Sacramento, CA – Governor Newsom has appointed four more new Commissioners to the Commission for Behavioral Health under the 2024 voter-approved Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), bringing the total number of new appointments under the Act up to 10.
The new Commissioners bring critical perspectives into the conversation with the new seats designed to expand support for substance use disorders and increase transparency and accountability, while still bolstering and expanding existing services. The BHSA empowers the Commission to drive transformational change and improve outcomes in these areas.
“California’s efforts to modernize its behavioral health system requires embracing the diversity of our state and we are fortunate to advance this commitment through the addition of new Commissioner voices,” said Mayra E Alvarez, Commission Chair and President of the Children’s Partnership. “I welcome them all and look forward to the impact of their leadership and unique perspectives, which will be critical in helping meet the behavioral health needs of California’s most marginalized children, youth, families and communities.”
The 11 new seats representing youth, veterans, people with housing industry and substance use disorder experience, and others are part of the Governor’s effort to modernize California’s behavioral health system through the Behavioral Health Services Act of 2024. The Commission expects a final new appointee to be named in the coming weeks.
The Commissioners newly appointed by the Governor are:
Amy Fairweather, J.D. fills the seat of a Veteran or representative of a veterans’ organization and is a legal and policy expert with over two decades of experience advocating for veterans, particularly those facing mental health challenges, homelessness, and difficulties accessing benefits. As the Policy Director at Swords to Plowshares since 2005, Fairweather has developed and led numerous initiatives focused on enhancing veteran services, including advocating for improved mental health care, housing, and employment support for underserved subpopulations, such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, trauma survivors, and aging veterans.
Fairweather has a deep commitment to advancing public policy and has engaged in advocacy efforts at local, state, and national levels. She has served as the Chair of the California Governor’s Interagency Council on Veteran Health Committee and as a representative for California at the SAMHSA Military, Veterans, and Families Policy Implementation Academy.
Fairweather has co-authored and presented on key topics, including aging veterans, financial challenges faced by student veterans, and access to veteran benefits and care, particularly those living with high acuity mental health needs or who have experienced trauma and homelessness.
In addition to her policy work, Fairweather is a passionate educator, having developed veteran cultural awareness training programs for professionals working with veterans, including police, attorneys, and social service providers.
Fairweather holds a J.D. from the University of California, San Francisco College of Law (formerly Hastings), and a B.A. from Mills College. She has been a member of the California Bar since 1999 and is a prominent advocate for veterans’ rights and wellbeing.
Brandon Fernandez fills the seat of a substance use disorder peer, and has been Chief Executive Officer at CRI-Help Inc. since 2023, where he has held several roles since 2013, including chief operating officer, operations and development manager, development specialist, and volunteer.
Fernandez is a Member of the Board of Directors of the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives, California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals, Young People in Recovery, and the University of California, Los Angeles Health Policy and Management Alumni Association.
He earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Denver.
Jay’Riah Thomas-Beckett fills the seat of a mental health peer. She was born and raised in Sacramento, California and currently she serves as Executive Principal of a 6th–12th grade college preparatory school where she leads with a deep commitment to equity, community engagement, and student-centered success. A lifelong advocate for inclusion and access, Thomas-Beckett brings a unique blend of academic, nonprofit, and public sector leadership experience to the Commission for Behavioral Health.
Her career began with roles in education and community health, supporting underserved and marginalized populations including individuals with disabilities, system-impacted youth, and communities of color. A passionate proponent of harm reduction, she has worked directly with individuals battling addiction and mental health challenges, distributing critical supplies and support services through community-based programs.
Thomas-Beckett has also worked as an assistant principal, dean of curriculum and instruction, and director of employment services. She has worked with organizations such as Aspire Public Schools, Baltimore City Public Schools, STRIVE Community Health Institute, The ARC San Francisco, and Five Keys Charter Schools, among others.
Thomas-Beckett is also a former member of the California State Independent Living Council, appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom, where she advocated for the rights and services of people with disabilities statewide.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and Political Science from Spelman College, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of the Pacific and is currently completing her Doctorate in Healthcare Administration at Virginia University of Lynchburg.
Jevon Wilkes fills the seat of a representative of a children and youth organization and currently serves as a councilmember for California’s Child Welfare Council, where he is co-chair of the empowerment committee and a steering committee member. He is also a member of the California Interagency on Homelessness Advisory Committee and the Department of Health Care Services’ Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
Previously, Wilkes was a member of the California Center for Excellence Family Finding Support from 2022-2024 and the DHCS Behavioral Health Virtual Platform Think Tank from 2022-2023. Additionally, Wilkes has served as the Executive Director of the California Coalition for Youth since 2018.
Wilkes brings to the Commission for Behavioral Health the power of lived experience and over 20 years of professional experience advancing services, policies, programs, and investments that address youth homelessness and the needs of young people across California. He is committed to building a future where all children, youth, and families can live, grow, and thrive.
Wilkes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from California State University, Channel Islands. He resides in Sacramento, California with his wife and children.
About the Commission:
The Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, known as the Commission for Behavioral Health (CBH) and formerly the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, was initially established to oversee implementation of Proposition 63 (the Mental Health Services Act of 2004) and to drive innovation and accountability in California’s mental health system.
The CBH champions wellbeing for all Californians through behavioral health prevention and intervention, including mental health and substance use disorders. By working with community partners, individuals with lived experience, family members, State agencies, and the Legislature we help to increase public understanding, catalyze best practices, and inspire innovation. Our goal: accelerating transformational change.