Direct Care and Treatment Executive Board

The Direct Care and Treatment Executive Board was established by the Legislature to oversee the state-operated behavioral health care system. The nine-member board consists of seven voting members appointed by the Governor and two non-voting members, one appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties and one appointed by labor unions that represent DCT employees.

About the Executive Board
Qualifications

In order to be considered for appointment to the board, members must meet certain professional background requirements set out in state law. They must:
- Be a psychiatrist or other physician experienced in behavioral health
- Be a health care professional
- Have experience on a hospital or nonprofit board
- Have a background in behavioral health services, care coordination, health care administration or residential services
- Have experience in traditional healing
Duties of the Executive Board

The Executive Board delegates responsibility for day-to-day operation of the behavioral health care system to a Chief Executive Officer. The board is broadly responsible for:
- Approving the system's strategic direction and monitoring performance
- Approving the system's mission, vision and strategic plan
- Overseeing the care and management of all patients and clients
- Ensuring clinical quality, patient safety and customer service excellence
- Ensuring sound financial management
- Overseeing contracts
- Building strong and appropriate stakeholder relationships
- Ensuring the quality of medical staff
- Updating the Legislature on operations, goals and accomplishments
- Appointing the Chief Executive Officer
Conditions and Restrictions
- Voting members may not be current DCT or county employees, members of the state Legislature or staff or members of labor unions representing DCT.
- One voting member must come from Greater Minnesota.
- By statute, the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services is a voting member of the board.
Executive Board Members

Voting Members

Dr. Paul Goering
Seat: Member with Experience Serving on a Hospital or Nonprofit Board
Term: January 1, 2025 – January 3, 2028
Fellow at the Leadership Institute of Healthcare

Carol Olson
Seat: Member with Experience in the Delivery of Behavioral Health Services
Term: January 1, 2025 – January 1, 2029
Former Executive Director of DCT Forensic Services

Dr. Prachi Striker
Seat: Licensed Physician who is a Psychiatrist or has Experience in Serving Behavioral Health Patients
Term: January 1, 2025 – January 4, 2027
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Children's Minnesota

Mary Maertens
Seat: Member with Experience Serving on a Hospital or Nonprofit Board
Term: January 1, 2025 – January 3, 2028
President of M4Resources, LLC.

Shireen Gandhi
Seat: Commissioner of Human Services, or designee
Commissioner of the Department of Human Services

Vacant
Two voting members have yet to be appointed

Non-Voting Members

Lynn Butcher
Seat: Member who has an Active Role as a Union Representative Representing Staff at Direct Care and Treatment
DCT Quality Officer

Laurie Halverson
Seat: Member Appointed by the Association of Counties
Dakota County Commissioner
Scheduled meetings
Upcoming Meetings
- Thursday, April 17, 2025, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the Forensic Services and Minnesota Sex Offender campus, 100 Freeman Drive, St. Peter, MN 56082
Past Meetings

Thursday, March 27, 2025
- DCT Executive Board Agenda for 03-27-2025
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
- DCT Executive Board Agenda for 02-20-2025
Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025
- DCT Executive Board Agenda-01-07-25
Questions or Concerns

Contact Kari Gallagher at kari.a.gallagher@state.mn.us
Past agendas and minutes
Agendas
Minutes
Video Recordings of Board Meetings
- Jan. 7 2025 meeting: Part One
- Jan. 7 2025 meeting: Part Two
Resources
Publications and Reports
- Priority Admissions Review Panel: Report and Recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature (PDF)
Background Documents