The board of directors of the Mental Health Connection (MCH) of Tarrant County has selected Christina Judge as executive director of the innovative mental and behavioral health collaboration, formed in the aftermath of the 1999 Wedgwood Baptist Church shootings that left seven dead and eight injured. Judge succeeds Virginia Hoft, who has led the organization since 2019. The Mental Health Connection provides networking and a collaborative environment to multiple mental health direct service and support organizations across Tarrant County to help foster seamless cooperation among agencies.
Judge is a 30-year veteran of the nonprofit sector and most recently was manager of business development at North Texas based M. Gale & Associates, a leading fundraising consulting firm. Prior to that, she was executive director of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, a North Texas nonprofit agency dedicated to suicide prevention through training and education, as well as providing funding for mental health and suicide prevention research. In addition to mental health experience, Judge has worked in various roles with the United States Army, higher education, child welfare, and healthcare.
“Christina brings with her a wealth of experience that will ensure that the mission of strengthening the mental health system in Tarrant County continues to be the focus of MHC,” said Ottis Goodwin, chair of the MHC board and director of School-Based Health Partnerships for the Fort Worth Independent School District. “MHC has always been a local effort, and we are excited that the new Executive Director is someone with ties the community and MHC, and who has a strong history of positively impacting our community,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin also mentioned the board is incredibly grateful for the work of her predecessors and looks forward to continuing the work with Judge to make sure every resident has access to high quality mental health and substance use treatment.
“I feel very fortunate to have someone of Christina’s caliber and experience to be taking over leadership of Mental Health Connection,” Hoft said. “Over the past year, the board, membership, and I have worked diligently to develop a bold five-year strategic and business plan. “MHC is ready for the energy and leadership Christina brings to implement the new initiatives. Her proven track record of execution and her commitment to collaboration is exactly what the agency needs at this time,” she said.
Judge is a native of the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area, and moved to Texas in 1992.
She received a Master of Arts degree from Texas Woman’s University in Sociology with concentrations in demographics and field research, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, in government and politics. Judge is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
