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Commission on Community Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention

Board Information

Health and Human Services
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.
4 year terms

Board Members

↓↓ Sort members table by selecting table header for Member, Seat Name, Appointing Authority, or Term End Date.
Commission on Community Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention Board Members
Member↓↓Seat NameAppointing AuthorityTerm End Date
Ms. Lissette BlondetMassachusetts Association of Community Health Workers, Inc.GovernorOctober 26, 2022
Chief Justice Paula M. CareyChief Justice of the Trial CourtEx Officio-
Representative Daniel CullinaneAppointed by SpeakerHouse of Representatives-
Ms. Marilyn DesantisNational Alliance of Mental Illness of Massachusetts, Inc.GovernorJanuary 11, 2023
Ms. Yaminette Diaz-LinhartMassachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Inc.GovernorNovember 2, 2022
Ms. Kirsten M. DohertyMassachusetts Organization for Addiction RecoveryGovernorDecember 17, 2022
Ms. Amanda GilmanAssociation for Behavioral Health Care, IncGovernorNovember 23, 2022
Margaret HannahFreedman Center at William James CollegeGovernorOctober 26, 2022
Dr. Danna MauchAppointed by House Minority LeaderLegislature-
Ms. Mary A. McGeownMassachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to ChildrenGovernorNovember 16, 2022
Ms. Carlene PavlosMassachusetts Public Health AssociationGovernorOctober 26, 2022
Ms. Jessica Seabury LarochelleMassachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc.GovernorNovember 2, 2022
Emily SherwoodCommissioner, DMHEx Officio-
Stephanie SladenAppointed by the Senate Minority LeaderLegislatureOctober 4, 2022
Secretary Marylou SuddersSecretary, HHS (Chair)Ex Officio-
Lindsey TuckerCommissioner, DPHEx Officio-
Mr. James B. VetterSocial-Emotional Learning Alliance for Massachusetts, Inc.Governor-
-Director, Center for Health Information and AnalysisEx Officio-
-House Chair, Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and RecoveryEx Officio-
-Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and RecoveryEx Officio-
-Appointed by Senate PresidentSenate President-