September 19, 2020, 11:00am - 1:00pm PDT

Participants: Brandon Staglin (moderator); Seong and David Brown; Patrick Kennedy; Tara Niendam, PhD UC Davis Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Claire Lampson; Lynda Hopkins, Sonoma County Supervisor; Robin Betts, VP Kaiser Permanente.

Brandon Staglin, One Mind President

As President of One Mind, Brandon Staglin channels his deep experience in communications, advocacy, and personal schizophrenia recovery to drive brain health research programs to heal lives. Brandon also serves on advisory councils for the National Institute of Mental Health, the California Mental Health Services Authority’s Help@Hand Program, Mindstrong Health, and Stanford University’s Prodrome and Early Psychosis Program Network, and is a member of The Stability Network. Brandon has originated One Mind’s ASPIRe program, which aims to dramatically increase both quality treatment access and recovery rates for such individuals through expanding and improving early care. His work was instrumental in the passage of California laws AB 1315 and SB 1004, providing funding and accountability for such services statewide.

Seong & David Brown, Elizabeth Morgan Brown Memorial Fund Co-Founders

In May 2018, Seong and David lost their daughter Elizabeth to suicide at the age of 19. Elizabeth was an exceptionally intelligent and highly accomplished and poised young woman with a kind heart. She often volunteered her time helping people in need, at home and around the world. While she was battling with depression and anxiety, she registered herself as a volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

As parents, Seong and David struggled to find the appropriate treatment to help their daughter. Although they searched tirelessly, they could not find effective health care for Elizabeth. Inspired by Elizabeth’s desire to help others, Seong and David created the Elizabeth Morgan Brown Memorial Fund to carry forward Elizabeth’s intentions to end the stigma and shame associated with brain illnesses, and to serve others as Elizabeth did.

Patrick J. Kennedy, Former U.S. Representative, Kennedy Forum Founder

During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy was the lead author of the groundbreaking Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites mental health advocates, business leaders, and government agencies in support of mental health equity and works to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming around treatment and recovery. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2017, he was appointed to the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.

Kennedy is also the co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-chair of Mental Health for US, a nonpartisan initiative designed to elevate mental health and addiction in policy conversations during the 2020 election cycle; and founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources.

Tara Niendam, PhD, Executive Director, UC Davis Early Psychosis Programs

Dr. Niendam is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry and completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the Executive Director of the UC Davis Early Psychosis Programs (EDAPT and SacEDAPT Clinics) and has developed 4 early psychosis programs in Northern California based on the coordinated specialty care model of early psychosis.  She is the Principal Investigator for the California LHCN/EPI-CAL network, which joins 17 California sites to the national EPINET network that seeks to harmonize EP outcomes data collection across the US.

Claire Lampson, College student with lived experience

Claire Lampson is currently in her senior year at Bard College working towards her bachelor's degree in American Studies. She plans on going to graduate school to become a Social Worker or Therapist. She has a deep desire to provide holistic and adequate care for mental health patients and their families. This aspiration is in large part because of her own experiences having a twin brother with Schizophrenia and her family's experience with the mental health care system.

Lynda Hopkins, 5th District Supervisor, County of Sonoma

Supervisor Lynda Hopkins is in her first term representing the geographically large and economically diverse Fifth District that includes the entire Sonoma County coastline, the lower Russian River, many unincorporated rural villages, the city of Sebastopol, and the Southwestern portion of the city of Santa Rosa.  Lynda’s interest in public policy and land use began while attending Stanford University, where she studied environmental problem solving focused on coastal land use, mass transit, land use policy through the Earth Systems (BS, MS) Program.

Lynda is a passionate advocate for environmental protection, affordable housing, coastal access for all Californians, social justice, and early childhood education.  In addition to her involvement in the agricultural community, she also serves on the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County Board of Directors.

Robin Betts, Vice President, Quality, Clinical Excellence & Regulatory Services, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan, Northern California

Robin Betts is a leader in clinical innovation and the implementation of safety improvement initiatives and has dedicated her professional life to patient safety, quality, and high reliability systems to make lives better. She has had a distinguished 35-year health care career, practicing as a nurse for 17 years.

As Vice President for Quality, Clinical Effectiveness & Regulatory Services for Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Robin helps further advance Kaiser Permanente’s nation-leading excellence in quality and patient safety, and oversees health plan and hospital regulatory functions, including compliance, licensing, and member grievances.