In 1999, the Wedgwood Baptist Church shooting happened as a result of a man suffering from an untreated mental illness. Fort Worth Mayor, Kenneth Barr, turned to local mental health providers, requesting a plan to improve access to quality mental health services for all Tarrant County residents. The initial providers were comprised of Tarrant County, My Health My Resources (MHMR) of Tarrant County, the City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth ISD, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Lena Pope, and the Child Study Center. These founders provided leadership and financial resources, created task forces and set parameters for collaborative planning, recruited organizational and individual members, and developed a fees structure. With this, Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County was established, and this core group has expanded to over 100 members that include county and city officials, both private and not for profit hospitals and service providers, school districts and universities, child welfare and foster care, individual practitioners and impacted family members. With our continuous collaboration, we’re able to develop long-term changes in the system, while addressing emerging needs.
About Us
Who We Are
Mental Health Connection (MHC) of Tarrant County is a collaboration of dues-paying members committed to revolutionizing the mental health service system by developing long-term systemic changes while addressing emerging needs within our community.
Where We Started
Staff
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Christina Judge, MA, CFRE, Executive Director
Christina Judge is a 30-year veteran of the nonprofit sector. Prior to Mental Health Connection, Christina was Executive Director of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, a North Texas nonprofit focused on suicide prevention training and education. Her experience includes executive leadership, program management, fund development, and marketing and communications. She has worked in various roles with the United States Army, higher education, child welfare, healthcare, and mental health.
A native of the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, Christina moved to Texas in 1992. Dedicated to serving her community, she has served on the boards of CASA of Tarrant County, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Hope Floats Foundation, and is the Rotary Club of Fort Worth’s incoming secretary. She is actively involved in several community mental health committees and task forces.
Christina received a Master of Arts degree from Texas Woman’s University in Sociology with concentrations in demographics and field research, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, in government and politics. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
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Kim Brennan, M. Ed., Strategic Initiatives Director
As the strategic initiatives director at Mental Health Connection, Kim Brennan brings a wealth of experience in education, social work, and training to her role. With six years of dedicated service in Texas, Kim was a driving force at ACH Child and Family Services, a Mental Health Connection member agency, where she played a pivotal role in establishing and enhancing the training department. Certified in various training areas, Kim’s devotion to mental health extends to developing self-care and wellness programs.
Her passion for cultural competency led her to spearhead trainings like the poverty simulation and conference presentations regarding effective communication with people from diverse backgrounds. As a past member of the Mental Health Cultural Competency Committee, she remains committed to fostering inclusivity and awareness.
Now, in her role as strategic initiatives director, Kim is invested in furthering the organization’s purpose of strengthening the mental health access in Tarrant County by providing MHC members with the opportunities to partner and collaborate, as well as increase our members’ professional advancements through training and education.
Kim has a Master of Arts degree in Education from Pepperdine University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work from San Diego State University.
Board of Directors
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Ashley Elgin, PhD, Board Chair
Chief Executive Officer of Lena Pope
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Matthew Robison, LMSW, Board Vice Chair
Executive Director at Child Study Center, Cook Children’s
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Ottis Goodwin, MA, LPC-S, Immediate Past Chair
Director of Children’s Oral Health at Cook Children’s Medical Center
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Matthew Vereecke, Ed.D, Board Treasurer
CEO of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation
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Holiday Bean, PsyD, Board Secretary
Clinical Director of The Telos Project
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Zelia Baugh, MSW, LICSW
Executive Vice President Behavioral Health of JPS Health Network
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Susan Garnett, MSW
CEO of My Health My Resources (MHMR)
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Jennifer Gilley, BS, M.Ed
Executive Director of Tarrant County Challenge
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Bennie Medlin, MS
Director and Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of Tarrant County Juvenile Services
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Wayne Carson, PhD
CEO of ACH Child and Family Services
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Gaby Garcia, PsyD, LPC
President of PSP Professional Services
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Frank Hernandez, PhD
Dean of College Education at Texas Christian University
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Riley Shaw, JD
Chief Probation Officer of UC Juvenile Services
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