Linda Darling-Hammond
President and CEO
Learning Policy Institute
Linda Darling-Hammond is the President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute. She is also the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University where she founded the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education and served as the faculty sponsor of the Stanford Teacher Education Program, which she helped to redesign.
Darling-Hammond is past president of the American Educational Research Association and recipient of its awards for Distinguished Contributions to Research, Lifetime Achievement, and Research-to-Policy. She is also a member of the American Association of Arts and Sciences and of the National Academy of Education. From 1994–2001, she was executive director of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, whose 1996 report What Matters Most: Teaching for America’s Future was named one of the most influential reports affecting U.S. education in that decade. In 2006, Darling-Hammond was named one of the nation’s ten most influential people affecting educational policy. She led the Obama education policy transition team in 2008 and the Biden education transition team in 2020. In 2022, Darling-Hammond received the Yidan Prize for Education Research in recognition of her work that has shaped education policy and practice around the most equitable and effective ways to teach and learn.
Darling-Hammond began her career as a public school teacher and co-founded both a preschool and a public high school. She served as Director of the RAND Corporation’s education program and as an endowed professor at Columbia University, Teachers College. She has consulted widely with federal, state and local officials and educators on strategies for improving education policies and practices. Among her more than 500 publications are a number of award-winning books, including The Right to Learn, Teaching as the Learning Profession, Preparing Teachers for a Changing World, and The Flat World and Education. She received an Ed.D. from Temple University (with highest distinction) and a B.A. from Yale University (magna cum laude).
https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/
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President and CEO
Learning Policy Institute
Melissa Stafford Jones
Director for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
California Health and Human Services Agency
Melissa Stafford Jones has been Executive Director of First 5 Association of California since 2020. She was Executive Director of the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation from 2017 to 2020 and Regional Director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Region IX from 2014 to 2017. Stafford Jones was President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems from 2005 to 2013, where she was Vice President and Director of Policy from 2000 to 2005. She was Regional Vice President of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California from 1998 to 2000 and a Senior Research Analyst for the Legislative Counsel Bureau of the Nevada State Legislature from 1997 to 1998. She is a member of the Saint Mary’s College School of Science Dean’s Advisory Board and the City of Walnut Creek Diversity, Equity Inclusion Task Force. Stafford Jones earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/cybhi
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Director for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
California Health and Human Services Agency
Twylla Abrahamson
Placer County Health and Human Services
Deputy Director, Children’s System of Care
Twylla Abrahamson is currently employed by Placer County as a Deputy Director for Health and Human Services over the Children’s System of Care, is the Compliance Officer, and shares oversight of the QI Manager position for the county as well. She was formerly employed as a Health Program Manager in Sacramento County Adult Mental Health Services, and prior to that spent 16 years with a Sacramento area full service non-profit mental health agency holding leadership positions in research and evaluation, quality improvement, IT, and program areas of mental health day treatment, residential services, outpatient, and wraparound. Twylla is a licensed psychologist, and has also taught doctoral students at Alliant International University and the Professional School of Psychology for 19 years.
https://www.placer.ca.gov/1679/Health-Human-Services
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Placer County Health and Human Services
Deputy Director, Children’s System of Care
Lindsay Alderette
Program Manager
Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Program
Lindsay Alderette has been providing peer support to young people in Placer County since 2010. Her passion to ensure that youth and TAY involved in system services are given the support needed to be empowered in their lives is evident in every aspect of her management of the Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Program. As a youth leader, she has been wholeheartedly involved in the Systems of Care commitment to bring youth voice to all levels of system development.
Ms. Alderette has extensive personal experience as a youth, parent, and family member with behavioral health, probation, and child welfare systems. Her experiences make her an excellent and well-rounded advocate for youth and families in our community. She is committed to helping young people find their voice, navigate complex systems, and build skills to help shift the trajectory of their future in a more positive direction. She is a certified trainer in the Youth Development Institute (YDI), is Medi-Cal Peer Certified, holds Associate degrees in Business and Social & Behavioral Science, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University.
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Program Manager
Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Program
Luke Anderson
Executive Director, Prevention Supports and Services Department
Placer County Office of Education (PCOE)
Luke Anderson Ed.S., BCBA is the Executive Director of the Prevention Supports and Services Department at Placer County Office of Education (PCOE). Within this role, Luke oversees the department’s programs, budget, and personnel. Luke serves as the Coordinator of the California PBIS Leadership Team and is a member of Placer County SMART Policy—a multi-agency leadership team supporting local System of Care policy coordination. Prior to joining the PCOE, Luke was a special education teacher, behavior analyst, school psychologist, and PBIS trainer/coach for one of the largest school districts in California. He has worked as a lecturer in the School Psychology and Special Education programs at CSU, Sacramento where he taught courses on academic and cognitive assessment.
https://www.placercoe.org/Pages/PCOE/Home.aspx
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Executive Director, Prevention Supports and Services Department
Placer County Office of Education (PCOE)
Ken Berrick
President and CEO
Just Advocates
Ken Berrick is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emeritus of Seneca Family of Agencies, a nonprofit agency dedicated to providing Unconditional Care to children and families through comprehensive mental health, education, juvenile justice, foster care, and permanency services. Since its founding in 1985, Seneca has developed innovative programs ranging from Wraparound and Intensive Treatment Foster Care, to integrated mental health services in schools, and a crisis continuum of care for youth and their families. Ken currently provides consulting services through his company, Rising Social Strategies, including executive coaching and systems design for nonprofit organizations and government entities. In 2021, Ken founded a new nonprofit, Just Advocates, an organization that provides individualized advocacy for children and families, in addition to developing systemic solutions at local, state, and national levels.
Ken has served as a Governor’s Appointee on both California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and the California Child Welfare Council. He is actively involved with California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), an initiative with the express purpose of improving access to and delivery of Medi-Cal healthcare services. Ken is a two-time former President of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and serves on numerous policy planning groups in California at both the county and state-level. He is an elected member and Past-President of the Alameda County Board of Education, and Past-President of the California County Boards of Education.
In 2014, Ken was recognized by California Mental Health Advocates for Children and Youth as Advocate of the Year. In 2017, he was a recipient of the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, in 2021, a recipient of the Jefferson Bronze Award, and in 2022, a recipient of the Jefferson Silver Award. He is co-author of the books, Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families (Oxford University Press, 2010); Unconditional Education: Supporting Schools to Serve All Students (Oxford University Press, 2019); and Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity (Oxford University Press, 2022).
https://justadvocates.net/
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President and CEO
Just Advocates
Peter Blanco
Regional Director, San Diego District
California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
Peter Blanco is a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in supporting individuals with disabilities. Since 2012, he has been an integral part of the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), where he currently serves as the Regional Director for the San Diego District. In this role, he offers strategic guidance and leadership to advance the DOR's mission. His efforts are instrumental in driving forward initiatives aimed at enhancing employment opportunities, promoting independence, and fostering equality for all Californians living with disabilities. Peter's journey within the DOR is marked by a history of diverse and impactful roles. He has had the opportunity to serve as a District Administrator, District Operations Manager, Contract Administrator, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Before joining the DOR, Peter worked for the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center as a Service Coordinator and prior to that served as a dedicated Social Worker in Foster Care. These experiences provided him with invaluable insights into the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and those in foster care settings. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of the Pacific and obtained a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Student Services from California State University, Fresno. Peter also holds a Pupil Personnel Services credential in School Counseling.
https://www.dor.ca.gov/
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Regional Director, San Diego District
California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
Autumn Boylan
Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships
California Department of Health Care Services
Autumn Boylan M.P.H. (she/her/hers/they) is a recognized public health and Medicaid expert and Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
Putting equity and access at the center of her leadership, Ms. Boylan leads the development of two of the nation’s largest initiatives supporting systemic improvements in behavioral health: the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a $4.7B effort to re-imagine behavioral health access and outcomes for children and youth; and the CalAIM Justice-Involved (JI) Initiative, which seeks to improve coverage and continuity of health services to justice-involved individuals. Together, these initiatives represent an historic investment in the well-being of the state’s most vulnerable populations.
