About | Empower Behavioral Health Systems — Get Involved — Behavioral Health Training and Policy Institute

Our Mission

To strengthen behavioral health systems by developing exceptional leaders, advancing clinical supervision, building organizational capacity, and generating the policy solutions and workforce infrastructure needed to sustain a capable, ethical, and resilient behavioral health workforce in California.

Our Vision

A California where every behavioral health professional has access to high-quality supervision, evidence-informed training, and the organizational infrastructure needed to provide excellent, ethical, and sustainable care.

“California’s behavioral health system is strongest when its workforce, leaders, organizations, and communities work together—ensuring every person receives equitable, compassionate, and effective care.”

— Behavioral Health Training & Policy Institute (BHTPI)

Board of Directors

Dr. Monique Watts, EdD, Board President

Dr. Monique Watts is an accomplished public-sector professional, educator, and organizational leader with experience spanning federal and state government, higher education, nonprofit administration, and the legal field. She currently serves as an auditor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, supporting the independent oversight and evaluation of federal programs and operations.
Throughout her career, Dr. Watts has advanced organizational accountability, effective leadership, and public service. Her previous experience includes auditing government programs across California’s 58 counties, administering services for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, and working in employment and labor law. She has also served as an adjunct college professor for more than a decade, helping students recognize their potential and view education as a pathway to greater opportunity.
Dr. Watts holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, a Master of Public Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. As President of the BHTPI Board of Directors, she provides governance leadership grounded in integrity, accountability, education, and service.
Dr. Nicole Franklin, PhD, MBA, MPH, Board Treasurer

Dr. Nicole Franklin is a leadership-driven professional, educator, and financial services specialist with a multidisciplinary background spanning biological sciences, engineering, healthcare, biotechnology, manufacturing, higher education, and financial services.
Throughout her career, Nicole has developed extensive experience in leadership, training, professional development, quality and organizational systems, and the education of professionals and emerging leaders. Her passion for teaching led her into higher education, where she served as a college faculty member and adjunct instructor, with experience in curriculum development, educational technology, student engagement, and student success. Her work in academia strengthened her commitment to mentorship and empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their professional goals.
Her academic training includes biological science, public health, healthcare management, biotechnology, and business management, providing her with a broad perspective on organizational operations, financial decision-making, risk awareness, and responsible leadership.
As a nonprofit Board Treasurer, Nicole brings a commitment to financial stewardship, transparency, accountability, ethical leadership, and responsible governance. She understands that strong financial oversight is essential to protecting an organization’s resources, maintaining the confidence of its stakeholders, and ensuring that funds remain aligned with the organization’s mission and long-term goals.
Melissa Aprigliano PhD (ABD), MBA, Board Secretary

Melissa Aprigliano is an expert in leading organizational change with data to optimize outcomes. She has spent her career helping large, complex systems work better for the people inside them. Her experience spans eighteen years of service in Fortune 50 financial services leadership positions. Most recently, she spent fourteen years as a Vice President at Bank of America, where she became the person top executives turned to when the stakes were high, and the problems required both analytical precision and human understanding. Whether rebuilding a federally regulated decisioning engine in just three months or seamlessly delivering $7B in compensation during major mergers, her work consistently brought clarity, stability, and measurable improvement to critical enterprise operations.
Melissa’s approach to transformation blends data, systems thinking, and empathy. She has led cross-functional teams through regulatory redesigns, built forecasting models that restored operational control, and created learning measurement frameworks that shaped how the C-suite evaluated leadership development. Her ability to drive adoption—especially in environments where resistance was the real barrier—became a hallmark of her leadership. She introduced the Community of Practice model not as a tool, but as a way for people to connect, collaborate, and navigate change together.
Beyond her professional and academic work, Melissa remains committed to community service. Across every chapter of her career, she has been guided by a simple principle: transformation should make work—and life—better for the people it touches.

