Melissa Stafford-Jones

Melissa Stafford Jones is President and CEO of the Public Health Institute where she leads the organization’s strategy to support public health programs and research impact at the local, state, national and global levels, build an ecosystem of health through partnerships and systems change, and provide field thought partnership including policy and advocacy.

Melissa’s career is grounded in deep dedication to the vision of improving health, well-being and opportunity for all individuals and communities to thrive and reach their full potential, particularly those who are the most underserved and face structural barriers to health and opportunity.

In her prior role as Director of California’s $4.4 billion Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative from 2021-2023, Melissa worked across state government and with partners and stakeholders including youth and families to reimagine California’s children and youth behavioral health system into an innovative, up-stream focused ecosystem where all children and youth are routinely screened, supported, and served for emerging and existing behavioral health needs, including mental health and substance use.

Melissa also previously served as Executive Director of the First 5 Association of California leading the development and implementation of the organization’s strategies to advance a whole child, whole family, equity-centered early childhood policy and systems change agenda. She served as regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region IX from 2014-2017 under the Obama administration and worked in partnership with local and state organizations, key stakeholders and elected officials in communities throughout the region to implement the Affordable Care Act, increase access to health care and social services, and improve the lives and health of diverse communities. Melissa also was the long-time President & CEO of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems and was a known-Medicaid expert leading the organization’s strategy to advance public policies that support the essential role of the safety net and improve health status and access to care for low-income and uninsured individuals and communities. In addition to her experience in public and health policy, she also worked in philanthropy, serving as Executive Director of the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation.

Melissa holds a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Saint Mary’s College of California.