Jonah Cunningham, MPP

President/CEO
NACBHDD

CBHL Board Member

Jonah C. Cunningham currently serves as President and CEO of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD). In this role he proactively advocates for national policies that recognize and support the critical role counties play in caring for people affected by mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities. In this capacity he also serves as Executive Director of the National Association for Rural Mental Health.

Prior to joining NACBHDD, Jonah worked at Trust for America’s Health, a public health think tank, where he focused extensively on ways to reduce mortality from substance misuse and suicide. Additionally, he worked as a congressional staffer for several years in the office of Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (CA) where he helped to reestablish the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and created a Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Caucus.

Jonah C. Cunningham has received numerous awards and recognition for his commitment to the field of behavioral health and those served by the nation’s behavioral health system. Jonah has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Utah and a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University. In his free time, he enjoys learning how to cook and is an avid Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.

Richard Dougherty, PhD

President, BasicNeeds US

CBHL Board Treasurer

Dr. Richard Dougherty is President of the non-profit organization BasicNeeds US and recently retired, after 35 years of leading DMA Health Strategies, a national behavioral health policy and research organization. Dick is particularly pleased that DMA now has reorganized into a worker and woman owned cooperative.

As President of BasicNeeds US, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Dick volunteers all his time and provides support for effective and recovery-driven, global mental health policy, with a particular focus on low-income countries. He leads fundraising, grant-making, advocacy and technical assistance with a network of BasicNeeds programs and with global advocates. He advises numerous national organizations, has published extensively, sits on several boards and received the 2011 Walter Barton Distinguished Fellow Award from The College of Behavioral Health Leadership.

Dr. Dougherty went to Colgate University, the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago and received his Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology from Boston University.

Monica Johnson, MA, LPC

Managing Director, Health Management Associates

A skilled state and federal government executive, Monica Johnson has over 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Leveraging her expertise, she has directed numerous behavioral health service areas at the government policy level, has led the formation of several high-profile change initiatives, chaired several collaborations, and served as a board member for a variety of governing boards.

Before joining Health Management Associates, Monica served as the first director of the 988 & Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Health & Human Services Department (HHS). In this role, she was responsible for overseeing SAMHSA’s primary aspirations regarding the launch of the three-digit number, 988 and enhancing broader behavioral health crisis services.

In addition to her experience at the federal level, Monica has over a decade of state-level experience. Most recently, she served as the interim commissioner for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Prior to this appointment by Governor Brian Kemp, she served in other key leadership roles at DBHDD as the Behavioral Health division director, the Community Mental Health director, and the Child & Adolescent Mental Health director.

Gina Lasky, PhD, MAPL

Senior Advisor, Health Management Associates

Gina Lasky is a licensed psychologist with expertise in public sector behavioral health system design and programming including integration of behavioral health and primary care. She evaluates organizational readiness for integration and guides development and implementation of new models of collaborative care for delivery systems, county health systems, community behavioral health centers, and state corrections agencies.

She has examined state policy and administrative barriers to integrated care and has published work on leadership and team development in integrated care with the Center for Integrated Health Solutions and the American Psychiatric Association. She is co-editor of Integrated Care: A Guide to Effective Implementation for the American Psychiatric Association.

In addition to her experience at the federal level, Monica has over a decade of state-level experience. Most recently, she served as the interim commissioner for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Prior to this appointment by Governor Brian Kemp, she served in other key leadership roles at DBHDD as the Behavioral Health division director, the Community Mental Health director, and the Child & Adolescent Mental Health director.

Kara Hill, DHA, MHA, BSSW 
Consultant | Healthcare & Non-Profit Strategist | WildBlue Health 

Kara Hill is a consultant with WildBlue Health, bringing over 25 years of experience guiding nonprofit and health systems through change, leadership transitions, and strategic growth. She partners with organizations to strengthen leadership continuity, advance workforce strategies, and align operations with community need; grounded in a commitment to equity and mission impact. 

Kara’s background spans executive leadership in community-based organizations and charitable clinics, integration of behavioral health into primary care, and development of sustainable workforce and value-based care models. She is known for her practical, systems-thinking approach, helping leaders anticipate challenges, operationalize solutions, improve operations, and foster high-performing, resilient teams. 

She holds a Doctor of Health Administration from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Health Administration from Texas A&M University, and a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Bowling Green State University. 

Vic Armstrong, MSW
Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
CBHL Board Member

Victor Armstrong serves as Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In addition, he is the National Director of Soul Shop for Black Churches, a workshop that teaches faith leaders how to minister to congregants that may be dealing with suicidal desperation. Victor previously served as Chief Health Equity Officer for North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, with responsibility for leading the overarching strategy and operational goals to promote health equity, diversity, and inclusion across all the agency’s health and human services. Victor has also served as ‪Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, with responsibility and oversight of the public community-based mental health, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury system in North Carolina. Prior to his NC state government roles, Victor spent six years as Vice President of Behavioral Health with Atrium Health. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Victor has over 30 years of experience in human services, primarily dedicated to building and strengthening community resources to serve individuals who have been historically marginalized. ‬‬‬‬He is a nationally recognized speaker on issues regarding health equity and access to healthcare, particularly as it relates to individuals living with mental health challenges.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Victor currently serves on the steering committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. He also serves on the Board of Directors for RI International as well as the Board of Directors for I2I Center for integrative health. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for East Carolina University School of Social Work and is the host of the “Strong Talk” podcast.

