During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy was the lead author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites advocates, business leaders, and government agencies to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and addiction. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2017, he was appointed to the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.

Kennedy is also the founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-chair of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 (National Response); and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force.

As a former educator and mother of five, Amy Kennedy brings a deep personal and professional commitment to improving youth mental health. Her advocacy focuses on social media safeguards, school-based treatment models, and behavioral health screening and prevention. She is particularly interested in the broader economic implications of youth mental health, including long-term investment.

In addition to her leadership at The Kennedy Forum, Amy serves on several boards and advises regional and national organizations and companies, including American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and  The JED Foundation, the NJ Governor’s transition team and the Board of Trustees of Stockton University in her beloved home state of New Jersey.

In her role as President and CEO, Rebecca oversees the organization’s efforts to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming for the equal treatment of mental health and addiction.

She brings over 30 years of experience collaborating with stakeholders through strategic partnerships that achieve shared goals and outcomes. Utilizing a vast professional network of experts and resources to forge partnerships, Rebecca is deeply focused on inspiring cultures of progress and innovation. Prior to joining The Forum, she was CEO of Cannex Scientific, responsible for commercializing a new anti-anxiety medication from Brigham/Harvard Medical School. Earlier in her career, as Vice Chancellor of Economic Partnerships at the University of Pittsburgh, she successfully expanded a network of global partnerships with financial groups, corporations, and government entities to support $850M+ in research. Rebecca was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of NorTech, where she led a national effort to create the Innovation Advocacy Council (IAC), which successfully secured a $50 million line item in the federal budget and contributed to the creation of a $1 billion Build Back Better regional challenge.

Rebecca has been engaged in global efforts and organizations including the Clinton Global Initiative and the federally appointed National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA with her family.

Parshva Bavishi is the Senior Director of Operations at The Kennedy Forum, where he oversees the organization’s systems, policies, and practices to ensure a healthy, equitable, and effective digital workplace. With over 12 years in the social impact sector, Parshva is dedicated to mission-driven organizations around technology, healthcare and community impact. Prior to joining The Kennedy Forum, Parshva was the Chief Operating Officer at The Headstrong Project, a national mental health organization that served the U.S. military and its veterans. He has held roles at organizations such as Older Adult Technology Services (OATS), Society for Science & the Public, and the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

Parshva holds an MBA from the College of William & Mary and a BA in International Studies from The College of New Jersey. He is a 2022 Presidential Scholar via The Bush Institute where he focused on closing the digital literacy gap for vulnerable populations. Parshva lives in New Jersey and is an advisory board member for The Spero Institute.

Nathaniel Z Counts, JD, is the Chief Policy Officer for The Kennedy Forum, where he advances a public policy agenda which aims to ensure that all individuals have access to the treatment, services, and insurance coverage that meets their needs and the supports necessary to promote prevention, recovery, and mental well-being. In previous roles, Nathaniel served as Senior Policy Advisor for Mental Health to the Commissioner of Health for the City of New York and the Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Innovation for Mental Health America (MHA). His thought leadership and research have been published in journals such as JAMA Pediatrics, Lancet Psychiatry, and Nature Mental Health. He received his JD cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was a Student Fellow at the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, and his BA in biology from Johns Hopkins.

Lauren Finke, MPP is Senior Director of Policy for The Kennedy Forum, representing the Forum on state and national mental health and substance use disorder coverage and advocacy efforts. Lauren works with government leaders, regulators, policymakers, and consumer and industry stakeholders around healthcare access and consumer rights including insurance coverage, crisis care, and youth and school mental health. Her work led to the successful passage of a number of comprehensive state mental health consumer protection laws that have served as models and been replicated in other states. Lauren has worked in state government and consulted for city and county governments and nonprofits. She holds a Master in Public Policy from the Goldman School at University of California, Berkeley and lives in Sacramento where she spends her spare time DIY-renovating a 100-year-old house and trying her hand at endurance sports in the Sierra Nevadas.

As Director of Marketing and Communications for The Kennedy Forum, Abbie Kopf leads the strategy to maximize the brand’s impact and reach. Kopf brings substantial and wide-ranging expertise spanning content, brand, and campaign strategy in addition to external, executive, and internal communications. This diverse skillset powers a variety of core functions within the organization so it can better achieve its mission.

Previously, she spent seven years in dynamic agency environments, leading high-profile campaigns for USA Today’s in-house creative agency and writing for blue-chip clients with award-winning firm Jackson Spalding. As an independent consultant, she managed diverse projects, including serving as founding editor-in-chief for a multi-market content marketing publication. Earlier in her career, she helped shape the brand identities of esteemed Dallas-area institutions like the AT&T Performing Arts Center and education nonprofit Big Thought.

A summa cum laude graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s in sociology, Kopf is also a trained volunteer grief counselor, supporting individuals on their journey of healing and resilience.

Kara Kukfa is an accomplished Chief of Staff and strategic advisor with over a decade of experience driving national advocacy, nonprofit development, professional board and consultancy positions, and executive operations in the mental health and addiction sectors. Trusted confidante to national, high-profile leaders, adept at managing complex initiatives and relationships, stakeholder engagement, and multifaceted operations. Recognized for high-level thinking, political acumen, and executional excellence.  She serves as an advisor to The Kennedy Forum board and provides high-level support to the founding members.

Lorre Moylett spent her early career as an accountant in an investment firm, eventually leaving her role while her children were young. Upon returning to work, she switched gears and spent the next 17 years in education with the New Jersey Public School System.  She then went on to join The Kennedy Forum as an accounting administrator.  She received her bachelor’s in accounting from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and currently resides in New Jersey.