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About PMHP
Resources
Trainings
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Training Calendar

Our Team

Nancy Aréchiga, MBA

Associate Administrative Director

Nancy Aréchiga, MBA

Associate Administrative Director

Nancy Aréchiga (she/her) obtained her bachelor's degree in Biology from UCLA in 2015. In March 2025, she graduated from UCLA Anderson's Fully Employed MBA program.

She began her tenure with UCLA Health in 2016. She has served as PMHP's Associate Administrative Director since early 2019 - near its inception. As a member of the PMHP operations team, she co-leads strategic initiatives, directly supports PMHP leadership, serves as a hiring manager, and provides direct supervision to administrative and analyst staff members. She strongly believes that a company's most valuable asset are its people, so she works to ensure that PMHP staff feel supported and heard.

Veronica Barajas

Program Evaluator

Veronica Barajas

Program Evaluator

Veronica Barajas is a dedicated Program Evaluator at UCLA Health, specializing in research and data analysis to assess and enhance programs supporting individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges. With a strong foundation in public health, she is passionate about using evidence-based approaches to address health disparities and improve access to care for underserved communities. Veronica earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health with a Minor in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. Her professional experience includes conducting program evaluations, analyzing data to measure outcomes, and leading interdisciplinary research projects. She collaborates with diverse stakeholders to design and refine impactful programs, driven by her commitment to advancing equitable healthcare solutions through data-informed decision-making. Veronica's work is driven by her commitment to breaking down barriers in healthcare and creating meaningful change for future generations.

Nicole Becker, PsyD

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Nicole Becker, PsyD

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Dr. Nicole Becker is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in community-based behavioral health, clinical supervision, and program development. She currently serves as Lead Community Mental Health Trainer, supporting workforce development and evidence-based practices across public mental health systems.

Originally from California’s Central Coast, Dr. Becker earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Forensics from Alliant International University in San Diego. Her professional background includes leadership roles with the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness and Family Health Services Behavioral Health in Idaho. She has extensive expertise in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model implementation, multidisciplinary team leadership, and recovery-oriented service delivery.

Dr. Becker is licensed to practice psychology in California and Idaho. She is passionate about advancing workforce development and training initiatives that strengthen community mental health systems, promote equitable access to care. Her professional interests include forensic psychology, community-based interventions, crisis response, and integrated behavioral health service delivery.

Jessica Bluestone, MA

Program Evaluator/Research Analyst

Jessica Bluestone, MA

Program Evaluator/Research Analyst

Jessica Bluestone is a program evaluator and research analyst with interdisciplinary experience in public health, psychology, and education. Her research interests center on health equity and behavioral interventions for underserved communities, applying mixed methods to support effective policy and practice. She holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Education, and has completed advanced doctoral training at UC Santa Barbara. Jessica is passionate about translating research into real-world impact across systems of care.

Elizabeth Bromley, MD, PhD

Director

Elizabeth Bromley, MD, PhD

Director

Elizabeth Bromley is a psychiatrist and medical anthropologist. She is Professor in Residence in the Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Anthropology at UCLA. Dr. Bromley is the Director of the DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership which provides training and implementation support to public mental health clinic teams that serve individuals with severe mental illness. Between 2004 and 2018, she was Medical Director for the Greater Los Angeles VA Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) program. Her research has focused on the beliefs and concepts that underlie caregiving practices and the extent to which they match therapeutic action to patient experience. Dr. Bromley also has a research interest in physician identity and physician emotional experience, particularly as they pertain to the problem of suicide among physicians.

Dr. Bromley earned her BA from Rice University in 1993 and received her MD and MA in the History of Health Sciences from the University of California, San Francisco. She completed residency and a chief residency in Adult Psychiatry at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Bromley was a UCLA/VA Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar from 2004-06. She completed her PhD in Anthropology in 2008.