With 16+ years of expertise in state health program delivery, Ms. Boylan is recognized for her ability to drive novel innovation and coordinate highly complex statewide partnerships at the intersections of Medicaid, public health, equity, education, justice, and more. In her role, Ms. Boylan is a key driver of both policy and operational activities required to achieve the joint missions of the Department of Health Care Services and the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS).
Ms. Boylan earned a Master of Public Health degree from Drexel University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from San Francisco State University. In her spare time, she enjoys live music, reading a good novel, and bowling with friends. She lives in Sacramento, California with her partner and two children, who remind her daily that youth voice is essential to redesigning our behavioral health system.
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/
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Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships
California Department of Health Care Services
Carla Bryant
Executive Director
Center for District Innovation And Leadership in Early Education, Cultivate Learning at the Universi
Dr. Carla Bryant has over thirty years of national experience creating culturally competent policies, programs, and procedures for comprehensive early learning, P-3, elementary, family support, and after-school programs. She is the co-founder of the Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education (DIAL EE) which sits in Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington. DIAL EE focuses on supporting school districts to succeed in creating and implementing effective early learning structures that assist children from communities with less social, political, and monetary capital to build a strong educational foundation.
Previously as the Chief of the Early Education Department for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), Dr. Bryant was successful in implementing a P-12 vision, aligning curriculum and instruction across grades, P-3. Dr. Bryant oversaw the development and implementation of Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in SFUSD and integrated community-based and district early education practices through strategic partnerships. During Carla’s tenure, SFUSD’s kindergarten readiness benchmark improved from 37% to 55% in three years.
Before going to SFUSD, Dr. Bryant was a strategic advisor for the City of Seattle where she co-created the Seattle Early Education Collaborative (SEEC), a community-based early learning system that joined disparately funded programs (federal, state, local, and private) into one system that included joint assessment and accountability, professional development, and transition processes. SEEC was an integral part of the Seattle Public Schools P-3 model and was highlighted by the National League of Cities as one of four cities with progressive plans to align the early learning and K-12 education systems.
Dr. Bryant received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington in special education, M.Ed. in early childhood education from Georgia State University, and B.B.A. from the University of Central Oklahoma.
https://dialee.org/
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Executive Director
Center for District Innovation And Leadership in Early Education, Cultivate Learning at the Universi
Nancy Brynelson
Statewide Literacy Co-Director
California Department of Education
Nancy Brynelson served most recently as a special literacy consultant to the CTC and as one of the primary writers of the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework. Ms. Brynelson was also the Co-Director of the Center for the Advancement of Reading and Writing at the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Ms. Brynelson has also been a consultant writer for the National Association of Educational Progress’ 2025 Reading Framework and was an Education Program Consultant at CDE in the Reading/Language Arts Leadership Office.
About Nancy Brynelson
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Statewide Literacy Co-Director
California Department of Education
Michelle Clark
Social Services Director
Tuolumne County Health and Human Services Agency
Michelle Clark is in her twenty-first year with Tuolumne County HHSA and is currently a Social Services Director. Michelle oversees prevention, Welfare to Work, Child Welfare Services, Post-Permanency/Complex Care, In Home Supportive Services, Adult Systems of Care, and Homeless Services. After graduating from California State University, Chico with her Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Michelle began her career as a Social Worker for Child Welfare Services and promoted through the Social Work series and assumed her first leadership role in 2006. The majority of Michelle’s career as both a social worker and a leader have called upon skillsets that rely upon active listening and connection as the foundation. Michelle’s work as a leader fosters work environments that inspire camaraderie, health and well-being, high-performance, and inclusivity.
https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/219/Health-Human-Services
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Social Services Director
Tuolumne County Health and Human Services Agency
Jina Coronado
MCT Family Advocate, Cal Voices
Placer County Children’s System of Care
Jina Coronado is a dedicated Parent Advocate at Cal Voices, where she plays an
integral role in the Placer County Mobile Crisis Team. Her commitment to supporting families within a compassionate, judgment-free environment is unwavering. Jina's approach is rooted in active listening, providing empathetic guidance, and offering expert assistance in navigating complex systems, including Child Welfare, Mental Health, Juvenile Probation, Housing, and Education.
Currently pursuing her Master's in Counseling, she holds a Bachelor's degree in both Psychology and Sociology from The University of Maryland. Her educational
background and Peer Certification equip her with a wealth of knowledge and
understanding, which she channels into her advocacy work.
However, it's her most profound qualification that sets her apart – her lived experience. As a single parent raising five children, Jina’s personal journey has equipped her with an unparalleled ability to connect with families facing similar challenges, particularly those caring for children with mental health needs and specialized educational requirements. She serves as a beacon of hope, harnessing her lived experience to provide unwavering support to parents and caregivers during their times of need. Driven by passion and her commitment to making a positive difference, Jina embodies empathy, resilience, and expertise in her mission to pave the way toward brighter, more stable futures for the individuals and families she serves.
https://www.placer.ca.gov/2050/Childrens-System-of-Care
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MCT Family Advocate, Cal Voices
Placer County Children’s System of Care
Amanda Dickey
Executive Director of Government Relations
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Amanda Dickey, Esq. is the Executive Director of Government Relations at the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). Her areas of expertise include K-12 funding, early education, extended learning, special education, school-based health and mental health, and federal legislation. Her advocacy work supports the SCCOE values of equity, inclusion, diversity and partnership. Amanda is a graduate of Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where she focused on legislative interpretation and constitutional law. She is admitted to practice law in the state of California.
https://www.sccoe.org/
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Executive Director of Government Relations
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Rachael Ding
Commissioner
Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE)
Rachael Ding is a senior at Monta Vista High School. She serves as a commissioner on the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) and the California Association of Resource and Special Educators Plus (CARSplus). Her current research is focused on youth voice and the special educator shortage. She hopes to continue her work with a career in education and public service in the future.
https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/acse.asp
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Commissioner
Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE)
Lisa Eisenberg
Child & Youth Health Financing Project Director, Strategic Resource Planning and Implementation Team
WestEd
Lisa Eisenberg is the Child & Youth Health Financing Project Director with the Strategic Resource Planning and Implementation Team at WestEd. With more than 10 years of experience in school-based health policy and implementation, Lisa’s work supports WestEd’s continued growth into school-based health and developing partnerships with the health sector to reduce inequities to student learning. She supports a portfolio of projects that expand comprehensive systems of financing and sustainability to improve and expand school-based health services. Prior to joining WestEd, Lisa worked for nine years with the California School-Based Health Alliance, most recently as the Director of Policy and External Affairs. At CSHA, Lisa led several, multi-staged policy and finance efforts with various state agencies and developed many tools to illustrate how schools and partners can leverage various funding streams to better address the whole child needs of students.
