William Rhett Email & Phone Number

I am a performance-driven leader with a history of devising robust strategies, leading programs, and directing high performing teams to drive operational excellence and improving quality of care across the behavioral health sector. I have clinical experience and a passion for driving system change and continuous quality improvement and an extensive track record administering budgets and managing grants to oversee end-to-end implementation of a diverse portfolio of improvement projects in public behavioral health.Before joining Third Sector as the Managing Director of Behavioral Health, I had over 20 years of clinical and consulting experience in behavioral health. I was part of the executive management team at the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions (CIBHS), a behavioral health consultancy for systems, organizations, and providers who desire to improve outcomes for people with mental health and substance use challenges. At CIBHS, I led technical assistance and training projects in California for state and county agencies implementing significant new programs and policy innovations in behavioral health. I led the rollout of the 'Prevention and Early Intervention and Innovation' components of the Mental Health Services Act, applying care coordination and integration strategies under the Affordable Care Act to help reduce health disparities and the rollout of the Drug Medi-Cal Waiver. I also led the Health Equity team at CIBHS. As Health Equity lead, I provided technical assistance and training to California county behavioral health managers on promoting cultural competence and health equity and oversaw the review of county behavioral health cultural competency plans and outcomes. I have been the Project Director for a couple of learning collaboratives based on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Breakthrough Series Model, utilizing continuous quality improvement strategies to make measurable improvements in outcomes. I also served as a reviewer for the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).I weave my clinical background as a bilingual/bicultural therapist for Spanish-speaking families and youth and my understanding of systems and culture from my experience in anthropology into my work. I have a bachelor's degree from Harvard University, a Ph.D. in Anthropology from U.C. San Diego, and two Master's degrees, including a Master's in Psychology, Marriage, and Family Therapy.