Transforming Behavioral Health in the US: The Biden-Harris Administration’s Response

Dr. Rebecca Haffajee, JD, PhD, MPH, Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation will present on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ response to transforming behavioral health care in the US -- a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration, particularly in light of worsening overdose and mental health crises during the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentation will highlight recent mental health transformation efforts from the State of the Union and HHS efforts underway to reduce drug overdose morbidity and mortality, including the release of the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy in October 2021. Dr. Haffajee will also speak to the equity issues underlying behavioral health issues in the U.S. and how HHS is addressing the needs of underserved communities.

Rebecca Haffajee, J.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., was appointed the Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation on March 8, 2021. Before joining ASPE, she was a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and an assistant professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. A lawyer and health policy researcher, Dr. Haffajee’s work combines detailed legal analyses with empirical investigations of the relationships between policy and health. Her main research interests are behavioral health, drug policy, and public health policy.

This upcoming webinar is sponsored by the GW Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, co-sponsored by the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. Opening remarks will be given by GW School of Nursing Interim Dean Slaven-Lee, GW School of Public Health Dean Goldman, Department of Psychiatry Interim Chair Jeffrey Akman, and Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement Executive Director Y. Tony Yang.