https://www.wested.org/
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Child & Youth Health Financing Project Director, Strategic Resource Planning and Implementation Team
WestEd
Ryan Eisenberg
Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Health Council
Ryan C. Eisenberg, EdD, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Health Council, a community nonprofit in the Bay area. He brings over 20 years’ experience in direct work, advocacy and leadership for children and families with complex learning and mental health needs. A teacher, administrator, community advocate and organizational leader, Ryan has dedicated himself to improving outcomes for all children within our communities. During his career, Ryan has developed innovative school programming in Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California, for students with complex learning and mental health needs. His passion has been creating more inclusive community settings, building programs of acceptance and learning, and improving the overall outcomes for children who were previously not finding success in their communities or schools. Ryan has been an active voice and advocate in public policy issues related to education and child welfare. A strong advocate for youth with mental health needs, children in the foster system, and students with learning differences, Ryan seeks opportunities to give those groups voice and representation. Ryan has served on state-level work groups and as a special education expert for districts exploring equity issues.
https://www.chconline.org/
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Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Health Council
Elizabeth Estes
Founder
Breaking Barriers California
Elizabeth Estes is the Founder of Breaking Barriers California and Of Counsel with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo. She represents school districts and county offices of education throughout California. For the past twenty years she has focused her practice in the areas of special education and student matters. She brings extensive experience on legal matters including student discipline, inter-district transfers, open enrollment, First Amendment protections, IEP processes, discrimination, cyber-bullying, technology and media literacy, student assessment and achievement, program development, and much more. She has comprehensive litigation experience regarding special education programming and the rights of parents and children and has been integral in training attorneys statewide on these issues.
Based on a harrowing experience in college and a fundamental passion for education and children, Ms. Estes has dedicated her legal career to supporting schools and the children they serve. She is committed to championing education for the whole child and uniting the multiple agencies and parties that serve children to do the same. In these efforts, Ms. Estes has developed alternative dispute resolution processes and systems for families and agencies.
Prior to joining AALRR, Estes served as the statewide chair of the Students and Special Education practice group at the law firm of Dannis Woliver Kelley (DWK). Before working at DWK, she served as counsel for dependent children in Los Angeles County.
https://www.breakingbarriersca.org
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Founder
Breaking Barriers California
Toby Ewing
Executive Director
Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission
Toby Ewing, Ph.D., joined the Mental Health Commission in 2015 after working for governance reform as a consultant to the California State Senate, research director at California Forward, and a project manager at the Little Hoover Commission. In addition, Ewing worked as the Director of the California Research Bureau and the California Cost Control Commission.
With the Commission, Toby launched California’s first Mental Health Innovation Summit and an Innovation Incubator to promote novel approaches to improving mental health systems in California. He has also steadfastly worked to increase public access to high-quality data on mental health funding, programs, and outcomes.
Toby has championed community engagement with more than $5 million in annual grants that support stakeholder advocacy, the launch of a youth leadership initiative, and creative ways of reaching the public, including through community engagement and filmmaking. The goal has always been the same: to elevate the voices of consumers, family members, and communities on mental health issues.
Toby did his undergraduate studies at Grinnell College and received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Syracuse University. He served as a Fulbright Scholar in Central America.
https://mhsoac.ca.gov/
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Executive Director
Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission
Mindy Fattig
Senior Advisor of System of Support
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Mindy Fattig is a Senior Advisor for the Statewide System of Support with an expertise in Special Education for the Transformative Systems for Equitable Educational Outcomes Center of CCEE.
In her current role, she works closely with California Department of Education (CDE) and California State Board of Education (SBE) supporting lead initiatives throughout the Statewide System of Support to build capacity of LEAs to address achievement gaps and provide equity in access to the resources and supports in order to increase student outcomes both academically and socially/emotionally.
Fattig brings decades of experience in education. Beginning as a paraprofessional for a student with significant needs which led to her love for teaching middle school as a general education and special education teacher. She has created co-teaching inclusive programs which received national and state-wide recognition and was an educational consultant and presenter nationwide on effective program design. Her leadership expertise includes being a site principal in Alternative Education, Director of special education for two county offices of education and SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) Executive Director.
Fattig supported over 34 school districts in two counties as well as served on numerous statewide workgroups and advisory panels. Her expertise has led to redesigning mental health programs and services across agencies and focusing on increasing meaningful inclusive practices. She has held the role of Chair for the State SELPA Administrators Association of California, an adjunct Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, was recognized as the Humboldt County Teacher of the Year and is a published author on differentiation and inclusive practices.
https://ccee-ca.org/
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Senior Advisor of System of Support
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Lishaun Francis
Senior Director, Behavioral Health
Children Now
As part of the health team, Lishaun Francis supports Children Now’s mental health/trauma efforts.
Prior to joining Children Now, Lishaun Francis was an Associate Director at the California Medical Association. She provided policy support and analysis for California physicians on the issues of Medi-Cal, Workers’ Compensation, and Health Information Technology. Lishaun spent over two years with the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO where she provided fiscal and policy analyses to the State Legislature on issues of mental health, developmental disabilities, and alcohol and drug programs. In Washington, DC Lishaun Francis worked as a Program Analyst for the U.S Department of Education, providing fiscal support on issues of higher education.
Lishaun Francis received her Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.
https://www.childrennow.org/
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Senior Director, Behavioral Health
Children Now
Trina Frazier
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
Trina Frazier is a native of the Central Valley and has 32 years of experience in education providing expertise in the areas of program development, pupil personnel services, behavioral health and special education. She is dedicated to maximizing organizational efficiency and empowering others to succeed. She currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services at the office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, where she oversees the Student Services Department, which includes the behavioral health All 4 Youth program, special education and Fresno County’s Special Educational Local Plan Area (SELPA). Trina’s passion was sparked when she started her career as a 5th grade classroom teacher where she experienced, firsthand, the intense behavioral health needs of children and youth in Fresno County. Since that time, she has focused her attention on developing programs and services that will integrate behavioral health services in the schools. The All 4 Youth partnership with the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health has been the culmination of this vision.
https://www.fcoe.org/
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Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
Lucas Frerichs
Vice Chair
Yolo County Board of Supervisors
Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs is committed to advancing policy that promotes the ability of all families to have their basic needs met in safe, connected communities where there is opportunity for personal fulfillment, and access to protected natural resources.??
Representing the cities of Davis and Winters, the campus of the University of California at Davis (UCD), and the rural land of southwestern Yolo County, Lucas began a four-year term on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, serving District 2, in January 2023 after being elected in June 2022.
Lucas earned a B.A. in government from California State University, Sacramento, and a certificate in land use and environmental planning from UC Davis. He also has his Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
Lucas lives in Davis with his wife, Stacie, who is Executive Director of the Davis Arts Center. Together, they enjoy the antics of their frisky pup, Berryessa.
https://www.yolocounty.org/government/board-of-supervisors
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Vice Chair
Yolo County Board of Supervisors
Jeanine Gaines
Director of Partnerships
The Social Changery
Jeanine Gaines (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) is a communications professional specializing in outreach and stakeholder engagement in unserved and underserved communities. She has a strong integrated communications background, serving diverse audiences through targeted events, collateral material development, and through traditional and new media. Jeanine has over 10 years experience leading and supporting statewide, cross-cultural, behavioral health and suicide prevention projects.
