At the Crisis and Recovery Enhancement (CARE) Technical Assistance (TA) Center, we are incredibly lucky to have a range of passionate and creative partners that bring incredible expertise and experience to our work with MHSA-funded counties.  We hope you'll take a moment to learn more about these groups and their driving missions!



About Our Partner

The California Alliance of Child and Family Services is the champion and leading voice for community-based organizations that advocate for children and families, and for advancing policy and services on their behalf. Their expert staff and consultants advocate proactively to impact policy, legislation, and budgets. 

Learn more at https://www.cacfs.org



The Catalyst Center is a leading training and technical assistance organization representing the interests of child and family serving professionals in the state of California and beyond. Our staff prioritizes research, capacity building, and peer connection methods that elevate the voices and realities of historically marginalized communities and those that are most impacted by the work of community-based organizations.

Learn more at https://www.catalyst-center.org

Browse trainings at https://catalyst-center.teachable.com/

Join the California Alliance of Child and Family Services 2023 Fall Conference, Navigating through Changing Tides on September 5th through September 8th, 2023. The conference will highlight the importance of being present in the moment while looking to the future of child welfare in California.

The California Alliance of Child and Family Services Conference aims to bring together experts in child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, education, and other systems to develop solutions for systemically underserved children and families.

Join and take part in shaping the future of child welfare in California. Don't miss out on the chance to learn, connect, and grow with your peers in the field.

Meet the Team

Christine Stoner-Mertz (she/her), Chief Executive Officer 

Christine Stoner-Mertz (she/her), CEO, leads the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and its Catalyst Center, and with the Board of Directors, drives the mission and vision for the organization. A licensed clinical social worker, Chris came to the Alliance in 2019 after being president and CEO of Lincoln Child Center in Oakland, a California Alliance member agency delivering behavioral health and family strengthening services in the San Francisco Bay area. Since 2005, she led the organization through a transformational period, moving from a residentially based services focus to designing an array of culturally responsive community and school-based services for children and youth ages 0-21. Her deep commitment to equity is reflected in the transformation of services at Lincoln. As a sought-after expert on MediCal EPSDT program design and implementation, Chris developed the Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Manual. She has served on the boards of directors of the California Alliance, the California Council of Behavioral Health Agencies, the National Council of Behavioral Health Organizations, and has been the recipient of numerous service and leadership awards during her career, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service. 



Adrienne Shilton (she/her), Director of Public Policy and Strategy 

Adrienne Shilton (she/her) is the Director of Public Policy and Strategy, overseeing the work of the Policy Team. She is a recognized expert in mental health policy who has devoted her career to improving the well-being of people living with brain illness and substance use disorders. Adrienne became involved in mental health policy as a key staff person in the campaign to pass the 2004 Mental Health Services Act. Before joining CBHDA, Adrienne was a senior associate with the nonprofit California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions, and a senior policy analyst with the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies. She has been a champion for culturally relevant program design, incorporating peer support as a crucial piece of recovery, and using evaluation and outcomes-based reporting to drive strategy. Adrienne has served as an adviser on a number of statewide efforts, and currently sits on multiple task forces working to improve behavioral health policy in California, with a particular focus on youth, young adults, and families. 



Cornelle Jenkins (he/him), Director of Strategic Initiatives 

Cornelle Jenkins (he/him) is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community by advocating for those who historically have been rendered voiceless. Cornelle earned his bachelor’s at Saint Mary's College of California where he created his own major of Advocacy, Reform, and Social Change. He went on to earn his law degree at McGeorge School of Law before returning to St. Mary's to obtain his MBA. For the past 9 years, Cornelle has worked primarily in civil litigation but has also gained experience in criminal and family law. In his free time, Cornelle has worked and continues to work on various community-centered projects such as co-founding a non-profit to provide professional experiences and mentoring for foster and at-risk youth, organizing holiday gift and clothing drives, and serving on the board of directors for the Diversity Board at McGeorge School of Law. Cornelle is very excited to join the Catalyst Center and California Alliance team and to commit all of his time to serving the community.

 Contact the Crisis and Recovery Enhancement TA Center

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://care-mhsa.org/