Victor’s awards and recognitions include:

• Living Waters Annual Mental Health Summit 2022 “Lifetime Mental Health Champion” Award
• National Association of Social Workers North Carolina (NASW-NC) 2022 Social Worker of the Year
• Addiction Professionals of NC (APNC) 2021 DEI Leadership & Impact Award
• Mental Health America’s 2021 H. Keith Brunnemer, Jr. Award for “Outstanding Mental Health Leadership”
• Black Mental Health Symposium 2019 Mental Health Advocate of the Year
• East Carolina University School of Social Work 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NC, 2012 Mental Health Professional of the Year

Victor graduated, Magna Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in business management and received his MSW from East Carolina University. He is the husband of Dr. Charletta Armstrong and the father of three sons, Carter, Alonzo, and Victor Jr.

Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Ph.D.
CEO of American Psychological Association

Described as a visionary and transformational leader, policymaker and health care innovator, Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, is CEO of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. Evans previously served in public policy positions in Philadelphia and Connecticut, where he led the transformation of their behavioral health systems and their approaches to serving a wide range of individuals with complex needs. Evans has employed science, research, community activism, spirituality, traditional clinical care, policy and cross-system collaborations to change the status quo around behavioral health. He has held faculty appointments at Yale University’s and the University of Pennsylvania’s Schools of Medicine, and is the author or co-author of over 60 peer-reviewed research articles, chapters, reviews and editorials. Over the years Evans has received national and international recognition, including prestigious awards in government, healthcare service, visionary leadership, actionable advocacy, equity and social justice.

Moderator

Marcy Melvin, MA
Senior Vice President of Clinical Policy and Deputy Director of The Hackett Center for Mental Health at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
CBHL Board President-Elect

Marcy Melvin is a pivotal executive with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health policy, training, and clinical practice. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas her experience includes providing direct clinical and supervisory services to children, youth, parents, and young adults in various clinical settings including residential, in-home, outpatient, private practice, primary, secondary, and post-secondary locations. Marcy is extremely passionate about advancing health equity and reducing disparities and disproportionality; this has been a culmination of her life’s work in various clinical, organizational and systems settings.

Marcy has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Fisk University.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

1:00 pm PT / 2:00 pm MT /
3:00 pm CT / 4:00 pm ET

This event is open to all!

Join us for an engaging session with Zero Overdose, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing overdose events by expanding access to overdose safety planning and education for individuals and communities at work.

Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW-R, MBA, CCM, SAP
Co-Founder and CEO of Zero Overdose

Dr. Virna Little is a distinguished leader in behavioral health integration. She is the co-founder of Concert Health, a behavioral health medical group which provides Collaborative Care to organizations across 21 states. Dr. Little is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Zero Overdose, a national non-profit focused on overdose safety planning to reduce unintentional overdose events and deaths. Dr. Little has served as a member of the national Zero Suicide faculty and a consultant who was fostered the development of integrated delivery systtems nationally in all 50 states and internationally. Dr. Little holds a Doctoral degree in Psychology, and a Master’s in Social Work. 

A nationally and internationally recognized speaker, Dr. Little has presented on suicide prevention strategies at the White House . She has received numerous awards for her work in integrating primary care and behavioral health and serves on multiple boards.

Jorge Petit, MD
Strategy and Development Advisor at Zero Overdose

Jorge R. Petit, MD is a board-certified Adult, Community, and Public Psychiatrist and seasoned healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience driving innovation and transformation across behavioral health and human services systems, with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations.

He is the Founder and CEO of Quality Healthcare Solutions (QHS), a consulting and advisory firm supporting healthcare systems, community-based organizations, emerging tech start-ups, and regulators. QHS specializes in strategic planning, board and C-suite leadership, workforce development (including DEIBA), data and quality improvement, and integrated care initiatives such as Crisis Services and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). Dr. Petit is a nationally recognized thought leader, speaker, author, and bilingual/bicultural advocate for behavioral health equity.

Dr. Petit serves as Strategic and Development Advisor to Zero Overdose, Chief Clinical Advisor to Cantata Health Solutions, and Clinical Advisor to Emotivo Health, Metta Health, and Verity Health. He also serves on several national boards and advisory groups, including SAMHSA’s CSAT National Advisory Council, Cantata Health Solutions, Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), and Mental Health News Education (MHNE). He is a member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry’s Committee on Psychiatric Administration & Leadership, United Hospital Fund’s Health Policy Forum, and the Medical Director Institute of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

He has held executive leadership roles across government, managed care, hospital systems, and community-based organizations. Dr. Petit is the author of Handbook of Emergency Psychiatry and The Seven Beliefs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help Latinas Recognize and Overcome Depression. He has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2023 Marquis Who’s Who Honoree, Crain’s 2022 Notable LGBTQ Leader, City & State NY’s 2022 Nonprofit Power 100, and Responsible 100.

