IRVING, Texas - Community members, educators, healthcare professionals, and local leaders are invited to attend the Irving Behavioral Health Symposium on Saturday, February 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Magda A. Hernández Institute of Wellness, 4615 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Irving.
Hosted by the Irving Hispanic Community Forum in partnership with Irving ISD, the free event will bring together local agencies, schools, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen collaboration around mental and behavioral health services.
Organizers say the goal is simple: build a connected network of resources so no individual or family falls through the cracks. The symposium will focus on service coordination, resource sharing, and community-driven discussions centered on the idea that mental and behavioral health are essential to overall well-being.
Featured Speakers
The symposium will include a lineup of experts working across North Texas in behavioral health, education, and community services:
-
Dr. John W. Burruss, CEO of Metrocare Services, the public safety-net provider for mental healthcare and intellectual and developmental disability services in Dallas County. Metrocare completes more than 3,200 clinical encounters daily and serves a largely underinsured population. Dr. Burruss is also a Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern.
-
Dr. Walter Taylor, Chief Strategy Officer for the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, which serves Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall counties. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Paul Quinn College and brings decades of experience in public behavioral health and ministry.
-
Dr. Sejal S. Mehta, a triple board-certified psychiatrist and president of Psychiatric Medical Associates in Plano. With more than 25 years of experience, she specializes in child, adolescent, adult, and addiction psychiatry and has led more than 70 clinical research trials.
-
Meagan Wittner, LMSW, Social Worker for Irving ISD’s At-Risk and Responsive Services Department. She oversees the Handle With Care program in partnership with the Irving Police Department and connects students and families to community-based resources.
-
Antonia Hernandez, MS, LPC, LMFT, a bilingual counselor with the Irving Family Advocacy Center who specializes in trauma-informed therapy, including EMDR, TF-CBT, and family systems work.
-
Dinorah Peña-Durán, a longtime educator, translator, and interpreter for Irving ISD with more than 40 years of experience in media, education, and language services.
Organizers note the program is designed for adults only to maintain a focused and comfortable environment. Children are asked not to attend.
Event Details
When: Saturday, February 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Magda A. Hernández Institute of Wellness, 4615 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75038
Cost: Free (registration required)
