California Health and Human Services

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About CalHHS

 

In 1961, Government Code section 12800 established the Human Relations Agency, which became the Health and Welfare Agency in 1972. Assembly Bill 2352 (Woods, Chapter 817, Statutes of 1998) changed the name of the Health and Welfare Agency to the Health and Human Services Agency. The Secretary of CalHHS participates on a number of committees and advisory boards.

Our mission is to work together with counties, cities, and communities, as well as our public, private, faith, and educational partners to make California a healthy, vibrant, inclusive place to live, play, work, and learn.

The California Health & Human Services Agency is comprised of six distinct offices that collectively make up the Office of the Secretary:

Office of Legislative Affairs

The office provides coordination, oversight, and management of proposed legislation and ensures the Administration’s legislative policy priorities are developed and implemented. The office provides policy guidance, instruction, and direction to CalHHS departments, and coordinates with the Governor’s Office on legislative positions.

Office of External Affairs

The office manages the ongoing public information and public affairs functions and provides guidance and direction to public information officers in CalHHS departments. In addition, the office serves as the official Agency spokesperson to respond to media inquiries, and coordinates with the Governor’s Office communication staff on significant and sensitive media issues.

Office of the Agency General Counsel

The Agency General Counsel provides legal counsel to the Office of the Secretary, Agency Secretary, and senior Agency staff. The Agency General Counsel also works closely with the Governor’s Office of Legal Affairs and coordinates the workload of the department Chief Counsels.

Office of Program and Fiscal Affairs

The office is responsible for formulating, analyzing, revising, and evaluating the program and fiscal impacts of major health and human services policies of the Administration. This includes assessment of all policy, legislative, fiscal, and other issues that have implications, not only among CalHHS departments, but beyond CalHHS to other state agencies within the Executive Branch.

Administration Unit

The CalHHS Office of the Secretary serves a critical coordination role on all assignments and projects as directed by the Governor’s Office and control agencies. This unit handles all personnel, HR, training, and internal budget issues.

Office of the Agency Information Officer

The Office of the Agency Information Officer (OAIO) supports our departments’ efforts to enhance their programs through their successful delivery of data and technology solutions. Through Portfolio Support, Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, Agency Governance and Horizontal Integration activities, the OAIO provides both operational and strategic services to increase the probability of successful projects while promoting a person-centered culture and a corresponding portfolio of interoperable systems that can share and use data effectively to provide wholistic services to Californians in need.

Office of Policy and Strategic Planning

The Office of Policy and Strategic Planning is responsible for driving measurable outcomes on CalHHS’s guiding principles and strategic priorities through system alignment and program integration across the agency’s departments and offices to build a Healthy California for All. The Office works on a set of initiatives to advance equity, address the social determinants of health, and ensure a whole person approach.

View the California Health & Human Services Agency Organizational Chart.

The Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency sits on a number of committees and advisory boards, and is directed by Executive Order to establish a number of advisory bodies:

  • California Health Benefit Exchange or Covered California
  • Healthy California for All Commission
  • Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework Stakeholder Group
  • Disability and Aging Community Living Advisory Committee
  • Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee
  • Behavioral Health Task Force
  • California Child Welfare Council
  • Early Childhood Policy Council
  • State Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • California Workforce Investment Board
  • Strategic Growth Council
  • Incompetent to Stand Trial Solutions Workgroup
  • First 5 (California Children and Families) Commission

CalHHS Leadership

 

Mark Ghaly, MD, MPH

Photo of California Secretary Mark Ghaly

Dr. Mark Ghaly was appointed Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency in early 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom.

In serving California, Dr. Ghaly has the privilege of working with partners across sectors and disciplines to improve the lives and life chances of ALL Californians. This has been especially true during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Ghaly is a primary care pediatrician who continues to use his clinical and community experiences, working in California’s health care safety net system, to inform a whole person, whole community, approach to integrating services so they are equity-anchored and person-centered for ALL, but especially the most vulnerable Californians.

Dr. Ghaly holds the deep belief that together our collective efforts can not only serve Californians well today but set us on a path where ALL Californians have a brighter and healthier future.

Nothing he does can be done well without the support of his wife, Dr. Christina Ghaly, and his 4 young children.

Marko Mijic

Marko Mijic serves as the Undersecretary at the California Health & Human Services Agency. In this role, Marko oversees 12 departments and five offices, which includes over 34,000 employees and a total annual budget of approximately $200 billion.

As Undersecretary, Marko leads all policy development and implementation, and manages the day-to-day operations of the Agency. He is focused on streamlining government and improving operational efficiency; expanding access to health and human services; building an equitable recovery from the pandemic; integrating health, behavioral health and social services to promote whole-person care; and improving the delivery of services for older Californians and people with disabilities.

Prior to being appointed as the Undersecretary by Governor Gavin Newsom, Marko served as Deputy Secretary for Program and Fiscal Affairs since 2019 and as Assistant Secretary since 2015. Marko also served as Acting Director of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development from 2020 to 2021.

Prior to joining the California Health and Human Services Agency, Marko worked at the American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah and his Master of Public Policy degree from the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC.

Samantha Lui

Samantha Lui serves as Deputy Secretary in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the California Health & Human Services Agency.

Previously, Lui was the Principal Consultant to the California State Senate, Committee on Appropriations since 2018, and from 2016 to 2018, she served as Assistant Secretary at CalHHS.

Lui was also a Consultant to the California State Senate, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review from 2013 to 2016 as well as a Consultant to the California State Senate, Governance and Finance Committee from 2011 to 2013. Lui was a California State Senate Fellow in the Capital Fellows Program from 2010 to 2011.