Recognizing the importance of communities telling their own stories, Jeanine partnered with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center to co-write “Ignite: Sparking Community Change Through Social Marketing”, a culturally responsive social marketing curriculum for tribes and tribal organizations. Jeanine is the Director of Partnerships at The Social Changery, ensuring the public health and social justice work of their clients is always inclusive of the communities they serve. In addition to her work at the Changery, she is a board member for Earth Mama Healing, an empowerment and leadership nonprofit for black youth, and Vice Chair of the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission for the City of Sacramento.
https://www.socialchangery.com/
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Director of Partnerships
The Social Changery
Bonnie Garcia
Statewide Literacy Co-Director
California Department of Education
Dr. Garcia most recently served as a Program Specialist and Literacy Specialist at the Desert Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) where she established a Literacy Improvement Network at the multi-district SELPA. Dr. Garcia has served as a structured literacy/dyslexia interventionist and is an Associate of the Orton-Gillingham Academy for Practitioners and Educators through which she has provided structured literacy training for educators, including training to support the SELPA’s
https://www.cde.ca.gov/
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Statewide Literacy Co-Director
California Department of Education
Kimberly Giardina
Director, Child and Family Well-Being
San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
Dr. Kimberly Giardina is the director for the Child and Family Well-Being department with the San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. She has been in the field of child welfare for 23 years and has a Doctor of Social Work from the University of Southern California and a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University. Dr. Giardina has consulted on child welfare issues at the national, state, and local levels. She led the implementation of multiple innovative initiatives in child welfare services including the Title IV-E Waiver and San Diego’s practice framework, Safety Enhanced Together. She has also participated on multiple Agency wide initiatives including the development of the Future Generations Council, the Trauma Informed Systems Integration Team, and the Strong Families, Thriving Communities coalition that focused on reducing disproportionality and disparities for children/youth involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. During her four years as the Child Welfare Director, Dr. Giardina has lead major systems change efforts with the completion of the 88 Working Group recommendations that were adopted by the Board of Supervisors. Dr. Giardina is leading the transformation of the child welfare system in San Diego into a child and family well-being system with the vision of improving coordination, communication and partnership between family serving organizations in San Diego to help strengthen families and communities so that fewer children experience abuse and neglect. Her passion is to improve policy and practice issues within the child welfare system so that it works best for the children and families it serves.
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/
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Director, Child and Family Well-Being
San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
Pap1 Grand3
Spoken Word Artist
Bay Area Creative
Papi Grande is on a mission. The objective: Success. The Obstacles: Nothing he can’t overcome. His passion for poetry has led him to perform at over 100 open mics in less than a year, where he eventually became a 2023 Berkeley Poetry Slam Team member, placing 3rd at the 2023 Bigfoot Regional Poetry Slam festival in Portland, Or. PG is not the same poet that he was yesterday, he’s better! If you’ve seen him perform once, you want to catch his next performance. He’s most certainly got something new to show you! And you can support his poetry and music at Papi Grande everywhere except for Soundcloud there he is MC Titty Muscle! His first album All Had Choices is there and he is not even close to finished!
https://www.instagram.com/Pap1grand3/
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Spoken Word Artist
Bay Area Creative
Stephanie Gregson
Deputy Executive Director
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Dr. Stephanie Gregson serves as the Deputy Executive Director for the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE). In this role, Dr. Gregson works closely with Executive Director Matt Navo, overseeing the Direct Technical Assistance efforts focusing on school turnaround centering on improving teaching and learning within districts and schools aimed at equitable access, opportunity, and outcomes for students.
Prior to joining CCEE, Dr. Gregson was appointed Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction at the California Department of Education (CDE) from March 2020 – September 2021. She was responsible for the overall operations and administration of eight branches where she served as lead learner, convener, and facilitator, ensuring all students in California are well supported and well prepared for the future. Prior to being appointed Chief Deputy Superintendent, Stephanie held multiple key roles at CDE, including serving as the Deputy Superintendent of the Instruction and Measurement Branch and Director of the Curriculum Frameworks & Instructional Resources Division.
Stephanie has more than 24 years of experience in public education and started her career as an elementary school teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District. As a teacher, principal, and district leader in curriculum and instruction, she anchored her decision making upon the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive in an ideal learning environment.
https://ccee-ca.org/
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Deputy Executive Director
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Natasha Hall-Sevilla
Executive Director
The Primary School-East Bay
Natasha’s initial experience working with families came at a young age while being inspired by her mother’s example of teaching children and supporting families in the family childcare home. As such, for the past 20 years, Natasha has been joyfully committed to encouraging and celebrating the strengths of children and families in early childhood education and through social services. Natasha fostered a love of learning for children as a Preschool Assistant Teacher and Teacher for both private preschool and Head Start; supported families to thrive through adversity as a Family Services Specialist in a home-based setting; and advocated for the reunification of children with families and permanency for foster children as a Child Protective Services Social Worker. It is there that Natasha learned the importance of providing trauma-informed services to children and families and recognized the resilience that families have.
Natasha has progressed in her roles from training and coaching teachers in strategies for best practice in early childhood instruction as a Mentor Coach to an Assistant Program Manager, providing management and data analysis of Educational Programming, School Readiness, Curriculum, Quality Teacher Interactions, and Coaching for Head Start Preschool.
With the inspiration of her 5th grade teacher about the importance of education, Natasha, the first in her family to graduate high school, went on to earn an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and a Master’s Degree in Education. Natasha now serves as the Executive Director of the Primary School-Bay Area, leading the integration of healthcare, education, and family wellness systems in support of children and families.
https://www.theprimaryschool.org/
About Natasha Hall-Sevilla
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Executive Director
The Primary School-East Bay
Chris Hartley
Deputy Executive Director
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Dr. Chris Hartley serves as a Deputy Executive Director at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE). His primary role is leading and supporting the CCEE Center of Transformative Systems for Equitable Educational Outcomes and efforts to build capacity and improve accessibility within the CA Statewide System of Support.
Transitioning to CCEE from the role of serving as Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools, his background and service is focused on meeting the needs of children and youth throughout the K-12 system. Through efforts focused on networking and collaboration, he has developed and built relationships and partnerships with multiple regional and statewide agencies and organizations. He strives to improve student outcomes by supporting innovative strategies that maximize resources, align initiatives, build and foster partnerships and cohesion, while utilizing improvement science practices.
With 32 years in education, Chris originally began as a teacher in high school level alternative education programs, and ultimately transitioned to high school principal, founder and principal of a charter school, and Superintendent for the Northern Humboldt Union High School District. Every student must have accessibility to a rich and meaningful learning experience. Serving and advocating for the needs of students in rural communities with a focus on building relationships among diverse community members and educators has proven instrumental in successful program design and implementation during his career.
Investing in and fostering the professional growth of individuals and teams leads to organizational improvement and growth. Dr. Hartley has practical experience leading organizational improvement efforts that align with student improvement outcomes. Serving as a District and County Office Superintendent has grounded Dr. Hartey in the importance of relationship building and focus on empowering individuals to lead and serve.
