Experience

California Hospital Association

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Vice President Public Policy

  • Dec 2021 - Present



California Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators

• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legislative Consultant

  • Jan 2021 - Jan 2022



National Alliance on Mental Illness of California

• Sacramento, California, United States

• Legislative Advisor

  • Jan 2019 - Jan 2022



Aurrera Health Group

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Strategic Partner

  • Aug 2018 - Jan 2022



County Behavioral Health Directors Association (CBHDA) of California

• Sacramento, California

• Executive Director

  • Oct 2015 - Jul 2018

  The mission of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California is to assure the accessibility of quality, cost-effective, culturally competent behavioral health care for the people of the state of California by providing leadership, advocacy, and support to public behavioral health programs. The mission of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California is to assure the accessibility of quality, cost-effective, culturally competent behavioral health care for the people of the state of California by providing leadership, advocacy, and support to public behavioral health programs.



CDCR - Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health

• Sacramento, California Area

• Executive Officer

  • Nov 2014 - Oct 2015

  Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as the Executive Officer of the Council on Mentally Ill Offenders. The Council, now named Council on Criminal Justice & Behavioral Health, promotes effective strategies for keeping people in California with mental illness out of the criminal justice system. Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as the Executive Officer of the Council on Mentally Ill Offenders. The Council, now named Council on Criminal Justice & Behavioral Health, promotes effective strategies for keeping people in California with mental illness out of the criminal justice system.



County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California

• Sacramento, California Area

• Associate Director, Legislation and Public Policy

  • 2009 - Oct 2014

  Led large, statewide association’s advocacy on legislative and state budget issues affecting California’s community mental health system. Developed and lobbied sponsored legislation, including three bills that were signed by the Governor into state law that increase available funding for mental health services in California. Analyzed state budget proposals, legislation, regulatory actions, and court decisions that impact counties and the consumers they serve. Provided testimony, legislative positions, and policy recommendations at legislative and budget hearings. Developed clear and concise written materials for communication with members, Legislators, Administration officials, other advocacy organizations. Led association’s public relations effort, including developing media strategies and messaging. Represented the Association on task forces and working groups created by county, Legislative, or Administration initiative. Show less



California Department of Mental Health

• Sacramento, California Area

• Information Officer

  • 2006 - 2009

  Identified and analyzed trends, concerns, and issues affecting California’s public mental health system to advise the Department and Governor’s Administration on potential fiscal, policy and program impacts. Developed effective strategies to communicate the Department’s perspective on mental health policy and program implementation issue for a variety of target audiences, including the State Legislature, Mental Health Services Act Oversight & Accountability Commission, Governor’s Administration, state agencies and departments and mental health stakeholders. Represented the Director as a liaison and spokesperson to the media and public on high-profile and politically sensitive issues. Show less



Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legislative & Public Information Officer

  • 2004 - 2006

  Served as the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health representative to the U.S. Congress, State Legislature, legislative staff, County Board deputies, County Counsel, lobbyists, and community stakeholders on state and federal policy. Identified the need to strengthen the Department’s responsiveness to the people it served, and successfully secured funding to develop a new “Public and Government Relations” division, which included hiring and managing two new staff members. Engaged, collaborated with, and advised the Department’s executive management and the County’s Chief Administrative Office on critical federal, state and local issues affecting the Department and its consumers. Increased media coverage of significant issues affecting the Department by establishing numerous relationships with local media, and enriched public involvement in the Department’s implementation of the Mental Health Services Act through public relations events, written materials, and web content. Show less



Los Angeles County Office of Child Care

• Greater Los Angeles Area

• Program Specialist III

  • 2003 - 2004

  Improved the Office of Child Care’s prominence on child care policy matters by establishing and supporting a new county-wide child care legislative committee comprised of county staff, County Office of Education staff and child care providers, which recommended positions on legislation and the state budget. Analyzed state and federal legislation and budget proposals on child care to develop strategies that effectively promoted the County’s priorities. Successfully designed and implemented an evaluation program for a new child care pilot project for special needs children. Show less



California State Assembly

• Legislative Offices
• 700 & Above Employee

• Principal Consultant, Assembly Human Services Committee

  • 2000 - 2002

  Analyzed legislation and wrote concise, accurate analyses for proposed State legislation and amendments, particularly concerning welfare, child support, food stamps, and workforce development. Established the shortage of social work professionals as a significant issue in California by convening a series of legislative hearings, garnering media coverage, and authoring a report that recommended solutions to the critical workforce shortage. Effectively represented Assemblywoman Dion Aroner (D-Berkeley) as her designee on the California Workforce Investment Board. Show less