About CalHHS
Our mission is to work together with counties, cities, and communities, as well as our public, private, faith, and educational partners to make California a healthy, vibrant, inclusive place to live, play, work, and learn.
The California Health & Human Services Agency is comprised of six distinct offices that collectively make up the Office of the Secretary:
Office of Legislative Affairs
The office provides coordination, oversight, and management of proposed legislation and ensures the Administration’s legislative policy priorities are developed and implemented. The office provides policy guidance, instruction, and direction to CalHHS departments, and coordinates with the Governor’s Office on legislative positions.
Office of External Affairs
The office manages the ongoing public information and public affairs functions and provides guidance and direction to public information officers in CalHHS departments. In addition, the office serves as the official Agency spokesperson to respond to media inquiries, and coordinates with the Governor’s Office communication staff on significant and sensitive media issues.
Office of the Agency General Counsel
The Agency General Counsel provides legal counsel to the Office of the Secretary, Agency Secretary, and senior Agency staff. The Agency General Counsel also works closely with the Governor’s Office of Legal Affairs and coordinates the workload of the department Chief Counsels.
Office of Program and Fiscal Affairs
The office is responsible for formulating, analyzing, revising, and evaluating the program and fiscal impacts of major health and human services policies of the Administration. This includes assessment of all policy, legislative, fiscal, and other issues that have implications, not only among CalHHS departments, but beyond CalHHS to other state agencies within the Executive Branch.
Administration Unit
The CalHHS Office of the Secretary serves a critical coordination role on all assignments and projects as directed by the Governor’s Office and control agencies. This unit handles all personnel, HR, training, and internal budget issues.
Office of the Agency Information Officer
The Office of the Agency Information Officer (OAIO) supports our departments’ efforts to enhance their programs through their successful delivery of data and technology solutions. Through Portfolio Support, Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, Agency Governance and Horizontal Integration activities, the OAIO provides both operational and strategic services to increase the probability of successful projects while promoting a person-centered culture and a corresponding portfolio of interoperable systems that can share and use data effectively to provide wholistic services to Californians in need.
Office of Policy and Strategic Planning
The Office of Policy and Strategic Planning is responsible for driving measurable outcomes on CalHHS’s guiding principles and strategic priorities through system alignment and program integration across the agency’s departments and offices to build a Healthy California for All. The Office works on a set of initiatives to advance equity, address the social determinants of health, and ensure a whole person approach.
View the California Health & Human Services Agency Organizational Chart.
The Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency sits on a number of committees and advisory boards, and is directed by Executive Order to establish a number of advisory bodies:
- California Health Benefit Exchange or Covered California
- Healthy California for All Commission
- Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework Stakeholder Group
- Disability and Aging Community Living Advisory Committee
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee
- Behavioral Health Task Force
- California Child Welfare Council
- Early Childhood Policy Council
- State Council on Developmental Disabilities
- California Workforce Investment Board
- Strategic Growth Council
- Incompetent to Stand Trial Solutions Workgroup
- First 5 (California Children and Families) Commission
CalHHS Leadership
Kim Johnson
Kim Johnson was appointed Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency in September 2024 by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Prior to her appointment as Secretary, Ms. Johnson was appointed Director of the California Department of Social Services by Governor Gavin Newsom, a position she held from July 2019 – August 2024. In this role, Ms. Johnson led a team of over 5,500 employees – the largest Department in the California Health and Human Services Agency – serving over 7 million Californians.
Ms. Johnson started with the California Department of Social Services in 2015 and had previously been appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as Deputy Director of the Family Engagement and Empowerment Division, CalWORKs and Child Care Branch Chief, and Child Care and Refugee Programs Branch Chief.
Ms. Johnson has over 25 years of experience working in both community-based organizations and government focused on advancing the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities most in need of resources.
The mission of the California Health & Human Services Agency is aligned with her purpose.
