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BOARD/COMMISSION:  Behavioral Health Planning Council

Address

540 Cedar Street
St Paul, MN
55101

Web Site

Supporting Entity/Enabling Legislation Supported by Department of Human Services (DHS)

ENABLING LEGISLATION
42 U.S.C., Chp. 6A, Part B, Subpart I, 300x. State Nebtak Health Planning Council)
Enabled: 07-01-2017

Chair and Contact
CONTACT
Heather Ites
(651) 382-6883
CHAIR
Charlie Mishek
(612) 619-0671
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Contact
Heather Ites
heather.ites@state.mn.us
(651) 382-6883
Yes
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Chair
Charlie Mishek
mishekcj@msn.com
(612) 619-0671
Yes
Membership
Federal minimum standards for membership and representation in council require:

1. In general:
a) The Council be composed of residents of the State of Minnesota, including representatives of the principle State agencies with respect to: mental health, education, vocational rehabilitation, criminal justice, housing, and services, and the development of the plan submitted to tile XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C.1396 et sep.];
b) Public and Private entities concerned with the need, planning, operation, funding and use of mental health services and related support services;
c) Adults with serious mental illnesses who are receiving (or have received) mental health services; and
d) The families of such adults or families of children with emotional disturbance.

2. Certain requirements:
a) Not less than 50% of Council members shall consist of people who are not employees or providers of mental health services.
b) The ratio of parents of children with serious emotional disturbance to other members of the Council is sufficient to provide adequate representation of such children in the deliberations of the BHCP.

In addition, Minnesota minimum standards include:
1. There will be balanced representation for mental health and substance use/misuse experience by designating one mental health and one substance use/misuse representative for each federally required seat in the Council.
2. Recognizing that Minnesota has 11 federally recognized tribes from Dakota and Ojibwe nations, the Council tribal appointment seat shall be a minimum of two seats, with one representative from a Dakota nation and one representative from an Ojibwe nation. 
Member Info

COMPENSATION

  • Per Diem: $55.00
  • Other Compensation: Mileage (the current IRS rate of $.56/mile), Meals, parking, lodging and child care expenses will be reimbursed according to DHS policy.

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

  • Requires Older Member - no
  • Requires Senate Approval - no
  • Members file campaign finance and disclosure - no
Entity Powers and Duties, Activity Summary
Launched in 2017, the Minnesota Behavioral Health Planning Council (BHPC) is an integrated mental health and substance use disorder Council that advises the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Behavioral Health Division regarding Minnesota's combined Mental Health and Substance Abuse Federal Block Grant.

Members of the Behavioral Health Planning Council serve as advocates for:
adults with serious mental illness,
children with severe emotional disturbance,
other individuals with mental illnesses,
and people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, substance use disorder;
In addition, the Council informs DHS about issues at the local level; points out structural gaps in the system; identifies barriers in the delivery of services to communities; and consults on DHS Behavioral Health Division policy development.

ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Behavioral Health Planning Council / Minnesota Department of Human Services (mn.gov)
Meeting Information
Meetings typically last: Typically 2-4 hours every other month
Meeting Frequency: First Monday every other month starting February from 1pm-3pm

Meetings are held at:
Currently offered via Webex and in person at 540 Cedar St. Saint Paul, MN


Fiscal Information
Annual Staff Hours:
Total Appropriations:
Appropriations Description:
Fiscal Year Expenses:

Expenses Description:

