2021
events
Using virtual opportunities to broaden our community
The Meadows Institute participated in most events virtually and, in some cases, our virtual stage expanded to include people who could not have otherwise attended in person.
From fresh installments of annual traditions dating back years to new events that we hope will become traditions, our events brought together thought leaders, elected officials, and care providers to advance our common cause to improve mental health care for everyone.
Watch this featured breakout session.
Engage & Excel '21
I am new to the industry and I greatly enjoyed learning and the time spent! It was very worthwhile. Fabulous work during ever-changing conditions! Look forward to in person networking next year. – 2021 E&E Attendees
The Sixth Annual Engage & Excel Conference was our largest yet, with 425 participants from 24 states attending a day and a half of keynotes, breakout sessions, and a ceremony honoring a major Texas political leader with a lifetime award for advancing mental health care.
Shortly after the gavel fell on her last legislative session, retiring Texas Senator Jane Nelson was presented with the first-ever Tom Luce Award for Mental Health Policy Transformation in recognition of her profound contributions to helping people across Texas—particularly children—access quality mental health care. As a longtime champion of improving behavioral health systems, Senator Nelson was a key partner in advancing many policies the Meadows Institute has supported since its creation.
Andy Keller kicked off the conference by discussing our nation’s ability to rise to the occasion and fight a virus unknown to the world two years ago, and how that speaks to our ability to address mental illness more aggressively in the years ahead.
Keller later hosted a conversation with Dr. Thomas Insel, who explored the concepts behind his new book, Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health. Board member Dr. Altha Stewart appeared with Senior Fellow Dr. Quianta Moore, St. David’s Foundation President Dr. Ed Burger, Dr. D.J. Ida, and Fred Sandoval, MPA, on a panel exploring “The Repercussions of Racism on Mental Health.” And Texas Senator Dawn Buckingham and State Representative Greg Bonnen discussed the accomplishments and challenges of the 87th Legislature.
This is just a small sample of the panels and breakout sessions attendees enjoyed.
425
Virtual Attendees
188
Organizations Represented
49
Speakers
Including Mike Thompson, Maria Collins, Madhukar Trivedi, MD, Quianta Moore, MD, Tom Insel, MD, and Roshni Koli, MD + many more.
24
States Represented
The Meadows Institute’s commitment to independent, nonpartisan, data-driven, and trusted policy leadership brings together a growing national and international audience.
15
Unique Sessions Offered
Session topics equip participants to put groundbreaking mental health policy into practice. By joining national experts, innovative policymakers, and trailblazing community leaders, attendees elevate the impact of their work.
John Kasich
Former Ohio Governor
President and CEO, Meadows
Mental Health Policy Institute
Facebook Live with Ohio Governor
John Kasich
Virtual Legislative Briefings
Bracketed by major changes to the economic landscape brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and its federal response, the 87th Legislature presented more to analyze than it typically does.
At the Meadows Institute, we continued our tradition of providing board members and stakeholders with an inside view of all that was accomplished legislatively to improve mental health in 2021.
Held virtually, each of our five Legislative Briefings focused on specific regions hosted by a variety of experts and luminaries from across the state – including former Speaker of the House Joe Straus, Evan Smith and Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune, and Meadows Institute Board Member Nadine Craddick. The events cut through the sometimes-murky information to detail precisely what the legislative outcomes mean for local communities and mental health care across the state.
These briefings are crucial to our ongoing efforts to ensure stakeholders, philanthropists, and other key partners are up to date on significant legislative successes and how they will directly improve lives.