We believe everyone should have access to quality behavioral health care.

We believe everyone should have access to quality behavioral health care. Through our advocacy, lobbying and education efforts, we promote the reduction of individual and community problems related to unaddressed behavioral health issues. We regularly bring together behavioral health professionals to discuss ways we can inform public policy and improve the delivery of behavioral health services. And we support efforts to help the most vulnerable among us – children with serious emotional challenges, adults with serious mental disorders, and people living with substance use disorders.

OUR MISSION

Ensure access to high-quality, cost-effective, and culturally competent behavioral health care for the people of California by providing leadership, advocacy, and support to County Behavioral Health Directors and programs.

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OUR TEAM

Michelle Doty Cabrera (She/Her/Hers)
Executive Director
Michelle is the key management leader of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California. Learn more

Elissa Feld (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Policy
Elissa joined CBHDA in 2020. As Director of Policy, she is responsible for leading policy analysis and administrative advocacy to advance CBHDA’s strategic priorities for California’s county behavioral health agencies. Learn more

Gail Gronert (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Gail is responsible for helping lead budget and advocacy efforts and provide strategic guidance to advance CBHDA’s mission. Learn more

Andrea Porter (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Operations & HR
Andrea provides oversight and management of the Association operations. Learn more

Monica Aguilera Poteet (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Executive Assistant
Monica joined the CBHDA team in 2008 after working with the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions for three years. Learn more

Heather Anders (She/Her/Hers)
Member Services and Board Engagement Manager
Heather is responsible for staffing most committees at CBHDA and providing communication to directors via e-mails and the Weekly Update. Learn more

Raven Lopez (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Fiscal Policy
Raven joined CBHDA in July 2022 and is responsible for fiscal analysis and policy efforts related to behavioral health finance. Learn more

Amer Rashid (He/His/Him)
Legislative Advocate
Amer is responsible for tracking legislative activity and representing county behavioral health needs to the legislature. Learn more

Erica J. Kretschmann (She/Her/Hers)
Accounting Manager
Erica is responsible for many of the internal finance and budgeting functions of the Association. Learn more

Hailey Donnahoe (She/Her/Hers)
Administrative Assistant
Hailey joined CBHDA in October 2023 as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to this, she dedicated her career to the non-profit sector, championing the advancement of women leaders vying for positions in local and state offices across California. Learn more

Cynthia Castillo (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Policy Advocate

Cynthia joined CBHDA in February 2024 as a Senior Policy Advocate. She has over seven years’ experience engaging in statewide advocacy. Learn more

Pegah Barrientos (She/Her/Hers)
Executive Policy Assistant
Pegah Barrientos joined CBHDA in March 2024 as an Executive Policy Assistant after working for a pharmaceutical company for over three years. Learn more

Abigail Alvarez (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Policy Advocate
Abigail (Abby) joined CBHDA in July 2024 as a Senior Policy Advocate. Prior to joining CBHDA, Abby worked as a Policy Consultant and Lobbyist at Everyday Impact Consulting, where she supported dozens of community-based organizations in advancing their legislative and budgetary goals. Learn more

Damon Rapada (They/Them/Theirs)
Legislative Assistant
Damon joined CBHDA in May 2024 as the new Legislative Assistant after previously working as an Executive Legal Assistant for the Office of Governor Newsom. Learn more

Caitlin Lafferty (She/Her/Hers)
Communications Manager

Caitlin Lafferty joined CBHDA in April 2023 as the Communications Manager after working independently as a Freelance Writer and Content Strategist. She also has previous experience working in the nonprofit sector Learn more

 

Ty Ulrey (He/Him/His)
Senior Fiscal Policy Analyst
Ty joined the team in October of 2024 as CBHDA's Fiscal Policy Analyst. After moving to Sacramento in 2022, Ty spent his first two years in the capitol at the Department of Finance Learn more

Bridgett Hankerson (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Policy Analyst
Bridgett Hankerson, LCSW, joined CBHDA in March 2024 as a Senior Policy Analyst and covers policy issues related to the Behavioral Health Transition of the Mental Health Services Act. Before joining CBHDA, she was Principal Consultant for the California State Senate’s Human Services Learn more

