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APNA Council For Mental Health Advocacy

Vision

The Council for Mental Health Advocacy (CMHA) is the conduit for monitoring legislative, regulatory and policy matters affecting mental health. The Council works to inform PMH nurses about these issues and help coordinate organizational responses.

Goals

  1. Identify and monitor policy that impacts mental health and psychiatric-mental health nursing at the local and national level.
  2. Make recommendations to the board of directors regarding policy that may impact psychiatric-mental health nursing.
  3. Educate members and identify resources that support grassroots advocacy at the local and national levels.

Resources

Mental Health and Substance Use Parity
Advocacy Tools
Practice Information by State

Council for Mental Health Advocacy Members

Chair

Paula M. Bird, DNP, RN-C, NEA-BC

ASSOCIATE CHAIR

Jenise Farano DNP, APRNA-FPA, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC

Steering Committee

Jeanne Clement, EdD, APRN, PMHCNS- BC, FAAN
Kadie Desbordes, BSN, RN
Hershaw Davis, Jr., MSN, RN
Rachel Eakley, RN, PMHNP
Jennifer Hartzler, PMHNP-BC
Queen Henry-Okafor, PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Matthew Lindquist, MSN, RN, PMHNP, BC
Linda Perez, PhD, RN, NPP
Anita Clarke Richards, DHA, ANP-BC, PMHNP
Branden Taylor, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, CNL, RN
Robin Trivette, MSN-Ed., PMHNP-BC

