Oakland County Resident and CEO Appointed to National Board for Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities

Rochester Hills resident and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA), Willie Brooks, has been appointed to serve on the National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD) Board.

NACBHDD is the only national voice for county and local behavioral health and developmental disability authorities in Washington, DC. Through education, policy analysis, and advocacy, NACBHDD brings the unique perspective of its members to Congress and the Executive Branch and promotes national policies that recognize and support the critical role counties play in serving people who have a developmental disability, mental illness, or substance use disorder.

NACBHDD is also an active partner in efforts to improve access to, funding for, and quality of behavioral health services. Key issues supported by NACBHDD include: protecting Medicaid coverage, ending the stigma of mental illness, better treatment for veterans, achieving parity in insurance coverage for behavioral health care, affordable housing and vocational training for those with mental illness or developmental disabilities, and many more.

Brooks has served as OCCMHA’s Executive Director and CEO since May of 2014. Prior to this he was the organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Brook’s selection to serve on the NACBHDD Board follows his engaged advocacy at both local and state levels to promote and protect public mental health services for all Michigan residents.

About OCCMHA

Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,000 Oakland County residents, including individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, adults with mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals have Medicaid.

OCCMHA’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easter Seals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCCMHA’s website. For more information about OCCMHA call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.occmha.org.