About Us | Our Staff
Rusty Selix
Executive Director
Rusty has been Executive Director and Legislative Advocate for CCCMHA since 1987 and has grown the association considerably during the intervening years. In this capacity, he partnered with Senate President Pro tem Darrell Steinberg to co-author California’s Mental Health Services Act, a tax on personal incomes over $1 million to expand community mental health care. In addition he has been instrumental in moving forward a variety of critical mental health-related initiatives, including ensuring the implementation of the federal Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program to serve children with severe emotional disturbances.
Rusty has been a legislative advocate in Sacramento since 1978 when he joined the staff of the League of California Cities. He also serves as Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in California and provides legislative advocacy for the (Los Angeles) Association of Retired Teachers.
Prior to becoming a lobbyist, Rusty served as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Sacramento where he was the city's principal legal advisor on land use and environmental issues. From 1980 to 1984 he was also a member and chairman of the State Bar's Committee on Environmental Law.
Rusty attended Northwestern University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Economics; he received his law degree from UC Davis.
Michele Peterson, MPH
Policy Associate
Michele has been with CCCMHA since 2011. She is responsible for researching health care reform and other policy issues, and analyzing the impacts on mental health delivery and governance systems in California. Michele also provides technical assistance to the ACA Learning Community.
Prior to CCCMHA, Michele was the Associate Director of Community Health programs at the Center for Health Improvement. In that position she was responsible for initiatives on health care quality and health policy reform, and managed a statewide advocacy coalition for hepatitis. She also served as Program Manager for the Learning Network for Chartered Value Exchanges (CVE), a component of the US Department of HHS’ "Value-Driven Health Care Initiative," a national Learning Network involving more than 550 health care leaders.
Michele has a strong background in health disparities, public health policy, and has experience with private foundations, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and the United Nations Population Fund. Michele has a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Pam joined the office of Rusty Selix in 1989. She conducts the meeting planning for all of his clients as well as a wide variety of other office and client support activities. Presently she is responsible for meeting planning for CCCMHA has full responsibility for California Healthcare Provider Services (CHPS) programs and services.
Previously she worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Europe Division.
Sarah is the newest member to join our office. She gained her interest in policy work as an intern for former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was while working in Special Education, that she became passionate about increasing access to Mental Health services.
Sarah is primarily responsible for assisting the CCCMHA program.