Advisory Panel

Robert Abel DNP, PMHNP-BC
Ajith Abraham PMHNP-BC
Anna Acee EdD, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Tramarea Adams RN
Mary Adamson RN, MS
Marguerite Adetunji MSN, MBA, HCM, RN-BC, NE-BC, PMH-BC
Ablavi Agomessou DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Caitlin Allen RN, BSN
Tami Andres RN, MSN
Juanita Andrews BSN, RN
Katherine Andrews MSW, RN
Robin Arends DNP, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE, FAANP
Nicole Arnett RN, BSN, CCRN
Louise Aurelien Buie EdD, MS, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Becky Austin-Morris DNP, PMHNP-BC
Coral B MSN, PMHNP-BC
Abosede Babalola DNP, MHA, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Akisha Bailey MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Lola Baker MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Caroline Baker MSN, RN-BC, PMHNP-BC
Alex Bakle RN
Alvin Baluyut RN
Susan Barnes DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC
Ugur Barut Nursing Education Specialist/VPH Magnet Program Director
Andrea Bast DNP, RN, PMH-BC, NPD-BC
Mekeshia Bates DNP, CRNP-PMH
Deana Batross DNP, RN, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, NE, CCRN
Nina Beaman EdD, MSN, CNE, RN-BC (PMH)
Douglas Bean RN PMH-BC
Lora Beebe PhD, PMHNP-BC
Emily Bell RN, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
CB Benway CRNP, MSN, FPMHNP, CAPMHCNS
Doreen Berrios RN MSN FNP-BC
Kimberly Beverly PMHNP-BC
Leslie Binford DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC
Elizabeth Birkey DNP, APRN, IBCLC, CNM, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Russell Bisesi APRN, MSN PMHCNS BC
Anne Blaise RN, BSN
Ann Blankenhorn DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CPPS
Kaye Blasingame RN, BC, MSN
Kathleen Bolding MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Mary Bollinger RN, BS, MSED
Jessica Bondurant BSN, RN
Rachel Booker PMHNP-BC
Jennifer Bowen DNP, PMHNP-BC
Hayli Brand MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Julita Braxton NP
Dolores Bray CRNP
Donna Brazel MN, ARNP
John Brewer DNP, PMHNP
Michele Bronder RN, DNP
Shelly Brown DNP
Kelly Bryant MS, BSN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC
Tonya Buchanan PMHNP
Isabel Buckingham BSN, RN
Donna Burge PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Sherry Burkhard RN
Deb Burnett
Adiatu Busairu-Martin
Kim Butts DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, PMH-BC
Elizabeth Caine MSHA, MBA, RN
Barbara Caldwell PMHNP
Carol Campbell DNP, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Christopher Caratzas BSN, RN-BC
Barbara (Bambi) Carkey DNP, PMHNP-BC, NPP
Rebecca Casarez PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC
Nicole Cerussi DNP, PMHNP-BC
Linda Chafetz RN, PhD
Teresa Chamah-Lawson BSN, RN-BC
Danielle Chappell MSN, PMHNP-BC
Tamia Chapple MSN, MBA, HCM, APRN, PMHNP-BC, GERO-BC
Angela Chesser PhD, RN
John Chovan PhD, DNP, RN, CNP, CNS
Amanda Christensen MSN
Sue Ciarmiello RN, MS, NPP
Dawn Clayton RN-C, MSN
Leslie Close RN
Barbara Coles PhD, RN-BC
Carly Connell R.N., DNP-PMHNP candidate
Kendra Considine PMHNP-BC
Rose Constantino PhD, JD, RN, FACFE, FAAN
Patricia Conteh RN, MSN, PMHNP- BC
Julia Coons MS, RN-BC
Susan Corey DNP, APN-BC
Susan Crowder MSN, RN, PMHN-BC
Jose Cruz APRN, CNP
Patricia Cubilette PMHNP-BC
Diane Daddario DNP, PMHNP-BC, ANP-C, ACNS-BC, RN-BC
Maureen Daniell
Anita Daniels MS, RN PMH-BC
Denise Davis RN
Lisa de la Cruz RN, MSN, PMHNP
Laura Deaton BSN, RN
Kathleen Delaney PhD, APRN, PMH-NP, FAAN
Mary Demellier RN
Joanne DeSanto Iennaco PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Maribeth Desuyo MHA, MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Cindy Diamond PhD, MSN, RN
Christy Dixon RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Kathleen Donahue MA, RN-PMH-BC
Janel Draxler MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Isabelle Dubois MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Elizabeth Ducat MSN, PMHNP
Michaela Dumais PMHNP-BC
