Experience

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Vice President for Child and Family Wellness

  • Apr 2022 - Oct 2023

  Austin, Texas, United States

• Executive Vice President for State Policy

  • Sep 2019 - Mar 2022

  Texas

• Vice President for Family and Child Policy

  • Aug 2016 - Sep 2019

  Austin, Texas Area



Texas Health and Human Services

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Commissioner, Community Access & Services

  • Jul 2014 - Jun 2016

  Austin, Texas Area • Responsible for the Division’s vision and strategies for delivering client services, which entailed overseeing an annual budget of $160 Million, over 850 contracts, 82 FTEs, and 12 social services programs • Led and supported staff in navigating the HHS system and ensuring strategic and successful collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure quality-focused service delivery that was timely and compliant with federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and… Show more • Responsible for the Division’s vision and strategies for delivering client services, which entailed overseeing an annual budget of $160 Million, over 850 contracts, 82 FTEs, and 12 social services programs • Led and supported staff in navigating the HHS system and ensuring strategic and successful collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure quality-focused service delivery that was timely and compliant with federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and administrative rules • Testified at legislative hearings; presented at conferences and public meetings; and briefed executive level staff within HHSC, the Office of the Governor, the Legislature, and local governments • Proactively made organizational changes to ensure the Division’s success

• Deputy State Medicaid/CHIP Policy Director

  • Jan 2013 - Jun 2014

  •Oversaw the analysis, development and implementation of acute and long-term care program and clinical policy, administrative rules, waivers, and State Plans, for the Medicaid, CHIP and Texas Women’s Health Programs •Managed organizational change and led in creating a new vision for the Office of Policy as the Unit doubled in size and expanded its focus to include the management and development of clinical policy •Testified at legislative hearings, gave presentations and briefed… Show more •Oversaw the analysis, development and implementation of acute and long-term care program and clinical policy, administrative rules, waivers, and State Plans, for the Medicaid, CHIP and Texas Women’s Health Programs •Managed organizational change and led in creating a new vision for the Office of Policy as the Unit doubled in size and expanded its focus to include the management and development of clinical policy •Testified at legislative hearings, gave presentations and briefed executive staff at HHSC and the Office of the Governor, as well as Legislators and their staff. •Worked with internal and external stakeholders, sister agencies, legislative offices, and the federal government to negotiate compromises and develop creative solutions for implementing changes to the Medicaid, CHIP and Texas Women's Health Programs

• Director, Acute Care Policy

  • Mar 2011 - Jan 2013

  Austin, Texas Area •Managed the Acute Care Policy Unit and was responsible for overseeing three critical functions: analysis of legislation and program policy changes; development and implementation of legislative initiatives representing significant changes to the Medicaid and CHIP programs; and program coordination to comply with the FREW lawsuit •Provided direction to staff on Medicaid and CHIP policies, legislative analyses, and implementation initiatives to ensure quality, efficiency, and cost… Show more •Managed the Acute Care Policy Unit and was responsible for overseeing three critical functions: analysis of legislation and program policy changes; development and implementation of legislative initiatives representing significant changes to the Medicaid and CHIP programs; and program coordination to comply with the FREW lawsuit •Provided direction to staff on Medicaid and CHIP policies, legislative analyses, and implementation initiatives to ensure quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness for the Medicaid and CHIP programs •Oversaw and managed the creation of the state-funded Texas Women’s Health Program (TWHP) •Changed how the Division analyzed legislation: took on responsibility for all analyses performed in the Division to decrease duplication and capitalize on the strengths of each unit within the Division •Facilitated and negotiated with internal and external stakeholders, sister agencies and the federal government to find compromises and creative solutions acceptable to all parties •Testified at legislative and judicial hearings, gave presentations and briefed executive level staff at HHSC and the Office of the Governor, as well as Legislators and their staff, on Medicaid, CHIP and Texas Women’s Health Programs

• Special Policy Advisor to the Medicaid/CHIP Deputy Director for Policy Development

  • Sep 2010 - Mar 2011

  Austin, Texas Area •Served as a special advisor to and oversaw special projects on behalf of the Deputy Director •Oversaw the legislative analyses for both Policy Development and the entire Medicaid/CHIP Division •Analyzed state and federal legislation, regulations, statutes, and policies •Testified at legislative hearings and made presentations to external stakeholders regarding Medicaid and CHIP •Assisted staff in the development and implementation of Medicaid and CHIP programs and policies

• Policy Advisor

  • Jun 2009 - Sep 2010

  Austin, Texas Area •Analyzed federal and state legislation, rules, and policies to assess the impact to Medicaid and CHIP •Testified at legislative hearings and made presentations to external stakeholders regarding Medicaid and CHIP •Prepared written communications such as legislative reports, agency memos, briefing documents, stakeholder correspondence, legislative analyses, and administrative rules •Established and facilitated inter-agency workgroups and committees: set goals and objectives, made… Show more •Analyzed federal and state legislation, rules, and policies to assess the impact to Medicaid and CHIP •Testified at legislative hearings and made presentations to external stakeholders regarding Medicaid and CHIP •Prepared written communications such as legislative reports, agency memos, briefing documents, stakeholder correspondence, legislative analyses, and administrative rules •Established and facilitated inter-agency workgroups and committees: set goals and objectives, made assignments, and reviewed and approved work products to ensure new programs and changes to existing programs were implemented on time and within the resources dedicated to these initiatives

