Community Conversations: Mental Health in Omaha

A discussion about access to mental health in Omaha: challenges, success stories and opportunities to improve a vital system. Our panelists represent public health, homelessness services, treatment providers in communities of color and family of people with severe and persistent mental illness.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Westside Community Schools Community Center Cafeteria,
3534 S 108th St, Omaha, NE 68144

6-8 p.m.

Panelists

Tim Heller

Tim Heller is a father whose son suffers from severe mental illness. His experiences navigating the behavioral health system led him to advocate for reform as well as chair a committee that advises the state’s mental health services.

Larry Duncan

Larry Duncan is presently the Senior Director for Charles Drew Health Center’s Behavioral Health Services Department here in Omaha, NE. He leads a department of 15 Therapists providing Mental Health services in local schools, corrections, outpatient clinics and homeless shelters.

Patti Jurjevich

Patti Jurjevich is the administrator of Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare, which oversees Nebraska’s public behavioral healthcare system in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties.

Tamara Dwyer

Tamara Dwyer has served Omaha’s homeless community through various roles in the past 12 years. Currently she is the City of Omaha’s Homeless Services Coordinator, a position in the Omaha Mayor’s Office. She is a licensed mental health practitioner and certified master social worker in Nebraska.

Itinerary

6 p.m.	Introduction from Omaha Community Foundation
6:10 p.m.	Panel discussion
7:00 p.m.	Q&A with panelists
7:15 p.m.	Mix and mingle

Moderator

Chris Bowling, a Flatwater reporter covering Omaha

Prior to joining Flatwater Free Press Chris was an investigative reporter and editor for The Reader, Omaha’s alternative monthly newspaper where he focused on issues like climate change, housing, health, criminal justice and social issues. A native of Cincinnati, Bowling graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2018.

Reserve your tickets

Community Conversations: Mental Health in Omaha
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Westside Community Schools Community Center Cafeteria, 3534 S. 108th St., Omaha, NE 68144
5:30-8:30 p.m.

About the series

Community Conversations is a series of curated conversations about key challenges facing our city. The first conversation will be focused on around gaps in mental health.

The series is sponsored by the Omaha Community Foundation.

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