Meet the BHTPI Team

Dr. Erin Michele Franco, Ed.D, LMFT

FOUNDER
Dr. Erin Michele Franco is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, consultant, and founder of the Behavioral Health Training & Policy Institute (BHTPI). She holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University and a Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. With extensive experience in clinical practice, residential treatment, compliance, organizational development, and behavioral health systems strategy, Dr. Franco brings a comprehensive, systems-level perspective to California’s behavioral health challenges. Her expertise includes Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program development, Medi-Cal PAVE enrollment, provider readiness, billing infrastructure, workforce development, behavioral health compliance, and the operational design of community-based services. Through BHTPI, she partners with counties, providers, community organizations, and behavioral health leaders to strengthen service systems, expand workforce capacity, advance policy-informed implementation, and improve outcomes for the individuals, families, and communities they serve.
Dr. Calvin Bonds, Ed.D, MBA, M.Ed.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Dr. Calvin Bonds is an educator, global leadership coach, organizational strategist, and master storyteller with nearly three decades of experience helping organizations strengthen leadership, communication, workforce performance, and organizational effectiveness. His work has supported institutions across education, government, healthcare, entertainment, and other industries in the United States and internationally. As Chief Operating Officer of BHTPI, Dr. Bonds helps guide organizational strategy, operational development, leadership initiatives, and sustainable growth.
Dr. Bonds earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, where his research integrated adult learning theory, neuroscience, and storytelling. He also holds an Executive Master of Business Administration, a master’s degree in Adult Education and Training, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Music. He previously served as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and has guest lectured in healthcare leadership at the University of Southern California. His professional certifications include Everything DiSC, The Five Behaviors, and TESOL.
Dr. Douglas May, Ed.D

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & POLICY
Dr. Douglas May is an interdisciplinary scholar, educator, clinician, and published researcher whose career spans behavioral health, organizational leadership, higher education, curriculum development, and applied policy research. He holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and former substance use disorder counselor, Dr. May brings experience in mental health treatment, recovery support, psychoeducation, and evidence-informed therapeutic practice, complemented by expertise in organizational systems, workforce development, research methodology, program evaluation, and leadership effectiveness. As Director of the Research & Policy Division at BHTPI, he leads evidence-informed policy research, program evaluation, and workforce-development initiatives examining emerging trends, service-delivery models, workforce challenges, and system-level innovations. His work bridges research, policy, and practice by translating complex findings into actionable strategies that support data-informed decision-making and strengthen the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of behavioral health organizations.
Dr. Janoc Vance, Psy.D

DIRECTOR OF BHTPI ACADEMY
Dr. Janoc Vance is the Founder and CEO of Living is Lifestyle, LLC, where she empowers individuals and strengthens communities through mental health, humanitarian, and philanthropic initiatives. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate in Psychology specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy, with expertise in dual-diagnosis treatment and holistic, integrative care for adults, families, professionals in the music industry, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs. Drawing upon her background in the performing arts and entertainment industries, Dr. Vance integrates creativity with clinical expertise across clinical practice, consulting, training, advocacy, film consulting, and character development. Her leadership experience includes serving as Senior Director of Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services for the Recording Academy’s philanthropic arm, and she currently serves as Clinical Director for YAI Harbor START. Dr. Vance brings a dynamic, multidisciplinary perspective to BHTPI’s work and supports the Institute’s mission of advancing California’s behavioral health workforce and service systems.
Dr. Jonathean Reese, DSW

DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & CONSULTING
Dr. Jonathean Reese, DSW, is a behavioral health leader, educator, author, speaker, and workforce-development consultant with nearly 20 years of experience supporting children, youth, families, and helping professionals across behavioral health, child welfare, education, developmental disability, community-based, integrated care, and Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program settings. As Director of the Technical Assistance & Consulting Division at BHTPI, he partners with public agencies, behavioral health organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofits to strengthen workforce capacity, organizational effectiveness, implementation readiness, service delivery, and long-term sustainability. Dr. Reese earned his Doctor of Social Work from California Baptist University, where his research focused on workforce preparedness, implementation readiness, and organizational wellness. He is the creator of the R.E.A.C.T. Workforce Transformation System, a framework designed to promote resilience, emotional awareness, healthy activity, meaningful connection, and successful transition while reducing burnout and improving workforce retention. As Founder of Gifted Bodies LLC, he provides executive consulting, leadership development, workforce-wellness training, keynote presentations, and implementation support.
Cindy Avelar, LCSW

