Vicki Sandifer, MSW served as Executive Director and Program Director of Mental Health America of Central Virginia from 6/2002 - 12/2016. Prior to this, Vicki was the Executive Director of Churches for Urban Ministry. With a background in prevention and health promotion, Vicki brings more than twenty-five years of experience in program planning, development, implementation and evaluation, education & skill development, community organization, public policy, and professional growth & responsibility. During her tenure at Central VA Community Services (now Horizon Behavioral Health) from 1989-1999, Vicki became one of the first individuals in the Commonwealth of Virginia to achieve certification as a Prevention Specialist from SACAVA (Substance Abuse Certification Alliance of Virginia). She has been involved in numerous community initiatives including the prevention of suicide, substance abuse, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, crime in public housing, and HIV/AIDS. Since coming to MHACV, she has focused on mental health promotion and illness prevention, education, advocacy, and stigma reduction with special interest in suicide grief, recovery from mental illness, group facilitation and jail diversion services. Her outside interests include painting with watercolors and choral singing.