HSD and CYFD announce intentions to separate the roles of CEO for the Behavioral Health Collaborative and the director for the Behavioral Health Services Division

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 22 August 2019 22 August 2019

Bryce Pittenger named as interim CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative

Mika Tari named as acting director for Behavioral Health Services Division

Santa Fe, N.M. – Human Services Department (HSD) Cabinet Secretary David R. Scrase, M.D. and Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) Cabinet Secretary Brian Blalock announced plans to separate the roles of CEO for the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative and the director for the New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division, which were previously filled by a single individual. Bryce Pittenger is named as the interim CEO for the Behavioral Health Collaborative (20 percent of her time) and Mika Tari as the acting director for the Behavioral Health Services Division (100 percent of her time). HSD is actively recruiting to fill both positions with full time permanent individuals.

“The benefits of splitting these functions will provide more opportunities to collaborate with all executive departments like HSD, CYFD, Department of Health, Public Education Department, New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department and, the Corrections Department all of whom are working on behavioral health issues,” said Secretary David R. Scrase, M.D. “Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has made it clear that addressing behavioral health issues in New Mexico is one of her top priorities.”

“This change will make it easier for state departments providing behavioral health care to receive proper support for their programs. This means more services reaching the right people in need,” said Secretary Brian Blalock. “We have been tasked with rebuilding the state’s community based mental health care system and this is an important step in supporting those new ventures.”

Bryce Pittenger will serve as interim CEO for the Behavioral Health Collaborative for 20 percent of her time. Pittenger will continue serving (80 percent of her time) as the director for the Behavioral Health Services Division for the Children, Youth and Families Department where she oversees children's behavioral health services; federal grants; forensic evaluation; wraparound services, family peer support, substance abuse program development; supportive housing programs, shelter care, and Medicaid licensing and certification activities.

Mika Tari will serve as the acting director for the Behavioral Health Services Division 100 percent of her time. Previously, Tari served as the deputy director of Program Services that included treatment and recovery. For Behavioral Health Services Division at HSD she managed the clinical operations and programs, including oversight of behavioral health clinical activities and resources. She’s certified in Stress Management, Developing High Performance Teams, Communication and Assertiveness, and Conflict Resolution by the American Management Association. Tari has a Master of Social Work from New Mexico State University and a Bachelor of Science from Kaplan University.

The Human Services Department provides services and benefits to more than 1 million New Mexicans through several programs including: the Medicaid Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Support Program, and several Behavioral Health Services.

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department provides an array of prevention, intervention, rehabilitative and after-care services as part of its mission to improve the quality of life for New Mexico children and their families.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.