The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) has appointed Kristina M. Morgan as its new Behavioral Health Administrator, effective September 30, 2024. This newly created position was suggested by the Michigan Judicial Council Behavioral Health Workgroup and funded with support from the executive and legislative branches.
Morgan will serve as the Michigan Supreme Court’s representative on improving justice system responses to the behavioral health needs of Michigan children, families, and individuals. She most recently served as liaison manager for the Wayne County Probate Court’s Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) since its inception in 2021.
“Kristina Morgan is well versed in how court and behavioral health systems intersect. Her experience in Wayne County makes her uniquely qualified to help guide our courts as they work to improve how cases involving mental illness and substance use disorders are handled,” said State Court Administrator Tom Boyd. “She will be a dedicated voice to advance behavioral health initiatives that improve the administration of justice and the health of Michiganders.”
In her new role, Morgan's primary responsibilities will include developing and leading implementation of improved court responses for individuals and families involved in the court system who face behavioral issues such as mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
Morgan began her career at the Michigan Department of Corrections in 2009 before moving on to manage several divisions within Wayne County's executive and judicial branches: Department of Children and Family Services; Adult Community Corrections in the Third Judicial Circuit Court; and Veterans and Community Wellness in the Department of Health. She returned to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in 2019 as specialty court coordinator for the mental health treatment court until joining Wayne County Probate Court BHU in 2021. Her role there involved collaborating with stakeholders like the Detroit-Wayne Integrated Health Network to address mental health crises within the local criminal justice system.
Morgan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration degree in strategic management from Davenport University.
“I am eager to bring my passion for behavioral health policy and my dedication to improving the administration of justice to this new and exciting role,” Morgan said. “I believe my strong understanding of laws and regulations related to behavioral health services and court systems, in addition to my experience in behavioral health program implementation, will enable me to hit the ground running.”
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