Shawnetta Duncan MBA, BSN, RN
Jena Dunham DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, NREMT
Renee DuShane BSN, RN
Janice Edmonson DNP, MSN-CNS, APRN, CNE
Aniema Ekong DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, MSN, CNL
Erin Ellington DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Sara Emory DNP, RN, PMHCNS-BC, NEA-BC
Janet Erickson PMHNP-BC
Cynthia Estes DNP, MHA, RN, PMH-BC, NEA-BC
Brittany Evans DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, NEA-BC
Izunna Ewudo DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Marian Farrell PhD, PMH-NP, BC, PMHCNS-BC, CRNP
Theresa Fay-Hillier DrPH, MSN, PMHCNS-BC
Anita Fazzio PMHNP
Phyllis Ferguson ARNP, MSN
Loraine Fleming DNP, PMHNP-BC
Mihaela Fletcher DNP, MSN, CNE, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, CARN-AP
Jill Folsom MS, RN
Tanya Franks RN, BSN
Sabrina Friedman EdD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHCNS-BC
Margaret Fuller RN, MSN
Kathleen Gaffney MSN PMHCNS, CPNP PMHS
LaDema Gallagher APRN
Amy Gamblin DNP, MSN Ed., RN, PMH-BC
Grishma Gandhi FNP
Christine Marie Garcia CPNP, CPMHS
Dawn Garrett-Wright PhD, RN, CNE, PMH-NP
Tanja Gavrilovic DNP, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Paula Geeter BSN, MSN
Angelica George RN
Jenette Gerst MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC
Ivan Giannou RN-BC
Melissa Goad BSN, RN-BC
Maryanne Godbout DNP, PMHCNS-BC
Dawn Goldstein PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC
Jocelyn Gonzalez Etheredge MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Jill Gosting MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, PMH-BC
Daniel Grasso DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Sonya Green MSN, RN
Anne Greenwalt MSN, RN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Quanda Griffin PMNNP
Carla Groh PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Stephanie Hancock DNP, PMHNP-BC, CNP
Cynthia Handrup DNP, APRN, PHMCNS-BC, FAAN
Carolyn Hanohano PhD, RN, MSN
Heather Harper MSN, RN
Alesia Harris MSN
Danielle Harris
Todd Hastings PhD, RN, CNE
Noelle Herrier MN, PMHNP
Wanda Hilliard DNP, MBA, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Rosanne Hilliker BSN-PCCN-CMC-GERO/MED-SURG-BC
Barbara Hinds BS, RNC
Misty Hinkle RN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
John Hinrichs DNP, ARNP, PMHNP-BC, LMHC
Hannah Hogan BSN, RN
Cariann Horne
Naomi House BSN, RN, PMH-BC
Lisa Hrina PMHNP-BC, APRN, CNP-BC
Sara Hubbell DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Esther Huston RN, BSN, SANE
MaryBeth Hutches DNP
Sharlene Hutchinson APRN, CNS-BC
Cecilia Ibe
Mackenzie Ice MS, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Anita Iyengar DNP, RN, PMHCNS-BC, CNE
Susan Jacobson PMHNP, CNS
Jayne James RN, MSN, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP, DNP(c)
Annamarie Johnson RN, MSN
Charlsie Johnson-Wilson MH-RN
Margaret Johnstone MSN, RN, PNP, CNS
Allyce Jones DNP, MSN, PMHNP-BC, APRN, CNE, NCMP, PMH-C
Tekia Jones RN, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Teresa Judge-Ellis DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
Sooksai Kaewbua DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Cathleen Kealey MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC. APHN-BC
Kelsey Kent
Beth King RN, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Kristel Kishbaugh DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Debe Klesel PhD, MSN, RN
Dale Knode RN, BS, HSAD
Cindy Knowlton RN, MSN, PMHNP
Jessica Kolczewski APRN
Maureen Kolomeir MBA, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Wendi Koonce Morse DNP, APRN-BC, PMHNP-BC, FNP
Danielle Koreny DNP-PMHNP, BSN
John Kramer RN, MS, BSN
Valerie Kubanick PhD, RN, PMH-BC
Brenda Kucirka PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, CNE
Patricia La Brosse MS, PMHCNS-BC
Keri LaBella BS, RN
Sheila Langford RN, BSN
Judy Lark MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC
Andrea Laudun BSN
Kennedy LaVille Thoren DNP, ARNP, PMHNP-BC