Danielle Cameron, LCSW

Community Mental Health Trainer

Danielle Cameron, LCSW

Community Mental Health Trainer

Danielle Cameron is a Los Angeles native and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has provided over 10 years of service to youth, students and families across the greater Los Angeles area. Her commitment to servicing those most in need began while pursuing her BA in Sociology at the University of California Los Angeles where she actively participated in student-initiated and ran programs which provided holistic support to K-12 students in under-served communities. After receiving her MSW from the other side of town at the University of Southern California, Danielle worked extensively as a clinical case manager providing group and individual therapy for transitional aged youth in DMH and LAHSA contracted housing programs. She has also served as an Intake Coordinator for a Housing-First modeled program and is certified in several evidenced based practices and models including Housing First, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy and Seeking Safety. In addition to providing extensive direct support services, Danielle has also been instrumental in developing and coordinating the implementation of program models such as Housing Case Management and a TAY (Transitional Aged Youth) centered Life Skills curriculum. Danielle is excited to build dynamic partnerships and deliver impactful trainings.

Rosalinda Cárdenas, MPA

Administrative Director

Rosalinda Cárdenas, MPA

Administrative Director

Rosalinda Cárdenas graduated from UCLA with a BA in History and later earned her MPA from CSUN. After a career in education teaching junior high History, she returned to UCLA to work at the community-based research center, Center for Health Services and Society and helped launch the beginning of PMHP where she oversees all administrative tasks.

Adrian Cruz

Administrative Specialist

Adrian Cruz

Administrative Specialist

Adrian Cruz graduated from California State University, Northridge with a BS in Business, Management. His professional background consists of several years of conducting presentations, building relationships, and public-speaking experience. Now working as an Administrative Specialist for UCLA Health, Adrian provides support for training activities for the DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership.

Isabela Cruz

Administrative Specialist

Isabela Cruz

Administrative Specialist

Isabela is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with a B.S. in Public Health Education. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Isabela provides administrative support for PMHP. In the future, Isabela plans to continue her higher education by obtaining a Master’s degree.

Lisa Davis, PhD

Associate Director

Lisa Davis, PhD

Associate Director

Dr. Lisa Davis is the Associate Director of the Public Mental Health Partnership. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA and has a PhD in social work focusing on mental health services research. Dr. Davis’ research focuses on community-partnered approaches aimed at supporting high-quality care in systems serving individuals with severe mental illness with multiple vulnerabilities. Recent projects include studies examining factors leading to improved access to care, effective substance use services, and community integration among those receiving services in public mental health. Dr. Davis also has a background in clinical practice and has held a number of clinical, administrative and management positions in community-based mental health organizations. In her current role as the Associate Director of the Public Mental Health Partnership at UCLA, she oversees community-academic collaborations involving the use of strategies such as training and technical assistance to increase the uptake of evidence-based practices and support high-quality care in public mental health.

Patricia De Peralta

CUCS Admin

Caroline Diehl, PhD

Technical Assistance Core Lead

Caroline Diehl, PhD

Technical Assistance Core Lead

Caroline Diehl is a licensed psychologist and clinical scientist whose work focuses on strengthening social safety nets for populations with chronic and complex mental health needs. She earned her BS from Yale University and her MA and PhD in clinical psychology from UCLA, where her research and training were supported by an NIMH F31 National Research Service Award. She completed her clinical internship at VA Greater Los Angeles, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in health services and implementation research at the VA Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center. Dr. Diehl’s research has focused on cognitive impairment and recovery in psychosis, effectiveness of psychotherapy in community mental health settings, and improving mental health and housing services for individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health crises. As a clinician, Dr. Diehl has trained in a wide range of evidence-based psychotherapies and has provided care in community mental health, VA, and private practice settings. At PMHP, she leads the Technical Assistance Core for the ACT/FACT Center of Excellence, supporting community agencies and providers in implementing comprehensive, person-centered care for high-needs clients in public mental health systems across California.

Samantha Eisert

Graduate Student Researcher

Samantha Eisert

Graduate Student Researcher

Samantha Eisert (she/her) obtained her BA in Psychology at UCLA and is currently an MSW graduate student at UCLA. Her research interests stem from her work as a research assistant in developmental, social, and clinical psychology programs. She is most passionate about the impacts of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and adversity on the mental health of children and adults and the various interventions to increase resilience through mental health services. She currently works as a graduate student researcher providing support for PMHP.

