Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

09/03/2026

Mental health doesn't just affect individuals — it impacts families, loved ones, and entire communities.

The newest episode of the Kasich & Keller Conversation Series explores how mental health organizations can unite to create a bigger, more unified impact. Join John Kasich, the former governor of Ohio, and Andy Keller, the president and CEO of the Meadows Institute, as they welcome special guest Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. the CEO of NAMI, for an insightful discussion on how mental health organizations can work together to improve the system as a whole — and ensure that everyone has access to care.

Together, they dive into what AI search engines reveal about mental healthcare, the power of national alliances, and how we can better support families and build the next generation of leaders.

Watch the full episode here: https://mmhpi.org/learning-library/the-power-of-alliances-in-mental-healthcare/

09/02/2026

Soar: The M2G Mental Health Initiative is pleased to announce that we are partnering with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute to launch the Tarrant County Trauma and Grief Collaborative, a three-year initiative that will bring the Meadows Institute’s nationally recognized Trauma and Grief (TAG) Center model directly into local schools and communities.

Join us for a virtual meet and greet to learn about this partnership and how these two organizations plan to make an impact in Tarrant County in the years ahead.

Register now: https://ow.ly/HBph50ZBF1l

09/01/2026

September marks National Su***de Prevention Month. While su***de is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, it does not have to be that way.

At the Meadows Institute, we are committed to preventing su***de through data-driven, systems-level policy guidance. Our key initiatives focus on changing the landscape of mental health, including:

💜 Early childhood intervention
💜 Behavioral health integration into primary care
💜 Public safety programs for first responder wellness

Learn more about the Meadows Institute’s programs and policy guidance to prevent su***de: mmhpi.org/tag/su***de/

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08/31/2026

As this back‑to‑school season wraps up, one message matters most: our kids’ mental health is just as important as their grades.

The start of a new school year can bring excitement — and stress. For many students, especially those navigating trauma, anxiety, or big life changes, the transition is tough. But when schools, families, and communities work together, every young person can feel supported, seen, and safe.

Strong mental health isn’t just a school-year goal; it’s a year-round commitment. Let’s keep showing up for our kids, advocating for them, and building systems that help them grow into healthy, confident adults.

👉 Learn more about our work to improve student success: https://mmhpi.org/work/schools-education/

08/28/2026

Sunday is National Grief Awareness Day. At the Meadows Institute, we are shifting the conversation from a culture of silence to an open dialogue that allows us to mourn in healthy, adaptive ways.

Grief is a natural part of life and understanding "good" grief is important for all of us. Society often places an invisible pressure on people to "get over" a loss, but research has shown that grief does not adhere to a timeline.

Dr. Julie Kaplow, executive director of our Trauma and Grief Center, outlines four foundational steps toward building a more grief-informed framework for ourselves and our communities.

Read her full insights on the psychology of adaptive grieving: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-trauma-and-grief/202408/good-grief-what-does-it-mean-to-mourn-in-a-healthy-way

08/26/2026

The Meadows Institute would like to thank The Dallas Morning News for this insightful piece on expanding youth mental health crisis services across North Texas, including RIGHT Care for children and Youth Crisis Outreach Teams (YCOTs).

As the editorial highlights, children experiencing a mental health crisis need support that meets them where they are — at school, home, or a primary care setting — rather than relying on emergency rooms.

Jennifer Erasime, senior vice president of regional initiatives and executive director of the Meadows Institute – Dallas, emphasized the power of early intervention: “You’re much more likely to stay engaged in services and have a positive outlook on mental health care if we catch it early enough, versus if you’re walking into an emergency room in a crisis; that’s not the same environment.”

Read the full editorial to learn how these programs are strengthening the region's youth mental health safety net: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/article/parkland-mental-health-children-dallas-22401576.php

Mental health programs for children like RIGHT Care and YCOT are doing good work in Texas and Dallas.

08/25/2026

1 in 5 children experience a mental health disorder in a given year.

