Utah Behavioral Health Commission
Utah Crisis Line
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In crisis? Call the Utah Crisis Line for immediate, free, confidential support. 24 hours, 7 days a week
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(Stabilization and mobile response page)
Your Perspective Matters
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Policy Review Committee
Seeking one individual to serve as a citizen representative.
School-Based Behavioral Health Subcommittee
Seeking one individual to serve as a parent of youth with lived experience who has received school-based behavioral health services in K-12 in the past 10 years.
Statutory Responsibilities 26B-5-703
To fulfill the Commission's purpose, the Commission shall:
- establish a shared vision across public and private sectors for improving Utah's behavioral health systems;
- make recommendations, including policy recommendations, and advise the governor, executive branch agencies, and the Legislature on matters pertaining to behavioral health;
- provide feedback on proposed bills, rules, policies, and budgets relating to behavioral health;
- encourage participation in the Commission's work by individuals and populations directly impacted by behavioral health issues, including family members of individuals with behavioral health issues;
- engage private sector payers, providers, and business and employer groups in the commission's work;
- continually review and revise the Master Plan as appropriate;
- identify priorities and lead efforts to implement and advance those priorities by coordinating and collaborating closely with public and private persons throughout the state;
- identify areas where innovation is necessary to improve behavioral health access and care;
- cooperate with the Utah System of Higher Education, the State Board of Education, the Division of Professional Licensing, the Utah Health Workforce Advisory Council, and the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee the creation and implementation of behavioral health workforce initiatives for the state;
- collaborate with the Utah State Hospital, the Department of Corrections, county jails, and the Department of Health and Human Services;
- oversee coordination for the funding, implementation, and evaluation of suicide prevention efforts described in Section 26B-5-611;
- develop methods or models for implementing and coherently communicating cross-sector strategies;
- hold the state's behavioral health systems accountable for clear, measurable outcomes; and
- maintain independence from the Department of Health and Human Services and the governor such that the Commission and its committees are able to provide independent advice and recommendations, especially regarding proposed bills and policy considerations.
Membership
The Commission is composed of the following 11 members:
|
Description |
Appointed Member |
|
Individual who has lived experience with substance use |
Evan Done |
|
Individual who has lived experience with a mental illness |
Josie White |
|
Individual who represents families of individuals with behavioral health issues |
Ally Isom (Chair) |
|
Individual who represents state behavioral health agencies |
Tracy Gruber |
|
Individual who represents major healthcare systems |
Tammer Attallah (First Vice Chair) |
|
Individual who represents private acute care providers |
Jordan Sorenson |
|
Individual who represents private outpatient providers |
Adam Cohen |
|
Individual who represents county behavioral health authorities |
Mike Deal |
|
Individual who represents rural communities |
Kyle Snow (Second Vice Chair) |
|
Individual who represents large employers |
Dr. James Ashworth |
|
Individual who represents historically underrepresented populations |
Elaine Navar |
Subcommittees of the Utah Behavioral Health Commission:
Crisis Response Committee: Develops recommendations for behavioral health crisis needs in Utah, including crisis line practice and needs, the operation of the statewide 988 hotline, and standards for statewide mobile crisis outreach teams.
Policy Review Committee: Analyzes behavioral health legislation in Utah and provides subject matter expertise to legislators on behavioral health policy.
Prevention and Early Intervention Committee: Develops policy recommendations and supports the implementation of the Commission's strategic plan on issues related to mental health and substance use prevention and early intervention.
Treatment and Recovery Committee: Develops policy recommendations and supports the implementation of the Commission's strategic plan on issues related to mental health and substance use treatment and recovery.