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Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC)

The ISMICC reports to Congress and federal agencies on issues related to serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED).

About ISMICC

In December 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law. Through this Act (Public Law 114-255), the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) was established to make recommendations for actions that federal departments can take to better coordinate the administration of mental health services for adults with a serious mental illness or children with a serious emotional disturbance. In December 2022, the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 117-328) reauthorized the ISMICC and codified it into statute as Section 501C of the Public Health Service Act. It is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.). ISMICC delivers the following to Congress and to other relevant federal departments and agencies:

  • A summary of advances in Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) research pertaining to prevention, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, and recovery. This includes advances in access to services and supports for adults with SMI and children with SED.
  •  An evaluation of the effect federal programs related to SMI have on public health, including public health outcomes such as:
    • Rates of suicide, suicide attempts, incidence and prevalence of SMIs, SEDs, and substance use disorders, overdose, overdose deaths, emergency hospitalizations, emergency room boarding, preventable emergency room visits, interaction with the criminal justice system, homelessness, and unemployment
    • Increased rates of employment and enrollment in educational and vocational programs
    • Quality of treatment services for mental and substance use disorders
    • Any other criteria as may be determined by the Secretary
  • Specific recommendations for actions that agencies can take to better coordinate the administration of mental health services for adults with SMI and children with SED

Committee Charter

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) was established on March 15, 2017, in accordance with the 21st Century Cures Act (PL 114-255, Sec. 6031).

Committee’s Official Designation

Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee

Authority

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) is established in accordance with the provisions of Section 6031 of the 21st Century Cures Act (Pub. L. 114-255). The ISMICC is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 10). In December 2022, the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 117-328) reauthorized the ISMICC and codified it into statute as Section 501C of the Public Health Service Act. It is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.).

Objectives and Scope of Activities

The Secretary of HHS (Secretary) shall establish a committee to be known as the ISMICC. Not later than each of one (1) year and 5 years after the date of enactment of section 501C, of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, the ISMICC shall submit to Congress and any other relevant Federal department or agency, a report described in the section below.

Description of Duties

The reports to Congress and any other relevant Federal department or agency will include: (1) a summary of advances in serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED) research related to the prevention of, diagnosis of, intervention in, and treatment and recovery of SMIs, SEDs, and advances in access to services and support for adults with a SMI or children with a SED; (2) an evaluation of the effect Federal programs related to serious mental illness have on public health, including outcomes such as (A) rates of suicide, suicide attempts, incidence and prevalence of SMIs, SEDs, and substance use disorders, overdose, overdose deaths, emergency hospitalizations, emergency department boarding, preventable emergency department visits, interaction with the criminal justice system, homelessness, and unemployment; (B) increased rates of employment and enrollment in educational and vocational programs; (C) quality of mental and substance use disorders treatment services; or (D) any other criteria as may be determined by the Secretary; and (3) specific recommendations for actions that agencies can take to better coordinate the administration of mental health services for adults with a SMI or children with a SED.

Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports

The ISMICC reports to the Secretary or its designee.

Support

Management and support services shall be provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years

The estimated annual cost for operating the ISMICC, including compensation and travel expenses for members but excluding staff support and expenses for federal staff, is $68,687. The estimated total annual cost for operating the ISMICC including 2 full-time equivalents is $142,349.

Designated Federal Officer

The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use shall designate a SAMHSA staff member to serve as the Designated Federal Official (DFO) of the ISMICC. The DFO will prepare and approve all meeting and subcommittee meeting agendas, attend all meetings and subcommittee meetings, adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest, and chair meetings when directed to do so by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.

Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings

The ISMICC shall meet not fewer than two times each year. The location of the meetings of the ISMICC shall be subject to the approval of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.

The ISMICC meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)) and the FACA. Notice of all meetings shall be given to the public. There will be opportunities for the public to comment prior to and during each meeting. In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to the public, a report shall be prepared which shall contain, at a minimum, a list of members, the ISMICC’s functions, dates, places of meetings, and a summary of ISMICC activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year.

Duration

The charter for the ISMICC will be renewed every two (2) years until the ISMICC terminates.

Termination

The ISMICC shall terminate on September 30, 2027.