Schools are uniquely positioned to act as a safety net — identifying students with mental health needs and connecting them to resources. But implementing these programs is only one component of the solution. To truly protect students, school-based mental health initiatives must be sustainable for the long-term.

To bridge the gap between student well-being and school budgets, the Meadows Institute collaborated with the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) to create a specialized financial toolkit. This resource helps school district leaders identify new funding streams to finance long-term mental health initiatives that support the emotional wellness of both students and staff.

👉 Learn more about how we are helping finance the future of school mental health: https://mmhpi.org/topics/announcements/meadows-institute-launches-financial-toolkit-to-support-texas-school-mental-health-programming/

08/19/2026

Join us for the final installment of our 2026 online Collaborative Care Conversation Series, Tailoring Collaborative Care in Specialty Settings: Lessons Learned from Oncology. This session will highlight lessons learned and practical strategies for advancing integrated behavioral health in oncology and feature real-world examples to support implementation in oncology settings.

This panel discussion will take place on Wednesday, August 26, from noon to 1 p.m. CT and is produced in partnership with the Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and operated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

Register for this panel to:

✅ Discuss the coordination and administrative support needed for effective CoCM in oncology care
✅ Explore lessons learned and promising practices to advance integrated care in oncology.
✅ Identify real-world applications of behavioral health integration in oncology care settings

Featured speakers include:

➡️ Teresa van Oort, MHA, MSSW, LCSW-S, FAOSW, OWS-C, Program Manager, Association of Cancer Care Centers
➡️ Jesse Fann, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Department of Psychosocial Oncology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
➡️ William Pirl, MD, MPH Chair, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
➡️ Krista Nelson, LCSW, OSW-C, BCD, FAOSW, Manager, Oncology Social Work, Providence Cancer Institute & Providence St. Joseph Health
➡️ Courtney Bitz, LICSW, OSW-C, ACHP-SW, Senior Director, Division of Social Work, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

🔗 Register for this session here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wbMnzcNlRt-s57QuFh8xjg?_gl=1*1ixi5ju*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NzE0MzA2MjAuQ2owS0NRaUE0OVhNQmhEUkFSSXNBT09LSkhhRzdEU3ZzWjcyUFA5TFlwSzdHVmRxTk9Pc0pYSTd2dUNvOXVxQ2lGT0ZsenZMNWpWUWdlTWFBbW1QRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MTY4OTYwOTEwOS4xNzcxNDMwNTYw*_ga*MTkwMTQ1OTc1Ni4xNzYxNjc3MDYx*_ga_L8TBF28DDX*czE3NzYxODc4MDAkbzE2JGcxJHQxNzc2MTg4Mjc5JGoyMyRsMCRoMA.. #/registration

This virtual session is supported by the CoE-IHS, funded by a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you have questions about these sessions, please contact [email protected].

08/17/2026

Every child deserves a future shaped by opportunity.

Too many young people, especially those with unaddressed mental health needs, miss important classroom instruction and enter the justice system early due to exclusionary discipline placements.

The Meadows Institute is working to meet students' behavioral needs differently by helping schools create supportive, trauma-informed environments where students can thrive.

👉 Learn more about how we are helping keep students in class and out of the justice system: https://mmhpi.org/project/disrupting-school-to-juvenile-justice-pathways/

08/14/2026

Tomorrow afternoon, family, loved ones, and friends will gather in Dallas to celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Tom Luce.

Tom accomplished many remarkable things in his life. But his commitment to transforming mental health care began with something deeply personal that more than half of Texans have or one day will have to face: finding care for a close family member.

Tom was fortunate to have a neighbor who happened to be a doctor help him find care that truly was helpful, but he saw firsthand the extraordinary difficulty too many families today still face. Reflecting on his efforts to help that family member, Tom later said, “But for him, I wouldn’t have been able to have navigated the system to get her help.”

Tom never forgot that experience. It became part of the conviction that animated his leadership as our founding president and CEO: that people with mental health needs should be able to get the right care at the right time, and families should not have to figure out how to get that care alone.

In this video, Tom shares how those early experiences shaped a lifetime of service, and a legacy that continues to guide our work today.