Behavioral Health Speaker Panel

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Focus Area: Cultural Competency and Economics in the Provision of Care

Featured Speaker:

Mackenzie Phillips, Actress, Author, &  Survivor of Substance Abuse

Additional Confirmed Panelists:

Michael Cram, Staff Inspector for the Philadelphia Police Department

Derrick Pelletier, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Councilwoman for the 7th District

Robert Torres, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Aging

Hector Colon-Rivera, MD,CMRO, Medical Director, APM (Moderator)

We are a nation in crisis. Drug overdoses claimed 72,000 lives in 2017. Suicide rates continue to climb. Life expectancy is on target to drop for a third straight year. We must look past the numbers and understand this crisis is about people, our people. Access to medical treatment. Opportunities for mental health services. Offering community stakeholders engagement and ownership in their health-related care. What is the financial key to meet these necessary and basic community needs?  APM’s goal is to make that personal connection between families and services; provide isolated elderly with community, aid single-parent households, all with the goal to stabilize families. Our approach is to communicate, educate, and empower.  This in-depth discussion brings together professionals from health care and academia to public policy and community stakeholders to explore these issues and consider solutions.