Membership and Designation

The ISMICC will consist of federal members listed below, or their designees, and non-federal public members.

Federal Membership: The ISMICC shall be composed of the following Federal representatives, or the designees of such representatives, who will serve as Regular Government Employees:

  • The Secretary of Health and Human Services;
  • The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use;
  • The Attorney General;
  • The Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
  • The Secretary of Defense;
  • The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
  • The Secretary of Education;
  • The Secretary of Labor;
  • The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
  • The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living; and
  • The Commissioner of Social Security.

The Secretary designates the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use as the Chair of the ISMICC.

Non-Federal Membership: The ISMICC shall also include not less than 14 non-Federal public members appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as Special Government Employees, of which:

  • At least 2 members shall be an individual who has received treatment for a diagnosis of a serious mental illness;
  • At least 1 member shall be a parent or legal guardian of an adult with a history of a SMI or a child with a history of a SED;
  • At least 1 member shall be a representative of a leading research, advocacy, or service organization for adults with a SMI;
  • At least two members shall be:
    • A licensed psychiatrist with experience treating SMI;
    • A licensed psychologist with experience in treating SMI or SEDs;
    • A licensed clinical social worker with experience treating SMIs or SEDs; or
    • A licensed psychiatric nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant with experience in treating SMIs or SEDs.
  • At least 1 member shall be a licensed mental health professional with a specialty in treating children and adolescents with a SED;
  • At least 1 member shall be a mental health professional who has research or clinical mental health experience in working with minorities;
  • At least 1 member shall be a mental health professional who has research or clinical mental health experience in working with medically underserved populations;
  • At least 1 member shall be a State certified mental health peer support specialist;
  • At least 1 member shall be a judge with experience in adjudicating cases related to criminal justice or SMI;
  • At least 1 member shall be a law enforcement officer or corrections officer with extensive experience in interfacing with adults with a SMI, children with a SED, or individuals in a mental health crisis; and
  • At least 1 member shall have experience providing services for homeless individuals and working with adults with a SMI, children with a SED, or individuals in a mental health crisis.

The term of office of a non-Federal member of the ISMICC shall be for three (3) years, and may be reappointed to serve for one or more additional three-year terms. If a vacancy occurs in the ISMICC among the members, the Secretary shall make an appointment to fill such vacancy within 90 days from the date the vacancy occurs. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. A member may serve after the expiration of the member’s term until a successor has been appointed. Initial appointments shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the members not all expire in the same year.

Subcommittees

In coordination with the DFO, the ISMICC may establish working groups. Working groups shall be composed of ISMICC members, or their designees, and may hold meetings as are necessary. Working groups may be established by the parent ISMICC in coordination with the DFO with the approval of the Secretary. Recommendations of a working group must be deliberated by the ISMICC. A working group may not provide advice or work products directly to HHS. The ISMICC will coordinate with the DFO the establishment of each working group, and will be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings.

Recordkeeping

Meetings of the ISMICC and its working groups will be conducted according to the FACA, other applicable laws and HHS policies. The ISMICC and working group records will be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule, 6.2, Federal Advisory Committee Records or other approved disposition schedule. These records will be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.

Filing Date

May 08, 2023

APPROVED

Secretary Department of Health & Human Services

Reports to Congress

Committee Meetings

Resources

Newsletters

Committee Roster

The ISMICC is composed of senior leaders from 11 federal agencies including HHS, the Departments of Justice, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, Education, and the Social Security Administration along with 14 non-federal public members.

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Vacant

Christopher D. Carroll, MSc
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Rockville, MD

Pamela Foote
Program Analyst
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Rockville, MD

The Secretary of Health and Human Services
Designee
Joel Dubenitz, Ph.D., Social Science Analyst/Psychologist
Gavin Kennedy, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary ASPE
CAPT. Meena Vythilingam, Ph.D., Senior Advisor for Mental Health
HHS/ASPE/OASH
Washington, DC
Working Group: Data and Evaluation; Treatment and Recovery; Criminal Justice; and Financing

The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use
Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Rockville, MD

