Integrated Care For I/DD: Treating Addiction & Mental Health Together
This full-day event is designed to help executives improve care for people with co-occurring conditions and cognitive disabilities through person-centered approaches.
Joseph Naughton-Travers, Ed.M.
Summit Chair & Senior Associate,
OPEN MINDS
Through carefully curated sessions given by industry experts, attendees will learn best practices in serving co-occurring I/DD, mental health and addictive disorders, strategies for building integrated care and enhanced tech supports, and insights into payer approaches and innovations for this population.
2026 Summit Agenda
The I/DD & Autism Landscape: Population Trends, Co-Occurring Needs & Market Pressures
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the current I/DD & Autism markets, with a focus on population growth, increasing clinical complexity, and the prevalence of co-occurring mental health, chronic conditions, and substance use disorders. Executives will gain insight into workforce shortages, reimbursement constraints, regulatory pressures, and access challenges shaping service delivery nationwide. Speakers will highlight key data trends and emerging risks to help leaders better anticipate demand, align resources, and position their organizations for sustainability in a rapidly evolving environment.
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
Integrated Care In Action: Lessons From Multi-Service I/DD, MH & SUD Providers
As individuals with I/DD present with increasingly complex behavioral and substance use needs, integrated service models are becoming essential. This session features real-world case studies from organizations delivering both I/DD, MH or SUD services under one operational and clinical framework. Presenters will discuss lessons learned, barriers to integration, regulatory considerations, and measurable outcomes, offering executives practical insights into scaling integrated care while maintaining quality, compliance and financial viability.
Kelley Krueger, Ph.D., BCBA
Dr. Kelley Krueger, PhD, BCBA is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 17 years of experience working with neurodivergent populations. Dr. Krueger is the Senior Clinical Director of Neurodevelopmental Services, Southern California Region for Pacific Clinics and the Center for Divergent Connections. She started her career as a behavior therapist and instructional aide before receiving her BA in Psychology and Social Behavior at the University of California, Irvine. She earned her MA and PhD in Psychological Studies in Education at the University of California, Los Angeles under the mentorship of Dr. Connie Kasari.
Dr. Krueger is passionate about supporting neurodivergent populations to achieve self-determined, authentic, and enriched lives. She uses a strengths-based, neurobiologically-informed, neurodiversity-affirming approach to assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Krueger’s primary research interests include promoting engagement and communication development in minimally verbal autistic populations, augmentative and assistive communication systems, and neurodiversity-affirming practices.
Afm Z. Haque, M.D., MPH
Dr. Haque currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of The Legacy Treatment Services, which is one of the largest mental health care providers with a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults headquartered in Burlington County, New Jersey. He provides consultation, training to the staff and direct care at the Legacy. He was the Medical Director of CPC Behavioral Health Care, prior to his current position. Dr. Haque also served as the Chief of Psychiatry of Woods Services.
Dr. Haque believes in evidence-based psychiatry but appreciates the role of promising emerging treatments. His comprehensive approach from the developmental, genetic, neurobiological, and environmental and cultural/spiritual facets have consistently resulted in significant gains by his clients. He focuses on the symptom complex and how it is connected with the neurotransmitters and brain circuits rather than mere diagnostic criteria. He thinks that every individual is unique and requires individualized interventions for maximum benefit and personal growth. Challenging patients have become his specialty.
Prior to moving to New Jersey, Dr. Haque served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) in New Orleans and participated in numerous research and clinical trials. Dr. Haque completed his psychiatry residency and child psychiatry fellowship training at LSU where he served as Chief Resident. He also received his Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from Tulane University in New Orleans.
Dr. Haque is Board Certified in Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry. He frequently conducts lectures for peers and news media regarding psychiatric disorders and is considered to be a thought leader in the field. Dr. Haque has spoken as an expert panel at UN in NY regarding Autism. He has given multiple interviews in the Voice of America and several media outlets. Recently, his name was listed as “America’s Top Psychiatrist” by the Consumer Research Council. Dr. Haque has frequently published in peer-reviewed journals. He believes that raising a son with Autism has been a blessing to understand the pain of others.
Accountable Care For I/DD: Inside The ACO Model
What does accountable care look like for individuals with I/DD? This session explores ACO models designed to improve care coordination, outcomes and cost management for this population. Hear directly from ACO leaders and participating providers about governance, data sharing, quality metrics, and financial alignment. Attendees will gain a balanced view of the opportunities and challenges of ACO participation, along with actionable considerations for organizations evaluating or operating within these models.