• Government Relations Specialist

  • Jan 2009 - Jun 2009

  Austin, Texas Area •Asked to work for HHSC Government Relations during the 81st Legislative Session (2009) and serve as a liaison between HHSC and the Legislature •Developed relationships with legislative offices and met with and responded to requests from legislators and their staff on behalf of HHSC •Consulted with agency staff to obtain input on legislation affecting HHSC and worked with legislative offices and committee directors to request legislative changes, when needed •Ensured an agency presence… Show more •Asked to work for HHSC Government Relations during the 81st Legislative Session (2009) and serve as a liaison between HHSC and the Legislature •Developed relationships with legislative offices and met with and responded to requests from legislators and their staff on behalf of HHSC •Consulted with agency staff to obtain input on legislation affecting HHSC and worked with legislative offices and committee directors to request legislative changes, when needed •Ensured an agency presence at hearings •Monitored, analyzed and approved over 300 proposed pieces of legislation

• Policy Advisor

  • Nov 2007 - Jan 2009

  Austin, Texas Area •Analyzed federal and state legislation, rules, and policies to assess the impact to Medicaid and CHIP •Testified at legislative hearings and made presentations to external stakeholders regarding Medicaid and CHIP •Prepared written communications such as legislative reports, agency memos, briefing documents, stakeholder correspondence, legislative analyses, and administrative rules •Established and facilitated inter-agency workgroups and committees: set goals and objectives, made… Show more •Analyzed federal and state legislation, rules, and policies to assess the impact to Medicaid and CHIP •Testified at legislative hearings and made presentations to external stakeholders regarding Medicaid and CHIP •Prepared written communications such as legislative reports, agency memos, briefing documents, stakeholder correspondence, legislative analyses, and administrative rules •Established and facilitated inter-agency workgroups and committees: set goals and objectives, made assignments, and reviewed and approved work products to ensure new programs and changes to existing programs were implemented on time and with the resources dedicated to these initiatives

• Policy Analyst for the Deputy Executive Commissioner of the Office of Health Services

  • Feb 2006 - Nov 2007

  Austin, Texas Area •Developed, implemented, and managed Medicaid/CHIP initiatives and facilitated project workgroups •Researched, analyzed, and evaluated Medicaid/CHIP rules, policies, and proposed legislation •Prepared and approved written project updates, summaries, reports, and other documents •Reviewed and made recommendations for approval of Medicaid/ CHIP rules and policies •Coordinated and met with internal and external stakeholders on behalf of the Deputy Executive Commissioner



Kaiser Permanente

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Legislative Consultant

  • Feb 2005 - Feb 2006

  Oakland, CA •Reviewed, analyzed and evaluated the impact of state and federal legislation on Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Hospitals •Responded to inquiries from and communicated information to staff about new and existing laws •Wrote and disseminated monthly legislative updates to Health Plan and Hospital staff



Consumers Union

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Health Policy Analyst

  • Jun 2001 - Jan 2005

  San Francisco Bay Area •Managed the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools project’s public policy agenda and focused on maximizing federal and state dollars to increase school-based enrollment in health insurance programs •Advocated to increase funding for outreach: developed policy proposals; persuaded legislators and stakeholders to support these proposals; and worked with the state to develop implementation plans •Successfully lobbied to restore state funding for Healthy Start, a state program: developed strategic… Show more •Managed the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools project’s public policy agenda and focused on maximizing federal and state dollars to increase school-based enrollment in health insurance programs •Advocated to increase funding for outreach: developed policy proposals; persuaded legislators and stakeholders to support these proposals; and worked with the state to develop implementation plans •Successfully lobbied to restore state funding for Healthy Start, a state program: developed strategic partnerships; prepared advocacy materials; ensured stakeholder presence at legislative hearings; presented information about Healthy Start at stakeholder meetings; generated media coverage; and utilized the Web for e-advocacy •Analyzed legislation, regulations and government budgets to identify strategies to increase health coverage •Testified at state legislative hearings, presented at conferences, and represented CU at state and community meetings Show less



LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin

• Health Policy Consultant

  • Aug 2000 - May 2001

  Austin, Texas Area •Analyzed public policies to identify strategies for increasing Medicaid and SCHIP enrollment in Texas •Assessed overall trends in health insurance enrollment in Texas and at the national level



Welfare, Children, & Families: A Three City Study, The University of Texas at Austin

• Ethnographer

  • Aug 2000 - May 2001

  Austin, Texas Area •Recruited and interviewed five low-income Texas families monthly to assess the impact of welfare reform •Transcribed interviews and prepared field notes for a qualitative analysis of welfare reform in Texas



U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Intern, Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Secretary

  • May 2000 - Aug 2000

  Washington D.C. Metro Area •Clarified federal policies on SCHIP, Medicaid, and other programs for state and local governments •Examined SCHIP regulations for intergovernmental impact and made recommendations for Intergovernmental Affairs comments



Child Trends

• United States
• Research Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Aug 1996 - Aug 1999

  Washington D.C. Metro Area •Managed the data collection of and analyzed trends for over 80 indicators of child well-being •Organized a conference and led working groups consisting of school administrators, health clinic staff, and policymakers to develop a new framework for serving the health care needs of youth from diverse backgrounds •Interviewed state administrators and analyzed state human services programs; coordinated the compilation of data for a 50 state database as part of the Urban Institute and Child… Show more •Managed the data collection of and analyzed trends for over 80 indicators of child well-being •Organized a conference and led working groups consisting of school administrators, health clinic staff, and policymakers to develop a new framework for serving the health care needs of youth from diverse backgrounds •Interviewed state administrators and analyzed state human services programs; coordinated the compilation of data for a 50 state database as part of the Urban Institute and Child Trends “Assessing New Federalism Study” •Designed a pilot survey to identify and measure adolescent motivations to prevent pregnancy •Analyzed data from the U.S. Census to examine economic opportunity at the community-level Show less