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Debbie Cagle, Chief Executive Officer
Advantage Behavioral Health

Growing up in a small town outside of Shreveport, Louisiana, Debbie Cagle was blessed with a strong support system.

“My high school algebra teacher, Mrs. Drake, instilled strong leadership skills in me, as well as the tenacity to realize solutions to complex problems and the reward of taking informed risks,” Cagle recalled. “My father inspired me with an entrepreneurial spirit and taught me to stand up for my beliefs and for people less fortunate than me,” she continued. “My mother and grandmother gave me a strong sense of self, independence and grace.”

All of these lessons learned come into play daily as Cagle leads her team at the not-for-profit behavioral health managed care company that is a subsidiary of Centerstone.

Although she originally majored in math at Texas Women’s University, two volunteer opportunities working with those with severe mental retardation, led her to change her career path to special education with an emphasis in mental retardation and severe developmental disabilities.

The math lessons, however, have come in handy … both in the concrete sense of balancing budgets and in her approach to problem resolution.

“Mathematics teaches you to think outside the natural stream to test other hypotheses to get to the solution,” she said. “It has served me well from a standpoint of having the resolve and focus to work through a complex problem to the end.”

Cagle focuses on the opportunities born of challenges to create real change, which is a useful perspective in the rapidly evolving environment of mental health.

“The challenge to move the best practice and treatments to the clinical office and treatment setting must be a high priority for our field and industry,” she noted. Cagle added, “Bringing a team of people together to influence policy, develop process improvements and achieve results-based solutions is what I love the most about the field and my job.”

Throughout her multitude of administrative duties, Cagle works to make sure her focus stays firmly on helping the populations she serves receive the most effective treatments in a timely manner.

A family situation drove home the importance of rapid access to the best evidence-based mental healthcare. Cagle said that without realizing it, she had been “paying forward” by helping others get the care they needed. When the time came that she was an anxious family member, Cagle found the support from Centerstone to be invaluable.

“It has given me a new perspective and sense of urgency, as I have now walked in their shoes. Through revealing my story, I am hopeful I can serve others in breaking down stigma, encouraging treatment and inspiring hope.”

She is equally focused on nurturing her relationships outside of work.

“I am passionate about being a good parent, role model and teacher for my son,” she said. “Of importance are my personal relationships. I have worked hard to maintain them over the years and miles.”

Cagle added that while most people wouldn’t think of maintaining friendships as a “hobby,” it is something that takes time and effort but is so important to feeding the soul.

“I recently received a special present from a very dear friend. I read the inscription with a feeling of humility. As a parent, friend and leader, I aspire to the inscription on this precious gift that read, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.’ Matthew 5:8.”



May 2008

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