What Actually Works: Monarch’s Integrated Care Model For I/DD & Co‑Occurring Behavioral Health & Substance Use DisordersÂ
Peggy Terhune, Ph.D., OTR/L, MBA
Peggy Terhune, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer of Monarch, where she has provided visionary leadership for more than 30 years. Under her tenure, Monarch has grown into a nationally recognized, mission‑driven system of care delivering integrated services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, and substance use disorders.
Dr. Terhune is widely respected for advancing integrated care models that align clinical excellence, operational discipline, and community‑based innovation. Her leadership has focused on building scalable systems that address complex needs across the lifespan while improving access, outcomes, and sustainability in publicly funded care.
As CEO, Dr. Terhune works closely with clinical leaders to translate evidence‑based practices into real‑world care delivery, making Monarch a trusted partner for payers, policymakers, and provider organizations nationwide. At the Open Minds Strategy & Innovation Summit, she brings an executive perspective on how integrated system design can move beyond theory to deliver measurable impact for individuals with I/DD and co‑occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders.
In addition to her career, Peggy is mother to seven adult children, grandmother to ten and wife to Bob. For more than twenty years, the couple has fostered children with and without disabilities. A servant leader, Peggy continues to provide community service in many ways. For fun, she serves as an adjunct faculty member at Wingate University in the doctoral program for Occupational Therapy and at Pfeiffer University in the masters’ program for Occupational Therapy. In her spare time, she enjoys needlepoint, knitting, reading and traveling.
Robert McHale, M.D., MS
Dr. Robert McHale, MD, MS is the Medical Director at Monarch, where he has provided clinical leadership and oversight for behavioral health services since 2010. A board‑certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, Dr. McHale works with individuals of all ages experiencing mental illness and substance use disorders, with a particular focus on the treatment of people with co‑occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and behavioral health needs. His clinical interests also include the complex interaction between psychiatric and general medical conditions.
Dr. McHale earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Saint Louis University, a Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Saint George’s University School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, where he was named Chief Resident. His professional background includes work as a study physician and sub‑investigator at the Clinical Research Institute in Kansas, contributing to research on depression, psychotropic medications, and drug–drug interactions. Prior to medical school, he worked as a biochemist at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and has co‑authored more than 30 scientific publications and abstracts.
A recognized leader and educator, Dr. McHale has delivered numerous presentations on mental illness and integrated care, reflecting his belief that education is central to delivering high‑quality, person‑centered services. He has received multiple honors, including the NAMI Excellence in Service Award and the Laurie Coyner Award for Excellence in Psychiatric Inpatient Care. Dr. McHale is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as board certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine.
John Latz, M.D.
Dr. John Latz, MD is the Medical Director for Specialty Populations at Monarch, where he provides clinical leadership for crisis services supporting individuals with complex behavioral health needs, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and co-occurring behavioral health and/or substance use disorders. With more than 34 years of clinical experience, Dr. Latz brings deep expertise in psychiatry, crisis intervention, and integrated care for high-acuity populations.
A native of Texas, Dr. Latz earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio before completing a master’s degree at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He received his medical degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. First licensed in 1992, he is board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and has practiced across a wide range of settings, including private practice for more than three decades, inpatient psychiatric services in both nonprofit and for-profit systems, and leadership roles within the state hospital system, where he served as Associate Chief Medical Officer.
At Monarch, Dr. Latz supports the development and operation of crisis service models that emphasize person-centered care, clinical integration, and cross-system coordination for individuals with complex needs. His work focuses on improving access, stabilization, and long-term outcomes while reducing unnecessary emergency utilization.
Outside of his professional work, Dr. Latz is married with four adult children and is eagerly awaiting his first grandchild. He and his wife are “gentleman farmers” in Catawba, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, where they enjoy caring for their horses and other assorted critters. He is also an active member of the local amateur (ham) radio emergency communications community and assisted with first-in supply coordination and the establishment of a field hospital following Hurricane Helene.
At the Open Minds Strategy & Innovation Institute, Dr. Latz will share practical clinical insights and strategies for treating individuals with I/DD and co-occurring behavioral health and/or substance use disorders, with a focus on navigating care complexity, coordinating across systems, and building effective, sustainable crisis service models.
Breakout Discussion Group: Treatment Considerations For Co-Occurring Disorders
This breakout discussion group will gather for a deeper conversation about treatment considerations and issues for populations with co-occurring disorders, including how to cross train staff and clinical leaders, overcoming communication barriers when it comes to diagnosing, and adopting trauma-informed, person-centered care models.
Choose which 2:00 pm discussion group you’d like to attend!
