Madera County welcomes Christine Doss, a Central Valley native and behavioral health expert, as the new Director of Behavioral Health Services.

Doss has expansive knowledge of social work and behavioral health from working in the field for 15 years.

Now, she is taking her expertise to Madera, hoping to increase access to care and treatment.

“I look forward to working with other county departments, community-based organizations, and the county at large to strengthen our services and impact in the community,” Doss said in a statement.

As director of Behavioral Health Services, Doss will oversee all behavioral health services in the county. This includes sublet offices, housing programs, and substance recovery services.

New Director Advocates a Holistic Approach

These facilities focus on the promotion of prevention and recovery in mental illness and substance abuse. Doss advocates a holistic approach to these issues — targeting mind, body, and spirit.

Doss believes team-based care and a collaborative approach will best assist Madera County’s most vulnerable populations.

“Wellness is a continuum. …In the past, behavioral health has been this off-to-the side service. We have all this physical health… and you can go get your mental health treatment. Whereas we really need to be integrated because our behavioral health and mental health impact our physical health and vice versa,” Doss told GV Wire.

Currently, Doss is assessing data to find any gaps and map out where services are needed.

Additionally, the behavioral health unit is working on the rollout of a crisis stabilization unit. This will include a sobering center and expanding substance use services.

She hopes to install service-based values of compassion and professionalism into the county’s Behavioral Health Services.

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Doss Knows the Valley and Its Needs

Doss, born and raised in the Valley, says she is deeply committed to her community.

“It absolutely impacts services, because I have an understanding, from all of my childhood and most of my adult life, of the community’s needs and the community’s struggles and strengths,” Doss said.

She holds a bachelor’s in sociology and a master’s in social work from California State University, Bakersfield.

After completing her studies in 2009, she went on to do extensive work in Child Welfare Services, behavioral health, public health, and school-based programs.

Doss began her career in child welfare, working with high-risk youth in Madera and Mariposa. While serving in this role, she ran an independent living program and helped to roll out extended foster care.

She transitioned to behavioral health, learning the interworking of the field. She previously served as the Director of Behavioral Health for Mariposa County.

Doss has worked extensively with youth but asserts that she focuses on all populations.

“When you work with children, you work with adults, because they come with them. … You end up working with the whole family,” she said.