Linda Werlein, M.S.
Professional Affiliations
Linda received a B.S. in Education from Memphis State University and
a M.S. in Counseling & Guidance from Texas A & I University. Linda began
her career in mental health as a counselor for the Dietert Claim, a
senior citizen center, and later became their director of grants and
helped develop and implement senior citizen centers and community
services in a four county area. In 1980, Linda became Director of
Special Programs at Kerrville State Hospital and was responsible for
Legislative initiatives, Volunteer Services, Public Information,
Rehabilitation Services, Dietert Claim, and the Women’s Halfway House.
After serving as Director of community Services for Kerrville State
Hospital from 1993-1996, Linda has worked for Hill Country Community
MHMR Center which provides outpatient behavioral services for a 19
county area, over 22,000 square miles, of the greater Texas Hill
Country. Linda currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Hill
Country, which under her leadership, has been recognized as Professional
of the Year by NAMI Texas.
NARMH Positions and Projects
Linda is beginning her tenure on the NARMH board and looks forward to
working with the board on the vast and challenging issues facing
consumers, families and providers within the rural mental health system.
Linda has served on the advisory board for the NARMH National Conference
held in San Antonio and has presented on the implementation of the
Resiliency and Disease Management Model of service delivery in Texas as
well as Competency Based Training for Behavioral Health Workers.
Rural Mental Health Involvement and Contributions
Linda was instrumental in development and legislative passage of the
Resiliency and Disease Management Model (RDM) of Community Behavioral
Health Service Delivery in Texas. Through implementation of RDM, Linda
coupled efficient and evidence-based clinical practices with efficient
and effective business practices to develop a recovery based service
delivery model that delivers behavioral health services based on
diagnosis and level of need of the individual. Linda also worked with
the University of Chicago to certify twelve Hill Country staff as
trainers of Psychiatric Rehabilitative services and has utilized her
staff to train other rural mental health service providers throughout
Texas in the delivery of Psychiatric Rehabilitative services. Linda is
currently working on establishing a Crisis Stabilization Unit, supported
by state, local and private funding, as a means to develop a
comprehensive rural community behavioral health system of care. Under
Linda’s leadership, Hill Country was recognized as Professional of the
Year by NAMI Texas for their contribution to the development of the RDM
service delivery model. In addition, Linda has been recognized for her
rural behavioral health work by receiving the MHMR Psychosocial
Rehabilitation Superstar Award, the Medial Service Leadership Award from
the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce, and as the Woman of the Year by the
Kerr County Women’s Chamber.