As a practitioner, Chris is excited to be part of the team at CCEE and looks forward to serving students in the state by serving as a partner in transformational planning and innovation. His knowledge and experience serving students and communities experiencing high levels of trauma is founded on sound understanding of MTSS practices and a sense-based approach to designing effective intervention and support efforts.
https://ccee-ca.org/
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Deputy Executive Director
California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE)
Annie Hockett
Assistant Chief Probation Officer and Facility Superintendent of the Mother Lode Regional Juvenile Detention Facility
Tuolumne County Probation Department
Annie Hockett, MSW, LCSW, began her work serving children and families in 2004 as an Emergency Response Social Worker for Tuolumne County Social Services. During her eleven years with Social Services, she worked in a variety of specialized assignments including work as a Child Forensic Interview Specialist, a Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Social Worker and Court Investigator. Annie transitioned from Social Services to the field of mental health where she worked in a variety of different specialty settings including community mental health , Hospice, Education, Public Health and private practice. In 2016, Annie began working within the Tuolumne County Probation Department providing direct service to justice involved youth and their families. Annie remains with the Probation Department currently and serves as the Assistant Chief Probation Officer and Facility Superintendent of the Mother Lode Regional Juvenile Detention Facility. She also serves as the Chair for the County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council.
https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/337/Probation-Department
About Annie Hockett
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Assistant Chief Probation Officer and Facility Superintendent of the Mother Lode Regional Juvenile Detention Facility
Tuolumne County Probation Department
Betty Hoskins
Program Manager, Crisis Access and Intervention Program (CAIP)
Tuolumne County Behavioral Health
Betty Hoskins, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently serving as the Program Manager for Tuolumne County Behavioral Health’s Crisis Access and Intervention Program (CAIP).
Betty has been providing various clinical services and supports to adults and children for the past 24 years.
Ms. Hoskins has worn many hats during her long career journey working with SUD clients, children and adults. She is currently serrving the adults and children of Tuolumne County, managing their Crisis, Access, and Intervention Program.
Betty’s heart is in serving others, always helping them to help themselves. She believes in providing exceptional support with challenging clients to rise to their maximum potential.
https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/220/Behavioral-Health
About Betty Hoskins
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Program Manager, Crisis Access and Intervention Program (CAIP)
Tuolumne County Behavioral Health
Indira Infante
Program Manager, Cal Voices
Placer County Children’s System of Care
Indira Infante is a dedicated and passionate Bilingual-bicultural Parent Advocate and Program Manager, bringing over two decades of invaluable experience in supporting families. Her role at Cal Voices is much more than a profession; it's a calling fueled by her own life experiences as a recipient of services herself. Indira's journey of overcoming numerous life challenges has uniquely positioned her to make a profound impact on families in need.
As the Program Manager for Cal Voices, Indira Infante draws inspiration from her lived experiences, utilizing them as the catalyst and driving force behind her steadfast commitment to effecting meaningful change.
Characterized by her resilience and unwavering dedication, Indira's expertise extends across the complex fields of Child Welfare, Mental Health, and Juvenile Probation systems. She leverages this extensive knowledge to break down barriers, reduce stigma, and improve outcomes for families within her community. Leading a dedicated team of 12 family advocates, she ensures that families facing high needs receive intensive support services, helping them stabilize and navigate the intricacies of these systems. Ensuring that services are culturally appropriate and adequate for children and families.
Indira has a Medical Peer Certification and holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Sacramento State University, a testament to her dedication to education and her remarkable resilience. Her commitment to empowering underserved communities, combined with her wealth of experience and passion, makes her an invaluable asset, bridging gaps and paving the way for positive change in the lives of families everywhere.
https://www.placer.ca.gov/2050/Childrens-System-of-Care
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Program Manager, Cal Voices
Placer County Children’s System of Care
Tyler Jackson
Senior Staff Services Analyst for Children's Services
Tuolumne County Department of Social Services
Tyler Jackson is in his third year with Tuolumne County Department of Social Services, and is the Senior Staff Services Analyst for Children's Services. He received his Bachelor's degree from UC Davis, and did 4 years of graduate work in data analysis in geography. This work serves him well in his role with Children's Services, where he has worked to make the Children's System of Dashboard carry meaning and influence in creating future policy for the prevention of child abuse in Tuolumne County.
https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/284/Childrens-Services
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Senior Staff Services Analyst for Children's Services
Tuolumne County Department of Social Services
Karleen Jakowski
Assistant Director
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency
Karleen Jakowski, LMFT is the Assistant Director of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and serves as the Mental Health Director and Public Guardian for Yolo County. In her current role, Karleen supports the Adult and Aging and Child, Youth, and Family branches of HHSA which serve as fully integrated systems of care providing a myriad of health, behavioral health, and social services to Yolo County residents. Karleen has a broad range of Behavioral Health, Social Services and Juvenile Justice experience and has worked in multiple county systems and in the non-profit sector. She has been a behavioral health services leader in Yolo County for much of the past two decades, where she has demonstrated a continuous commitment to upstream investments in the mental health and substance use disorder continuum through the development of strong, collaborative relationships with community partners to provide the highest quality of care to her community’s most vulnerable residents.
https://www.yolocounty.org/health-human-services
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Assistant Director
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency
Ramsey Khasho
Chief Clinical Officer
Children’s Health Council
Ramsey Khasho, PsyD, CHC's Chief Clinical Officer, has over 25 years’ experience evaluating and treating children, teens, and families. He specializes in pediatric anxiety and depression, ADHD, ASD, forensic assessment, and family therapy. Dr. Khasho is a court-appointed expert for the State of California and has provided testimony about the psychological evaluations of children and adolescents. He has over 15 years of non-profit executive management experience and is actively involved in the supervision and training of graduate students. Dr. Khasho is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Francisco teaching graduate level courses for the School of Education, Counseling Psychology Department.
https://www.chconline.org/
About Ramsey Khasho
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Chief Clinical Officer
Children’s Health Council
Hovik Khosrovian
Senior Policy Advisor for Health Workforce Development
Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)
Hovik Khosrovian serves as the Senior Policy Advisor for Health Workforce Development at the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), overseeing health workforce policy and research development, strategy, and implementation. He has been with HCAI for nearly 14 years, previously serving as the Health Workforce Policy Section Chief overseeing the design and development of workforce programs focused on creating and expanding a diverse workforce in primary care, behavioral health, and allied health to meet the needs of the state’s underserved and underrepresented communities. He also served as the California Primary Care Office and State Office of Rural Health Program Director within HCAI, which administers federally funded programs to identify workforce shortages in the state and assist underserved communities in expanding access to health care services.
https://hcai.ca.gov/
About Hovik Khosrovian
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Senior Policy Advisor for Health Workforce Development
Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI)
Hayin Kimner
Managing Director
CSLX
Hayin Kimner is a practitioner, researcher and policy advocate with a focus on whole child, community school systems and partnerships that support the healthy development of youth and their communities.
Hayin has led the development of District and citywide community school partnership strategies in San Francisco Unified and Emery Unified School Districts. While at the John W. Gardner Center at Stanford University (JGC), she co-facilitated the evaluation of multiple community and school-based project initiatives with an emphasis on collaborative, theory-based, qualitative research methods that engaged community partners in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco counties.
In addition to serving as the Managing Director for the CA Community Schools Learning Exchange, Hayin is a Senior Policy and Research Fellow for Policy Analysis for California Education, and a nonresident Fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution in support of the Community Schools Forward national task force. She is actively connected to community schools initiatives and practitioners across the country.
