SANTA FE – The New Mexico Human Services Department today announced the CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative, Bryce Pittenger, is departing state government to return to private practice as a psychotherapist effective March 3, 2023.
Bryce Pittenger was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Behavioral Health Collaborative in October 2020. The New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative is a cabinet-level group that represents 17 state agencies involved in behavioral health prevention, treatment and recovery – working as one to improve mental health and substance abuse services in New Mexico.
“It has been an honor to serve New Mexico in this role. I am so inspired with the work our communities are doing and think the greatest legacy I leave is funding for the local collaboratives. Under current leadership, the opportunity for improvement of the system of care has never been more possible. Every participating department agrees that behavioral health is priority, and I look forward to working within that improving system of care,” said Bryce Pittenger, CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative.
Bryce Pittenger has worked in the field of behavioral health in New Mexico since 1997. Prior to her appointment as CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative, she served the Children, Youth and Families Department, as the director for the Behavioral Health Services Division, she has served as the clinical director of Hogares, a non-profit core service agency addressing the needs of vulnerable children, youth and families in a variety of settings, and she has held multiple leadership positions with the Children, Youth and Families Department, including serving as Director of Behavioral Health.
“We are really going to miss Bryce! Over the past three years she has helped to guide the reintegration of all of the 17 state departments and others in the Behavioral Health Collaborative to significantly increased collaboration to work collectively to improve the lives of New Mexicans by ensuring Behavioral Health care is accessible, of high quality, collaborative, fiscally responsible, and meets the needs of our diverse population,” said David R. Scrase, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Human Services Department.
During her time as the CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative, we have seen significant expansion of our behavioral health provider network, an increase in the number of community-based mental health services for children and their families, more effective mechanisms for addressing substance use disorder, and an expansion of behavioral health interventions for justice involved individuals. In short, she has advanced our entire strategic plan. While we all will miss her greatly, we are also delighted that she will return to her first love of delivering behavioral healthcare services here in New Mexico!”
The CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative position has been posted on the Governor’s website and a recruitment process is underway for Bryce’s successor. To apply, click here: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/open-positions/
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