Director, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
California Health and Human Services Agency
Sacramento, California
Melissa Stafford Jones is Director of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative in the California Department of Health and Human Services, appointed to the position by Governor Gavin Newsom in Fall 2021. As Director of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, Melissa is working within state government and with partners and stakeholders throughout the state to reimagine California’s children and youth behavioral health system into an innovative, up-stream and prevention focused, ecosystem that supports the social and emotional wellness of ALL children and youth ages 0-25 and ensures that all young people are routinely screened, supported, and served to address emerging and existing behavioral health needs.
Melissa’s work and leadership in health and public policy is grounded in deep dedication to the vision of improving health, well-being and opportunity for all Californians to thrive and fully reach their potential, particularly those who are the most underserved and face the most systemic barriers to opportunity.
Prior to her appointment with the State of California, Melissa was Executive Director of the First 5 Association of California leading the development and implementation of the organization’s new strategic plan to advance a whole child, whole family, equity-centered early childhood policy and systems change agenda to ensure all young children in California are healthy, safe, and have the opportunity to thrive in school and life. She served as Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region IX from 2014-2017 under the Obama administration and worked in partnership with local and state organizations, key stakeholders and elected officials in communities throughout the region to expand access to health coverage, increase access to health care and social services, address homelessness, and improve the lives and health of diverse communities. Melissa previously was President & CEO of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems leading the organization’s strategy to advance public policies that support the essential role of the safety net and improve health status and access to care for low-income and uninsured individuals and communities. In addition to extensive experience in public and health policy, she also worked in philanthropy, serving as Executive Director of the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation.
Melissa holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Saint Mary’s College of California.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
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