Planning & Policy Council

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Planning and Policy Council is made up of mental health and substance abuse service providers, consumers, family members, advocates and other stakeholders.

Its mission is to advise the department about the service system, policy development, legislation, budget requests, system evaluation and monitoring.

The Council’s Core Responsibilities:

  • Advise the Commissioner on plans and Departmental actions impacting the service system, operations, programs and facilities.
  • Recommend legislation and appropriations for programs/facilities to the Tennessee General Assembly, and be an advocate for these recommendations.
  • Promote the needs of persons with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, and substance use disorders and their families.
  • Prepares an annual report to the Governor on the service system, addressing programs, services, supports and facilities.
  • To meet at least quarterly.

Current Concerns Being Addressed by the Council:

  • Needs of service recipients who are children or elderly and those with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, and substance use disorders.
  • Evaluation of needs assessments, service and budget proposals.
  • Annual review of the adequacy of Title 33 to support the service systems (T.C.A. §33-1-402).

The Council advises the department on concerns through an annual needs assessment process which can result in programmatic change.

Council Composition:

The Council has a minimum of 11 members, not including ex officio members, appointed by the commissioner for three-year terms.

Both the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint one legislator as a member of the council. The Governor is an ex officio member of the council and appoints the chairman, and representatives of state agencies as ex officio members of the council. The Commissioner serves ex officio as secretary to the council.

Current or former service recipients and members of service recipient families comprise a majority of the Council's membership and represent persons with mental illness and substance use disorders.

Contact Kirby.Fye@tn.gov for more information about becoming a member of the Statewide or Regional Councils.

TDMHSAS is committed to providing individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from TDMHSAS programs, activities, and services. To request reasonable accommodations or modifications, please contact Amy Holland at amy.holland@tn.gov at least 10 business days prior to the meeting. Requests for accommodations or modifications made after the deadline will be honored to the maximum extent feasible, but it may not be possible to fulfill them.

For more information, contact:
Avis Easley, Director
Office of Planning
Phone: (615) 253-6397
Email: Avis.Easley@tn.gov