Hayin received her B.A. from Amherst College and a Ph.D. from Stanford University Graduate School of Education.
https://cslx.org/
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Managing Director
CSLX
Richard Knecht
Managing Partner
Integrated Human Services Group
Richard Knecht is one among many who is passionately interested in seeing public helping services become healing services. He has delivered program operations, leadership, strategic planning and training assistance to public and private healthcare and human service systems for more than thirty years.
In addition to his private organizational and leadership coaching, he serves as an advisor and consultant to the California State Department of Social Services and its partners, providing guidance and cross-system statewide technical assistance toward integrated management processes for children and families. He is a trusted engineer for the state’s System of Care work and has led the development of the nation’s first Integrated Core Practice Model for children and youth.
Richard previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of a large psychiatric hospital, and is the former Sr. Vice President of Program Operations at the River Oak Center for Children. He worked in Placer County for nearly a decade, directing its highly regarded children's system. He is a past chair of the Board of Directors at Ifoster, and presently a Board Member at Opeeka, a unique software development company which creates and implements integrated information management solutions for the healing professions. He also serves on Placer County’s First Five Commission. Richard is the author of two children’s books, the most recent work helps parents navigate trauma stories with their children.
https://www.integratedhumanservicesgroup.com/
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Managing Partner
Integrated Human Services Group
Karen Larsen
Chief Executive Officer
Steinberg Institute
Karen Larsen is the Steinberg Institute’s first Chief Executive Officer. As a natural result of her own life’s experience, her academic training, and the thirty years of recovery she has achieved, she possesses an unwavering passion and extraordinary ability to improve the lives of California’s most vulnerable communities.
Prior to joining the Steinberg Institute, Karen served as the Director of Yolo County’s Health and Human Services Agency, an integrated agency providing social services, public health, mental health, and substance abuse services to over 212,000 residents. Prior to that, Karen spent 20 years caring for uninsured, undocumented, and underserved people in community clinics and non-profit agencies. Her commitment to integrating care has not only ensured people receive the care they need but has exponentially improved the outcomes for those who have both a behavioral health challenge and other comorbid physical health conditions. Her leadership has inspired others to build bridges across systems as a mechanism for improving outcomes between health systems, the criminal justice community, school districts, cities, and many other key stakeholder groups and organizations. This innovative model has served as a beacon and cleared the way for the development of innumerable innovative programs with braided funding streams that maximized services for those in need across the state.
Karen has been an active member of statewide groups engaging in cross-system collaboration to address all determinants of health, including the California Welfare Directors Association and California Behavioral Health Directors Association where she co chaired the Children’s Committee and Criminal Justice Committee. Karen is the co-chair of the Behavioral Health Committee of the Child Welfare Council; on the CalAIM Foster Care Model of Care Workgroup; and a member of California’s Department of Health Care Services’ Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee. She also is a member of the California Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Task Force.
Karen is the mother of three children and a rescue dog. She has a long-term partner, is a member of the LGBTQ community, and is a long-time resident of Sacramento. Her self-care strategies include daily walks, a gallon of water a day, and gardening.
https://steinberginstitute.org/
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Chief Executive Officer
Steinberg Institute
Garth Lewis
Superintendent of Schools
Yolo County Office of Education
Garth Lewis serves as the Yolo County Superintendent of Schools. He was elected to his first term as the county's 19th superintendent in 2018 and was re-elected to his second term in 2022. He is the first African American to be elected as county superintendent in Yolo County. In 2022, he was named to the Sacramento Bee's list of the 'Top 25 Black Change Makers' in the Sacramento area.
Lewis has served as an educator in Yolo County for 19 years and has a 27-year career in K-12 education. Superintendent Lewis has served as a para-educator, teacher, site and district administrator, and county administrator.
As County Superintendent, Superintendent Lewis supports and provides leadership to approximately 270 employees, which he is certain are the agency’s most valuable resources. Additionally, his collaborative work supports each of the five school districts and other key agencies that serve youth and families throughout Yolo County. He believes access to a high-quality public education is a significant factor in improving life outcomes for all children, particularly those experiencing poverty.
Mr. Lewis earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from California State University, Sacramento. He holds a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and a K-12 Administrative Services Credential.
https://www.ycoe.org/About/Superintendents-Office/index.html
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Superintendent of Schools
Yolo County Office of Education
Tanya Lieberman
Chief Consultant
California Assembly Education Committee
Tanya Lieberman is Chief Consultant for the Assembly Education Committee. She has served as education policy consultant to the Senate Education Committee, the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, and the office of Senator Jack O’Connell, and was Deputy Legislative Secretary to Governor Gray Davis. She served as a United Nations civilian peacekeeper and elections observer in Cambodia, South Africa, and Bosnia, and was a recipient of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for study of Vietnamese Amerasian resettlement. She is a former elementary school teacher in Oakland Unified School District and holds a multiple subject teaching credential. She lives in a cohousing community in Davis with her husband, a middle school math teacher, and their two children. She sings in the Oakland Interfaith Community Choir and practices the Japanese textile art of shibori indigo dying.
https://aedn.assembly.ca.gov/
About Tanya Lieberman
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Chief Consultant
California Assembly Education Committee
Michael Lombardo
Education Advisor
Consultant
Michael Lombardo is an Education and Integrated Services Advisor to Education and Human Service agencies. In this capacity, he works throughout California with leadership in early prevention, education, social services, health, juvenile justice, and mental health agencies to integrate and improve services for children, youth, and families. Currently, Michael is advising California Health and Human Services for the Child Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.
Michael is a member of the California Department of Education’s State Student Attendance Review Board and Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup, as well as a board member of the California School-Based Health Alliance. He has extensive experience in the implementation and scaling up of evidence-based practices and coordinated the implementation of the California Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports – California PBIS. His diverse professional background includes Managing Deputy Probation Officer, Assistant Director of a Juvenile Detention Facility, Assistant Director of Placer County Children Systems of Care (Child Welfare and Children’s Mental Health Services), and Director at Placer County Office of Education, Prevention Services Division. Now, as an Education Advisor, his role is to help the implementation of the California Child Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and to support both the state-level and local-level ecosystems better integrated to improve outcomes for our communities.
About Michael Lombardo
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Education Advisor
Consultant
Jackson McBrayer
Spoken Word Artist
Bay Area Creative
Jackson McBrayer is a Bay Area based spoken word poet and comedian. He produces the monthly showcase 'Comedy Moshpit with Jackson' and has been a member of the nationally competing 'Oakland Poetry Slam Team'. Jackson's work is based in social commentary on the lack of access and stereotypes placed on disabled communities. He dives into the depths of his humanity, and skydives from the great unknown of what could be.
About Jackson McBrayer
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Spoken Word Artist
Bay Area Creative
Jessi Misslin
Vice President Program & Engagement
Pacific Foundation Services
Jessi Misslin has worked in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors for over 21 years. In her current role, as Vice President of Program & Engagement for Pacific Foundation Services (PFS), a San Francisco-based philanthropic advisory firm, she leads the program department, providing tailored grantmaking support services including strategic development, funding research and analysis, while promoting values-based and grantee-centric practices. Through her work with PFS, she has served on the Sand Hill Foundation team since 2013 and manages the foundation’s Wellness funding portfolio. In 2018, in partnership with foundation leadership, Jessi helped launched the Wellness Partnership Initiative, providing long-term support for multisector collaborations focused on increasing access to high quality mental health services for young people and their families in San Mateo County, California. Her work is grounded in the belief that the places and people with which young people engage should be designed and coordinated to provide mental wellness supports seamlessly across a system of care that adapts to their needs and their unique identities. Her passion for youth mental health stems from both lived experience and a professional focus on the intersection of mental health and the arts, youth development, and outdoor education.
