native tulsan Allie Friesen He was appointed Oklahoma Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services earlier this year. She qualified as a mental health professional in 2014 and specializes in treating individuals with neurological disorders and other chronic illnesses. She previously served as Director of the Behavioral Health Clinical Program at INTEGRIS. In March, Ms. Friesen participated in a women’s leadership panel focused on community well-being hosted by GRAND Mental Health.
As for the strategies she hopes to use to promote inclusivity and diversity at the state Department of Mental Health, she says: We will focus on data that drives the decision-making process. And like I said, all Oklahomans, regardless of your background, should have access to the quality mental health and substance abuse services they need. And it’s our job to make sure that happens with the right quality metrics and follow-up on the backend.
I think that will prevent us from losing sentiment and political support. Otherwise, the list will grow even more. The question is, “Where is the demand?” And if that shows us that we need to work with African American women who have high maternal mortality rates and subsequently experience postpartum depression, then okay, let’s do it. Let’s explore how we can do that by partnering with our medical facilities, FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers). Even though I’ve only been on the job for a month, I’m all set to evaluate the data and make sure I have a strategy in place to address the discrepancies that exist.
