Kate Reed

Kate joined the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute with over 15 years of experience at the forefront of behavioral health and criminal justice. She began her career with the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS), where she held various clinical and policy roles within the Justice Division. Notably, Kate led the Stepping Up Initiative for the City of Philadelphia, utilizing a data-driven approach to develop programs and policies aimed at reducing the over-incarceration of individuals with mental illness and also played a key role in developing and launching several innovative public safety intervention models. Prior to joining the Meadows Institute, Kate served as a Project Manager in the Behavioral Health Division at The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center. In this role, she managed a portfolio of federally and state-funded projects focused on improving crisis response systems, expanding Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs, addressing the impact of brain injuries among justice-involved populations, and promoting equitable public safety and justice policies through the inclusion of lived experience and expertise.

In her Meadows Institute role, Kate provides strategic guidance, operational leadership, and technical expertise for the Health and Public Safety team’s project portfolio. She also leads the coordination and implementation of evidence-based initiatives that aim to improve public safety outcomes, build community trust, and strengthen first responder performance.

Kate holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania. She currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Luke, their two sons, Ozzie and Freddie, and their Doberman puppy, Fitzgerald.