Danielle Farmer, MSEd, LCSW

Lead Community Mental Health Traininer

Danielle Farmer, MSEd, LCSW

Lead Community Mental Health Traininer

Danielle Farmer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Los Angeles, CA. She attended the University of Southern California and obtained bachelor’s degrees in psychology and American studies and ethnicity. She subsequently joined Teach for America as an elementary school teacher and used her psychology background to support the academic and social emotional development of students in Harlem, New York. During this time, she obtained her master’s degree in education with an emphasis on childhood education from CUNY Hunter College. After her tenure as an educator, she moved back to her home state and continued her education at the University of California, Berkeley. She obtained her master’s degree in social welfare with a focus on child and family services. She served as a school based mental health practitioner for 8 years in schools in both San Francisco Unified School District as well as Los Angeles Unified School District. In these positions, she used clinical interventions, case management, training, and consultation to foster resiliency and wellness in children, families, educators, and mental health professionals. She is passionate about integrating mental health and social justice through the use of trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practices.

Isabel Garcia-Hernandez

Administrative Specialist

Isabel Garcia-Hernandez

Administrative Specialist

Isabel Garcia-Hernandez graduated from the University of San Diego (USD) with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She is an Administrative Specialist at UCLA Center for Health Services & Society. She assists with UCLA-PMHP trainings, data analysis, and a variety of projects. Currently, she attends CUCS Trainings held throughout LA County to ensure they run smoothly. She also provides feedback to the Training Coordinator and Project Manager. Isabel looks forward to helping the PMHP project grow. In the future, she plans to continue her higher education at UCLA.

Yanina Gori, PhD

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Yanina Gori, PhD

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Dr. Yanina Gori is a Lead Community Mental Health Specialist at PMHP, holding a doctoral degree in Sociocultural and Psychological and Medical Anthropology as well as a master degree in Political Science. She has over ten years of experience as a researcher and educator. Across her research projects, in Italy, Cuba, and the United States, she has engaged in community-based participatory research exploring the psychological experiences of vulnerable groups and pursuing social projects and public programs which attempt to empower and support them. In her current projects, she has been collaborating with the Department of Mental Health, to collect and analyze data on multidisciplinary teams working with persons experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness in Los Angeles. She also helped co-developing trainings for mental health professionals, lead focus groups to develop training resources, contributed to toolkits and program manuals for researchers and clinicians, developed training curricula to achieve rater reliability for two separate novel assessment instruments, and shared research results through presentations to multiple audiences.

Sabrina Izquierdo

Administrative Specialist

Sabrina Izquierdo

Administrative Specialist

Sabrina Izquierdo graduated magna cum laude from California State University: Northridge in 2018, with a B.S. degree in Health Administration. She is currently working as an administrative specialist at UCLA Center for Health Services & Society. Sabrina assists the PMHP team by providing administrative support to a variety of projects and trainings. In the future, she hopes to pursue a Masters in Public Health.

Alexandria Johnson

Administrative Assistant

Harper Long, MSW, MPH

Clinical Quality Analyst

Harper Long, MSW, MPH

Clinical Quality Analyst

Harper Long is a clinical quality analyst for the Public Mental Health Partnership. Her work focuses on expanding access to equitable, evidence-based behavioral health services and strengthening integrated systems of care across communities. She is a licensed clinical social worker with prior experience in outpatient psychiatry implementing the collaborative care model and expanding inclusive programming for gender affirming care. She holds master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health.

Elizabeth Mackey, LMSW

Director of Training

Elizabeth Mackey, LMSW

Director of Training

Elizabeth Mackey earned her B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech (VT) in 2005, with a focus in alcohol use risk reduction research. She joined the University of Washington, Seattle’s (UW) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute as a research coordinator in 2005, concurrently earning a MSW degree in clinical/contextual practice from UW in 2008. Elizabeth then joined UW’s Harborview Medical Center as a clinical interventionist and research coordinator on psychiatry clinical trials investigating pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral and exposure therapies, and motivational interviewing within a collaborative stepped care model for traumatically injured individuals. In 2012, Elizabeth joined Community Access (CA), a NYC Housing First and community mental health non-profit, conducting harm reduction-oriented clinical practice and training along with managing a transitional supportive housing program. In 2016, she transitioned to serving as CA’s Director of Care Coordination, starting up and building out a mobile care coordination program serving NYC Medicaid recipients with mental illness and chronic health conditions. Elizabeth joined the DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership (PMHP) in 2019, and currently serves as PMHP’s Director of Training, overseeing training strategy and operations, content development, and implementation planning to improve the quality and consistency of services within LA County’s public mental health and homeless outreach service sectors. She specializes in teaching utilization of anti-stigma, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and harm reduction approaches with an emphasis on provider well-being, integrated care, health outcomes/economics, and systems-level change.