FOUNDING CONSULTANT
Cindy Avelar is a bilingual Spanish-English Licensed Clinical Social Worker and behavioral health consultant with more than a decade of experience supporting clinical programs, multidisciplinary teams, and community-based organizations across California. She holds a Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino, and has worked throughout the behavioral health continuum, including outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, residential care, and child- and family-serving systems. Her experience in county-contracted and regulated settings across Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties has given her a strong understanding of clinical documentation, compliance requirements, crisis intervention, risk assessment, treatment planning, and service-delivery standards. Cindy is trained in evidence-based and integrative approaches, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Brainspotting. Through BHTPI, she partners with organizations to strengthen trauma-informed and culturally responsive systems of care, enhance clinical infrastructure, build workforce capacity, and implement high-quality, compliant, and sustainable behavioral health programs.
Ofelia Johnson, LMFT

FOUNDING CONSULTANT
Ofelia Johnson, LMFT, is a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than a decade of experience providing mental health and substance use treatment across Intensive Outpatient, Partial Hospitalization, residential treatment, group practice, and private practice settings. She works with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing trauma, co-occurring substance use disorders, and complex behavioral health needs, with specialized expertise in facilitating evidence-informed Dialectical Behavior Therapy and substance use recovery groups focused on emotional regulation, relapse prevention, and adaptive coping. Ofelia collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to promote coordinated care, clinical continuity, and effective treatment planning across multiple levels of care. She also provides consultation and clinical support to behavioral health professionals in case conceptualization, intervention planning, documentation quality, and crisis management. Her integrative approach incorporates Internal Family Systems, Brainspotting, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, psychodynamic modalities, and somatic-informed practices, reflecting her commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive care that promotes mind-body awareness and sustainable, meaningful change.
Katy Caslav, LCSW

FOUNDING CONSULTANT
Katy Caslav, LCSW, is a consultant with the Behavioral Health Training & Policy Institute, where she supports workforce development, clinical training, and program implementation across California’s behavioral health system. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she brings direct clinical experience and a strong foundation in trauma-informed, client-centered, and community-based care. Her work focuses on strengthening clinical quality, improving service-delivery models, and helping organizations align their practices with professional standards and regulatory expectations. Ms. Caslav contributes to the development and facilitation of practical, skills-based training for behavioral health professionals, supervisors, and organizational leaders, translating learning into stronger workforce readiness, organizational effectiveness, and client outcomes. Through BHTPI, she assists community-based organizations and behavioral health providers in responding to evolving system demands while advancing culturally responsive, equitable, and high-quality care.
April Nunez, M.A., LMFT, C-IAYT

TRAINING DEVELOPMENT & FACILITATION CONSULTANT
April Nunez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Yoga Therapist, and clinical educator with more than a decade of experience in behavioral health, addiction recovery, and trauma-informed care. She holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a focus in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University and is licensed in California and Oregon.
April brings experience in curriculum development, clinical training, and experiential group facilitation. Her work includes developing a 12-week substance use treatment curriculum, creating educational resources for clinicians and students, and facilitating groups addressing workplace trauma, stress, and resilience. As a clinical supervisor, she mentors developing clinicians in case conceptualization, ethical practice, and therapeutic presence.
Through BHTPI, April supports training development and facilitation that connects clinical knowledge with practical application. Her approach integrates structured education, reflection, and experiential learning to strengthen professional competence, support clinician resilience, and improve the quality of behavioral health services.
Carla DiCandia, MPA

