Washington, DC (June 26, 2007) — The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare has elected Elizabeth Earls as the new Chair of its Board of Directors, effective July 2007.

Earls, who has extensive federal and state legislative experience, is the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Organizations.

“The National Council plays a critical leadership role in building healthy minds and strong communities across the nation and I’m honored to guide this effort as Board Chair,” said Earls.

Other National Council board members who take office in July are William Kyles, President/CEO of Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Missouri (First Vice Chair); Carl Clark, MD, CEO of the Mental Health Center of Denver, Colorado (Second Vice Chair) and Rick Weaver, President and CEO, Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health, Washington (Secretary/Treasurer).

“This is an exciting time for the National Council and with the leadership of our outstanding board we will continue to raise the profile of mental health and addictions services in national healthcare policy and practice arenas,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council.

The National Council’s 1,300 member organizations also elected 11 regional directors to the board. All directors serve on the staff or community boards of behavioral health organizations across the country and emphasize the National Council’s commitment to promoting recovery through public policy advocacy, leadership and workforce development, and organizational and practice improvement.

The current National Council Board Chair, Elizabeth Funk, who is completing 20 years of involvement with the National Council, said “I’ve never been as excited and optimistic as now about the future of behavioral health. I wish the new National Council Board much success in mobilizing and leading even greater provider involvement in shaping public policy.”

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.