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

Lisa Gardiner (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Government Affairs
Lisa Gardiner helps lead CBHDA’s legislative advocacy efforts and is a part of the association’s leadership team.
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

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

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)
Senior Fiscal Policy Analyst
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

Naima Ford (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Policy Advocate
Naima Ford Antal joined CBHDA in February 2022. She began her career in public policy in 2012 as part of the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program at the California State Capitol. 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

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

Makayla James (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Policy Advocate

Makayla James joined CBHDA in February 2023. Before joining CBHDA, she spent the last decade holding leadership roles at the international, federal, state, and local systems level to advance child welfare policy. 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


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

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


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. Most recently, she held the position Learn more

Annabel Snider (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Policy Analyst

Annabel joined CBHDA as a Senior Policy Analyst in February 2024. With almost two decades working in the California State Legislature, Annabel has served in various roles as a legislative staffer for both Members of the California State Assembly and Senate. Learn more

 
 

2022-2023
Board Officers

Dr. Ryan Quist

Dr.

Ryan Quist
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.

Dr. Jei Africa
Secretary-Treasurer

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.  

 

Toni Navarro President-Elect

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.

Phebe Bell

Phebe Bell
Past President

Phebe Bell, MSW is the Director of Behavioral Health for Nevada County where she oversees mental health and substance use disorder services. Prior to this position she worked for both Placer and Nevada County Health and Human Services Agencies managing programs in the Tahoe Truckee area. Previously she has worked for numerous mental health and family support non-profit organizations.

 

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/Dawan Utecht
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

Kimball Pier, PhD, LMFT, SEP
1360 North Main Street
Suite 124
Bishop, CA93514
https://www.inyocounty.us/behavioral-health


KERN COUNTY

Stacy Kuwahara, LMFT
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

Connie Moreno-Peraza, 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

Sheila Baker, MS, LMFT
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
P. O. Box 2087
Merced, CA 95341
https://www.countyofmerced.com/directory.aspx?did=56


MODOC COUNTY

Michael Traverso, MFT
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

Veronica Kelley, DSW
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

Rachel White
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

Miguel Rodriguez, LCSW
1313 Yuba Street
Redding, CA 96001
https://www.shastacounty.gov/


SIERRA COUNTY

Kathryn Hill, LMFT
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

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


TRI-CITY MH CENTER

Rimmi Hundai
2001 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/Scott Gilman
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