The Attorney General
Designee
Nicole Ndumele
Deputy Associate Attorney General
Mariel Lifshitz
Senior Advisor, Substance Use, Opioid, and Mental Health Policy
Department of Justice
Washington, DC
Working Group: Criminal Justice; and Financing

The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Designee
Sandra Resnick, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Northeast Program Evaluation Center, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Washington, DC
Working Group: Data and Evaluation; Treatment and Recovery; and Criminal Justice

The Secretary of the Department of Defense
Designee
Susan Orsega
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight

Richard Mooney, M.D.
Executive Director
Health Services Policy & Oversight (HSP&O),
Defense Health Headquarters (3M513)

CDR Elle Marie Schollnberger M.D., Ph.D.,
Director for Mental Health Policy & Oversight, Health Services Policy & Oversight (HSP&O)
Falls Church, VA

Working Group: Treatment and Recovery

The Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Designee
Corey Minor Smith. J.D.
Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel
Washington, DC 20410
Working Group: Treatment and Recovery

The Secretary of the Department of Education
Designee
Meghan Whittaker
Early Childhood Team, Office of Special Education Programs
Washington, DC 20202
Working Group: Access and Engagement; and Treatment and Recovery

The Secretary of the Department of Labor
Designee
Taryn Williams, M.S.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy
Washington, DC 20210
Working Group: Treatment and Recovery; and Financing

The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Designee
Kirsten Beronio, J.D.
Senior Policy Advisor on Behavioral Health Care
Acting Deputy Director, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
Washington, DC 20201
Working Group: Criminal Justice; and Financing

The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
Designee
Alison Barkoff, J.D.
Acting Administrator and Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging
Washington, DC
Working Group: Data and Evaluation; Financing

The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
Designee
Marion (Taffy) McCoy, Ph.D.
Social Science Analyst
Baltimore, MD
Working Group: Criminal Justice

Trinidad de Jesus Arguello, Ph.D., LCSW, PMHRN-BC
Director
Compostela Community and Family Cultural Institute
Arroyo Seco, New Mexico
Working Group: Criminal Justice

Arc Telos Saint Amour (Tay), (they/them)
Executive Director
Youth MOVE National
Working Group: Access and Engagement

Ron Bruno
Chief Executive Officer
Crisis Response Programs and Training
CRPT INC
Salt Lake City, Utah
Working Group: Criminal Justice

David Covington, LPC, M.B.A.
CEO and President
RI International, (DBA for Recovery Innovations, Inc.)
Phoenix, Arizona
Working Group: Access and Engagement; and Treatment and Recovery

Brian Hepburn, M.D.
Executive Director
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
Alexandria, Virginia
Working Group: Access and Engagement; and Financing

Jennifer Higgins, Ph.D., CCRP
Director
Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers
South Hampton, Massachusetts
Working Group: Data and Evaluation

Steven Leifman, J.D.
Associate Administrative Judge
Miami-Dade County Court
Miami, Florida
Working Group: Criminal Justice

Amanda Lipp, B.S.
Director and Filmmaker
Lipp Studios
Sacramento, California
Working Group: Access and Engagement; and Treatment and Recovery

Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, M.D., DPhil, DipABLM, FAPA

Sue L. Smith, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Georgia Parent Support Network, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia
Working Group: Access and Engagement

Winola Sprague, DNP, CNS-BC
Medical Director
Children’s Advantage
Ravenna, Ohio
Working Group: Access and Engagement

Rhathelia Stroud, J.D.
Presiding Judge
DeKalb County Magistrate Court
Misdemeanor Mental Health Court
Decatur, Georgia
Working Group: Access and Engagement; Treatment and Recovery; Criminal Justice; and Financing

Katherine Warburton, D.O.
Medical Director and Deputy Director of Clinical Operations
California Department of State Hospitals
Sacramento, California
Working Group: Financing; and Criminal Justice

Anitra M. Warrior, Ph.D.
Psychologist/Owner
Morningstar Counseling and Consultation
Lincoln, NE
Working Group: Access and Engagement

Sarah Y. Vinson, M.D., DFAPA
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics Morehouse School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Atlanta, GA
Working Group: Data and Evaluation

Nomination for ISMICC Membership

The ISMICC membership includes individuals who represent legislatively mandated categories and serve 3-year terms. The criteria to be considered for membership is described in the ISMICC Charter, under the section ‘Membership and Designation’.

