Staff

Feel free to call or email us if you have questions or would like more information about CCCMHA.

California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies
1127 11th Street, Suite 925
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 557-1166
FAX: (916) 447-2350

Rusty Selix is the Executive Director and Legislative Representative for CCCMHA.  He leads all advocacy and lobbying activities and is responsible for all other staff services

Harriet Markell is CCCMHA’s Association Director.  In partnership with Rusty Selix, she is responsible for the development and execution of an annual program to advance association objectives, as defined by the association board and committees, and presented in forums established by the State and key mental health stakeholder groups.  She manages all administrative aspects of the organization as well as providing input to various statewide committees and communicating with members on clinical and system design issues.

Jerry Jeffe is the Deputy Executive Director and Legislative Advocate for CCCMHA.  He monitors all legislation and testifies before legislative committees.

Stacie Hiramoto is the Director for Special Programs for CCCMHA.  She is responsible for working on the project funded by the California Endowment regarding underserved communities.  She is the general consultant on cultural competence, diversity and children’s system of care issues.  Stacie is also responsible for special projects as assigned by the Executive Director.

Rachel Scherer is the Senior Legal Analyst.  Her research is primarily focused on diversionary programs to protect and aid the mentally ill in the criminal justice system: the development and implementation of mental health courts, pre-booking diversion programs, crisis intervention training, and prison reform are some of the projects she is interested in.  In addition to her general legal research on a variety of mental health issues, she is the Project Director on a grant from the Office of the Patient Advocate; through this grant she provides statewide education and outreach concerning mental health parity and managed care mental health benefits.  Rachel also actively participates in the ACCESS Coalition and the CAYEN Project.

Zima Graffigna is CCCMHA’s Internal Operations Specialist.  She is responsible for the office computers and website.  She provides technical support to the office staff.  Zima maintains and develops the organization’s database.  Zima also supports various programs and grants.  Zima participates in legislative tracking and membership support.

Pam Easley is the Executive Assistant for CCCMHA.  She began working for Rusty Selix, Creative Problem Solving in 1989.  Pam plans, contracts and arranges meetings and is the Administrator for the California Healthcare Provider Services Program. 

Brenda Hettema is the Bookkeeper for CCCMHA.  She is responsible for daily operations in the Accounting Department, specifically A/R, A/P, membership dues and employee benefits.  She is also responsible for word processing and document preparation.

Desiree Alarcon is CCCMHA’s Administrative Assistant.  She is responsible for answering all incoming calls, updating and maintaining the office calendar, filing, faxing, coping, and data entry.  She provides the office staff with clerical assistance.