Laura Leahy DrNP, APRN, PMH-CNS/FNP, CARN-AP, FAANP, FAAN
Suzanne Lee DNP, APRN-PMH-BC, CARN-AP
Marcia Lee ARNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS
Amanda LeFort MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Heather Leutwyler PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CNS, FAAN
Mary Leveillee PhD, DNP, APRN-CNS, PMHCNS-BC
Jane LeVieux PhD, LPC-S, RN-BC, NHDP-BC
Julie Levine MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC, CPNP-PC
Chelsea Levy DNP, PMHNP
Margaret Lighthart MS, BSN, PMHRN-BC
Melanie Lint MSN, PMHCNS-BC
Cene’ Livingston DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-C, CNE
Tonja Livingston RN
Kathleen Logsdon RN
Frances Lopez-Bushnell EdD, MSN, MPH, FNP, BSN
Susan Lynch MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-student
Linda Mabey PMHCNS-BC, DNP, APRN
Rosemary MacFarlane
Candace Maffei BSN RN
Cynthia Mai APRN
Tatayana Maltseva APRN, PMHNP-BC
Lynne Mann MSN, RN, CNE
Carol Anne Marchetti PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC
Monika Markaj PMHNP
Jennifer Marlin DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Christina Maroone DNP, MPA, PMHNP-BC
Sherry Martin PMHNP-BC
Jacqueline Martz DNP, RN
Julia Mattingly RN, MSN
Linda Mays DNP, PMHNP-BC
Catherine Mazzie MSN, CRNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Elizabeth McCutchon EdD, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Bradley McDaris MSHCA, BSN, RN
Jennifer McGovern RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Stephanie Meany RN, PMH-BC
Mary Meiselman CNS, NP
Kerry Melachouris RN-BC, PMHNP-BC
Kenyatta Merriweather MSN, FMHNP
Catherine Messinger DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Jennifer Metze BSN, RN, PMHNP student
Rudley Miland BSN, BA, RN
Susan Mileham APRN
Parker Miller MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Lisa Milliger APRN
Ruth Milstein DNP, ARNP-BC, PMHNP
Latonia Mitchell APRN, PMHNP, CNE, Certified Mentor and Coach
Grace Mitchko MSN
Claudia Mitzeliotis DNP, PMHNP, PMHNCS, BC, CASAC
Christine Moffa PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Susan Morgan RN
Cheranne Morse DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC
Jennifer Moyer MSN, RN, SANE
Ann Murphy Harris MSN, PMHNP-C
Carlissa Myles-Arkansas BSN, RN
Ronaldo Naranjo DNP, MSN, MS, PMHNP-BC
Michael Nastase BSN, RN
Marilyn Nendza MSN, PMHCNS-BC, CPRP
Nicole Nevan RN
Diana Nichols CNS, PMHNP, DNP
Sandra Nichols FNP-BC, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Ifeoma Nnani DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Jennifer Nolan MSN
Anjannette Nunez-Dupree RN-BC, MPA, BSN, CPHQ
Sharon Obuzor MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Kamani Odina-Herbert DNP, BSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Ernest Ogbeide RN, APRN, MSN
Sunday Okundolor DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Grace Olaleye-Anisere DNP, PMHNP-BC
Leslie Oleck MSN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, LMFT, FAAN
Virtud Oloan EdD, BSN, RN-BC
Melanie Opack RN
Lalaine Otadoy PMHNP
Regina Owen DNP, PMHNP-BC
Bozena Padykula EDD, APRN, PMHNP-BC; APHN-BC, MSN, RN
Angelika Panova MHPNP, RN
Melissa Patton MSN, BSN, RN
Kathleen Patusky PhD
Olimpia Paun PhD, FGSA
Marlana Pennington BSN
Jennifer Perla RN
Cheryl Perna MSN, RN, PMH-BC, CNE
Joyce Pettengill
Bethany Phoenix PhD, RN, CNS, FAAN
Tobi Pierson RN
Donna Pink DNP, BSN, PMH-BC, CARN
Valarie Pompey MS, ANP-BC
Rebecca Puchkors MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Jacqueline Raffaele DNP, MSN PMHNP-BC CVRN-BC
Tara Ramey DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC
Renel Ramos DNP, MSN, RN,�NPP, PMHNP-BC�
Lisa Reyes-Walsh DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP
Sandra Rhea RN-BC
Karen Richards RN