Jodie Langs (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Policy Analyst

Jodie joined CBHDA in September 2024 as a Senior Policy Analyst specializing in children’s behavioral health. She has more than 15 years of experience working in children’s Specialty Mental Health Services Learn more

 

2023-2024
Board Officers

Toni Navarro
President

Antonette “Toni” Navarro, LMFT, is the Director of Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Health Wellness with over 35 years of experience in community behavioral health in California. In her prior role (from 2008-2021) she served as an executive for the Tri-City Mental Health Authority, a Joint Powers Authority providing outpatient specialty mental health services to the cities of Claremont, La Verne, and Pomona, CA. Toni has been a Governing Board Member of CBHDA since 2014.

Joe Hallett
Secretary-Treasurer

Joe Hallett is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been involved in the human services field for over 14 years. With most of his experience focusing on the Behavioral Health field, he has held multiple roles over the years including being a direct service provider, Program Manager, independent contractor, and since February 2022, the Behavioral Health Director for Glenn County Health and Human Services Agency. For the last decade, Joe has been extensively involved in local Behavioral Health Policy Work and Initiatives, and has been dedicated to implementing and strengthening systems of care in rural communities.

 

Dr. Jei Africa President-Elect

Dr. Jei Africa PsyD, MSCP, CATC-V, FACHE, is the Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for San Mateo County. Prior to his current role, he served as the Assistant Director of Human Services Agency, Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for Marin County, and the Director of the Office of Diversity and Equity within San Mateo County Health. Dr. Africa, the first openly transgender county behavioral health director in the United States, is passionate about integrating effective culturally responsive practices into the core functioning of County health services. He has led efforts to expand community outreach and treatment services to underserved communities, including expanding the continuum of care for justice-involved clients and opening the first multi-disciplinary behavioral health LGBTQ+ community center in San Mateo County.  

Ryan Quist
Past President

Ryan Quist, Ph.D., is the Behavioral Health Director in Sacramento County. His focus is on mental health and substance abuse services for the homeless population, criminal justice population, and bolstering the crisis continuum of care to prevent psychiatric hospitalizations. For children’s services, he is dedicated to promoting field-based and school-based services and collaborating to support the foster youth and probation populations.

 

MEMBERSHIP

CBHDA represents the behavioral health directors from each of California’s 58 counties and two cities. Below is a listing of these counties as well as contact information.

ALAMEDA COUNTY

Karyn Tribble PsyD, LCSW
2000 Embarcadero Cove, Suite 400
Oakland, California 94606
https://www.acbhcs.org/


ALpine County

Nichole Williamson
75 A Diamond Valley Road
Markleeville, CA 96120
https://www.alpinecountyca.gov/192/Behavioral-Health-Services


AMADOR COUNTY

Melissa Cranfill, LCSW
10877 Conductor Blvd. Suite #300
Sutter Creek CA 95685
https://www.amadorgov.org/services/behavioral-health


BERKELEY CITY

Jeffrey Buell
2180 Milvia St
Berkeley, CA 94704
https://twitter.com/cityofberkeley


BUTTE COUNTY

Scott Kennelly, LCSW
3217 Cohasset Road
Chico, CA 95973
https://www.buttecounty.net/behavioralhealth/


CALAVERAS COUNTY

Wendy Alt
509 East St. Charles Street
San Andreas, CA 95249
https://mentalhealth.calaverasgov.us/


COLUSA COUNTY

Tony Hobson, PhD
162 E Carson Street
Colusa, CA 95932
Behavioral Health | Colusa County, CA - Official Website (countyofcolusa.org)


CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Suzanne K. Tavano, PHN, PhD
1340 Arnold Drive Suite 200
Martinez, CA 94553
https://cchealth.org/bhs/


DEL NORTE COUNTY

Ranell Brown, MSML, IPMA-SCP
880 Northcrest Drive
Crescent City, CA 95531
https://www.co.del-norte.ca.us/departments/BehavioralHealth


EL DORADO COUNTY

Nicole Ebrahimi-Nuyken, LMFT
768 Pleasant Valley Rd., Suite 201
Diamond Springs, CA 95619
https://www.edcgov.us/Government/MentalHealth