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING & POLICY CONSULTANT
Carla DiCandia is a healthcare administrator and community partnership leader who brings more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, nonprofit organizations, and public service to the Behavioral Health Training & Policy Institute (BHTPI). Her expertise includes business development, strategic outreach, organizational growth, and process improvement. She brings a mission-centered approach to building relationships, strengthening organizational capacity, and connecting communities with behavioral health resources.
Carla’s leadership experience includes serving as Director of Business Development at Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness–Orange County, and Manager of Community Outreach at Providence St. Joseph Mission Hospital. Throughout her career, she has developed referral networks, led multidisciplinary teams, managed government contracts and budgets, secured grant funding, and facilitated community collaborations. Her work spans psychiatric care, substance use recovery, family resource centers, and community-based programs, providing a broad understanding of the partnerships and infrastructure needed to sustain effective services.
At BHTPI, she brings these strengths to consulting and training initiatives focused on community engagement, collaborative leadership, organizational effectiveness, and sustainable behavioral health services.
Dr. Lysa L. Liggins, EdD, PhD

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | TRAINING & ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Dr. Lysa L. Liggins is an accomplished organizational leadership consultant, educator, researcher, and workforce development strategist with nearly 30 years of experience in healthcare, higher education, nonprofit leadership, and organizational development. She holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and a PhD in Global Leadership and Change, both from Pepperdine University, as well as a Master of Science in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne.
Her professional experience includes leadership, training, and organizational improvement initiatives with Kaiser Permanente, UCLA, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and community-based organizations. She has also taught at the community college and university levels, specializing in leadership, professional development, and workforce readiness.
Dr. Liggins brings expertise in leadership development, executive coaching, DiSC behavioral assessments, curriculum design, change management, performance improvement, trauma-informed organizational practices, and workforce capacity building. Her doctoral research examines how community-based programs, social support systems, and organizational strategies strengthen individual outcomes and promote sustainable community transformation.
Passionate about bridging research and practice, Dr. Liggins equips organizations and professionals with practical, evidence-informed strategies that strengthen leadership, enhance workforce performance, and support sustainable organizational change.
Dr. Manny Gomez, DSW, ACSW

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING & POLICY CONSULTANT
Dr. Manny Gomez is a mental health clinician, U.S. Navy veteran, and Founder of VetPhoenix, a veteran-led nonprofit supporting justice-impacted veterans as they move from incarceration and homelessness toward stability, purpose, and community in Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. His work connects clinical practice, program design, research, and policy, bringing professional expertise and lived experience to behavioral health systems improvement.
Dr. Gomez holds a Doctor of Social Work from California Baptist University and a Master of Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. His educational path included California State University, Fullerton’s Project Rebound program. He served in the U.S. Navy from 2005 to 2011 as a Legalman, completing three Western Pacific deployments. His doctoral work, Kintsugi Justice, applies the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold to veteran reentry, emphasizing resilience, dignity, and the value of lived experience.
His experience includes serving as a Full Service Partnership clinician for adults living with serious mental illness, a case manager, peer specialist, Veteran Service Officer, and county executive who established a veteran justice division and developed its operating procedures. He designed the six-module Kintsugi Justice curriculum, delivered to more than 580 participants across Los Angeles County jail facilities, and has written and secured federal, state, county, and foundation funding for behavioral health and veteran-serving organizations. He brings extensive knowledge of VA, CalVet, HUD-VASH, and SSVF programs.
Dr. Gomez is an Associate Clinical Social Worker registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and a Certified Peer Specialist through CalMHSA. He developed the Veteran Equity Framework, publishes on veteran equity and criminal legal reform, and serves as a peer reviewer for the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs and the journal Victims & Offenders. He has presented at national conferences and provides training and clinical services in English and Spanish.
Through BHTPI, Dr. Gomez brings expertise in veteran reentry, trauma-informed and strengths-based care, crisis intervention and suicide prevention, co-occurring disorders, peer support, grant writing and funding strategy, program evaluation, policy analysis, workforce development, curriculum development, and technical assistance. His work supports organizations in building responsive programs, integrating lived experience, and strengthening equitable, sustainable behavioral health services.