Prior to joining Sand Hill Foundation and Pacific Foundation Services, Jessi spent seven years working with out-of-school-time organizations, including Summer Search, 826 Valencia, and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. She is also one of the founding members of Open Roads, a creative outdoor education organization. Jessi currently sits on the board of WithAll, a national organization promoting healthy body image and the prevention of eating disorders in young people. She has participated in the Arts Loan Fund Steering Committee, through Northern California Grantmakers and completed the Berkeley Executive Leadership Program through the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Jessi completed her undergraduate studies at Minneapolis College of Art & Design and holds a Creative Nonfiction Writing Certification from the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Outside of work, Jessi can be found cheering on her two sons from the sidelines of a court or field, enjoying her husband’s amazing cooking, or attempting a new creative outlet.
https://pfs-llc.net/
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Vice President Program & Engagement
Pacific Foundation Services
Barbara Nemko
Superintendent of Schools
Napa County Office of Education
Dr. Barbara Nemko is currently the longest-serving county superintendent in California, having served since 1997. She is passionate about helping teachers implement digital resources to close the racial and economic achievement gaps, and she spearheaded a Countywide Innovation Preschool Digital Early Literacy program, Footsteps2Brilliance, which won the Collaboration Nation grand prize in 2015 and the ACSA Family Engagement award in 2016.
Barbara was honored as CUE’s Legislative Advocate in 2013, and ISTE’s Public Policy Advocate in 2014. She was honored with the Digital Promise Digital Innovation Learning Award (DILA) in 2014, and the California County Superintendent’s Champion’s Award in 2019. She is excited about the potential of AI and ChatGPT for all students and is a frequent presenter at local and state conferences.
When not working, Barbara is active in Rotary, and on the boards of several local agencies. She also loves community theater, both as an audience member and performer, as well as spending time and cooking for her immediate and extended friends and family.
https://napacoe.org/
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Superintendent of Schools
Napa County Office of Education
Scott Ostendorf
Project Manager, Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP)
Marin County Office of Education
Scott Ostendorf has over 20 years experience working in public education at the school site, district, and county office of education levels. During that time, he has focused on supporting programs addressing the mental health needs of youth. Scott currently works at the Marin County Office of Education as a Project Manager related to the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP), and supports school districts in Marin County with structuring school based mental health services, expanding the behavioral health workforce, and developing sustainable funding systems through the Child and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI).
https://www.marinschools.org/
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Project Manager, Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP)
Marin County Office of Education
Nicola Parr
Senior Director, Student Services and Educational Options
Solano County Office of Education
Dr. Nicola Parr serves as Senior Director, Student Services and Educational Options for the Solano County Office of Education. Nicola has 25 years of experience working in educational systems as a teacher, principal, and director. She has focused on building multi-tiered systems of support to address the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of students. Nicola is an experienced Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) coach and trainer. She has facilitated the implementation of a PBIS countywide initiative that trained 80% of schools within Solano County. In 2019, Nicola worked collaboratively with community partners to establish a countywide initiative to open 50 school-based wellness centers that provide a welcoming place for students to de-stress and practice coping strategies that improve school performance. In 2021, Nicola led the implementation of the Solano County School-Based Mobile Crisis Response Program, which provides services to youth who are experiencing a mental health crisis at school. Since 2015, she successfully led successful grant applications to obtain nearly $30 million in local, state, and federal funds to expand the diversity of school-based mental health clinicians, address the impacts of collective community trauma, and establish postvention services after a violent or tragic event. Nicola is committed to increasing collaboration with community partners and agencies to improve academic and health outcomes for all students.
https://www.solanocoe.net/
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Senior Director, Student Services and Educational Options
Solano County Office of Education
Brian Passenheim
Assistant Chief Probation Officer
Placer County Probation Department
Brian Passenheim started his career with the Placer County Probation Department in 2004. Since then, he has had experience in Adult Services, Pretrial, Alternative Sentencing, the Juvenile Detention Facility, and Juvenile Services. Brian served as a Deputy Probation Officer, Senior Deputy Probation Officer, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer, and Probation Manager. In January of 2021, he was appointed Assistant Chief Probation Officer. Additionally, he has held the responsibility of Background Investigator, Field Training Officer, Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, Co-coordinator on the CSEC team, and Evidence Room Manager. Before starting with Placer County, Brian worked as a Correctional Officer and Parole Agent in South Dakota. Brian is dedicated and passionate about making a positive impact in the community and is extremely thankful to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Placer County. Brian currently oversees Juvenile Services, the Juvenile Detention Facility, and Professional Standards. Brian holds a Bachelor's Degree from South Dakota State University in Sociology with minors in Criminal Justice and Spanish. Recently, he received his Master of Science from the University of San Diego in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership.
https://www.placer.ca.gov/1834/Probation-Department
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Assistant Chief Probation Officer
Placer County Probation Department
Chaunise Powell
Sr. Chief of Student Services
Alameda County Office of Education
Dr. Chaunise "Chaun" Powell (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker, school social worker and educational leader. She holds a Masters in Social Work and Doctorate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Social Justice. Dr. Powell is recognized as a school based expert in the area of student services, health and school billing. She currently serves as the Sr. Chief of Student Services at the Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE). She brings a diverse background having served in various roles within education, child welfare, and community based social work. With a focus on equity, outcomes and cross-systems integration she has led statewide initiatives in school health and community schools.
Dr. Powell also serves as adjunct faculty at San José State University and California State University, East Bay where she teaches in the School of Social Work. She lives in the Yay (Bay) Area, with her partner.
About Chaunise Powell
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Sr. Chief of Student Services
Alameda County Office of Education
Jenna Robinson
Program Director, Director Teaching Artist
Bay Area Creative/California Institute of Integral Studies
Jenna Robinson, MA, LMFT a two-time grand slam champion of Hawaii Slam and has performed across the U.S. as a street musician and as a part of 6 national slam poetry teams, taking second place nationally in 2015. She is an Expressive Arts Therapist and works with survivors of all ages of trauma and abuse. She is core faculty in the Master’s of Counseling Psychology programs at the Wright Institute and the Expressive Arts Therapy program at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
https://www.ciis.edu/profiles/jenna-robinson
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Program Director, Director Teaching Artist
Bay Area Creative/California Institute of Integral Studies
Emiliano Rosas
Coordinator of Community Engagement
PRO Youth & Families
Emiliano Rosas serves as the Coordinator of Community Engagement at PRO Youth & Families. In this role, he actively contributes to their mission of supporting and enhancing the lives of young individuals and families throughout Sacramento. As the Vice Chairman of the Parks, Recreation, and Intergenerational Commission for the City of West Sacramento, Emiliano plays a pivotal role in enhancing recreational opportunities and fostering connections between generations within the community. In addition to his responsibilities at the city level, Emiliano serves as a Commissioner for the Yolo County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Commission. In this capacity, he focuses on addressing issues related to juvenile justice and delinquency, aiming to create more pathways for young people to succeed. His multifaceted roles and tireless efforts underscore his commitment to building a West Sacramento where all young people have the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
https://proyouthandfamilies.org/
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Coordinator of Community Engagement
PRO Youth & Families
Marni R. Sandoval
Deputy Director, Child & Youth Services
Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau
Dr. Marni R. Sandoval is a licensed psychologist and the Deputy Director of Child & Youth Services for Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau. Over the past 20+ years she has provided direct client services as well as developed, implemented, and managed programs within the Monterey County Behavioral Health system of care. In her current capacity, Dr. Sandoval provides oversight and management for the vast array of child & youth mental health programs provided through Monterey County Behavioral Health. She is committed to integrating a trauma-informed and culturally relevant approach to community mental health services for children, youth, and families and believes that in order to build healthier communities and create conditions for children to thrive, parents and families need to be safe, stable, and healthy. Dr. Sandoval continues to work tirelessly to build, sustain, and improve an integrated ecosystem of care that incorporates multi-agency integration to provide access and equitable services for the children, youth, and families in our communities.