FRESNO COUNTY

Susan Holt
1925 E. Dakota Avenue
Fresno, CA 93702
https://www.fresnocountyca.gov/Site-Features/Contact-Us


GLENN COUNTY

Joe Hallett, LCSW
242 North Villa Ave.
Willows, CA 95988
https://www.countyofglenn.net/dept/health-human-services/behavioral-health/welcome


HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Emi Botzler-Rodgers, MFT
720 Wood St.
Eureka, CA 95501
https://humboldtgov.org/329/Behavioral-Health


IMPERIAL COUNTY

Leticia Plancarte-Garcia
202 N. 8th Street
El Centro, CA 92243
https://bhs.imperialcounty.org/


INYO COUNTY

Anna Scott
1360 North Main Street
Suite 124
Bishop, CA93514
https://www.inyocounty.us/behavioral-health


KERN COUNTY

Alison Burrowes
P. O. Box 1000
Bakersfield, CA 93301
https://www.kernbhrs.org/


KINGS COUNTY

Lisa Lewis, PhD
1400 W. Lacey Boulevard
Hanford, CA  93230
http://www.kcbh.org/


LAKE COUNTY

Elise Jones, MA
P. O. Box 1024
Lucerne, CA 95458
https://www.lakecountyca.gov/173/Behavioral-Health-Services


LASSEN COUNTY

Tiffany Armstrong
555 Hospital Lane
Susanville, CA 96130
https://www.lassencounty.org/dept/behavioral-health/behavioral-health


LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Lisa Wong, PsyD
550 S. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, 90020
https://dmh.lacounty.gov/


MADERA COUNTY

Arthur Galindo, LCSW
P. O. Box 1288
Madera, CA 93637
https://www.maderacounty.com/government/behavioral-health-services


MARIN COUNTY

Todd Schirmer, PhD CCHP
20 North San Pedro Road
Suite 2021
San Rafael, CA 94903
https://www.marinbhrs.org/


MARIPOSA COUNTY

Kristina Kehely, PhD
P. O. Box 99
Mariposa, CA 95338
https://www.mariposacounty.org/250/Behavioral-Health-Recovery-Services


MENDOCINO COUNTY

Jenine Miller, PsyD
1120 S. Dora Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
https://www.mendocinocounty.org/departments/behavioral-health-and-recovery-services


MERCED COUNTY

Kimiko Vang, DSW, LCSW
P. O. Box 2087
Merced, CA 95341
https://www.countyofmerced.com/directory.aspx?did=56


MODOC COUNTY

Dolores Navarro Turner, LCSW & Stacy Sphar, DNP, PMHNP-BC
441 N. Main St.
Alturas, CA 96101
https://behavioralhealth.co.modoc.ca.us/


MONO COUNTY

Robin Roberts, LMFT
P. O. Box 2619
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
https://monocounty.ca.gov/behavioral-health


MONTEREY COUNTY

Katy Eckert, MBA
1270 Natividad Road
Salinas, CA 93906-3198
https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/health/behavioral-health/bh-home


NAPA COUNTY

Cassandra Eslami, LMFT
2751 Napa Valley Corporate Drive
Napa, CA 94559
https://www.countyofnapa.org/3282/Mental-Health

NAPA COUNTY (AOD)
2751 Napa Valley Corporate Drive
Napa, CA 94559
https://www.countyofnapa.org/160/Alcohol-Drug-Services


NEVADA COUNTY

Phebe Bell, MSW
500 Crown Point Circle
Suite 120
Grass Valley, CA 95945
https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/430/Behavioral-Health


ORANGE COUNTY

Ian Kemmer, LMFT
405 W. 5th Street, Room 726
Santa Ana, CA 92701
https://www.ochealthinfo.com/services-programs/mental-health-crisis-recovery/mental-health


PLACER COUNTY

Amy Ellis, MFT
11512 B Avenue, DeWitt Center
Auburn, CA 95603
https://www.placer.ca.gov/2166/Mental-Health-Services


