From the Board Chair
As the end of the year approaches, ACMHS looks ahead to 2010, which will begin with great change. On behalf of the board and staff, I would like to announce the appointment of Lily Lue Stearns, Ph.D. as ACMHS’ Executive Director. Dr. Stearns will be replacing Lawrence C. Fong, M.P.H., who has accepted a State position closer to his family and home in Sacramento.
The board and staff are thrilled with the appointment of Dr. Stearns, who has played a supervisory role in the clinical work with Asian youth, families and adults for the past two and one half years at the agency. She will be a tremendous asset in continuing our mission for those in need of mental health, developmental disabilities and family support services.
Dr. Stearns has degrees in psychology from U.C. Berkeley and the Graduate School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary. She has completed pastoral work and is an ordained minister. During the time Dr. Stearns has been with ACMHS she has demonstrated an impassioned spirit and commitment to the work and people in the agency. She is consistently praised by her colleagues as being a patient leader and consensus builder. Dr. Stearns' passion for ACMHS and her compassion for the community will help guide the agency as we enter a new decade and era for ACMHS.
I want to thank Larry for his contributions to the agency. With the support of the management and administrative teams, Larry helped to navigate through and stabilize the agency during what was and still is a difficult time for health agencies nationwide. We all wish him well with his new position overseeing health, mental, dental and hospital services for the Department of Corrections.
With a new executive director and the strong involvement of the board of supervisors, ACMHS is committed to developing methods and solutions to end barriers that prevent individuals in the Asian and Pacific Islander community from receiving mental health and developmental disabilities services. Our staff continues to set high standards of service that has made ACMHS a welcoming haven for the neediest members of our community. In the next decade, we will implement strategies to assist emerging populations and collaborate with other facilities to address the total healthcare needs of our clients.
During this period of transition, we greatly appreciate your support, without which we would not have reached our monumental 36th anniversary. I wish you a healthy and happy holiday season and a wonderful new year.
Sincerely,
Luana Shiba-Harris
Chair, Board of Directors
Asian Community Mental Health Services