Brendan McCarthy (acting)
Brendan McCarthy is Acting Undersecretary at the California Health & Human Services Agency. As Undersecretary, Brendan leads all policy development and implementation, and manages the day-to-day operations of the Agency.
Since 2021, McCarthy has served as Deputy Secretary for Program and Fiscal Affairs. Previously, McCarthy served as Assistant Secretary. He was Chief Consultant for the California State Assembly Committee on Business and Professions from 2018 to 2019, Principal Consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Appropriations from 2009 to 2018 and Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office from 2004 to 2009. McCarthy earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Samantha Lui
Samantha Lui serves as Deputy Secretary in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the California Health & Human Services Agency.
Previously, Lui was the Principal Consultant to the California State Senate, Committee on Appropriations since 2018, and from 2016 to 2018, she served as Assistant Secretary at CalHHS.
Lui was also a Consultant to the California State Senate, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review from 2013 to 2016 as well as a Consultant to the California State Senate, Governance and Finance Committee from 2011 to 2013. Lui was a California State Senate Fellow in the Capital Fellows Program from 2010 to 2011.
Sami Gallegos
Sami Gallegos serves as Deputy Secretary for External Affairs at the California Health & Human Services Agency.
Gallegos has been Senior Public Information Officer for the California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force since 2021. She was Communications Director for Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez from 2018 to 2021, Direct Mail Manager for the Assembly Democrats in 2018 and 2020 and Creative Content Producer for the Democratic Office of Communications and Outreach from 2017 to 2018. Gallegos was a Digital Producer for ABC10 from 2015 to 2017 and Reporter and Social Media Manager for Capitol Weekly from 2013 to 2015.
Jared Goldman
Jared A. Goldman serves as general counsel at the California Health & Human Services Agency.
From 2016 to 2020, Goldman served as deputy director and chief counsel at the Department of Health Care Services. Previously, from 2012 to 2016, Goldman was a partner in the health care practice group of the law firm Best, Best and Krieger LLP. He also served in several positions at the California Prison Health Care Receivership from 2006 to 2012, including chief counsel and staff counsel. Goldman was a deputy county counsel at the County of Santa Clara, Office of the County Counsel, from 2001 to 2006, representing the county’s health and hospital system.
He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Kim Chen (acting)
Kimberly Chen is Acting Deputy Secretary for Program and Fiscal Affairs at the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS), where she manages a team of Assistant Secretaries to develop and implement the major health and human services policies of the Administration. In this role, she also acts as the Secretary’s budget advisor for all health and human services issues. Since 2022, Kimberly has served in CalHHS as an Assistant Secretary, leading budget development and policy implementation on all state health care coverage programs, including those under the Department of Health Care Services, the Department of Managed Health Care, and Covered California.
Prior to joining CalHHS, Kimberly was Principal Consultant for the California State Senate Health Committee where she was responsible for analyzing legislation and serving as the subject matter lead for the Committee on issues impacting California’s health care safety net programs, underserved populations, and social drivers of health. In addition, Kimberly held multiple roles at the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, including State Policy Director and Government Affairs Manager, where she worked on policies to advance health equity. She also previously worked as legislative staff in the California State Assembly and served as a Fellow in the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program. Kimberly earned her B.A. in Ethnic Studies and Gender & Women’s Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and Master of Public Administration from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and is an alumnus of the Millbank Memorial Fund’s Emerging Leaders Program.
Sonia Fernandez–Herrera
Sonia Fernandez–Herrera serves as Deputy Secretary of Administrative Services at the California Health & Human Services Agency, where she has served since 2011.
Previously, from 2008 to 2011, she was administrative unit manager at the California Health and Human Services Agency. Fernandez–Herrera was also an associate business management analyst at the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing from 2007 to 2008. Prior to that, she served in several positions at the California Department of General Services: associate government program analyst in the Office of Technology Resources and executive assistant and staff services analyst in the Executive Office.
