DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) announced today the appointment of Dr. Andrew Keller as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2016. Dr. Keller will succeed founding CEO Thomas W. Luce, who will continue with MMHPI as a member of the Board of Directors.
“Andy is the ideal leader for the Institute as it moves toward its next phase of work in transforming mental health delivery systems in Texas,” said Mr. Luce. “His passion and policy insight is rooted in a deep desire to help people suffering from mental illness, and he understands the complexity of the challenge. Andy has built a strong team, and he has a network of relationships in Austin and across the state which are vital to our mission of assuring that Texans get help when and where they need it.”
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute traces its origins to the vision of The Meadows Foundation and its philanthropic leadership throughout the State of Texas on mental health issues. In 2011, the Meadows Foundation embarked on a venture to make systemic changes as to how, when and where Texas residents receive mental health care. In pursuit of this mission, The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute was established and formally launched April 2014.
“Andy was an indispensable strategist to The Meadows Foundation as we pursued the concept of a statewide policy institute focused on mental health,” said Linda Perryman Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Meadows Foundation. “In many ways, he is the architect of MMHPI, and he has successfully built the reputation and influence of the Institute in Austin and throughout communities of Texas in a relatively short period of time.”
Dr. Keller has served as MMHPI’s Executive Vice President of Policy and Programs since the launch of the Institute with primary responsibility for all behavioral health policy work.
“It has been a privilege to work with and learn from a policy innovator and leader like Tom,” said Dr. Keller. “He has given our Institute a running start and has established trust in our policy insights across state and local leaders. I am excited about the work ahead, and the chance to translate that trust into real changes for Texans.”
Dr. Keller is a psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in behavioral health policy and is a recognized leader in health and human services integration, behavioral health financing, and implementation of empirically supported practices for adults and children. Dr. Keller was also a founding partner of TriWest Group, a national behavioral health systems consulting firm focused on human service evaluation, community collaboration and management. His work has centered on helping local systems implement evidence-based and innovative care, as well as helping local and state governments develop the regulatory and financial framework to support them. Prior to forming TriWest, Andy worked in Colorado at the health plan level with a leading Medicaid HMO and at the provider level with the Mental Health Center of Denver. He has directed and led a range of community-based programs, including assertive community treatment teams, adult and child outpatient clinics, school-based and early childhood programs, and specialty programs for older adults and Latino communities.
“We are extremely grateful to Tom Luce for his role in establishing the Institute as a leader in mental health policy for Texas, and we are confident in Andy’s ability to carry the mission forward,” said Dr. Octavio Martinez, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MMHPI and Executive Director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. “Tom’s stature and leadership is a precious asset, and we are fortunate that he has given, and will continue to offer himself to the cause of helping families and individuals struggling with mental illness.”
For more information about the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, please visit www.texasstateofmind.org.
About The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports the implementation of policies and programs that help Texans obtain effective, efficient mental health care when and where they need it. The Institute’s vision is for Texas to be the national leader in treating people with mental health needs. For more information about the Meadows Institute, please visit texasstateofmind.org.