Driving Value In A Budget Sensitive Environment
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC
Summit Chair & Senior Associate,
OPEN MINDS
As federal health and human services policies continue to shift—and states recalibrate funding in response—counties are experiencing the impact in real time. With expanding responsibility for safety-net populations and increasing pressure to demonstrate outcomes, government leaders are being asked to deliver more value, more coordination, and more measurable impact—while safeguarding taxpayer dollars and stretching every available resource. This moment calls for bold strategy and practical solutions.
Join us for the inaugural Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit, sponsored by Bamboo Health. This exclusive gathering is designed for forward-thinking government leaders ready to move beyond incremental change and drive meaningful system transformation. Engage with peers from across the country, examine proven models and candid lessons learned, and explore innovative cross-agency partnerships that are redefining how counties serve high-need populations.
You will leave with actionable insights on what is delivering results, where common pitfalls persist, and how to seize emerging opportunities to strengthen health and human service systems across government. If you are navigating rising demand, constrained resources, and heightened accountability, this Summit will equip you with the strategies and connections to lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving landscape.
2026 Summit Agenda
The National Market Trends Driving Changes In Government Health & Human Service Management
Join us as we kick off the day with Deanne Cornette, Senior Associate, OPEN MINDS, as she dives into the national policy, funding, and market forces reshaping county health and human services systems. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how federal shifts, state funding recalibration, value-based expectations, and rising demand are redefining county accountability and performance expectations. Hear why counties are not simply administrators of programs, but integrators of care and stewards of measurable outcomes in a resource-constrained environment.
State Leaders Driving Behavioral Health Innovation: A Panel Discussion
As behavioral health systems face rising demand, workforce shortages, and evolving payer and regulatory expectations, state leaders are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of care delivery. This session brings together a panel of state leaders to share how they are advancing behavioral health transformation through strategic funding, policy reform, cross-agency collaboration, and data-driven initiatives.
Health care executives will gain insight into emerging state priorities, innovative programs, and scalable models that are improving access, quality, and outcomes across mental health, substance use, and integrated care settings. The discussion will highlight practical implications for providers, including opportunities to align organizational strategy with state initiatives, leverage public funding, and prepare for what’s next in behavioral health policy and system design. Leave with a clearer understanding of how state-level innovation is reshaping the behavioral health landscape – and how executive leaders can partner effectively with states to drive sustainable, mission-aligned growth.
Nora K. Bock, MS, LPC
Nora Bock serves as the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She is a recognized behavioral health leader focused on strengthening public mental health systems through cross sector partnerships. Her work spans community-based prevention, treatment, and recovery services, as well as forensic services, hospital oversight, and innovative public-private collaborations that increase access and improve outcomes across complex public behavioral health environments.
Nick Boukas, MPA
Nick Boukas is the Director of Behavioral Health Services at the New Mexico Health Care Authority. Mr. Boukas has served in various roles in public service for city, county, regional and state government agencies and national organizations working with the CDC and other Federal agencies on policy and programs. He has been an invited speaker to national and regional conferences speaking on various topics ranging from workforce development to
community engagement. Prior to his appointment in 2023, Mr. Boukas worked at the New Mexico Department of Health. His focus has been to strengthen the behavioral health system to make New Mexico a healthier place. He has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and lives in Santa Fe with his wife and dogs.
Moving Government Health & Human Service Contracting To Performance-Based Models
During this session we’ll examine real-world examples of counties transitioning from volume-based or compliance-driven contracting to performance-based models tied to outcomes and value. Attendees will take away the financial, operational, and political implications of this shift, including procurement alignment, provider readiness, and performance metrics, and discover a roadmap for aligning contracts, data systems, and oversight processes to support measurable impact while safeguarding public funds.
Scaling Coordinated Care Models For Safety Net Services For High-Needs Population
During this session, panelists will focus on what it truly takes to scale coordinated care beyond pilot programs. Attendees will explore leadership lessons, funding strategies, technology infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships required to support high-need populations, particularly those interacting with multiple systems. Leave this session with clarity on the enabling conditions for sustainable scale, common pitfalls in multi-system coordination, and how counties can position themselves as accountable hubs for whole-person, safety-net care.