Gov. Linda Lingle appointed Dr. Rupert Goetz and Sharlene Chun-Lum as co-leaders of the Mental Health Transformation Working Group. The group will implement a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration last October.

Lingle said Hawai'i is the eighth state to receive money from the Substance Abuse Administration to develop its own comprehensive mental health plan. The state will receive more than $2 million per year over the next five years.

Goetz, who trained as a family practice physician and community psychiatrist, most recently served as the medical director of the Hawai'i State Hospital in Kane'ohe, where he helped the facility emerge from U.S. Department of Justice litigation.

Chun-Lum trained as an educator and has worked with community members on planning, implementing and delivering services for 33 years. She has a strong focus on cultural and collaborative partnerships that leverage existing resources.

Most recently, she served as director of The Kamehameha Schools' Ho'olako Like Department, which provides funding, training and advocacy for Hawaiian-focused charter schools.

Goetz will serve as grant director and Chun-Lum as chief operations officer of the working group. Their first task will be to develop a comprehensive statewide mental health plan.

The new leaders are accepting nominations for other positions on the working group. Resumes and a letter outlining the person's area of interest may be sent to transformation@doh.hawaii.gov.