PLUMAS COUNTY

Sharon Sousa, LMFT
270 County Hospital Rd., Suite 109
Quincy, CA 95971
https://www.plumascounty.us/87/Behavioral-Health


RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Matthew Chang, MD
4095 County Circle Drive
Riverside, CA 92503
https://www.rcdmh.org/


SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Ryan Quist, PhD
7001 A East Parkway, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95823-2501
https://dhs.saccounty.gov/BHS/Pages/BHS-Home.aspx


SAN BENITO COUNTY

Dana Edgull, LCSW
1131 San Felipe Road
Sacramento, CA 95823-2501
https://www.cosb.us/departments/behavioral-health


SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Georgina Yoshioka, DSW, MBA, LCSW
303 E. Vanderbilt Way
San Bernardino, CA 92415
https://wp.sbcounty.gov/dbh/


SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Luke Bergmann, PhD
3255 Camino Del Rio South, MS: P531C
Hollister, CA 95023
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/bhs/


SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY

Hillary Kunins, MD, MPH, MS
1380 Howard Street, Room 511
San Francisco, CA 94103
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/comupg/oservices/mentalHlth/CBHS/default.asp


SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Genevieve Valentine, LMFT
1212 N. California Street
Stockton, CA 95202
https://www.sjcbhs.org/


SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Star Graber, PhD, LMFT
2180 Johnson Ave.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Behavioral-Health.aspx


SAN MATEO COUNTY

Jei Africa, PsyD, MSCP, CATC-V, FACHE
2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Suite 235
San Mateo, CA 94403
https://www.smchealth.org/bhrs


SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Toni Navarro, LMFT
300 N. San Antonio Rd., Bldg. 3
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
https://www.countyofsb.org/274/Behavioral-Wellness


SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Sherri Terao, EdD
828 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 200
San Jose, CA 95128
https://bhsd.sccgov.org/home


SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Tiffany Cantrell-Warren
P. O. Box 962
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
https://www.santacruzhealth.org/HSAHome/HSADivisions/BehavioralHealth.aspx


SHASTA COUNTY

Laura Burch
1313 Yuba Street
Redding, CA 96001
https://www.shastacounty.gov/


SIERRA COUNTY

Sheryll Prinz-McMillian
P. O. Box 265
Loyalton, CA 96118
https://www.sierracounty.ca.gov/181/Behavioral-Health


SISKIYOU COUNTY

Sarah Collard, PhD
2060 Campus Drive
Yreka, CA 96097
https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/behavioralhealth


SOLANO COUNTY

Emery Cowan, LPCC, LMHC
275 Beck Avenue
Fairfield, CA 94533
https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/mhs/default.asp


SONOMA COUNTY

Jan Cobaleda-Kegler, MA, PsyD
2227 Capricorn Way
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/behavioral-health


STANISLAUS COUNTY

Tony Vartan, LCSW
800 Scenic Drive
Modesto, CA 95350
https://www.stancounty.com/bhrs/



TEHAMA COUNTY

Natalie Shepard
1850 Walnut Street
Red Bluff, CA 96080
https://www.tehamacohealthservices.net/services/behavioral-health-services/


TRI-CITY MH CENTER

Diana Acosta
2008 N. Garey Avenue
Pomona, CA 91767
https://www.tricitymhs.org/


TRINITY COUNTY

Connie Cessna Smith, MPA
P. O. Box 1640
Weaverville, CA 96093
https://www.trinitycounty.org/Behavioral-Health


TULARE COUNTY

Natalie Bolin, DSW, LCSW
5957 S. Mooney Boulevard
Visalia, CA 93277
https://tchhsa.org/eng/mental-health/


TUOLUMNE COUNTY

Tami Mariscal
2 South Green Street
Sonora, CA 95370
https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/220/Behavioral-Health


VENTURA COUNTY

Loretta Denering, DrPH, MS
1911 Williams Drive, Suite 200
Oxnard, CA 93036
https://www.vcbh.org/en/


YOLO COUNTY

Karleen Jakowski, LMFT
137 N. Cottonwood Street, Suite 2500
Woodland, CA 95695
https://www.yolocounty.org/government/general-government-departments/health-human-services/mental-health