Lessons from 2020: Examining Person-Centered Data Pre and Post COVID and Older Adult Behavioral Health in the Time of the Pandemic

Kathleen Cameron, BSPharm, MPH, has more than 25 years of experience in the health care field as a pharmacist, researcher, and program director focusing on falls prevention, geriatric pharmacotherapy, mental health, long-term services and supports, and caregiving. Cameron is Senior Director of the NCOA Center for Healthy Aging, where she provides subject matter expertise on health care programmatic and policy related issues and oversees the Modernizing Senior Center Resource Center.

Dr. Giordano is the Director of NCI-AD from Human Services Research Institute and the Training and Quality Assurance Coordinator for NCI-AD, as well as NCI. She holds a PhD from Northeastern University and a Master’s Degree in Ethics and Public Policy from Suffolk University.

Rosa Plasencia is the Director of NCI-AD at ADvancing States. Ms. Plasencia also participates in work related to long term services and supports policy, equity initiatives, and No Wrong Door/ADRC. She holds a Juris Doctorate and Graduate Certificate in Consumer Health Advocacy from the University of Wisconsin, and a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Prior to this role she worked in state government, as a Title III-B legal services provider, and with healthcare focused nonprofits.

Eric Weakly is the Western Branch Chief in the Division of State and Community Systems Development, Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Division manages the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, which provides funds and technical assistance to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 6 Pacific Jurisdictions. Grantees use the funds to provide comprehensive, community-based mental health services to people with serious mental illnesses, and to monitor progress in implementing the public mental health system. The Division also administers the Projects for Assistance in Transitions from Homelessness, the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness programs, the Minority Fellowship Program, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Center for Excellence. Prior to working at SAMHSA, Eric worked at the Administration for Community Living working with the No Wrong Door/Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Inclusive Transportation, and Supported Decision-Making projects. Eric administered programs at the local level  on mental health, long-term services and support, and protective services. Prior to work in administration, Eric worked as a social worker with older adults living in nursing homes and their families and in-patient behavioral health.