MEET
Jennie Birkholz
Jennie Birkholz is a central Texas native, proud mom, and national healthcare expert. Educated exclusively in Texas public schools, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas State University.
An expert in trauma-informed systems of care, integrated care, and rural health, Jennie spent a decade working in local community behavioral health before starting a national healthcare consulting firm that develops and implements creative solutions to address mental health, the opioid crisis, and social determinants of health to improve the lives of others. In addition to consulting with foundations, governments, faith-based organizations, and other non-profits on their roles in improving public health in their local area, Jennie has served on two White House Commissions on behavioral health and the opioid crisis.
The daughter of a Methodist minister and a Vietnam veteran, Jennie lives with her husband of over 20 years and their two young boys in Round Rock ISD, where her husband works as a school psychologist and their children attend school. Jennie and her husband have already begun to instill in their children the importance of civics and community service, with all four volunteering for local causes and campaigns that are dear to them.
In 2021, Jennie’s work with Prosperemos Juntos took her to Uvalde, where she listened to community members discuss their biggest challenges: access to mental healthcare, lack of economic opportunity, and low community connections. Jennie used her expertise to help the community find solutions and obtain the resources to sustain them.
A year later, Uvalde was devastated by the Robb Elementary School shooting. Jennie watched as the community she worked with was shattered by the state legislature’s failure to provide lasting support and policy change where it was needed most.
Texas can make systemic changes so we don’t have to “fail up” to build a state that serves all. After spending decades working at the grassroots –building coalitions, identifying issues, and implementing solutions at the systems level–Jennie felt called to address our state's biggest challenges at the policy level.