Adam Dondro
Adam Dondro serves as the Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Agency Information Officer at the California Health & Human Services Agency where he has served in both positions since 2017. He brings with him a passion for government, service, and a focus on whole person care.
Prior to this role, Adam spent five years as the Assistant Director of Horizontal Integration at the Department of Social Services. In both these roles, Adam has focused on integrating Health and Human Service programs to provide the best overall experience and outcomes for our constituents, and on the power of data to improve program and policy decisions. Previously Adam held multiple roles across CA government including five years in the State Legislature and four gubernatorial appointments.
He is supported and inspired by his amazing wife and two daughters. In his free time he enjoys playing soccer, coaching, and just about anything outdoors and away from a computer.
Corrin Buchanan
Corrin Buchanan serves as the Deputy Secretary for Policy and Strategic Planning at the California Health & Human Services Agency.
Corrin has spent most of her career in systems change work in state and local government. Prior to joining CalHHS, Corrin served at the Assistant Director of Housing and Homelessness for the California Department of Social Services. She worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services as the Deputy Director for the Office of Diversion and Reentry where she oversaw countywide behavioral health diversion, reentry, and youth diversion and development efforts. Also with Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, she launched and managed the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool, a locally funded rental subsidy program with the Housing for Health division. Corrin was Health Program Planner for Housing and Urban Health at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the Community Programs Director for the San Francisco Women’s Building. Corrin holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley.
Stephanie Welch
Stephanie N. Welch was appointed Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health at the California Health & Human Services Agency in 2020.
Welch previously served as Executive Officer for the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health since 2015. Welch was the Senior Program Manager for the California Mental Health Services Authority from 2011 to 2015, an Associate Policy Director at the County Behavioral Health Directors Association from 2007 to 2011, and the Associate Director of Public Policy at the Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies from 2000 to 2005. Welch earned a BA in Social Work from University of California at Davis and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.
Sohil R Sud, MD, MA
Dr. Sohil Sud is director of the Children & Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, California’s multi-year multi-billion investment to transform the way we support children, youth, and families. Prior to this role, he served as Assistant Deputy Director in the Center for Healthy Communities of the California Department of Public Health. He also led Safe Schools for All, the state’s interagency team to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in TK-12 schools.
Dr. Sud is a practicing pediatrician on faculty at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and cares for newborns and hospitalized children. He received his clinical training at UCSF and served as Chief Resident at San Francisco General Hospital. He earned his medical degree with research honors from Tufts University. Dr. Sud holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.
John Ohanian
John Ohanian serves as Director of the Center for Data Insights and Innovation and Chief Data Officer at the California Health & Human Services Agency, where he has served as Interim Director of the Center for Data Insights and Innovation and Chief Data Officer since 2020.
Ohanian was President and Chief Executive Officer of 211 San Diego from 2007 to 2020 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Information Exchange from 2012 to 2020. He was Principal Consultant for Strategic Organizational Solutions from 1996 to 2007, Associate Director and Chief Financial Officer for the Jewish Community Foundation San Diego from 1994 to 1996 and Auditor and Consultant for KPMG from 1991 to 1994.
Dan Torres
Dan Torres is the Chief Equity Officer at the California Health and Human Services Agency and started in this inaugural role in 2023.
Dan focuses on leading change across departments and programs to improve health and social outcomes for communities who historically have been left behind and continue to face inequities. His work includes improving cultural and linguistic access to state programs, developing capacity within the state workforce to advance equity, and creating new opportunities for community engagement to co-design policies and programs.
Prior to joining CalHHS, Dan was the Program Director for Immigrant Rights at the Haas, Jr. Fund, a private philanthropy. Previously, he served as Special Assistant to Attorney General Xavier Becerra and was Director of Immigrant Integration in Governor Brown’s administration. Earlier in his career, Dan was the Chief of the Immigration Services Branch at the Department of Social Services and worked as a legal services lawyer in rural California.