The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc. (MAMH) was established in 1913 under the name Massachusetts Society for Mental Hygiene. It was part of a national and international mental hygiene movement started 1905 by Clifford Whittingham Beers. Beers' first-hand experience of the poor state of psychiatric hospitals motivated him to improve practices for people with mental health conditions and educate the public on prevention and treatment. Beers wanted his movement to reach beyond hospital walls and into the community, and his hope was that every state would establish a Society for Mental Hygiene.
The founders and original directors in Massachusetts were personally recruited by Beers and included medical and lay leaders of the period, including Charles Elliot, President of Harvard University; Edward A. Filene, Founder of Filenes Department Stores and the Century Foundation; and Henry Stedman, MD, Founder of Bournewood Hospital. The original statement of aims and purposes included:
Since its inception, MAMH has been committed to prevention and addressing the social determinants of health. We early recognized safe, affordable housing as essential to mental health and well being, leading initiatives for the development of community-based housing for people with mental health conditions. MAMH served as the backbone of community mental health housing and service development efforts as early as the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, MAMH undertook the Equity Project to help rebalance funding for housing and services in communities across the state. We mounted the Homeless Advocacy Project in the early 1980s to educate government executives and legislative policymakers on effective solutions to the complex conditions of individual and family homelessness in Massachusetts and across the nation. In more recent years, MAMH launched our People are Waiting campaign to document the number of Department of Mental Health clients that are on waiting lists for housing or residential support services.
Likewise, MAMH has long been a pioneer and a national leader in the movement to ensure the rights of people with mental health conditions to live and work in integrated settings. In 1975, MAMH joined with a group of patients at the Northampton State Hospital and with the Center for Public Representation to sue the Commonwealth of Massachusetts concerning inadequate care and segregated living at Northampton State Hospital. The case, Brewster v. Dukakis, was the first class action lawsuit in the nation to claim that residents of a state hospital had a constitutional right to receive mental health services in the least restrictive environment. The result was the Northampton Consent Decree, which established the states first comprehensive community mental health system. Nearly all of the patients were relocated to community-based programs and services and, eventually, the hospital closed.
For years, MAMH has also served as a leader in efforts to ensure that people with mental health and substance use conditions receive the same level of health insurance benefits and access to services -- as people with physical illnesses. This is known as parity. In 2000, MAMH led a successful effort to pass Massachusetts first comprehensive mental health parity in insurance coverage legislation. We were also a principal partner in 2008 to broaden the law to mandate coverage for medically necessary treatment for substance use disorders, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress and autism, instrumental in engaging the Massachusetts business community to support the legislation. Today, MAMH continues to fight for implementation of parity laws and policies as an active partner of the Massachusetts Mental Health Parity Coalition.
In 2016, MAMHs Board of Directors developed a thoughtful and comprehensive five-year strategic plan. Building on our history as a policy leader and change agent, the Board has set forth an ambitious agenda to advance mental health and well being by promoting prevention, early intervention, effective treatment, and recovery. While much has changed since 1913, gaps in knowledge and disparities in access persist. MAMH remains grounded in the conviction that all people with mental health challenges be treated with dignity and respect, and have access to the services and supports they need to lead productive lives in the community. We will continue to fight until all people in Massachusetts have access to the opportunities they need to protect their natural resilience and overall health.
Advance mental health and well being by promoting prevention, early intervention, effective treatment and research to address social, emotional, and mental health challenges. Eliminate stigma and discrimination and ensure full social, economic, and political inclusion in all aspects of community life.
As President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH), Danna Mauch brings organizational leadership, operations management, evaluation research and strategic consulting experience gained in private and public sector enterprises.
