Mental Health Programs

About CMHS

Neal B. Brown, M.P.A.
Branch Chief, Community Support Programs Branch

Neal Brown has been a national leader on policy and program issues in mental health for 30 years. Since 1979, he has been with the Federal Community Support Program (CSP), a national program and movement designed to promote and advocate for community treatment, rehabilitation, employment and opportunities for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

The Community Support Program is an important operating program within the Center for Mental Health Services under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Mr. Brown directs CSP and provides leadership to the national initiative on transforming and reforming state and community mental health systems to better emphasize consumer direction, empowerment and recovery. Mr. Brown manages programs focused on adults and older adults, and designed to implement and sustain promising and effective practices. Program areas include support for consumer organizations and self-help activities; technical assistance on evaluation; an emphasis on supported employment and education; criminal justice, trauma, and jail diversion initiatives; services for older adults; behavioral and primary care linkages; and evidence based practice implementation projects and guides.

Mr. Brown has a B.A. degree with a major in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. He has a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Rhode Island and a post-Master’s Certificate in Health Care Administration from the George Washington University.