Luann Richardson PhD, DNP, FNP, PMHNP, FAANP
Sonia Riley MSN-Ed, RN, PhD (c)
William Robertson MSN, RN, ANCC PMHN
Rey Paolo Ernesto Roca III RN, MSN, PHN
Patti Rodgers RN, PMHNP, MSN
Daniel Rodriguez II MSN, CRNP
Jezel Rosa
Jacquelyn Rosen MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC, NC-BC
Carla Rosler APRN, DNP
Linda Rossow MS, BSN, RN, BC – retired
Melissa Rudd DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Luanne Sadowsky APRN, BC
Maria Salayandia-Noullet BSN, RN-BC
Kyla Cassandra Santos
Katherine Sarsfield APRN, AGNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Dina Sattenspiel MSN, PMHNP-BC, CCRN-K
Robin Schafer DNP, CPNP, PMHNP-BC
Karen Schepp PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
Jennifer Schlebusch BS
Katie Schwarz RN, BSN, MSN
Janet Schwenk RN, MSN
Courtney Seidenberg MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FN-CSA
Lauren Seiter MSN, RN, APNP, PMHNP-BC
Regina Shaffer RN, BSN
David Sharp PhD, RN
Lori Shaw ADN, BS, M.Ed
April Shelton BSN
Cerasela Shiiba RN, BSN
Christine Silverstein EdD, MPA, RN
Debra Simmons MSN, APRN, CS
Audrey Simmons MBA, MS RN-BC
Crystal Simmons PMHNP
Tracy Sloat DNP, RN
Mark Smallacombe RN, BSN
Maxine Smalling MS, RN
Beth Smith DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
Stephanie Smith BSN, RN, PMH-BC
Marie Smith-East PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC, EMT-B
Lexxus Soristo BSN, RN
Michael Spencer DNP, PMHNP-BC, NP-C
Elise Stanford
Alanna Steaple
Christopher Stephan-Jones MSN, BSN, RN-BC
Umeika Stephens DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC
Gail Stern RN, MSN, PMHCNS-BC
Jacqueline Stotler RN
Karen Strickland PMHCNS-BC
Thomas Stuckey DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Naomi Suhler APRN, MSN
Tammy Sullivan DNP, RN, SANE, NE-BC
Jennifer Sundermier MSN RN
Mary Louise Tatum MPH, MSN, PMHNP-BC, RN
Judia Taylor DNP, PMHNP-BC, RN
Lincoln Teal MSN, RN
Brandon Thatcher PMHNP-BC
Anne Thatcher DNP, MSW, APRN, PMHNP-BC, LMSW
Burton Thelander RN, MS, NE-BC
Deborah Thompson DNP, PMHFNP-BC, FNP-BC
Miriam Thornton PMHNP-BC
Joseph Toomey DNP, PMHNP
Jennifer Topscher RN, BSN, BA
Pamela Torres MSN, RN-BC
Margaret Touw DNP, RN, CNE
Amelie Tristant RN, BSN
Moriah Tucker MSN, APRN.CNP, PMHNP-BC
Michelle Umbarger-Mackey PhD, ARNP, PMHNP-BC, SANE
Barbara Valerius MSN, FAONL, RN-BC
Judith Van Cleef MS, RN-BC-Retired
Robin VanCamp BA, RN, BSN
Camille Veillon Student PMHNP, RN, IBCLC
Stephanie Verdeflor MSN, RN, PMH-BC, PMHNP-BC
Mary Volenec DNP, MPH, RN
Danielle Walker MS, PMHNP-BC
Frankie Wallis RN, MSN, FNP
Heather Warren APRN
Perihan Warren APRN, FNP
Amy Weaver MHA, BSN, RN, CEN, PMH-BC
Kathleen Webster DNP, PMHNP
LuAnn Webster BA, RN, P-MHN-BC
Pamela Weeg RN, BSN, MSN
Domenique Wendt RN
Janice Wentworth PMHNP
Daniel Wesemann DNP, MSW, RN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
Shana Westerfield RN, MBA, MS, PhD, NP-BC
Marcia Wheeler Cordry BNS, RN
Robert Whitacre MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Michele Whitaker MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC C-RYT
Babette Wieland MSN, BSN
Jeanne Wiggins MSN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, PMH-C
Veronica Wiggins
Efi Wilkins DNP, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, CNE, FCN
Donna Lee Williams DNP, PMHNP-BC, APRN
Annalily Williams
Angel Williams-Kent MSN, APRN-C
Roy Wilms RN, MS, MA, PMH-BC
Patricia Woloszyn DNP, PMHCNS-BC, NPP
Kathy D. Wright PhD, RN, APRN-CNS, PMHCNS-BC, CPNP-BC
Christopher Wright RN
Rick Yakimo PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Margaret Yearwood EdD, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE
Lufei Young PhD, PMHNP-BC, ACNP-BC
Theodora Zacharopoulos BSN, RN
Judith Anne Zdziera MSN, MSHA, PMHRN-BC
Christine Zuidema RN