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
Breakout Discussion Group: Making The Funding Work For Integrated Care
This breakout discussion group will gather for a deep dive into funding integrated care models including braided funding strategies, approaches to health plan contracting relationships and marketing to payers, as well as merger and acquisition growth strategies.
Choose which 2:00 pm discussion group you’d like to attend!
Paul Duck
Paul M. Duck brings over 25 years of experience in leadership and management focusing on managed care, health information technology organizations, strategy, business development, and market expansion, and customer experience optimization to the OPEN MINDS team.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Duck served as the Vice President, Strategy & Development at Beacon Health Options. In this role, Mr. Duck led the organization’s strategy and business development efforts – responsible for a 30% increase in net revenue and initiated over $1 billion in revenue generation. Mr. Duck was active in national behavioral health initiatives as an executive of Beacon Health Options, including participating as a speaker at national and state association meetings.
Before joining Beacon Health Options, Mr. Duck was the Vice President of Business Development at Netsmart Technologies. During his tenure, Mr. Duck was responsible for business planning, including, the oversight of strategic activities including acquisitions, development, and execution of strategic initiatives, and positioning, and sales of large strategic customers. He also led the rollout of the company’s benchmarking and data analytics product suite.
Prior to Netsmart, Mr. Duck served as the Chief Executive Officer for Coastal Orthopedics and Pain Management, a large group practice with five clinic locations and two ambulatory surgical centers. As the organization’s chief executive officer, Mr. Duck was responsible for significant positive changes in leadership and corporate culture, financial and operational performance, compliance, and governance. Mr. Duck improved net collections by over $1 million per month and grew the practice through negotiating better contract rates with payers. He also implemented an organizational rebranding initiative and launched a new marketing campaign.
Prior to Coastal Orthopedics and Pain Management, Mr. Duck served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Florida Radiology Imaging, one of the largest outpatient diagnostic imaging service companies serving the greater Orlando market. During his tenure, Mr. Duck led the construction of three new, full modality, diagnostic imaging locations. Mr. Duck revolutionized the company’s culture by creating a highly attractive and functional work environment.
Mr. Duck earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Case Western Reserve University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Engineering Technology from the Electronic Technology Institute. Mr. Duck received an award by Inc Magazine for leading Florida Radiology Imaging as one of America’s fastest-growing companies. Mr. Duck recently served as a contributing author to the book The New Health Age: The Future of Health Care in America.
Medicaid Innovation For Autism & I/DD: 1115 Waivers, Emerging Models & Funding-Driven Change
Medicaid policy continues to be a primary driver of innovation in I/DD services. This session examines new and experimental Medicaid waivers, with a particular focus on Section 1115 demonstrations and their impact on care models, funding structures, and service integration. Presenters will review current waiver activity, early results, and state-level trends, helping executives understand how funding mechanisms are shaping the future of I/DD services and where strategic opportunities may exist.
Janet Butler
Janet Butler has developed and led residential and individualized support programs for over 35 years, primarily with Community Systems, where she is the CEO and President. Her innovative thinking and dedication to the discovery of each person’s definition of their own happiness have led to scores of remarkable success stories, most notably with persons considered too challenging to ever enjoy community success or live independently.
Ms. Butler received her degree in nursing and later a BS in Nonprofit Management from Skidmore College. She was the Executive Director of Community Systems, Inc. in Massachusetts for more than 20 years, starting the operations and growing the organization to support 250 individuals with more than 350 staff.
Janet assumed the role of CEO upon the retirement of the founders at CSI, who had filled their roles for more than 30 years. Prior to this role, she worked as a nurse in acute care and helped develop one of the first hospice services in southeastern Massachusetts when it was strictly charity responsibility.
Community Systems, Inc. is a group of nonprofit organizations providing support to persons with disabilities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, and Delaware. The organization operates primarily in the ID/DD but also provides brain injury services, including to disabled veterans. For the last 15 years, the primary focus of her role has been to help build leaders.
Stacey Dixon, Ph.D., MHA
Dr. Dixon is a licensed psychologist with over 37 years of experience in both clinical and leadership positions in the fields of behavioral health and ID/D. The primary focus of her work has been assisting people and their systems of support in transitioning out of high levels of care or incarceration into lives of their choosing in the community. Currently, she leads Project Transition and PCS Mental Health as we bolster and grow our array of community-based services and supports for people with behavioral health, substance use, and ID/D.
