Speaker's Profile

Caren Howard currently serves as Director of Policy and Advocacy for Mental Health America and has 14 years� experience in legislative and political affairs, and advocacy. Howard advises and carries out the policy and advocacy strategy for a national community-based consumer nonprofit organization whose mission is to put thevoices of people with lived experience of mental health conditions at the helm of decision-making both at the policy table and in health care settings. She educates and persuades federal and state policymakers to act on a wide range of issues that impact individuals with mental health conditions including health care, education, criminal justice, and housing, and she facilitates relationship between state and local MHA affiliates and their federal and state public officials.