Monday, May 12, 2025

11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT /
1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET

This event is open to all!

This timely webinar offers behavioral health professionals, administrators, and advocates a comprehensive update on recent federal policy changes affecting mental health and substance use disorder services.

Jonah C. Cunningham currently serves as President and CEO of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD).  In this role he proactively advocates for national policies that recognize and support the critical role counties play in caring for people affected by mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities.  In this capacity he also serves as Executive Director of the National Association for Rural Mental Health.   

Prior to joining NACBHDD, Jonah worked at Trust for America’s Health, a public health think tank, where he focused extensively on ways to reduce mortality from substance misuse and suicide.  Additionally, he worked as a congressional staffer for several years in the office of Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (CA) where he helped to reestablish the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and created a Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Caucus.   

Jonah C. Cunningham has received numerous awards and recognition for his commitment to the field of behavioral health and those served by the nation’s behavioral health system. Jonah has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Utah and a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University.  In his free time, he enjoys learning how to cook and is an avid Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. 

Dr. Gillian Berry, Senior Advisor of Culture & Workforce Development

Dr. Gillian Berry is Senior Advisor of Culture & Workforce Development at Stepped Care Solutions. She is a published author and a clinical social worker, with over 35 years of experience as an educator and practitioner. She has overseen the counseling and psychological services at George Washington University, leading a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals through the implementation of the Stepped Care 2.0 approach into their service delivery. She has been a faculty member at the University of Botswana’s Department of Social Work Southern Africa and the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Her clinical interests are strongly influenced by her grandfather’s Indigenous philosophy, and she provides short-term solution-focused services/therapy from this perspective.

Dr. Catie Greene, Faculty of Culture & Workforce Development

Catie Greene, PhD, LPC is a counselor educator and supervisor.  Catie has worked as a clinician in college counseling centers and group practice, and an educator in Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate programs for over 11 years and joined Stepped Care Solutions as a faculty consultant on synergy, beyond diversity, equity, and inclusion in 2020. Catie’s research and practice is grounded in Relational Cultural Theory. 

Jonah C. Cunningham currently serves as President and CEO of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD).  In this role he proactively advocates for national policies that recognize and support the critical role counties play in caring for people affected by mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities.  In this capacity he also serves as Executive Director of the National Association for Rural Mental Health.   

Prior to joining NACBHDD, Jonah worked at Trust for America’s Health, a public health think tank, where he focused extensively on ways to reduce mortality from substance misuse and suicide.  Additionally, he worked as a congressional staffer for several years in the office of Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (CA) where he helped to reestablish the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and created a Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Caucus.   

Jonah C. Cunningham has received numerous awards and recognition for his commitment to the field of behavioral health and those served by the nation’s behavioral health system. Jonah has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Utah and a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University.  In his free time, he enjoys learning how to cook and is an avid Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. 

Kelly Davis is the Vice President of Peer and Youth Advocacy at Mental Health America, where she works to expand peer support and young adult leadership. She is passionate about lived experience-driven programs, policies, organizations, and research. Kelly has been awarded the Disruptive Innovator Award by the National Association of Peer Supporters, the National Peer Leader of the Year Award by Peerpocalypse, and the 2023 Champion Award from Students with Psychosis. She holds certificates in yoga, applied positive psychology, and mental health leadership.

Kelly and her work have appeared in the New York Times, the Stanford Social Innovation Review,  NBC Nightly News, NPR, and the White House. She recently earned her master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania, where she served as a research assistant in the Perelman School of Medicine studying lived experience perspectives of inpatient psychiatric units. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Brandon Graham serves as Director, Advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. Brandon oversees NAMI’s advocate development and mobilization to advance policies that build better lives for all people affected by mental health conditions. Brandon is responsible for its strategic advocacy campaigns—including the nonpartisan #Vote4MentalHealth campaign to help people understand the impact of their vote on mental health care in the U.S. Brandon also leads efforts to expand the organization’s advocacy presence on social media and thought leadership among policymakers. He serves on the Steering Committee for National Voter Registration Day (September 17, 2024). 

Vesper Moore serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the Kiva Centers. As an Indigenous activist and leader, Vesper is deeply committed to promoting mental health and disability rights through activism, leadership, organizing, public speaking, and education. Their work focuses on cultivating social movements and raising public awareness to foster lasting social change.

Vesper has contributed to the establishment of mental health organizations worldwide and has been an advocate for civil rights in the United States. Through their advocacy, they have brought the perspectives of people with mental health challenges and disabilities to both national and international platforms.

Collaborating with the United States government and the United Nations, Vesper helps shape strategies around trauma, intersectionality, and disability rights. They have been featured on NBC News, PBS NewsHour, Politico, and at The White House. Vesper is at the forefront of legislative reform, striving to shift the societal paradigm surrounding mental health.