Sami Gallegos

Sami Gallegos serves as Deputy Secretary for External Affairs at the California Health & Human Services Agency.

Gallegos has been Senior Public Information Officer for the California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force since 2021. She was Communications Director for Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez from 2018 to 2021, Direct Mail Manager for the Assembly Democrats in 2018 and 2020 and Creative Content Producer for the Democratic Office of Communications and Outreach from 2017 to 2018. Gallegos was a Digital Producer for ABC10 from 2015 to 2017 and Reporter and Social Media Manager for Capitol Weekly from 2013 to 2015.

Jared Goldman

Jared A. Goldman serves as general counsel at the California Health & Human Services Agency.

From 2016 to 2020, Goldman served as deputy director and chief counsel at the Department of Health Care Services. Previously, from 2012 to 2016, Goldman was a partner in the health care practice group of the law firm Best, Best and Krieger LLP. He also served in several positions at the California Prison Health Care Receivership from 2006 to 2012, including chief counsel and staff counsel. Goldman was a deputy county counsel at the County of Santa Clara, Office of the County Counsel, from 2001 to 2006, representing the county’s health and hospital system.

He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Brendan McCarthy

Brendan McCarthy serves as Deputy Secretary for Program and Fiscal Affairs at the California Health and Human Services Agency.

McCarthy has been Assistant Secretary for the California Health and Human Services Agency since 2019. He was Chief Consultant for the California State Assembly Committee on Business and Professions from 2018 to 2019, Principal Consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Appropriations from 2009 to 2018 and Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office from 2004 to 2009. McCarthy earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Sonia Fernandez–Herrera

Sonia Fernandez–Herrera serves as Deputy Secretary of Administrative Services at the California Health & Human Services Agency, where she has served since 2011.

Previously, from 2008 to 2011, she was administrative unit manager at the California Health and Human Services Agency. Fernandez–Herrera was also an associate business management analyst at the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing from 2007 to 2008. Prior to that, she served in several positions at the California Department of General Services: associate government program analyst in the Office of Technology Resources and executive assistant and staff services analyst in the Executive Office. 

Adam Dondro

Adam Dondro serves as the Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Agency Information Officer at the California Health & Human Services Agency where he has served in both positions since 2017. He brings with him a passion for government, service, and a focus on whole person care.

Prior to this role, Adam spent five years as the Assistant Director of Horizontal Integration at the Department of Social Services. In both these roles, Adam has focused on integrating Health and Human Service programs to provide the best overall experience and outcomes for our constituents, and on the power of data to improve program and policy decisions. Previously Adam held multiple roles across CA government including five years in the State Legislature and four gubernatorial appointments.

He is supported and inspired by his amazing wife and two daughters. In his free time he enjoys playing soccer, coaching, and just about anything outdoors and away from a computer.

Corrin Buchanan

Corrin Buchanan serves as the Deputy Secretary for Policy and Strategic Planning at the California Health & Human Services Agency.

Corrin has spent most of her career in systems change work in state and local government. Prior to joining CalHHS, Corrin served at the Assistant Director of Housing and Homelessness for the California Department of Social Services. She worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services as the Deputy Director for the Office of Diversion and Reentry where she oversaw countywide behavioral health diversion, reentry, and youth diversion and development efforts. Also with Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, she launched and managed the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool, a locally funded rental subsidy program with the Housing for Health division. Corrin was Health Program Planner for Housing and Urban Health at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the Community Programs Director for the San Francisco Women’s Building. Corrin holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley.

Stephanie Welch

Stephanie N. Welch was appointed Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health at the California Health & Human Services Agency in 2020.

Welch previously served as Executive Officer for the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health since 2015. Welch was the Senior Program Manager for the California Mental Health Services Authority from 2011 to 2015, an Associate Policy Director at the County Behavioral Health Directors Association from 2007 to 2011, and the Associate Director of Public Policy at the Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies from 2000 to 2005. Welch earned a BA in Social Work from University of California at Davis and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Melissa Stafford Jones

Melissa Stafford Jones serves as Director of the California Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative at the California Health & Human Services Agency.


Melissa’s career in health 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 structural barriers to opportunity. As Director of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, Melissa is working with CalHHS departments, sister state agencies and with partners and stakeholders throughout the state to reimagine California’s children and youth behavioral health system into an innovative, up-stream focused, ecosystem where ALL children and youth are routinely screened, supported, and served for emerging and existing behavioral health (mental health and substance use) needs.


Prior to her appointment to CalHHS by Governor Newsom in Fall 2021, Melissa was Executive Director of the First 5 Association of California leading the development and implementation of the organization’s strategies to advance a whole child, whole family, equity-centered early childhood policy and systems change agenda. 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 implement the Affordable Care Act, increase access to health care and social services, 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 her experience in public and health policy, she also worked in philanthropy, serving as Executive Director of the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation.


Melissa holds a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Saint Mary’s College of California.

 

John Ohanian

John Ohanian serves as Director of the Center for Data Insights and Innovation and Chief Data Officer at the California Health & Human Services Agency, where he has served as Interim Director of the Center for Data Insights and Innovation and Chief Data Officer since 2020.

Ohanian was President and Chief Executive Officer of 211 San Diego from 2007 to 2020 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Information Exchange from 2012 to 2020. He was Principal Consultant for Strategic Organizational Solutions from 1996 to 2007, Associate Director and Chief Financial Officer for the Jewish Community Foundation San Diego from 1994 to 1996 and Auditor and Consultant for KPMG from 1991 to 1994.