The ISMICC is not accepting nominations at this point. However, interested candidates can send their information for consideration to fill any vacancies that may occur for up to 3 years. Interested persons who meet the membership criteria can send CV/resume with a brief statement of intent, to the SAMHSA National Advisory Councils Resource Mailbox, with subject line “ISMICC Nomination”, to”: NationalAdvisoryCouncils@samhsa.hhs.gov.

ISMICC Working Groups

The ISMICC created five Working Groups to support each of the five focus areas in their 2017 report of recommendations. The Working Groups consist of Federal and Non-federal Members who meet regularly outside of regular ISMICC meetings. Working Groups focus on translating recommendations into action by prioritizing efforts, developing short- and long-term objectives, coordinating programs and policies, identifying existing activities that could be updated or leveraged, and evaluating the feasibility of specific federal initiatives and programs. Working Groups report their findings and offer action-oriented recommendations to the ISMICC. The ISMICC deliberates findings and votes on these recommendations. Appointed federal staff act as Stewards for each of the Working Groups to support their operations and report progress.

  1. Data and Evaluation Working Group
    Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) have complex, often unmet needs, but data on their use of mental health, medical, substance use, and social services and associated improvements are often too siloed to provide meaningful insights toward quality improvement. To better understand their needs and the access and availability of high-quality services, it is critical to promote data linkages, the systematic use of standardized screening and assessment tools, measurement-based care, and long-term outcome tracking. The ISMICC’s Data and Evaluation Working Group focuses on federal efforts to use standardized data and evaluation measures towards improved quality of care and outcomes.

  2. Access and Engagement Working Group
    Only two-thirds of adults with SMI and even fewer children with SED obtain the level of care they need. There is a scarcity of behavioral health care workers, inadequate behavioral health care coverage, and a lack of workforce diversity (i.e., workers who are equipped to identify with, understand, and have the cultural humility to provide quality care to the community that they serve). Underserved groups such as racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ people, individuals who live in rural areas, and individuals who experience homelessness are particularly affected by these barriers. The Access and Engagement Working Group strives to expand access to services by supporting initiatives, such as CCBHCs, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, telehealth services, and policies that increase workforce capacity and provider reimbursement.

  3. Treatment and Recovery Working Group
    Treatment needs for SMI and SED can evolve over time and services that address the whole person can promote long-term recovery, community integration, and increased quality of life. Indeed, there is a spectrum of evidence-based services that can improve care and outcomes across the lifespan, but many of these services are underused. Further, there is often a disconnection of services during the critical transition from youth to adulthood. The Treatment and Recovery Working Group focuses on the continuum of evidence-based and person-centered care, including programs that address the social determinants of health such as supported education, supported employment, and supportive housing.

  4. Criminal Justice Working Group
    People with SMI and SED are too often involved in criminal or juvenile justice systems instead of receiving the care they need. Once incarcerated, their competency to stand trial is often questioned, which can lead to long wait times—often without critical medication and treatment. Coordinated federal activities can increase awareness about the legal and treatment needs of people with SMI and SED, prevent undue justice involvement, and support programs and policies that promote clinical care instead of criminality. The Justice Working Group focuses on diverting people with SMI and SED from unnecessary justice involvement, improving the process of competency restoration, and ensuring timely services and support for justice-involved individuals.

  5. Finance Working Group
    Improving access to quality care for SMI and SED, co-occurring conditions, and health-related social needs requires changes to how we pay for these services and supports. Financing should not be a barrier to needed care and should incentivize providers and systems to provide comprehensive, coordinated care to those who need it—whether they are accessing care through public or private health systems or coverage. Federal systems should ensure that all people with SMI and SED have access to a full spectrum of services that address and do not exacerbate long-standing disparities. Through initiatives such as CCBHCs, which offer comprehensive care to anyone regardless of ability to pay, or through policies that advance parity for mental health and substance use services, the Finance Working Group aims to expand access to quality care through improvements to policy, programs, and regulations.

Last Updated: 01/20/2025
Source: https://www.samhsa.gov/about/advisory-councils/interdepartmental-serious-mental-illness