About Us
Meet the PPSGC Members
The Prevention & Promotion Systems Governing Committee (PPSGC) is comprised of nine members, one County partnering organization or regional entity, and eight who are either County department directors and/or Initiative Executive Directors representing County departments or Board priority initiatives.
The PPSGC is responsible for overseeing prevention and promotion efforts. Its initial focus was on developing focus populations within the mandated domains on which to focus efforts. It engaged and developed working relationships with two pre-existing Coordinating Bodies: Community Pathways and One Roof 2.0, and helped in the formation of a third Coordinating Body focused on Transition-aged youth (TAY Table). There is a partnership with the fourth coordinating body (Regional Coordination Council on Aging and Disabilities (RCC)), focused on the older adult population, that is still being developed.
The PPSGC also approves and monitors the Prevention and Promotion Coordination and Implementation Team (PPCIT) efforts. It is currently focused on working with the Coordinating Bodies, with backbone support from the PPCIT, to develop the specific plans that the initiative will launch. The Governing Committee is also responsible for regular Report-Backs to the Board of Supervisors.
Jackie Contreras, Ph.D
Director, Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)
Jackie Contreras was appointed on February 28, 2023, to serve as Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), which administers a budget of more than $5.5B and serves over 4M residents. She remains keenly focused on the timely provision of quality services to both internal and external stakeholders, and transformational efforts to equitably promote economic mobility and well-being for everyone DPSS serves.
Prior to joining DPSS, Dr. Contreras served as a Managing Director for Casey Family Programs’ direct service offices, where she led policy and practice efforts that included the development and implementation of a functional assessment and a culturally responsive, family-centered practice model grounded in trauma-and healing-informed care. Additionally, she served in various capacities as a child welfare administrator for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, and worked as a psychologist and manager for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
Dr. Contreras received her B.A. in psychology from UCLA and her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University.
Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd
Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH)
Dr. Barbara Ferrer is a nationally recognized public health leader with over 40 years’ experience as a public health director, educational leader, researcher, philanthropic strategist, and community advocate.
Currently, as the Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which prevents disease and promotes health equity and well-being among more than 10 million county residents, Dr. Ferrer oversees a budget of $2 billion, directs a workforce of 4,600 staff, and works to integrate services with the County Mental Health and Health Services Departments. She guides the region’s COVID-19 pandemic response in collaboration with county and community-based partners.
Prior to directing the LA County Public Health Department, Dr. Ferrer spent decades leading public health efforts in Massachusetts. She served as the Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, the city’s health department where, under her leadership, the City of Boston saw significant improvements in health outcomes, including a decrease in rates of childhood obesity, smoking, and infant mortality.
Dr. Ferrer also held leadership positions at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, including Director of Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention, and Director of the Division of Maternal & Child Health.
As a headmaster of a district high school in Boston, Dr. Ferrer secured funding from the Gates Foundation to amplify services and supports for students; over 90% of students graduated and of those graduating, 95% gained admission to college.
Dr. Ferrer also served as the Chief Strategy Officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, overseeing programming and mission-driven investments.
Dr. Ferrer received her Ph.D. from Brandeis University where she was awarded a PEW fellowship in Health Policy. She also holds a Master’s in Public Health from Boston University, Master’s in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
David J. Carroll
Director, Department of Youth Development, County of Los Angeles
David J. Carroll serves as the Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development (DYD). He has been in this role shortly after DYD was established in July of 2022. Under his leadership, the DYD has grown exponentially in both budget and staff. DYD is charged with keeping young people out of the Juvenile Justice System, and for those young people already involved in the system, DYD aims to reduce harm, address trauma, and provide the resources and tools young people need to avoid future justice system involvement. DYD has been recognized nationally and locally for its innovative work in serving justice-involved youth, including a Top Ten Award in the Los Angeles County Productivity and Quality Awards.
David brings decades of experience in youth development through his work with community- based organizations in Los Angeles and across the country.
He holds a deep personal commitment to youth development and has dedicated his career to creating opportunities for youth to thrive. At an early age, he was part of the foster care and adoption systems, and he was later impacted by the criminal legal system. As a young Black man growing up in a single-parent home, David, and young people like him were considered more likely to drop out of school, become incarcerated, or become a victim of violent crime than to graduate from college. With the help of caring teachers, committed mentors, and countless youth development programs and opportunities along the way, David graduated from college with honors and embarked on a corporate career. Years later, following his experience with a violent crime committed by teenagers, he made the decision to leave the corporate sector and serve youth.
