Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Jannina Aristy to the State Advisory Council on Mental Health. 

Aristy, of Hopkins, is an independent mental health consultant on the local, state, and national levels.  She also provides mental health services to Latino families in the Hopkins area.  She previously served as Director of the National Cultural Competence Initiative for Children’s Mental Health at the Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.  Aristy also served as Clinical Consultant/Senior Mental Health Program Consultant for the Children’s Mental Health Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  She received a M.A. in Psychology from American University in Washington D.C. and a B.S. in Psychology from the Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.  Aristy is appointed to a Council position for a provider of mental health services.  She will serve a term ending January 1, 2007 and fills the seat formerly held by Atashi Acharya. 

The State Advisory Council on Mental Health advises the Governor, the Legislature, and state agency heads about policy, programs and services affecting people with mental illness. The Council also educates the public about mental illness.  The Council is made up of 30 members appointed by the Governor. 

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