Joseph Mango, MFA

Media Director

Monica Martin, LCSW

Clinical Quality Analyst

Monica Martin, LCSW

Clinical Quality Analyst

Monica Martin is a Clinical Quality Analyst supporting Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program development and the implementation of high-fidelity ACT services across California. She brings over 17 years of experience working within the ACT model, with extensive expertise in program development, fidelity implementation, clinical quality improvement, and workforce support.

Prior to joining her current role, Monica served for three years as Program Manager for Idaho’s ACT Center of Excellence, where she provided statewide leadership, training, and technical assistance to ACT teams. Her professional background includes long-standing clinical and leadership roles within ACT programs in Idaho. Monica holds a Master of Social Work degree and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Monica is passionate about strengthening community-based mental health systems and supporting teams in delivering recovery-oriented, evidence-based care through high-quality ACT services.

Michael McCreary, MPP

Data Analyst

Michael McCreary, MPP

Data Analyst

Michael McCreary has worked on projects that involved using technology to improve children’s mental healthcare, evaluating the impact of coordinated physical and mental health systems, improving disaster resilience in communities throughout Los Angeles County, and developing an economic analysis of a study designed to improve depression care to under resourced communities in Los Angeles. He obtained a BA in History from UCLA and a Masters of Public Policy from USC.

Rick Orlina, PhD

Lead Data Analyst

Rick Orlina, PhD

Lead Data Analyst

Rick Orlina is a program evaluation and research analyst with experience working across a variety of disciplines and industries. He earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1997, his PhD in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University in 2010, and his Certificate of Advanced Study in Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University in 2015. Dr. Orlina has worked on evaluation projects in education, national security research, social services, and health care. His projects have employed a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, including spatial analysis, hierarchical linear modeling, and social network analysis. As a research analyst with Volunteers of American of Los Angeles, Dr. Orlina supported programs serving people experiencing homelessness, veterans, survivors of human trafficking, and other communities across Los Angeles County.

Vanessa Porea, LPC

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Vanessa Porea, LPC

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Vanessa Porea, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, born and raised in Michigan. Vanessa attended Central Michigan University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration before going on to earn her master’s degree in professional counseling, with a focus on co-occurring disorders and the adolescent population. Vanessa completed her practicum and internship at Crossroads for Youth in Oxford, MI, working with adolescents in the juvenile justice and foster care systems. It was here where Vanessa’s passion for working in community mental health systems was sparked. After completing her master’s degree, Vanessa moved to Los Angeles to further specialize in addiction through a program at UCLA. Throughout her time in the field, Vanessa has been a case manager, therapist, program manager, and clinical director of an adult private residential treatment center (RTC).

Vanessa is both a professional and a peer who believes in connection within community. In addition to her work on PMHP, Vanessa serves on the Advisory Council for Don’t MiND Me and the Next Gen Advisory Council for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. She also partners with This Must Be The Place, handing out free naloxone at various music festivals and events across the country.

Abhi Ramesh, PhD, MPH

Data Analyst

Abhi Ramesh, PhD, MPH

Data Analyst

Abhi Ramesh is a data analyst with the Public Mental Health Partnership (PMHP). She holds an MPH from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Iowa. Her previous work explored maternal health outcomes, with a focus on mental health, health disparities, and health services. She is dedicated to using data to strengthen public health programs and advance community wellbeing.

Abigail Riley

Evaluation Support Analyst

Abigail Riley

Evaluation Support Analyst

Abigail Riley graduated from Boston College in 2021 with a BA in Economics and History. She has a background in health policy research focused on improving access to high-value health interventions. Abigail currently supports and assesses mental health programming for the Public Mental Health Partnership.

Jon Rowe

Community Mental Health Trainer

Teague Ruhter

Project Policy Analyst

Noah Saczawa

Clinical Quality Analyst

Sara Sameni, PhD, MSHA

Policy Research Scientist

Sara Sameni, PhD, MSHA

Policy Research Scientist

Dr. Sara Sameni is a Policy Research Scientist at UCLA with a Doctoral degree in Public Health, specializing in Health Policy and Leadership, and a Master’s degree in Health Administration. Trained in Advanced Health Outcomes Research Methods at Harvard University, Dr. Sameni has over a decade of experience in research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and implementation projects addressing critical public health issues.

