Sacramento, CA – The Commission for Behavioral Health (CBH) is honored to announce the appointment of Brenda Grealish as its new executive director. The final selection decision was made during the Commission’s April 24, 2025 meeting, concluding the leadership tenure of Interim Executive Director Will Lightbourne, who stepped into the role last November.
Grealish’s appointment comes at a critical time as California begins to implement the newly enacted Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) – a sweeping initiative approved by voters last year and aimed at transforming California’s behavioral health system by expanding support for substance use disorders and increasing transparency and accountability, while still bolstering and expanding existing services.
“I am deeply honored to be selected to be the Executive Director for the Commission for Behavioral Health at such a pivotal time,” said Grealish. “I am committed to working closely with Commissioners, staff, and communities to help drive innovative, community-centered and recovery-oriented solutions that transform behavioral health care across California.”
With more than 25 years of service in California state government, Grealish currently serves as Executive Officer for the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health. Her previous leadership roles include Chief of the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Division and Acting Deputy Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services at the California Department of Health Care Services. Grealish also held leadership positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where she was appointed Deputy Director in 2012.
“The Commission is committed to transforming and modernizing the behavioral health system to better serve every Californian,” said Mayra E. Alvarez, Commission Chair and President of The Children’s Partnership. “We are grateful to Will Lightbourne for his steady leadership and commitment to transparency during a time of great transition at the Commission and in the field. As we work to implement the ambitious vision of the Behavioral Health Services Act, we are excited to have Brenda’s collaborative leadership and deep behavioral health expertise as we work to bring community partners, state agencies, and impacted Californians together to ensure the Commission does all it can to improve care for our most marginalized.”
As executive director, Grealish will notably lead the launch of the Commission’s Innovation Partnership Fund, a new grant program established under the BHSA to promote development of innovative behavioral health programs and practices that focus support where it is needed most with underserved, low-income, and historically marginalized communities. Grealish will serve a newly expanded Commission, which grew from 16 to 27 seats under the BHSA. The Commission has received 10 new appointees since January 1, 2025, and anticipates the final appointment soon.
Grealish will officially assume her new role on May 19, 2025.
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.