Legal Division

The Legal Division is organized as a division of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).

The purpose of the Legal Division is to establish and maintain as an integrated group, members of the legal profession who are legal advisors to state mental health program directors, and others who provide legal liaison for state mental health program directors, to provide an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas concerning mental health law; to improve professional responsibility and expertise with the study, discussion, resolution, collection, and dissemination of ideas, information, data, conclusions, and solutions with respect to the legal problems common to the field of mental health.

Executive Committee (as of January 1, 2019)

TitleTermNameState
Officers
Chairperson1/1/19 – 12/31/20 Allyson TysingerVA
Vice Chairperson1/1/19 – 12/31/20 Lisa CiastonNJ
Secretary1/1/18 – 12/31/19Thomas B. KlinnerAL
Member-at-Large1/1/19 – 12/31/20 VacantVacant
Past-Chairperson1/1/19 – 12/31/20 Lester BlumbergMA
Regional Coordinators
Northeast1/1/19 – 12/31/20 Sarah GoncherDE
South1/1/18 – 12/31/19Brenda King WoodardGA
Midwest1/1/19 – 12/31/20 Leslie AsmanMI
West1/1/18 – 12/31/19Eric NelsonWA

 

Chairperson: 

Allyson Tysinger (VA)

 

NASMHPD Commissioner Division Advisor:

Vacant

 

NASMHPD Division Administrators:

David Miller, M.P.Aff

Senior Operations & Project Director, NASMHPD

703-739-9333, X153

Fax: 703-548-9517

David.Miller@nasmhpd.org

 

Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization

View the most current ICC roster as of January 2024

Introduction

The Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization is an affiliate of the Legal Division of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). Many states were and still are faced with the challenge of providing an array of mental health services in accordance with state and federal mandates and to do so in a cost effective manner. As a result of these state and federal mandates the Interstate Compact on Mental Health and Mental Retardation was enacted by governing bodies of States who chose to be members. The first State to ratify the Compact was Connecticut in 1955. Today, there are forty-five states and the District of Columbia who are members of the Compact.

Background

The Interstate Compact provides an opportunity for member states to provide a vehicle for transferring persons between states for continued treatment, returning a committed person to their state of residency when the individual left a state operated facility on an unauthorized absence, as well as to establish residency in the receiving state. Over the last fifty years, the Compact has proven to be an effective tool to secure clinically appropriate services for the people we serve and their families.

The purpose of the Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization is to provide implementation and maintenance of the Interstate Compact as adopted by the participating states through the establishment of a cohesive organization. Each state legislative body enacted laws giving authority to the Interstate Compact Administrator/Coordinator to handle all interstate matters. The designated Coordinator acts as the General Coordinator of Activities under the Compact in his/her respective state (sending or receiving).

Officers and Regional Coordinators

The officers of the Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary. In addition, there are four Regional Coordinators who are responsible for fostering and promoting communication of information and ideas between the newly elected and established Coordinators within his/her region.

Executive Committee (as of September, 2016)

Title NameState
Officers
Chairperson Vacant 
Vice Chairperson Vacant 
Secretary Vacant 
Regional Coordinators
West Dean CarlisleOR
Midwest Vacant 
Northeast Vacant 
South Vacant