ALEXANDRIA, Va. (February 1, 1999) The National Mental Health Association has added a variety of new staff to its Alexandria headquarters and reorganized existing staff to better meet the growing demand for its public education and advocacy expertise.

Larry Best, M.A., returned to NMHA after 11 years at other organizations. From 1985-1988 he served as NMHA's federal affairs associate. Now, in his new position as director of state healthcare reform training, Best will coordinate state and county healthcare reform trainings with emphasis on Medicaid managed care, healthcare financing and consumer advocacy issues. Most recently, Best served as director of public policy for the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare.

Jennifer Heffron also joined NMHA's healthcare reform department as director of public policy. With a B.A. from the University of Richmond's School of Leadership Studies and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, she brings experience in disabilities and public interest law. Her work at NMHA will focus on mental health parity and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Mary Graham will continue to oversee NMHA's growing Healthcare Reform Department, where she has been promoted to vice president. Cynthia Folcarelli, former director of state healthcare reform training, has been appointed vice president of research and planning. She will be working closely with NMHA President and CEO Michael Faenza to conduct strategic planning, develop new external relationships, and facilitate internal collaboration. Clare Miller, former executive assistant to Faenza, will assume a new role as a healthcare reform policy analyst, providing research for healthcare reform activities and developing policy and advocacy resources.

Sara Thompson is NMHA's new director of adult mental health services. She joins NMHA from Montgomery House, a psychiatric rehabilitation program, where she administered a number of community-based services. Thompson has a M.A. in social work from the University of Maryland. She will work with Senior Director Laura Young to implement the Partners in CARE public education and advocacy program for adults with serious mental illnesses.

Through a special contract with NMHA, David Nelson, M.P.P., senior program director, will serve as executive director of the National Association of Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils (NAMPAC). In addition to representing the State Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils in Washington, DC, Nelson will provide the state councils technical assistance and foster information sharing and peer supports.

Michael Roy joined NMHA from the American Psychiatric Association, where he worked for nine years, including four years as an editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry. As NMHA's director of education information outreach, he will be responsible for all internal and external communications for the Public Education Department's depression and anxiety campaigns. He will also develop educational materials in consultation with national campaign partners, NMHA staff and the affiliate network. Roy has a B.S. from Syracuse University.

In his new position as vice president of communications, Patrick Cody will oversee NMHA's media relations and marketing efforts as well as NMHA's Information Center. James Radack, former director of media relations, has been promoted to senior director of marketing and communications; he will develop and implement NMHA's marketing and outreach efforts and manage the Information Center.

Daniel Meloy joined NMHA's Financial Development staff as director of affiliate financial development and direct mail fundraising. With a B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin, Meloy has performed a variety of fundraising tasks for the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, the Leukemia Society, and his own event-planning company. Meloy will concentrate on bolstering fundraising efforts at state and local Mental Health Associations and leading NMHA's national direct mail program.

The National Mental Health Association is the nation's leading mental health advocacy organization with 340 affiliates in 40 states.