaker | House of Representatives | - |
| Ms. Marilyn Desantis | National Alliance of Mental Illness of Massachusetts, Inc. | Governor | January 11, 2023 |
| Ms. Yaminette Diaz-Linhart | Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Inc. | Governor | November 2, 2022 |
| Ms. Kirsten M. Doherty | Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery | Governor | December 17, 2022 |
| Ms. Amanda Gilman | Association for Behavioral Health Care, Inc | Governor | November 23, 2022 |
| Margaret Hannah | Freedman Center at William James College | Governor | October 26, 2022 |
| Dr. Danna Mauch | Appointed by House Minority Leader | Legislature | - |
| Ms. Mary A. McGeown | Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children | Governor | November 16, 2022 |
| Ms. Carlene Pavlos | Massachusetts Public Health Association | Governor | October 26, 2022 |
| Ms. Jessica Seabury Larochelle | Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc. | Governor | November 2, 2022 |
| Emily Sherwood | Commissioner, DMH | Ex Officio | - |
| Secretary Marylou Sudders | Secretary, HHS (Chair) | Ex Officio | - |
| Lindsey Tucker | Commissioner, DPH | Ex Officio | - |
| Mr. James B. Vetter | Social-Emotional Learning Alliance for Massachusetts, Inc. | Governor | - |
| Ms. Wanda Visnick | Appointed by the Senate Minority Leader | Legislature | October 4, 2022 |
| - | Director, Center for Health Information and Analysis | Ex Officio | - |
| - | House Chair, Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Appointed by Senate President | Senate President | - |