Spreading the adoption of system of care throughout Texas is a team effort. In addition to the team members listed below, Texas System of Care is grateful for the knowledge, contributions and sheer hard work provided by numerous partner organizations and individuals.
Molly Lopez, PhD
Lead Evaluator
Arnoldo Amador
Evaluation SpecialistArnoldo Amador (he/him/his) graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2016 with a Master’s in Experimental Psychology. His career and research interests have intertwined over the years in the evaluation of Education (STEM & Bilingual), Cognition, Neuropsychology, and Mental Health. He’s had the opportunity to partner with individuals across the lifespan to study and evaluate different formal and informal assessments. Contact Arnoldo at arnoldo.amador@austin.utexas.edu.
Nidia Chairez Heston, LMSW, Certified Family Partner-M
Family Engagement SpecialistSince high school where Nidia Heston (she/her/ella) participated in a vocational childcare program, she has been interested in how children learn and grow and how their families can support them. After ten years of working with children and families in early learning settings, most of her work has been in pediatrics where, no matter what her “official” job duties were, she found herself helping families navigate medical and various child-serving systems. Eventually, she would become a mom to a child who would be diagnosed with non-verbal autism at age three and several mental health diagnoses by age 10yrs and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at age 13yrs old. In 2007, Nidia was hired as a Family Partner for a Local Mental Health Authority where she worked until 2014 and fell in love with the work of peer support. Since then, Nidia has volunteered for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central Texas, been part of a non-profit board who supports children with rare/undiagnosed medical conditions, provided community training on advocacy, earned a master’s degree, participated in numerous workgroups and presentations, and coordinated state training and the Certified Family Partner Program. Nidia is so excited to join Texas System of Care to help further the voice of families and youth to continue to inform the development of family and individual serving systems in Texas. Contact Nidia at nidia.heston@hhs.texas.gov.
Grace Cruse
Public Affairs RepresentativeGrace Cruse (she/they) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. They have experience in social media content creation, photography, and graphic design. Grace is passionate about how communications, social media, and design can be used to raise awareness around mental health and improve systems that influence well-being. While she is not working, you can find her gardening, exploring local coffee shops, and spoiling her cat, Luna. Contact Grace at grace.cruse@austin.utexas.edu.
Glenn Dembowski
Project Services CoordinatorGlenn (he/they) specializes in solutions. An alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin, he has worked for UT since 1996. He currently serves as the Project Services Coordinator for the Texas System of Care, operating largely behind the scenes to support the team as they work to ensure that Texas children have access to excellent mental health care. Drawing on his experience in academic, service, and research departments at the University, Glenn facilitates purchasing, travel, event coordination, contracts, web-conferencing, data compilation, and occasionally rescues small animals in distress. He is a writer, musician, and poet; his preferred color is green, and his favorite video game is MS Excel. Contact Glenn at gdembowski@austin.utexas.edu.
Natalie Fikac, Ed.D.
School Mental Health LeadNatalie Fikac (she/her/hers) serves as the School Mental Health Lead at the Texas System of Care. Her educational experience began over 26 years ago as an elementary school teacher, reading interventionist, professional school counselor, campus administrator and district level administrator. Previously she served at the Texas Education Agency as the Project AWARE State Coordinator. Natalie holds a Masters in Education in School Counseling and School Administration from Sam Houston State University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. Her research interests include school mental and behavioral health, systems change, leadership, wellness, resiliency, and self-compassion. Contact Natalie at natalie.fikac@austin.utexas.edu.
Tammy Holland, BSW, MPAff
Senior Administrative Program CoordinatorTammy T. Holland (she/her) serves as the Senior Administrative Program Coordinator for Texas System of Care at the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health. Her work focuses on supporting mental health authorities and schools to shape comprehensive school mental health systems across Texas.
She began working with Texas children and families more than thirty years ago as a licensed social worker at the Abilene Regional Victim Crisis Center. Subsequently, she served at the Arizona Baptist Children’s Services, Brownwood ECI Program, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and Texas Health & Human Services Commission. Tammy holds a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She is published in YOU and Your Nonprofit: Practical Advice and Tips from the Charity Channel Professional Community and has been a featured speaker at many national and state conferences specializing in the topic of volunteer administration and community engagement.
Tammy enjoys traveling the world with her husband and spending time with her five children and three grandchildren. Contact Tammy at tammy.holland@austin.utexas.edu.