Her work focuses on mental health policies, the intersection of homelessness with health policy, and community-based research. Currently, she contributes to program evaluation and implementation projects such as the Outpatient Conservatorship (OPC) Program, where she conducts policy analysis to strengthen mental health service systems, and the Interim Housing Outreach Program (IHOP), where she contributes to evaluation and implementation efforts. Additionally, Dr. Sameni supports the HOME Program, aimed at addressing housing and health disparities.

Employing mixed methods research and a collaborative approach, Dr. Sameni strives to develop evidence-based solutions to improve health outcomes. Her expertise is widely recognized through her publications, conference presentations, and contributions to advancing public health and health policy.

Kenny Sim

Information Technology Specialist

Chelsea Simms, LCSW

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Chelsea Simms, LCSW

Lead Community Mental Health Trainer

Chelsea Simms is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and serves as an Implementation Specialist on the PMHP team. Originally from LA County, she spent the last 15 years working and studying in the San Francisco Bay Area and is thrilled to be back in her “hometown.” Chelsea engaged in direct practice social work for over four years in the San Francisco Bay Area prior to joining the PMHP team. Upon earning her MSW, Chelsea transitioned from intern to clinical social worker at the California Medical Facility, where she provided individual and group therapy to incarcerated individuals within an inpatient mental health program inside the prison. Following this role, Chelsea worked on the UCSF Citywide Roving Team (a Housing First program) where she was an outreach clinical case manager working with marginally housed individuals with serious mental illness and other functional impairments to prevent eviction through individual counseling and care coordination. Through these two roles, Chelsea developed passions for group facilitation, harm reduction approaches, and continued learning to combat burnout. Prior to graduate school, Chelsea worked at UCSF for almost a decade in multiple roles — providing patient navigation services to pregnant patients at UCSF Medical Center, coordinating professional development programming for UCSF’s Center for Gender Equity, and assisting the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health with reproductive health research. Chelsea is proud to be joining the PMHP team in delivering evidence-informed mental health training to enhance direct services to community mental health consumers in Los Angeles County.

Lee Spriggs

E-Learning Specialist

Jessica Werst, LCSW

Clinical Quality Analyst

Jessica Werst, LCSW

Clinical Quality Analyst

Jessica Werst is a Clinical Quality Analyst supporting Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs across California. With 19 years of experience in ACT services, including Forensic ACT teams, she brings deep expertise in program development, fidelity implementation, and clinical training. Previously, Jessica served as a Program Specialist at the Idaho ACT Center of Excellence. She holds a master’s degree in social work and is a licensed clinical social worker, committed to helping ACT teams deliver high-quality care to California residents.

Madina Wardak, MSW, ACSW

Community Mental Health Trainer

Madina Wardak, MSW, ACSW

Community Mental Health Trainer

Madina Wardak is an associate clinical social worker from Los Angeles, California. Madina received her bachelor's degree in political science with an emphasis on the Middle East from the University of California, Irvine, and a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California.

Being a child of Afghan refugees, Madina advocates for refugee and immigrant mental health, serving as a facilitator and coordinator with the Afghan American Community Organization since 2015. Utilizing a culturally humble lens and pulling from her own lived experience, she has curated various workshops on identity, mental health, substance abuse, intergenerational trauma, and epigenetics.

Since the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, she has trained social service agencies serving Afghan refugees. From 2018 to 2024, Madina served as a clinical case manager and advocate for transitional-aged youth across LA County experiencing housing instability. Madina is passionate about healthcare equity, combatting Islamophobia, reframing the paradigm of substance abuse, and utilizing both Eastern and Western approaches to wellness.

Joanne Yang, MPH

Data Analyst/Program Evaluator

Joanne Yang, MPH

Data Analyst/Program Evaluator

Joanne Yang is a data analyst and program evaluator for the PMHP. Her research interests lie in socio-behavioral determinants of chronic disease and mental health. She has previously worked at UCSF as a research data analyst, supporting projects in homeless education, adolescent health, and school based health centers. Joanne received her BA in Public Health and MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics from UC Berkeley. Her goal is to use her data science and epidemiology knowledge to support research that will be used to fund programs and policies improving public health.

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