Clarke Ross To Join NAMI As Deputy Executive Director for Public Policy

Posted on July 18, 1998

Arlinton, VA - NAMI today announced the appointment of Clarke Ross, D.P.A., as its new Deputy Executive Director for Public Policy, the organization’s chief staff officer for coordinating public policy. Ross will join NAMI on October 1, 1998, when he leaves his post as Executive Director of the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association.

“We are delighted to have someone of Clarke’s federal policy, public finance, and association management experience,” said NAMI Executive Director Laurie Flynn in making the appointment. “Clarke’s extensive knowledge of state mental health systems and managed care in particular will strengthen NAMI’s strategic capacity to influence our nation’s public policy especially toward gaining access to adequate services for people with severe mental illness.”

Reporting to both Flynn and NAMI chief operating officer Bill Emmet, Ross will direct the organization’s national policy initiatives and serve on NAMI’s senior management team.

“I am proud to be joining an organization that has achieved so much for its members,” said Ross. “Coming to NAMI is like returning to my roots, and I am eager to work with NAMI’s staff and volunteers to help guide the organization to even greater success and so that consumers can reach their full potential in life.

“One of my top priorities is to ensure that those who pay for services, manage services, and provide services for people with severe mental illness are accountable to those who require them,” said Ross. “Our nation’s system of care exists to help people. It must be held accountable to those people. And, treatment providers should integrate their services with others within organized delivery systems.”

Ross has over 25 years of federal disability policy experience. Prior to his work with the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association, he served as Deputy Executive Director for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, representing the nation’s public mental health commissioners. For twelve years, Ross was Director of Governmental Activities for United Cerebral Palsy Associations, founded by consumers and family members and one of the nation’s largest voluntary health agencies.

In addition to his federal policy expertise, Ross has significant academic experience. With a doctorate in public administration from the George Washington University, Ross has two other graduate degrees – one in health services administration from George Washington University and another in political science and history from the University of Maryland. For two years, Ross was an Assistant Professor of Public Administration for Troy State University - European Region, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany. Ross has taught graduate school as an adjunct for the University of Maryland, Central Michigan University, and Southeastern University. Ross was a State of Maryland Maternal and Child Fellow in 1975; is a lifetime member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the national scholastic honorary society for students of business and management; and is cited in “Who’s Who in America.” Ross also served as a VISTA Volunteer on public housing issues.

Ross is the author of 11 book chapters, 28 professional journal articles, a book on the American Civil War, and numerous newsletters and special reports. He currently serves on three editorial advisory boards, including “Frontlines, Linking Alcohol Services Research and Practice;” “Managed Behavioral Health News;” and “BNA’s Managed Care Reporter.”

Prior to the birth of his son, Andrew in 1990, Clarke was active in several genealogical and Scottish-American societies, including the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

Ross will also work on special NAMI projects to promote mainstreaming mental illness into the general health care and family and consumer arenas, to focus on addictive disorders and mental illness, and to advocate adequate financing and structure of systems of organized and managed care.