Joan Erney, JD

Joan Erney retired in December 2019 after over 35 years in the public behavioral health system. Since retiring she has been consulting part time with state associations, counties, behavioral health agencies and advocacy organizations, as well as engaging in local community work. Joan is on the Board of Directors for NAMI Keystone, the New Cumberland Public Library, the New Cumberland Towne Band, and is currently the Mayor of New Cumberland, PA, elected in November 2023.

Starting her career as a direct services worker in crisis intervention services in Dauphin County, she was most recently the Chief Executive Officer at Community Behavioral Health (CBH), Philadelphia’s administrative management organization for the HealthChoices behavioral health Medicaid program. During her tenure, Philadelphia saw the expansion of Medicaid to over 700,000 Philadelphians. Erney was noted for developing a collaborative approach with providers, members, advocates, and system partners to effect positive change to the Philadelphia behavioral health landscape.

Prior to her role at CBH, Erney was in senior leadership roles at SAMHSA and Community Care Behavioral Health and was the Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Use Services (OMHSAS) under the Rendell administration. In her state role, Erney closed three state hospitals, expanded the HealthChoices behavioral health system statewide, created a criminal justice initiative, saw the development and impact of peer services, created a robust advisory structure, and made numerous policy and program changes to enhance the services for children and their families with behavioral health challenges. Her prior experience also includes policy and legislative work with the PA Community Providers Association (now RCPA) and CEO of Community Behavioral Health Network of PA (now Perform Care).

Joan is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and received her JD from Widener School of Law.