Heather M. Jones Named VP of Mental Health, Family and Children’s Programs at Hazelden Betty Ford

Center City, Minn. (Sept. 23, 2022) – Licensed psychologist and behavioral health care leader Heather M. Jones, PhD, has been named vice president of mental health, family and children's programs for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the nation's leading nonprofit system of addiction treatment, mental health care, recovery resources and related research, prevention and education services.

"I am thrilled to join the team at Hazelden Betty Ford and help advance the organization's mission of healing and hope through expanded mental health programming and more services for families and children affected by addiction," said Jones, who starts in the new role Oct. 17. "Substance use and mental health conditions affect the entire family, including the youngest kids, so we want to empower recovery and well-being for every member of every family that turns to us for help."

Jones has worked in mental health and addiction services for many years, most recently with Eating Recovery and Pathway Mood and Anxiety Centers, where she led day-to-day operations and clinical care for three sites in the Upper Midwest. Her past experience includes direct patient care and extensive clinical consultation and supervision of therapists and behavioral specialists working with children, adolescents and adults in OCD, anxiety, depression and eating disorders recovery programs across multiple levels of care. Jones also has significant experience integrating lean operating systems in clinical environments.

At Hazelden Betty Ford, Jones will provide strategic leadership and partner with the organization's many mental health, family and children's care experts to develop and extend programs and services and reach even more people.

"We have significant expertise in mental health, family and children's services, and we're already expanding in all three areas. Heather is coming in to help us accelerate expansion, develop additional opportunities, and build on Hazelden Betty Ford's rich traditions of providing mental health and co-occurring services and supporting the entire family," said Chief Operating Officer Paul Mueller. "Her experience will also help us integrate the foundations of our clinical model—from Motivational Interviewing and Twelve-Step Facilitation to CRAFT and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy—to build connectivity through all of our service lines."

Jones earned her doctorate in educational psychology with an emphasis in school psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and completed a dual-degree graduate program at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, earning both a master's degree in educational psychology and an education specialist degree in school psychology. She has also received specialized training in exposure therapy, behavioral activation, and dialectical behavioral therapy.