about us
A first-of-its-kind collaboration, with leadership and funding from Patrick P. Lee Foundation and support from the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation, this groundbreaking initiative unites municipal and county government, law enforcement and emergency services, healthcare and behavioral health providers, advocates, and people with lived experience.
The CTC Collaborative was developed to address persistent challenges in the behavioral health crisis response system, including fragmented services, coordination limitations, and ongoing overreliance on law enforcement and 911. The effort is committed to operating in a transparent manner, while utilizing existing knowledge, national expertise and best practices, comprehensive data, and information sharing to achieve meaningful improvements to a somewhat fractured existing structure.
Steering committee members include City of Buffalo Mayor Christopher Scanlon, Deputy County Executive Lisa Chimera, Erie County Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Dr. Thomas Quatroche, Jr., Erie County Sheriff John Garcia, Erie County Commissioner of Police Services Brian Ross, and Erie County Commissioner of Mental Health Sarah Bonk, LMSW.
Click here to view CTC Collaborative partners
- Alphonso Wright, Commissioner, Buffalo Police Department
- Amanda Zagst, MSN, RN, Vice President of Behavioral Health Services – CPEP, ECMC
- Amy Rockwood, LMSW, Director of Planning & Evaluation, Erie County Department of Mental Health
- Andrea Wanat, CEO, Value Network IPA, LLC
- Brandy Vandermark-Murray, LMHC, President, Horizon Health Corporations
- Brian Cosgrove, Chief, West Seneca Police Department
- Brian Ross, Commissioner of Central Police Services, Erie County
- Brittany Derry, LMHC, Director of BestResponse Intensive Crisis Center, BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc.
- Cassie Davis, Senior Vice President of Operations, ECMC
- Charlene Ludlow, RN, Senior Vice President of Nursing, ECMC
- Chris Marcello, MPA, Director – Western Field Office, NYS Office of Mental Health
- Christopher Scanlon, City of Buffalo Mayor
- Colleen Kristich, MSW, Senior Community Researcher, Partnership for the Public Good
- Cynthia Voelker, CEO, Spectrum Health and Human Services
- Daniel Antonius, PhD, Director, Division of Forensic Psychiatry, University at Buffalo
- Dave Merlo, Former Managing Director, Restoration Society Inc.
- Deanna Schaumloeffel, Crisis Response Diversion Coordinator, Crisis Services
- Doug Kopp, Lieutenant, Behavioral Health Team (BHT), Buffalo Police Department
- Elizabeth Mauro, LCSW-R, CEO, Endeavor Health Services
- Elizabeth Woike, LCSW-R, CEO, BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc.
- Eric Weigel, CEO, Restoration Society
- Jane Mogavero, Esq., Executive Director, Patrick P. Lee Foundation
- Jeff Pirrone, Executive Director, NAMI Buffalo & Western New York
- Jenna Colern, LMHC, Behavioral Health Team (BHT), Endeavor Health Services
- Jennifer Levesque, LMHC, CEO, ROME
- Jessica C. Pirro, LMSW, President/CEO, Crisis Services
- Jillian Brown, LCSW, Vice President of Behavioral Health Services, ECMC
- Joe Bart, DO, Chief Medical Director, Buffalo Fire Department
- John Garcia, Erie County Sheriff
- Justin Haag, Lieutenant, Cheektowaga Police Department
- Kevin Beckman, LMHC, Vice President of Health Homes & Crisis Interventions, BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc.
- Kevin McGee, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Erie County Sheriff’s Office
- Kevin Smith, NYCPS, MHPC Director – Mental Health Peer Connection, Western New York Independent Living
- LaTonya Diggs, LMSW, Director of Clinical/Quality and Transformation, Value Network IPA, LLC
- Lisa Chimera, Deputy County Executive, Erie County
- Lisa Sears, Director of Law Enforcement Communications, Central Police Services
- Lucia Gioeli, Vice President Ambulatory Services & Population Health, ECMC
- Margaret Varga, LMHC, Director of Crisis Stabilization Center, Endeavor Health Services
- Mark Nowak, Director Marketing & Public Relations, BryLin
- Margery Stanton, LMHC, Chief Program & Services Officer, BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc.
- Marlene LaTona, RN, Senior Vice President of Clinical and Medical Services, Spectrum Health and Human Services
- Martin Floss, PhD, Professor of Criminal Justice, Hilbert College
- Marvin Spates, Captain, Behavioral Health Officer, Buffalo Fire Department
- Mary Swygert, RN, Executive Director of Patient Care Services, BryLin
- Meg Reilly, RN, VP Critical Care and Emergency Services, ECMC
- Melinda DuBois, MSW, Executive Director, Mental Health Advocates of WNY
- Michael F. Hogan, PhD, Former NYS Commissioner of Mental Health and National Expert
- Michael D. Thompson, National Expert
- Michael Cummings, MD, Associate Medical Director, ECMC
- Rachel Martin, COO, Restoration Society Inc.
- Rachel Morrison, Director of the Crisis Counseling Program, Crisis Services
- Robyn Wiktorski-Reynolds, LMSW, Vice President Clinical Operations, Crisis Services
- Ron Barrett, Deputy Commissioner, Buffalo Fire Department
- Ron Schoelerman, LCSW-R, Assistant Vice President of BH and Community Services, ECMC
- Sam Cloud, DO, Chief Medical Officer, ECMC
- Sarah Bonk, LMSW, Commissioner of Mental Health, Erie County
- Scott Karaszewski, Chief EMS Officer, AMR
- Sharese Saleh, MHC-P, Captain, Behavioral Health Services, Buffalo Police Department
- Takesha Leonard, PMHNP, EdD, Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry, PLLC
- Thomas Quatroche, Jr., PhD, CEO, ECMC
- Timothy Carney, Chief, Patrol Services Division, Erie County Sheriff’s Office
- Tracie Bussi, LMSW, Director of Emergency Mental Health Respond Services, Crisis Services
- Tracy Sawicki, Executive Director, Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation
- William Renaldo, Commissioner, Buffalo Fire Department