Joan Mikula

Commissioner, Department of Mental Health

Joan Mikula was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health in May, 2015. She has served the Department for more than 30 years, most recently as Deputy Commissioner for Child and Adolescent Services. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that children, youth, families and adults have every opportunity to participate in their recovery and achieve their mental health goals.  Passionate about consumer voice and choice, Commissioner Mikula’s experience in education, child welfare and juvenile justice as well as mental health administration in the private sector is significant. She is expert in the areas of systems of care development; strengths based interventions in the context of family practice; youth and family voice; and of the linkage between behavioral health and primary care. Her expertise has guided the Department’s efforts around children and their families and her commitment to interagency partnerships with families and youth have resulted in many cutting edge initiatives in the Commonwealth.