Open Positions (12)
POSITION SEAT AUTHORITY 21-DAY MIN GUARANTEE #SEATS ACTION
Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder Adults in Recovery From, or At-Risk of Substance Use Disorders - # 1 Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder Adults in Recovery From, or At-Risk of Substance Use Disorders - # 2 Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health Adults with Lived Experience of Mental Health - # 2 Commissioner of Human Services 9/16/2024 1 APPLY
Community Substance Use Disorder Prevention Coalition Community Substance Use Disorder Prevention Coalition Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Culturally specific substance use treatment providers or organization Culturally Specific Substance Use Treatment Providers or Organizations Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health #1 Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health #2 Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Mental Health Providers Representative of Mental Health Providers Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Parents/Guardians of Child/Youth/Young Adult with Lived Experience of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) Parents / Guardians of a Child / Youth / Young Adult with Lived Experience of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) Commissioner of Human Services 12/5/2024 1 APPLY
Providers of Substance use disorder services to the LGBTQ and/or underserved communities Providers of Substance Use Disorder Services to the LGBTQ and/or Underserved Communities Commissioner of Human Services 5/20/2025 1 APPLY
Substance use Prevention Providers Substance Use Prevention Providers Commissioner of Human Services 11/22/2023 1 APPLY
Youth/Young Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder Youth/Young Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder Commissioner of Human Services 11/22/2023 1 APPLY
NAME POSITION APPLICATION DATE
Lee Delegard Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 4/16/2025
Ms. Madeline Geier Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 11/5/2025
YASIN ISMAIL JR Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 9/3/2025
Deb LaCroix-Kinniry Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 7/16/2025
Gregory Larson Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 9/2/2025
Miss Megan Mahony Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 9/18/2025
Mrs. Katrina Schmidt Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 8/13/2025
Victoria Stehr Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 10/10/2025
Hannah Weikle Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 11/24/2025
Hon. Aaron Wittnebel Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health 4/17/2025
Katie Blue Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder 5/15/2025
Stephen Chaney slv2810@gmail.com Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder 8/2/2025
Sarah Kemp Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder 11/3/2025
Jessica Mehrkens Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder 11/7/2025
Dr Bola Salabiu Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder 4/18/2025
Michael Stone Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder 5/15/2025
Esther Blevins Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health 3/17/2025
Dr. Elizabeth Fait Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health 4/30/2025
Rosemary Herald Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health 4/6/2025
Mrs. Sheila Kruesel Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health 4/18/2025
Lisa Mattson MD Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health 7/29/2025
Eden Sahle Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health 4/18/2025
Kira Yastrebova Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health 1/20/2026
Sarah Driever Parents/Guardians of Child/Youth/Young Adult with Lived Experience of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) 3/6/2025
Ms. Michelle Frauenshuh Parents/Guardians of Child/Youth/Young Adult with Lived Experience of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) 4/17/2025
Cassandra Hainey Community Substance Use Disorder Prevention Coalition 2/24/2025
Dr. Michael DeGroot Mental Health Providers 10/3/2025
Dr. Rachel Freyberger Mental Health Providers 4/18/2025
Mx Alex Galvan Mental Health Providers 5/8/2025
Sheena Gasner Mental Health Providers 4/23/2025
Jamie Hackett Mental Health Providers 12/17/2025
Teri Hopkins Mental Health Providers 4/28/2025
Tressa Hunting Mental Health Providers 11/18/2025
Patti Langner Mental Health Providers 4/21/2025
Tara Lemke Ebenhoch Mental Health Providers 10/2/2025
Kate Makinen Mental Health Providers 3/24/2025
Traci Page Mental Health Providers 4/17/2025
Nicole Panzer Mental Health Providers 4/30/2025
Thao-Ha Phan Mental Health Providers 4/19/2025
Annie Pope Mental Health Providers 4/30/2025
Lauren Roelike Mental Health Providers 4/21/2025
Amber Rothlisberger Mental Health Providers 5/12/2025
Dr Thomas Ruter Mental Health Providers 5/6/2025
JoEllyn Steele Mental Health Providers 4/29/2025
Dr. Matthew Stiehm Mental Health Providers 2/28/2025
Cassandra Swenson Mental Health Providers 4/9/2025
Alaina Taplin Petro Mental Health Providers 4/22/2025
Mrs Victoria Anderson Substance use Prevention Providers 4/21/2025
Lindsey Clark Substance use Prevention Providers 4/24/2025
Mr Randy Flowers flowersrandrand@gmail.com Substance use Prevention Providers 11/24/2025
Miya Lindh Substance use Prevention Providers 4/23/2025
Zamzam Salad Culturally specific substance use treatment providers or organization 7/2/2025
Mr Alex Vigil Providers of Substance use disorder services to the LGBTQ and/or underserved communities 6/26/2025
No pending appointments found.
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Direct Appointments
Representative of State Child Welfare Authority
Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families
Aubrey Haddican
Filled
08/10/2029
Representative of State Criminal Justice Authority
Commissioner of Corrections
Lauren Webber
Filled
07/01/2029
Representative of State Education Authority
Commissioner of Education
Thomas Delaney
Filled
01/01/2029
Representative of State Health Authority
Commissioner of Health
Tanya Carter
Filled
05/01/2029
Representative of State Housing Authority
MN Housing Finance Agency
Ellie Miller
Filled
01/01/2029
Representative of the Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Mary Rogers
Filled
01/01/2029
Representative of the State Mental Health Authority and State Substance Authority
Commissioner of Human Services
Teresa Steinmetz
Filled
01/01/2029
State Economic Development Authority
Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development
Lori Thorpe
Filled
05/01/2029
Federally Recognized Tribes - Mental Health # 1
Commissioner of Human Services
Joni Brigan
Past Term End
11/15/2019
Federally Recognized Tribes - Substance Use Disorder # 1
Commissioner of Human Services
Pam Hughes
Past Term End
12/31/2024
Current Members (26)
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder
Adults in Recovery From, or At-Risk of Substance Use Disorders - # 1
Commissioner of Human Services
Cynthia Murphy
Posted
01/03/2025
Adults in Recovery From, or At-Risk of Substance Use Disorders - # 2
Commissioner of Human Services
Mike Beltowsky
Posted
01/03/2025
Adults with a Lived Experience of Mental Health
Adults with Lived Experience of Mental Health - # 1
Commissioner of Human Services
Tara Brown
Filled
12/31/2027
Adults with Lived Experience of Mental Health - # 2
Commissioner of Human Services
Nicholas Rasmussen
Posted
01/06/2025
Advocacy Organizations - Mental Health
Advocacy Organizations - Mental Health
Commissioner of Human Services
Rahma Adem
Filled
12/31/2027
Advocacy Organizations- Substance Use Disorder
Advocacy Organizations- Substance Use Disorder
Commissioner of Human Services
Sarah Costello-Fedje
Filled
12/31/2027
Community Substance Use Disorder Prevention Coalition
Community Substance Use Disorder Prevention Coalition
Commissioner of Human Services
Kayla Baker
Posted
01/03/2025
Culturally specific Mental Health Providers or Organizations
Culturally Specific Mental Health Providers or Organizations
Commissioner of Human Services
Muna Khalif
Filled
12/31/2027
Culturally specific substance use treatment providers or organization
Culturally Specific Substance Use Treatment Providers or Organizations
Commissioner of Human Services
Jamal Adam
Posted
01/03/2025
Family Member of an Adult in Recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder
Family Member of an Adult in Recovery From, or At-Risk of, Substance Use Disorder #1
Commissioner of Human Services
Christen Donley
Filled
12/31/2027
Family Member of an Adult in Recovery From, or At-Risk of, Substance Use Disorder #2
Commissioner of Human Services
Eleanor Skelton
Filled
12/31/2027
Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health
Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health #1
Commissioner of Human Services
Krysia Weidell
Posted
01/03/2025
Family Members of an Adult with Lived Experience of Mental Health #2
Commissioner of Human Services
Kellie Kujak
Posted
01/03/2025
Mental Health Promotion Providers
Mental Health Promotion Providers
Commissioner of Human Services
Ms. Ta'yonna Mays
Filled
12/31/2027
Mental Health Providers
Representative of Mental Health Providers
Commissioner of Human Services
Mr. Glenn Maloney III
Posted
01/03/2025
Parents/Guardians of a Child/Youth/Young Adult in Recovery from or at Risk of Substance Use Disorder
Parents / Guardians of a Child / Youth / Young Adult in Recovery from, or At-Risk of, Substance Use Disorder #1
Commissioner of Human Services
Mr Charlie Mishek
Filled
12/31/2027
Parents / Guardians of a Child / Youth / Young Adult in Recovery from, or At-Risk of, Substance Use Disorder #2
Commissioner of Human Services
Marissa Lang
Filled
12/31/2027
Parents/Guardians of Child/Youth/Young Adult with Lived Experience of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED)
Parents / Guardians of a Child / Youth / Young Adult with Lived Experience of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED)
Commissioner of Human Services
Kristin Peterson
Posted
01/03/2025
Peer-Led Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Organizations
Peer-Led Mental Health Consumer / Survivor Organizations
Commissioner of Human Services
Melodie Garcia
Filled
12/31/2027
Peer-Led Substance Use Recovery Community Organization (RCOs)
Peer-Led Substance Use Recovery Community Organization (RCOs)
Commissioner of Human Services
Mrs. Anessa DeGroat
Filled
12/31/2027
Providers of Mental Health Services to the LGBTQ and/or Underserved Communities
Providers of Mental Health Services to the LGBT and/ Or Underserved Communities
Commissioner of Human Services
Laura Lee Runia
Past Term End
11/30/2025
Providers of Substance use disorder services to the LGBTQ and/or underserved communities
Providers of Substance Use Disorder Services to the LGBTQ and/or Underserved Communities
Commissioner of Human Services
Shane Pugh
Posted
12/31/2027
Substance Use Disorder Providers
Substance Use Disorder Providers
Commissioner of Human Services
Henry Scere II
Filled
12/31/2027
Substance use Prevention Providers
Substance Use Prevention Providers
Commissioner of Human Services
Kjirsten Anderson
Posted
01/02/2024
Youth/Young Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder
Youth/Young Adults in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder
Commissioner of Human Services
Jason Urbanczyk
Posted
01/02/2024
Youth/Young Adults with lived Experience of Mental Health
Youth / Young Adults with Lived Experience of Mental Health
Commissioner of Human Services
Zamzam Ahmed
Filled
12/31/2027
ALL BOARDS/COMMISSIONS

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