DHHR Names Commissioner Of Bureau For Behavioral Health

Amid its own restructuring, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) named a commissioner for the Bureau for Behavioral Health.

Interim Cabinet Secretary of the DHHR Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben announced the new Commissioner of the DHHR’s Bureau for Behavioral Health is Dawn Cottingham-Frohna.

“Dawn brings a broad array of leadership experience from both a management and patient-centered perspective,” Coben said. “Her understanding of the needs of patients, practitioners and providers will allow her to thoughtfully and effectively address West Virginia’s needs related to behavioral health services across the lifespan.”

The DHHR’s Bureau for Behavioral Health is the state’s health authority for mental health, substance use disorder, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Cottingham-Frohna will replace former Commissioner Christina Mullins who was appointed DHHR’s Deputy Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in November 2022.

Cottingham-Frohna has experience treating chemical dependency and mental health disorders from Wisconsin’s Miramount Behavioral Health and Sauk Prairie Healthcare.

“I am excited to follow my passion in this new role and look forward to continuing the Bureau’s work to coordinate and collaborate across agencies to advance access and quality of behavioral health services for West Virginians,” said Cottingham-Frohna.

Cottingham-Frohna earned her Master of Business with an emphasis in health care management from the University of Phoenix and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.