Cecily Thornton-Stearns currently serves as the Assistant Director and Chief Program Officer for the County of San Diego’s, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) under the Health and Human Services Agency. In this role, she oversees the service delivery of both county run and contracted services across the lifespan. With oversight of over $750M annually representing over 350 contracts, 12 direct care programs and over 345 staff, her connection and commitment to ensuring the highest quality programming for our most vulnerable residents is of constant focus. Cecily partners with stakeholders across departments, organizations, governmental agencies, the community and prioritizes input from those with lived expertise. She worked to guide recent BHS’ reorganizational efforts to honor expertise and passion along with enhancing the organizational climate, strengthening leadership development, and fostering a culture of passion and mission driven work. She leads strategic initiatives designed to increase access to quality healthcare and well-being services, balancing political mandates with community needs. Cecily has represented Behavioral Health Services at the Federal, State, County and City levels advocating for those that are underserved.

With extensive experience driving design implementation and delivery of services along with organizational change in complex environments, Cecily provides expert clinical and system knowledge combined with administrative expertise that support initiatives that promote health equity, well-being, quality care and departmental efficiency. Her work ensures that services are of the highest quality with the individuals and their families always at the center of the work.

Cecily holds a B.S. in Child Development and Child Abuse from San Diego State University, an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego and certificates in Organizational Change Management from Cornell University and Special Education Advocacy from the University of San Diego. She has worked across multiple settings including outpatient, Assertive Community Treatment, residential and rehabilitation, with a specialization in Transition Age Youth. She was appointed to a TAY Thinktank by former Assistant Secretary for SAMHSA, Dr. McCance-Katz and was named one of San Diego’s most influential behavioral healthcare professionals.

Cecily has held volunteer board positions with Poway Unified School District, Special Education, Community Advisory Committee and the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation Services