https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/health/behavioral-health/bh-home
About Marni R. Sandoval
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Deputy Director, Child & Youth Services
Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau
Lisa Smusz, MS, LPCC
CEO/Principal
The Social Changery
Lisa Smusz is a seasoned strategist with 25 years of experience in senior-management-level roles, excelling in public and mental health initiatives on local, statewide, national, and international levels. By blending traditional research methods with lived experiences, she finds unique solutions to complex problems. As an Instructor at California State University, East Bay for the past 18 years, Lisa has been teaching mental health, women's studies, and social justice coursework. She is a subject matter expert in stigma reduction, behavioral health workforce development, and mental health promotion in diverse communities.
Lisa holds a license as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPC 298) and has participated in the prestigious 2022 Global Health Delivery Intensive cohort at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Bio-Psychology and a Master of Science in Educational Psychology/Counseling. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys exploring thrift stores, reading geeky non-fiction books, and embarking on adventures with her family of seven.
https://www.socialchangery.com/
About Lisa Smusz, MS, LPCC
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CEO/Principal
The Social Changery
Christine Stoner-Mertz, LCSW
Chief Executive Officer
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
Christine Stoner-Mertz, CEO, leads the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and its Catalyst Center and with the Board of Directors, drives the mission and vision for the organization. A licensed clinical social worker, Chris came to the Alliance in 2019 after being President and CEO of Lincoln Families in Oakland, a California Alliance member agency delivering behavioral health and family strengthening services in the San Francisco Bay area. Since 2005, she led the organization through a transformational period, moving from a residentially-based services focus to designing an array of culturally responsive community and school-based services for children and youth ages 0-21. Her deep commitment to equity is reflected in the transformation of services at Lincoln.
Chris received her MSW from the University of Michigan and began her career in California in 1985, as co-founder of Seneca Center, now the Seneca Family of Agencies, where she was instrumental in the development of programs and oversight of operations for 15 years.
She also founded inFocus Consulting and Development, LLC, providing consultation to over 50 private behavioral healthcare providers as well as the California State Department of Mental Health, various county departments of mental health and social services, and to school districts. As a sought-after expert on MediCal EPSDT program design and implementation, Chris developed the Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Manual.
She has served on the board of directors of the California Alliance, the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, the National Council of Mental Wellbeing, and has been the recipient of numerous service and leadership awards during her career, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service.
https://www.cacfs.org/
About Christine Stoner-Mertz, LCSW
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Chief Executive Officer
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
Jonathan Tugbenyoh
Director of School Partnerships
Seneca Family of Agencies
Jonathan Tugbenyoh is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 15 years of experience in school-based mental health. He came to the Bay Area in 2008 from Chicago and was hired by Seneca Family of Agencies as a Classroom Therapist in an intensive day treatment program. After four years, Jonathan joined Seneca's up and coming Unconditional Education program and eventually became one of the agency's first School Climate Specialists in a TK-8th grade school in Oakland. Since 2018, Jonathan has been serving as Seneca's Director of School Partnerships for San Francisco and the peninsula. With a team of twenty plus therapists, behavioral aides, and School Climate Specialists, Jonathan's team serves elementary and middle schools from Fisherman's Warf to East Palo Alto.
https://senecafoa.org/
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Director of School Partnerships
Seneca Family of Agencies
Saran Tugsjargal
Youth Commissioner
California Department of Education Advisory Commission Special Education
Saran Tugsjargal serves as the Youth Commissioner for the California Department of Education Advisory Commission on Special Education, representing the interests of students statewide. A passionate advocate for youth empowerment, Saran is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young people throughout California. Currently a junior at Alameda Community Learning Center, Saran stands as a pivotal leader in her school's community. She holds the esteemed role of elected Judicial Clerk for the disciplinary committee and is an active member of the Associated Student Body (ASB). Beyond her scholastic responsibilities, Saran assumes the presidency of several clubs, including the Interact Club and Model United Nations, fostering a culture of engagement and collaboration.
Saran extends her influence beyond her school's walls, contributing as a member of the Study Advisory Committee at the League of Women Voters Chapter of Alameda. Here, she plays a vital role in initiatives aimed at pre-voter registration in schools and empowering youth to amplify their voices through the act of voting.
Furthermore, Saran serves on the Alameda County Department of Education's Youth Civics Advisory Council, where she works diligently to conceive and implement strategies that fortify civic education in Alameda County schools. Her dedication to community and statewide leadership is underscored by years of experience, dating back to her tenure in middle school and now in high school. With a vision of a brighter future for California's youth, Saran is poised to continue her dedicated leadership and advocacy, ensuring that young voices are heard and empowered. Looking ahead, Saran aspires to pursue public office, driven by her unwavering commitment to effecting meaningful change in her community and beyond.
https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/acse.asp
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Youth Commissioner
California Department of Education Advisory Commission Special Education
Robert Williams
Dean, College of Education and Allied Studies
Cal State East Bay
Robert Williams, Dean of the College of Education and Allied Studies at Cal State East Bay, is a licensed clinical psychologist and was a visiting Fulbright Scholar from August 2001 to 2002 with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados in the Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work. Williams, who grew up in St. Louis, completed his bachelor’s degree at Howard University and his doctorate at the University of Missouri – Columbia. He completed his clinical psychology predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland at Baltimore and he was a NIDA fellow at the University of Miami, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Having studied under the top family therapy researchers in the nation, Williams led the Marriage and Family program at San Francisco State University for eight years.
https://www.csueastbay.edu/ceas/
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Dean, College of Education and Allied Studies
Cal State East Bay
Kristin Wright
Executive Director of Equity, Prevention, and Intervention
Sacramento County Office of Education
Kristin Wright is the Executive Director of Equity, Prevention, and Intervention at the Sacramento County Office of Education, a role she was appointed to in July of 2020. Prior to that, Wright served as California’s State Director of Special Education at the California Department of Education (CDE). Kristin found her passion for education as a second career after the birth of her daughter Shelby, who was born with intellectual and physical disabilities. Shelby’s lack of inclusive opportunities entering into the school system prompted Wright to return to higher education to earn her Master’s and Education Specialist teaching credential focused on students with extensive support needs. Among her various roles at SCOE, Kristin is currently leading a new statewide project called “California Includes” focused on empowering teachers, parents and the greater community with tools and resources designed to increase inclusivity and belonging for students with disabilities.
https://www.scoe.net/
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Executive Director of Equity, Prevention, and Intervention
Sacramento County Office of Education
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