Troy City Councilwoman Dejerilyn King Henderson has been appointed to a national committee to help with health and human service needs across the country.

Henderson will take part in the National League of Cities 2013 Human Development Policy and Advocacy Committee to develop new ideas regarding public health that will be presented to congressional leaders.

“Our focus right now is on mental health,” Henderson shared. “It is such a serious condition that people fail to talk about and recognize.”

Henderson said recent shootings and other violent acts in the United States over the last year spurred this year’s focus of the group.

In addition to mental health issues, Henderson said the group will be working to find better and new ways to provide training to people who are in need of jobs.

Henderson will be meeting with other committee members through webinars, phone conversations and trips to Washington, D.C.

She said she volunteered for the opportunity to serve on the Human Development Policy and Advocacy Committee and was honored to have been selected.

“They were limited in both African Americans and females,” Henderson said. “I decided that I was retired and I had time to help.”