SANTA FE – New Mexico state officials today announced the appointment of Bryce Pittenger as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Behavioral Health Collaborative, beginning in October.
Previously, Pittenger split her time between the Children, Youth and Families Department, where she served as the director for the Behavioral Health Services Division, and as the interim CEO for the Behavioral Health Collaborative.
The New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative is a cabinet-level group that represents 15 state agencies involved in behavioral health prevention, treatment and recovery – working as one to improve mental health and substance abuse services in New Mexico.
“We are pleased Bryce has accepted this role permanently,” said Human Services Secretary David R. Scrase, M.D. “She has extensive experience working with behavioral health issues in the private sector as a clinical director and in the public sector with the Children, Youth and Families Department enabling her to pull together stakeholders, across executive departments, local municipalities and counties, tribes, providers and consumers, to align our initiatives for the wellbeing and support of all New Mexicans.”
Bryce Pittenger has worked in the field of behavioral health in New Mexico since 1997. She has years of experience in community mental health settings, serving as the clinical director of Hogares, a non-profit core service agency addressing the needs of vulnerable children, youth and families in a variety of settings, and she has held multiple leadership positions with the Children, Youth and Families Department. Pittenger has a master’s degree in counseling from Southwestern College.
“The Department of Health stands in strong support of the appointment of Bryce as the CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative. In addition to her impressive professional background in community mental health, and specifically issues impacting youth, Bryce possesses a genuine empathy for the plight of individuals and families facing challenging behavioral situations. New Mexico is indeed fortunate to have her expertise and commitment to this population as we rebuild our community programs.” said Department of Health Secretary Kathyleen M. Kunkel.
“Bryce witnessed firsthand the dismantling of community-based behavioral health care in New Mexico,” said Children, Youth and Families Department Secretary Brian Blalock. “When many providers were forced to shut down, Bryce chose to move to state government to help rebuild and protect the services that children need. She has helped to transform CYFD’s Behavioral Health Division and lay the foundations for a trauma-responsive children’s system of care, which will be one of the first in the nation. We wish her well in her new endeavor and look forward to continuing partnership in her new role.”
“Bryce is a true systems thinker with a deep passion and commitment to improving the lives of families and children. Her keen ability to listen to others’ perspectives and build authentic, trusting partnerships across sectors is a tremendous asset she brings to the leadership of the Behavioral Health Collaborative,” said Early Childhood Education & Care Department Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky.
“New Mexico is rich in the cultural value of family and community. New Mexican’s want to come together to make our behavioral health system more effective and accessible to all. With tribal, state government departments, providers, local communities and the people the systems serves, we can identify the needs of our individuals and communities, and develop a cohesive plan to respond. I so look forward to serving New Mexicans in this role,” said Pittenger