Dr. Mauchs prior service in the private sector includes ten years as Senior Fellow/Principal Associate at Abt Associates, Inc. She worked on behalf of foundations and governments and provided policy, evaluation and implementation assistance addressing insurance, service delivery and financing reforms targeted to individuals with complex health risks and disabling health conditions. Skilled in linking large data sets to advance accountability, clinical and cost improvements, Dr. Mauch contributed to designing system solutions for government clients compliance with legal and regulatory reforms. Prior to joining Abt, Dr. Mauch was Chief Administrative Officer for Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc., Founding President and Chief Executive Officer for Magellan Public Solutions, Inc., and Founder and President of Integrated Health Strategies, Inc.
Dr. Mauch has a long career in public service. She presently serves as Court Monitor for the U.S. District Court of Western Washington, addressing forensic services reforms at the junction of the health, disability and justice systems. Her prior service includes Special Master for the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia; Executive Director of the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals; and Assistant Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, overseeing the Divisions of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Forensic Medicine.
Her population-focused work addresses a broad range of at-risk and vulnerable groups of children, adults and elders, including persons with autism spectrum disorders, behavioral health conditions, HIV/AIDS, multiple chronic conditions, criminal justice involvement, military and veteran status, and homelessness.
Dr. Mauch is a published author of government and foundation reports, book chapters and journal articles on the organization, financing and delivery of care to vulnerable populations. To support health promotion, illness prevention and early intervention, she has served as a volunteer officer of several governing boards, including a regional health care conversion foundation, a national youth development and prevention organization, an urban elementary and middle school, and state health care reform initiatives.
As Program Associate for Communications and Special Projects, Maddy coordinates MAMH's social media outreach and provides research, communications, and administrative support in connection with MAMH advocacy and special initiatives.
Maddy brings dynamic communication and interpersonal skills from a wide range of public health experience. She assisted in the creation, surveying, and community outreach for the Cayuga County Health Departments 2019-2021 Community Health Assessment for the NYS 2019-2024 Prevention Agenda. She also worked as a contact tracer/case investigator for the NYS COVID-19 Response where she provided affected individuals with public health guidance, connected people with community supports, documented needed information, and actively communicated with state and county health department staff. Before joining the staff, Maddy interned with MAMH, where she worked on issues related to mental health parity.
Cassie has worked in Elder Protective Services and currently is a clinician on one of the states first older adult behavioral health outreach teams (EMHOTS). She is a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and has a background in peer, aging and cross-disability advocacy. She is co-chair of the Elder Behavioral Health Collaborative and the MA Aging and Mental Health Coalition, where she advocates for critical statewide behavioral health, peer and wellness supports to help older adults live in the community or setting of their choice.
Kathy has more than 10 years of experience in business operations, contract management, and procurement management in both government and the private sector. She has an MBA and BS from Suffolk University.
Jennifer has decades of experience leading legal advocacy on behalf of individuals with mental health issues who seek access to services and protection of fundamental rights. She has expertise in the areas of mental health care, education, rights in carceral facilities, the right to accept or refuse treatment, and disability discrimination. In pursuit of change, she has engaged in individual and systemic advocacy, institutional reform litigation, training, writing, and mentoring.
Before coming to MAMH, Jennifer was a Senior Staff Attorney at the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC) of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. At MHLAC, she led the DYS Project, which sought to improve access to educational and mental health services for youth involved with the Department of Youth Services and served as a Chair of the Coalition for the Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CLRD). Prior to working at MHLAC, Jennifer worked for Massachusetts Law Reform Institute as an advocate for clients of methadone treatment programs, and as a volunteer attorney for the Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Womens Bar Association. Jennifer attended Harvard College and Georgetown University Law Center.
Leah brings strong public relations, communication and collaboration skills from more than 10 years of experience in public radio at an NPR-affiliate in upstate New York. While in media, Leah hosted the morning news show, produced a health-focused radio program called Take Care, managed grant funding, assisted in fundraising efforts, managed the stations website/social media and held many other roles demonstrating her commitment to advancing the mission of non-profit organizations. Leah is a graduate of the State University of New York College at Oswego.
