In this section

Collaborative Council

The work of JCMH requires the sustained collaboration of dedicated individuals who are committed to creating a legal system that better serves individuals with mental health challenges. The Collaborative Council is composed of interested stakeholders and advocates from across Texas to inform the JCMH on important matters when considering projects and policy.

  • Hon. Devon Anderson
    President and Chief Executive Officer, Justice Forward
  • Trey Apffel
    Executive Director, State Bar of Texas
  • Hon. Mark Atkinson
    Chief Executive Officer, Texas Center for the Judiciary
  • Amy Befeld
    Legislative Consultant, Texas Association of Counties
  • Catherine Bialick
    Senior Advisor, Office of the State Forensic Director, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  • Dr. Virginia A. Brown
    Assistant Professor, Community Engagement and Health Equity, Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Sonja Burns
    Mental Health Advocate
  • Hon. Nelda Cacciotti
    Tarrant County Judicial Staff Counsel, Mental Health Magistrate
  • Dr. Diana Cantu
    CEO, Texoma Community Center
  • Kathleen Casey-Gamez
    Senior Policy Analyst, Texas Indigent Defense Commission
  • Alex Cogan
    Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy, The Arc of Texas
  • Armando Colombo
    President & CEO, The Menninger Clinic
  • Leah Davies
    Project Manager, Strategic Health Alliance
  • Colleen Davis
    Assistant County Attorney, Burnet County Attorney’s Office
  • Scott Ehlers
    Special Counsel, Texas Indigent Defense Commission
  • Lesli R. Fitzpatrick
    Attorney, Law Office of Lesli R. Fitzpatrick
  • Zachary Flores
    Chief, Sherman Police Department
  • Gilbert Gonzales
    Director, Bexar County Department of Behavioral and Mental Health
  • Jennings Greer
    DBT Implementation Leader, Texas Juvenile Justice Department
  • Krishnaveni Gundu
    Co-Founder & Executive Director, Texas Jail Project
  • Greg Hansch
    Executive Director, NAMI Texas
  • Hon. James Henderson
    Judge, Grayson County Court of Law No. 1
  • Elizabeth Henneke
    Executive Director, Lone Star Justice Alliance
  • Shannon Hoffman
    Policy Program Specialist, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
  • Angelita Hunter
    Municipal Court Supervisor, City of McKinney Municipal Court
  • Trina K. Ita
    Associate Commissioner, Medical & Social Services Division, Behavioral Health Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  • Lee Johnson
    Deputy Director, Texas Council of Community Centers, Inc.
  • Windy Johnson
    Program Manager, Texas Conference of Urban Counties
  • Louise Joy
    Attorney, Joy & Young, L.L.P.
  • Hon. Evelyn Keyes (Ret.)
    Former Justice, First Court of Appeals
  • Chris Lopez
    Assistant General Counsel, State Hospital, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  • Mike Lozito
    Judicial Services Director, Bexar County Office of County Manager
  • Dr. Charles Mathias
    Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
  • Hon. Lela Mays
    Judge 283rd District Court
  • Trish McAllister
    Executive Director, Access to Justice Commission
  • Joanna Mendez
    Community Wellness Counselor, Refugee Services of Texas
  • Hon. Kirk D. Noaker, Sr.
    Magistrate Judge, Burnet County Magistrate's Office
  • Hon. Rita Noel
    Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Grayson County
  • Dr. Susan Palacios
    Program Specialist, Texas Juvenile Department of Justice 
  • John Petrila
    Senior Executive Vice President of Policy, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
  • Hon. Daphne Previti-Austin
    Former Judge, 289th Juvenile District Court, Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, P.C.
  • Officer Terry Qualls
    Crisis Intervention Coordinator, McKinney Police Department
  • Janis Reinken
    Former Chief Clerk, House Committee on Corrections
  • Michelle Romero
    Associate Director, Texas Medical Association
  • Lt. Joe Ross
    Deputy Mental Health Peace Officer, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office
  • Rachel Samsel
    Deputy Associate Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives & Policy - State Hospitals, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  • Melissa Schank
    Executive Director, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
  • Jonas Schwartz
    Program Manager, Texas Workforce Commission
  • Melissa Shearer
    Director, Travis County Mental Health Public Defender's Office
  • Dr. Jennie Simpson
    Forensic Director, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  • Matt Smith
    Assistant Executive Director/Director of Mental Health Services, Williamson County Juvenile Services
  • Lt. Scott Soland
    President, Texas CIT Association
  • Gloria Terry
    Chief Executive Officer, Texas Council on Family Violence
  • Rick Thompson
    Senior Legislative Manager, Texas Association of Counties
  • Jennifer Toon
    Mental Health Peer Policy Fellow, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
  • Haley Turner
    Associate Commissioner for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Texas Health and Human Services
  • Hon. Ryan Kellus Turner
    Executive Director, Texas Municipal Court Education Center
  • Sally Uncapher
    Assistant District Attorney, Bexar County District Attorney's Office
  • Hon. Grace Uzomba
    Judge, Bexar County Court No. 2
  • Julie Wayman
    Mental and Behavioral Health Manager, Interagency Liaison, Texas Education Agency
  • Nicole Weaver
    YES Waiver Manager Mental Health Programs, Policy and Planning
  • Thea Whalen
    Executive Director, Texas Justice Courts Training Center
  • Hon. Deborah Wigington
    Judge, Comal County Court at Law #3
  • Dennis Wilson
    Retired Limestone County Sheriff and Past President, Sheriffs' Association of Texas
  • Steve Wohleb
    Senior Vice President/General Counsel, Texas Hospital Association

Membership as of April 2022.