The Road Ahead For Autism & I/DD Organizations: A Payer & Provider Executive Roundtable
This closing panel brings together senior leaders from Autism & I/DD provider organizations and payer partners for a candid discussion on the future of the field. Panelists will address shared challenges, evolving expectations, and opportunities for collaboration across care delivery, reimbursement, and innovation. Designed as an interactive executive dialogue, this session will leave attendees with forward-looking perspectives and practical takeaways to guide strategic planning in an increasingly complex I/DD landscape.
Rita Wiersma
Rita Wiersma, President and CEO of Accord, is celebrating 10 years of transformative leadership in disability services. Leading a team of dedicated professionals, Rita has grown Accord into a statewide leader known for quality, innovation, and person-centered care. With expertise in strategic planning, program development, and mergers and acquisitions, she has expanded services to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and serious mental illness to live their greatest lives. Prior to Accord, Rita held executive roles with Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, overseeing teams of up to 800 staff and budgets exceeding $20 million. Her vision and advocacy have advanced both organizational excellence and systemic change in Minnesota’s disability services. Rita’s decade-long leadership is a testament to her commitment to building stronger communities and creating lasting impact.
Rebecca Richwine, MS
Becki Richwine is the Senior Vice President for Merakey’s Children & Family Services, responsible for overseeing all program operations and driving clinical and business development. She began her career at Merakey in 2007 as the Regional Director of Autism Services. Becki’s leadership has been instrumental in significantly expanding program operations, while she continues to foster new ideas to improve programming for all Merakey children’s services.
Becki received her BA in Psychology from Shippensburg University and went on to receive her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a focus in Behavioral Disorders and Social Emotional Disorders. She started her career in human services as Therapeutic Support Staff before moving into management roles, such as the Assistant Director of BHRS, the Director of Outpatient Services, the Executive Director of Operations, and the Vice President of Education & Autism Services.
In her over 20 years of experience, Rebecca has focused her career on delivering high quality services to all individuals in need and skilling operational and clinical leaders to help fulfill that mission.
Dean Pastras, ACSW, LCSW
For more than 40 years, Dean Pastras has dedicated his career to providing essential social work services to children, adults, and families across New Jersey. He began as a clinician working with children facing a wide range of challenges and later became Director of Children’s Services at the Fair Lawn Mental Health Center, which eventually merged with CarePlus NJ. During his tenure, he developed and expanded innovative programs designed to support children and families in their communities.
In 2002, following New Jersey’s major initiative to transform the behavioral health system for children, Dean became the founding Executive Director of Bergen’s Promise. Under his leadership, the organization has become a premier children’s behavioral health care management organization utilizing the nationally recognized Wraparound Model. Central to this approach is the Child Family Team process, which brings together the child, their family, community supports, and service providers to collaborate toward the child’s wellbeing. Bergen’s Promise has received widespread recognition for helping children thrive while remaining at home, in school, and connected to their communities.
Dean has presented at major conferences and professional events and has provided training and consulting on the Wraparound approach and system-of-care practices for professionals and organizations. He has also contributed to statewide mental health initiatives, including serving on the Governor’s Task Force for Mental Health. He is a past chair of the Bergen County Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council and the Trauma and Youth Project.
His leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Ann Klein Advocate Award, the CarePlus NJ Courage Award, and the NJAMHAA Outstanding Leader in Mental Health Services.
Throughout his career, Dean has championed the Wraparound philosophy, emphasizing collaboration, community support, and family-centered care.
Dean holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University and is both an Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) credential holder and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). A lifelong resident of Bergen County, New Jersey, he remains deeply committed to strengthening services that help children and families thrive.
Rebecca Womack, MS, LBA, BCBA
Rebecca has been privileged to serve adults and children using applied behavior analysis (ABA) in settings such as facility-based care, group homes, day centers, clinics, and family homes both across the United States and overseas. In addition to her clinical experience, Rebecca is passionate about ABA service delivery aligning with generally accepted standards of care. With an expertise in applying health care documentation requirements and systems of compliance, she served as the lead author of a chapter on organizational documentation guidelines for ABA services.
Rebecca co-led the development of session note templates for adaptive behavior services via the Documentation Special Interest Group (SIG) for the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP). She was also a co-led the creation of the CASP Artificial Intelligence Practice Parameters, is an appointed Subject Matter Expert for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and a Member of the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Rebecca also has extensive experience with public policy work. Not only is she an experienced presenter at national conferences, but she has also won national awards for her role as an advocate and work to support ABA organizations in delivering quality services.
Rebecca currently serves as the National Director of ABA for Optum. She also formed RAW Consulting Solutions as a way to provide education and consultation services to ABA organizations, professionals, and providers of ABA services. Whatever the role, her ultimate goal is to make a significant impact through effective and efficient services utilizing the science of behavior analysis.