He has remained steadfast in his mission to provide high-quality developmental and learning opportunities for youth – the same types of opportunities that profoundly impacted his own life. He has served thousands of children and families through the creation of award-winning non-profit programs and has worked tirelessly to improve resource access for nonprofits. He has served in executive roles with direct service organizations and in policy and capacity building roles supporting community-based organizations and philanthropy.
David is a member of the prestigious White-Riley-Peterson Fellowship on Public Policy, a two-time winner of the Washington University Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition and was named a Distinguished Alumnus by Harris-Stowe State University. He holds a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Accounting from Harris-Stowe State University.
In his time away from work David is a Volunteer Board Member and Officer for his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, and coaches youth sports. David lives in South Los Angeles and is the proud father of two children.
Maral V. Karaccusian
Interim Director, Department of Aging & Disabilities (AD)
Maral Karaccusian is the Interim Director of the Aging & Disabilities Department, a seasoned social worker, and a dedicated public servant with over 20 years of experience in human services, direct practice, policy development, and community advocacy. Her career is marked by a steadfast commitment to advancing equity and improving outcomes for Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with disabilities, foster youth, and survivors of systemic injustice.
Most recently, she served as Senior Children and Human Services Policy Deputy for Supervisor Janice Hahn, leading legislative and policy initiatives across child welfare, aging, disability, food systems, social services, as well as other critical areas. Prior to her service in County government, Ms. Karaccusian was District Director for former Congressmember Karen Bass, overseeing district operations and shaping policy strategies aligned with community needs and federal priorities.
Ms. Karaccusian holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in political science from UCLA and a master’s degree in social work from USC, where she was honored with the Gladys M. Salit Award for leadership, field excellence, and academic achievement.
Deeply committed to public service and inclusive advocacy, she brings a people-centered approach to leadership shaped by extensive experience across systems serving vulnerable communities. She teaches in the Department of Social Work at CSUN and presently serves on the Board of the Center for Nonprofit Management.
Brandon T. Nichols
Director, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
Brandon T. Nichols received his Bachelor’s degree in Law and Society from the University of California Santa Barbara and his Juris Doctor degree in 1996 from the California Western School of Law in San Diego.
Mr. Nichols was hired by the County of Los Angeles in 1999 where he spent 15 years with County Counsel primarily assigned to represent and provide legal advice to the Board of Supervisors and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). While with County Counsel, he served as lead attorney on the Katie A. v. Bonta class action lawsuit, for the County’s Homeless Initiative, and represented the County in negotiating a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over mental health services and conditions in the County jails.
With an expertise in child welfare, foster care, adoptions, and mental health, Mr. Nichols joined DCFS as Senior Deputy Director from 2012 - 2013 with primary responsibility for overseeing the Risk Management and Litigation Management divisions and handling sensitive department-wide critical issues.
In April 2016, he was appointed to Chief Deputy Director of DCFS and managed all DCFS operations. During his time as Chief Deputy Director, Director Nichols led the County’s implementation of Continuum of Care Reform, a multi-year, state-wide change designed to reduce the use of congregate care and ensure children live in family-like settings when they are unable to safely remain with their parents. Additionally, Director Nichols advocated on behalf of children at legislative hearings with local, state and federal agencies and worked closely with a diverse network of community partners. He also has worked for the Probation Department and, most recently, the Chief Executive Office. In his last position, as the Executive Director of the County's Jail Closure Implementation Team, he played a significant role in efforts to develop mental health services and other supports for people incarcerated in county jails as part of Los Angeles County’s commitment to de-carcerating and closing the Men's Central Jail.
Following a six-month nationwide search process, on July 1, 2022 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors appointed Brandon T. Nichols to the role of DCFS Director.
Director Nichols, who had been serving in the role of Interim Director since April, indicated that his primary areas of focus at the outset of his tenure will be ensuring child safety, advancing race equity efforts and providing accessible, quality support to families.
Karla Pleitéz
Executive Director, First 5 LA (FSLA)
Karla Pleitéz Howell serves as First 5 LA’s president and CEO, guiding implementation of its overall strategy and vision for building a future where every child is born healthy and thrives in nurturing, safe and loving communities. Since joining the organization in 2023, Karla has led First 5 LA to adopt its new 2024-2029 strategic plan that marks a significant milestone for the organization’s path toward creating the greatest possible impact for LA County’s youngest children and their families. First 5 LA’s new strategic plan focuses on goals to collectively build toward ensuring that children’s and families’ basic needs, psychological needs and self-fulfillment needs are prioritized, and it leans into the power of partnership, driven by the belief that together we can create a brighter, more equitable future for our youngest children.
