UConn SSW's Innovations Institute is excited to introduce Johanna Bergan as part of its team of national experts providing consultation and technical assistance on children’s behavioral health and child-and family-serving systems to state and local governments, tribes, territories, communities, and organizations. In her new position, she will provide technical assistance on system reform and strategic planning efforts.
Bergan, a change leader working in systems transformation to effectively support young people navigating the nation’s public systems, has been a valued partner and long-time collaborator of Innovations Institute. She was previously Executive Director of Youth MOVE National (YMN), a youth-driven, chapter-based organization dedicated to elevating the voices of youth with lived experience in mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child welfare to improve these public systems. Bergan has fourteen years’ experience working in and across public serving systems to improve the care options and treatment availability for youth adults with mental health challenges. In her position at YMN, Bergan led exponential growth of the staff and budget, and expanded the chapter affiliation structure to 30 states, with the goal of uniting the voices and causes of youth at the local, state, and national level. She is a skilled strategic thought partner, having provided technical assistance, training, and coaching in 38 states around leadership capacity development, policy change, workforce development, and peer support. In her work Bergan is focused on advancing equitable access to culturally responsive care, ensuring that youth of diverse communities are well represented in systems change work.
For more information, contact: Michelle Boardman at michelle.boardman@uconn.edu