Why have nonprofits historically been seen as workhorses rather than leaders in the search for social innovation? In this panel discussion, Dr. David Shern, CEO of Mental Health America, and Father Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA, discuss the potential of nonprofits as catalysts for innovation in health care reform. Shern contextualizes the United States' shortcomings and explains the need for equitable access to healthcare resources, both for preventative and treatment services. Snyder emphasizes the importance of a less monolithic measure of poverty and a more contemporary design for our current "safety net" solutions. "Leadership 18" members Dr. Shern and Father Snyder were invited by the Center for Social Innovation's Public Management Program and the Center for Leadership Development and Research at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Dr. David Shern, Ph.D. is the president and CEO of Mental Health America, the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. Prior to joining MHA, Dr. Shern served as dean of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) at the University of South Florida, one of the largest research and training institutes in behavioral health services in the United States. He also founded and directed the National Center for the Study of Issues in Public Mental Health, a National Institute of Mental Health-funded services research center located in the New York State Office of Mental Heath (OMH). Dr. Shern received his BA, MA and Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Father Larry Snyder is the President of Catholic Charities USA, the national membership association of more than 1,500 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide. Catholic Charities provides help and creates hope for more than 7.4 million people a year, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds. Father Snyder is overseeing Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America. This multi-year, multi-faceted initiative aims to cut poverty in half by 2020 urging Congress and the Administration to give a much higher priority to the needs of the poor in budget and policy decisions on issues such as health care, housing, nutrition, and economic security. He holds a master’s degree in divinity from the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and a Master of Public Administration from Hamline University in St. Paul.
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Photos: Catholic Charities USA / Facebook
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