Jessica brings to her role deep experience in policy analysis, program development, advocacy and implementation. Her prior work in health care reform and knowledge dissemination, combined with her longstanding commitment to vulnerable children, families and adults with health, disability and economic challenges prepares her well to implement the MAMH policy and legislative agenda.
Prior to joining MAMH, Jessica served as the Director of Evaluation and Strategic Initiatives at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) Foundation, where she led evaluation efforts to assess the effectiveness and impact of the Foundations grantmaking investments.
Jessica also worked as Field Director for Families USA, a national nonprofit consumer health advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. There she worked with advocates from across the nation on Medicaid defense, as well as Affordable Care Act implementation and public education. Prior to her time at Families USA, Jessica served as Executive Director of Consumer Health Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to expanding access to quality, affordable health care in Pittsburgh, PA.
As Program Assistant for Network of Care Massachusetts, Kyle Neill helps to maintain the accuracy of the service directory's listings and assists with outreach efforts to help grow the site's user base.
Before joining MAMH, Kyle was a Scheduling and Communications Assistant for Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell, where he drafted speeches and social media communications, maintained the Councilor's schedule, and supported events such as the Boston Civic Leader's Summit and the 1st Annual Mattapan Jazz and Unity Festival. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Communication from Emerson College.
Jenifer works across stakeholder communities to build consensus on behavioral health policy and program development. Jenifer has more than 20 years of experience managing federal and state contracts to deliver technical assistance, training, and creative products to support people living with mental health issues and promote resilience.
Prior to joining MAMH, Jenifer led state technical assistance activities at the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). From 2014-2017, she was Director of Recovery for the MA Department of Mental Healths Western Area, where she managed contracts for the peer-led Recovery Learning Community and Afiya, one of fewer than 20 peer-run respite programs in the country, and established and led a Task Force on Trauma-Informed Approaches. From 2003-2014, Jenifer was Deputy Director of Mental Health at Advocates for Human Potential (AHP). From 1999-2003, she served as Director of Government Relations and then Senior Policy Counsel at NASMHPD. Jenifer is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and the University of Michigan Law School.
Louise is a 30-year health care executive and strategic advisor, specializing in government-funded health care plans and programs, including Medicaid, Medicare and dual-eligibles. Previous work includes establishing a dual eligible financial alignment demonstration plan in Rhode Island for Neighborhood Health Plan where she served as Vice President for Medicare/Medicaid Integration.
Louise has worked as a health care consultant for many years providing strategic advisory services to a myriad of clients in both health and mental health. She also served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 20 years. She held both the CFO and COO posts at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and at the Massachusetts Medicaid agency.
Robert Fleischner is the former Assistant Director at the Center for Public Representation and has been practicing mental disability law since 1973. He is a national expert on Protection and Advocacy (P&A) access, advance directives and guardianship.
Robert has served on the faculty of the Western New England Law School and Smith College School of Social Work. He is the co-author of Guardianship and Conservatorship in Massachusetts, published by Lexis, and has written several law review articles. A Boston College Law School graduate, Robert has litigated community integration, civil commitment, prison mental health, juvenile justice, guardianship and fair housing cases.
MAMH convenes stakeholders across the behavioral health and public health community to address policy, budget and legal issues affecting those at risk for or living with behavioral health conditions. We disseminate knowledge emerging from clinical research, program evaluation and innovation developments to inform and activate diverse audiences in the Commonwealth and beyond. MAMH solves problems in disparities in benefits and access to care through strategic advocacy partnerships. We target reforms in public policy, service delivery and payment methods to improve access to care and end disparities in receipt of a broad range of benefits, treatments and recovery supports upon which our constituents depend to protect and improve their mental health and well being.
Engaging Community Stakeholders: We enlist people from all sectors to increase public awareness, eliminate stigma, and promote real change in access to services and improved life outcomes. We create and disseminate evidence-based reports, white papers, and issue briefs to support this work.
Expanding Access to Effective Services: We lead initiatives to increase access to effective, evidence-based behavioral health services and supports through strategic education, advocacy partnerships, and workforce development.