Ophelia Jaushlin
Texas System of Care Assistant Project DirectorOphelia Jaushlin, MSW, serves as the Texas System of Care Assistant Project Director in the Office of Mental Health Coordination at Texas Health and Human Services. Ophelia brings 28 years of experience working in child welfare with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) under Child Protective Services (CPS). During her CPS tenure, she held various positions including as a caseworker and supervisor for youth in the Permanent Managing Conservatorship of the State and as a CPS Medical Services Division Program Specialist where she gained additional expertise in assisting aging out youth with complex medical and behavioral health needs. Most recently, Ophelia worked with the CPS Transitional Living Services Division which addresses the needs of youth and young adults aging out of the foster care system.
Ophelia has a passion for working with youth, young adults and their families. Her goal is to bring awareness to mental health needs, strengthen families and minimize barriers to continuity of care in accessing mental and behavioral health services. She is excited for the opportunity to bring her professional and personal experiences to support System of Care work in Texas.
Ophelia is a native Lubbockite who has been living in Austin since moving there after graduating. She earned her B.A. in Social Work from Texas Tech University and her Master of Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, she loves to travel home to Lubbock to spend time with her family, garden, dance, crafting and organizing. Her personal hobby goal is to learn calligraphy, candle and soap making.
Contact Ophelia at Ophelia.Jaushlin@hhs.texas.gov
Kendall Jones
Communication SpecialistKendall (she/her/hers) is the Communication Specialist for Texas System of Care. She has over 10 years of experience in branding, identity, marketing, and social media.
Kendall has her master’s degree in Child Life from Texas Woman’s University and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is grateful for the opportunity to use her unique combination of experience and education at the organization.
When she’s not online, Kendall enjoys being with her horse, Winston, and hiking with her two dogs.
Contact Kendall at Kendall.jones@austin.utexas.edu.
Zatara Lumen
Administrative CoordinatorZatara Lumen (she/her/hers) provides administrative coordination support for Texas System of Care. Zatara facilitates grant activities such as travel, event coordination, contracts, data compilation, and Children and Youth Behavioral Health Subcommittee support. Zatara received her Bachelors in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University. While she’s never worked in her field, Zatara has used her skills and experience to be the best administrator she can be. She’s happy to call Austin home and she enjoys exploring the city with its wide variety of art, music, great food, and fun events. Zatara enjoys reading, meeting new people as well as spending time with her dog and her friends. Contact Zatara at zatara.lumen@austin.utexas.edu.
Sherry Rumsey, LPC
Project DirectorSherry Rumsey (she/her/hers) is the Texas System of Care Project Director in the Office of Mental Health Coordination at Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She began her career as a children’s therapist with the local mental health authority in Travis county. Since then, she has served in a variety of progressively responsible roles in community mental health and child welfare. Her professional experience includes work at Austin Travis County Integral Care, UT Health San Antonio Child Abuse Division and recently at the Department of Family and Protective Services where she spent six years as Division Administrator for CPS Medical Services. Sherry is a native Austinite living in San Antonio with her husband and daughter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in counseling from Texas State University. Outside of work, she is a softball mom, novice runner and pet parent to a Bengal cat. Contact Sherry at sherry.rumsey@hhs.texas.gov.
Kaylah Topasna, LMSW
Youth Engagement SpecialistKaylah (she/her/hers) has over 6 years of experience working with youth and young adults who experienced the foster care system, juvenile justice system, and school-aged parenting. Kaylah also has experience working with community organizations, policymakers, and other change agent professionals throughout Texas. Prior to coming to TXSOC, Kaylah served as the State Office ETV/Youth Program Specialist for The Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS). She spent 5 years with DFPS, where she led the San Antonio Regional Youth Leadership Council and, eventually, the Statewide Youth Leadership Council. She specialized in foster care policy, psychoeducational groups, Peer-Led Support, and advocacy work. Kaylah believes that by using personal and professional lived experience, she can connect with others’ shared experiences by building connection, and resiliency. Kaylah is a licensed social worker in the state of Texas. Kaylah also holds her Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at San Antonio and her Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Texas State University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé and their two daughters. She also enjoys spending time with friends, roasting her own coffee, making more lattes than she can drink, traveling, house music and making DIY crafts. Contact Kaylah at kaylah.topasna@hhs.texas.gov.