Governance
The American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH) operates under a formal governance structure designed to preserve independence, impartiality, and public trust.
Authority is formally separated preserve decision independence and structural impartiality across fiduciary oversight, accreditation decision-making, and executive administration.
Board of Directors - Governing Authority
The Board of Directors serves as FRBH’s highest fiduciary and ethical authority and safeguards the mission, structural independence, and organizational integrity.
Responsibilities include:
- Adoption and oversight of the National Standard
- Protection of accreditation independence
- Approval of governance policies
- Organizational and fiduciary oversight
Board members serve defined terms in accordance with FRBH governance policy.
Accreditation Review Council (ARC) - Accreditation Decision Authority
The Accreditation Review Council renders accreditation determinations in accordance with documented procedures and impartiality safeguards.
The ARC operates independently from operational administration and external influence.
Responsibilities include:
- Review of evaluation findings
- Accreditation determinations
- Enforcement of conflict-of-interest safeguards
- Recusal where required
ARC members serve defined terms in accordance with FRBH governance policy.
Executive Leadership - Administrative Authority
The Executive Leadership Team manages day-to-day administration and operational execution of board-adopted policies.
Executive leadership does not render accreditation determinations.
Responsibilities include:
- Administrative operations
- Standards publication and dissemination
- Accreditation process coordination
- Organizational management
Independence & Impartiality
Standards adoption and accreditation determinations are structurally insulated from operational, commercial, funding, and external influence.
All governing and accreditation decision-making bodies are subject to documented conflict-of-interest disclosure, review, and recusal requirements.
Governance procedures are maintained through adopted charters, policies, and procedural documentation.
Authority is formally separated preserve decision independence and structural impartiality across fiduciary oversight, accreditation decision-making, and executive administration.
Board of Directors - Governing Authority
The Board of Directors serves as FRBH’s highest fiduciary and ethical authority and safeguards the mission, structural independence, and organizational integrity.
Responsibilities include:
- Adoption and oversight of the National Standard
- Protection of accreditation independence
- Approval of governance policies
- Organizational and fiduciary oversight
Board members serve defined terms in accordance with FRBH governance policy.
Accreditation Review Council (ARC) - Accreditation Decision Authority
The Accreditation Review Council renders accreditation determinations in accordance with documented procedures and impartiality safeguards.
The ARC operates independently from operational administration and external influence.
Responsibilities include:
- Review of evaluation findings
- Accreditation determinations
- Enforcement of conflict-of-interest safeguards
- Recusal where required
ARC members serve defined terms in accordance with FRBH governance policy.
Executive Leadership - Administrative Authority
The Executive Leadership Team manages day-to-day administration and operational execution of board-adopted policies.
Executive leadership does not render accreditation determinations.
Responsibilities include:
- Administrative operations
- Standards publication and dissemination
- Accreditation process coordination
- Organizational management
Independence & Impartiality
Standards adoption and accreditation determinations are structurally insulated from operational, commercial, funding, and external influence.
All governing and accreditation decision-making bodies are subject to documented conflict-of-interest disclosure, review, and recusal requirements.
Governance procedures are maintained through adopted charters, policies, and procedural documentation.
Organizational Leadership
Jeffrey Patterson
Chair of the Board
Kevin Sligh Sr.
Director
Elisa Kirkhorn
Director
James Simon
Treasurer
Chiquita Cooper
Secretary
Kalim Wigfall
Executive Director
Lissette Powell
Dir. of Institutional
Standards Integration
Veronica Morrow
Dir. of Accreditation Quality
& Program Integrity
Joel Williams
Dir. of Accreditation
Operations
Regina Durso
Dir. of Behavioral Health
Systems Framework
Bobby Watkins
Dir. of Regulatory &
Contract Compliance
