Through an open process which involved extensive community input, Dr. Tavano, was selected based on her qualifications and experience, including employment as a Behavioral Health Director in other counties. Since April 2018, Dr. Matthew White has been the Acting Director of Behavioral Health. In February 2019, the vacant position was announced. The Health Services Department received more than 20 applications and narrowed down the pool to the top six candidates. In March 2019, two panels interviewed the candidates. The first panel was composed of community members (representatives from NAMI, Mental Health Commission, Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board) as well as those with lived experience. The second panel included Health Services Department staff and a representative from a community-based organization that contracts with Behavioral Health. The panels agreed on the top four candidates and forwarded those to the final panel. In April 2019, the four candidates interviewed with the Health Services Director, Behavioral Health Medical Director and Acting Director of Behavioral Health. With the permanent appointment of Dr. Tavano, Dr. White will remain the Psychiatric Medical Director and will continue to oversee psychiatric services across the Department, and will partner with Dr. Tavano to oversee the Behavioral Health Division.
As required by Welfare and Institutions Code section 5607 and Contra Costa County Ordinance Code section 33-5.313, subdivision(a)(4), the Health Services Director is requesting the appointment of Suzanne Tavano, PHN, Ph.D., as the Director of Behavioral Health/Mental Health and local director of mental health services for Contra Costa County. Additionally, it is recommended that the appointment be at Step 20, $14,530/month, of the salary range effective June 1, 2019.
If this appointment is not approved the County will not have a permanent Director of Behavioral/Mental Health.