Karla believes that every child has the potential to thrive, and she has dedicated her career to creating a future where young children and their families are prioritized in Los Angeles County and across the state. Karla centers racial justice and equity in her work, advancing community partnerships and innovating strategies to increase and target resources to address structural inequities.
Karla began her career as an attorney providing legal services for families, which included leading a coalition in the southeast cities of Los Angeles County to increase green space and educational opportunities for young children. She transitioned to work on policy advocacy, joining Advancement Project California (now Catalyst California), where she served as director of education, managing director, and chief of policy and programs. There, Karla worked to bring coalitions together to increase child care facilities funding, improve quality in Transitional Kindergarten programs and expand access to child care for California’s youngest learners. In partnership with audacious community partners, Karla’s advocacy has helped direct billions of dollars in investments communities with low incomes.
Prior to First 5 LA, Karla served as branch chief for the Child Care Development Division with the California Department of Social Services. In that role, Karla led efforts to develop the Division’s strategic plan and improve administrative efficiencies. Karla also oversaw the strategic direction and development of the $350 million Infrastructure Grant Program and the state’s child care rate reform initiative.
Karla earned her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and holds a Juris Doctor from UC Hastings. On weekends, Karla enjoys the outdoors with her husband and family and loves to listen to the latest humorous philosophical ponderings from their two kids.
Cheri Todoroff
Executive Director, LA County Homelessness Initiative (HI)
Cheri Todoroff assumed leadership of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative effective April 1, 2021. She previously served as the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) Director of Community Programs, overseeing the development and implementation of community-based health, social, and housing programs and services for people experiencing homelessness and/or have been involved with the justice system who have complex health and/or behavioral health conditions. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UC Berkeley.
D'Artagnan Scorza, PhD
Executive Director, Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)
Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza is the inaugural Executive Director of Racial Equity for Los Angeles County overseeing the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative and working to expand the County’s work on anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.
The Inglewood, CA native brings years of experience to his role as a national expert on issues focused on poverty, education and public health. Currently, a lecturer in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Dr. Scorza works prepares students to apply community organizing to center community voice and change health policy.
Previously, Dr. Scorza served 14 years as the Executive Director and Founder of the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) leading health, environmental, housing and educational justice. He was a Business Alliance for Local Living Economy Fellow (BALLE), an Education Pioneers Fellow, a UC Regent Emeritus and a former President of the Board of Education for the Inglewood Unified School District. In these positions, he worked to launch programs that helped youth of color become social justice leaders and college graduates, passed policies that prioritized $160 million for student services across UC campuses, and secured $350 million to support school construction for K-12 schools.
A U.S. Navy Iraq-War Veteran and civic leader, he has been recognized as one of the 40 Emerging Civic Leaders under 40 in 2018 and received the UCLA Recent Graduate Achievement Award in 2016.
Dr. Scorza attended both UCLA and National University and earned his Ph.D. in Education from UCLA. His work is cited in multiple publications including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Magazine, and you can hear him in several podcasts.
Lisa Wong, Psy.D.
Director, Department of Mental Health (DMH)
Lisa Wong, Psy.D., is the Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) as of February 28, 2023, after serving as Interim Director since July 2022. Prior to this role, Dr. Wong was LACDMH’s Senior Deputy Director overseeing the Department’s clinical programs and community-based services over a broad range of settings throughout Los Angeles County.
Concurrent with her Senior Deputy Director role, Dr. Wong was also the interim Chief of the Full-Service Partnership (FSP) program, a 24/7 intensive outpatient service aimed at helping clients at risk for homelessness, incarceration, and hospitalization, among other negative life outcomes.
Starting in the County as a student over 30 years ago, Dr. Wong spent more than two decades working in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles providing care to some of the County’s most vulnerable and high-risk individuals experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness. Prior to her current role, she served as the Mental Health Clinical Program Head Over Downtown Mental Health Center general outpatient services, CalWORKs/GROW, and Prevention & Early Intervention programs before becoming a Service Area Chief over Service Areas 2 and 3. Dr. Wong has also served as Acting Chief for Outpatient Services.
Dr. Wong earned her Psy.D. from the Pacifica Graduate Institute and her M.A. in clinical psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and she is a lifelong advocate for vulnerable populations and social justice issues.