Campaign for Mental Health Reform Appoints Charles S. Konigsberg Director (7/14/05)



About the Campaign Staff Member Organizations News Roadmap Press Room Contact the Campaign Report of the Presidents New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Support the Campaign	For Immediate Release: July 14, 2005 Contacts: Andy Hyman, NASMHPD, 703-739-9333 Chris Koyanagi, Bazelon Center, 202-467-5730 Ralph Ibson, NMHA, 202-675-8388 Ron Honberg, NAMI, 703-516-7972 Campaign for Mental Health Reform Appoints Charles S. Konigsberg Director Washington, D.C.—The Campaign for Mental Health Reform is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles S. Konigsberg as Campaign Director. The Campaign – a collaboration of 16 national mental organizations – was established after the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health in 2003 released its report “Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America.” Mr. Konigsberg joins the Campaign after more than 20 years experience in senior positions in the U.S. Senate, the White House, the Corporation for National Service, and two national nonprofits. During 13 years in the Senate, Mr. Konigsberg served as Chief Health Counsel to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee; General Counsel at the Finance Committee when Senator Moynihan served as its Chairman; Chief Counsel to Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Rules Committee; and Staff Attorney to Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. From 1995 though 1999, Mr. Konigsberg served as Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs at the White House Office of Management and Budget. Robert Bernstein, Executive Director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, noted that the appointment of Konigsberg “is especially timely, given the impending release on July 27, 2005 of the Campaign’s landmark report: ‘Emergency Response: A Roadmap for Federal Action on America’s Heath Crisis.’ The report responds to the President’s New Freedom Commission report with a detailed action plan.” Michael Faenza, President and CEO of the National Mental Health Association – the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness – looks forward to Konigsberg applying his “far-reaching experience in government and the nonprofit sector to lead and broaden our diverse coalition as we develop an even stronger voice in the policy arena.” Michael Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, a national grassroots organization of consumers and families, looks forward in particular to “Konigsberg’s leadership in bringing the Congress, Executive Branch, and mental health community together to develop concrete and achievable approaches that will save and improve lives through better access to quality mental health services.” Robert Glover, Executive Director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Chuck Konigsberg, who brings to the Campaign a wealth of senior level congressional, Administration, and national nonprofit experience and a strong commitment to effective mental health advocacy.” Additional details on Mr. Konigsberg’s background are available in the attached bio or at www.mhreform.org. See Mr. Konigsberg's bio here. # # # The Campaign for Mental Health Reform is a national partnership of organizations representing millions of people with mental or emotional disorders, their families, service providers, administrators, and other advocates. It seeks to make access, recovery, and quality in mental health services the hallmarks of our nation’s mental health system.	One of every two Americans who need mental health treatment do not receive it, and the rate is even lower —and the quality of care poorer—for ethnic and racial minorities.


©2003 Campaign for Mental Health Reform

Campaign for Mental Health Reform Appoints Charles S. Konigsberg Director

One of every two Americans who need mental health treatment do not receive it, and the rate is even lower —and the quality of care poorer—for ethnic and racial minorities.