Commissioner Lesley Briones has appointed Dr. Katherine Bacon to the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Board of Trustees, Position 4, for a term ending August 27, 2026. 

Dr. Bacon is a highly accomplished professional with nearly 30 years of experience in counseling, education, and nonprofit leadership. Holding a PhD in counselor education and supervision, she is a licensed professional counselor board-approved supervisor, a nationally certified counselor, and a tenured university professor. Dr. Bacon is also the executive director and founder of the Parris Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing free counseling, advocacy, and educational support to underserved communities.

Dr. Bacon has a deep personal connection to the foster care system, having aged out of care herself, and has dedicated her career to advocating for disadvantaged populations. Throughout her career she has successfully secured over $35 million in grants to support these communities and has held leadership roles, including Immediate Past-President of the Texas Counseling Association. Her experience as a legislative liaison to the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors has further solidified her expertise in mental health policy and advocacy.

Her extensive background in governance, financial oversight, and interdisciplinary team collaboration, coupled with her commitment to human rights and community upliftment, make Dr. Bacon exceptionally qualified to serve on the Local Mental Health Authority Board of Trustees. Her leadership, strategic vision, and deep understanding of mental health challenges uniquely position her to contribute meaningfully to the board's mission.