Welcome to the Breakfast

Welcome – Max Shafir, LCSW, Chair, Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health, and Senator Mike Woodard, Emcee

Special Guest Speaker – The State of Mental Health Services in NC with Kody H. Kinsley,
NC DHHS Secretary

Representative Paul Luebke Legislative Champion on Mental Health Award –
Presentation to Senator Mike Woodard by Senator Jim Burgin

Pillar I: Early Intervention and Prevention

Nora M. Dennis, MD, Adjunct Professor, Duke University Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Lead Medical Director, Behavioral Health, and Health Equity BCBS

J. Nathan Copeland, MD, MPH, Duke University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Department

Lived Experience – Cindy Ehlers, LCMHC, Foster Mother, and Chief Operations Officer for
Trillium Health Resources

Senator Sydney Batch, MSW, JD, (D-District 17) Wake

Senator Graig Meyer, MSW, (D-District 23) Orange, Caswell, Person

Panel Q&A Moderated by Rose Hoban of NC Health News

Pillar II: Transitions and Continuity of Care

Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor and Chair,
UNC Department of Psychiatry, UNC School of Medicine

Austin Hall, MD, UNC Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Assertive Community
Treatment Team, Step Clinic

Lived Experience – Jonah Sharkey, CPSS, M.Ed., Recovery Educator II

Senator Jim Burgin, (R-District 12) Harnett, Lee, Sampson

Representative Carla Cunningham, RN, (D-District 106)
Mecklenburg

Representative Wayne Sasser, RPh, (R-District 67) Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly
Panel Q&A Moderated by Rose Hoban of NC Health News

Closing Remarks

Senator Mike Woodard, (D-District 22) Durham, Granville, Person

Thank you for attending the 45th Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health