Mental health and addictions policy experts from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare are available for media interviews in conjunction with the National Conference of State Legislatures 2008 Legislative Summit, New Orleans, July 22 – 26. Interviews can be scheduled onsite or by phone.

To schedule interviews, contact Communications@thenationalcouncil.org or 301.984.6200, ext. 228.

Linda Rosenberg, MSW
President and CEO, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Ms. Rosenberg has more than 30 years of distinguished service in mental health services delivery and reform. Prior to joining the National Council, she served for seven years as Senior Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Office of Mental Health where she tripled New York’s assertive community treatment capacity, initiated a major expansion of children’s services, developed housing options for people with serious mental illness and addictions; and facilitated a network of jail diversion treatment programs including the opening of New York’s first mental health court. A certified social worker, as well as a trained family therapist and psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner, Ms. Rosenberg has extensive experience in the design, implementation and management of hospital and community psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation programs.

Charles Ingoglia, MSW
Vice President, Public Policy, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Mr. Ingoglia has worked as a mental health provider, advocate, and educator for government and public sector. He has led national advocacy efforts on Medicare parity, protecting Medicaid cuts for rehabilitation and case management services, provider/physician reimbursement, the emergence of electronic health records, and the coordination of mental health and primary healthcare. Prior to joining the National Council, Mr. Ingoglia provided policy and program design guidance, including the review of state Medicaid Waiver applications to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through SAMHSA. He has directed policy and education efforts at various professional associations, worked in a transitional shelter for the homeless and provided individual, group and couples counseling.

Christopher Loftis, PhD
Director of State Policy, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Dr. Loftis leads National Council efforts to coordinate federal and state policy funding for community-based services for mental illness and addictions. He has particular expertise in Medicare and Medicaid. Earlier, Dr. Loftis served as a policy analyst for the National Health Policy Forum, a nonpartisan organization that provides health policy educational programming for policymakers. He has a PhD in clinical psychology with specialty training in neuropsychology and has worked as a practitioner and researcher. He has served as state-level policy research associate and legislative assistant to Senator Ted Kennedy on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Alexa Eggleston, JD
Director of Public Policy, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Ms. Eggleston leads the National Council’s addiction advocacy agenda—increasing the visibility and voice of community providers of addictions services on Capitol Hill—to ensure that all people with addiction disorders have the opportunity to achieve and sustain recovery. Prior to joining the National Council, Ms. Eggleston served as Director of National Policy for the Legal Action Center. She has advocated for increased federal funding for substance use disorders; educated Congress about the employment, education and other barriers facing people with criminal records; lobbied to pass Second Chance Act Reentry legislation to ease such barriers; and advocated for rehabilitative services, including mental health and addiction treatment in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Laura Galbreath
Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Ms. Galbreath support the National Council's state and federal policy initiatives and focuses on expanding opportunities for community mental health and addictions services organizations to meet the primary health needs of the people they serve. Ms. Galbreath has extensive experience in health policy analysis, community organizing and project management and served as
the Senior Director of Healthcare Reform at Mental Health America.

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) association representing 1,300 mental health and addictions treatment and rehabilitation organizations that serve nearly six million adults, children, and families in communities across America.