Adrienne is the Vice President of Public Policy & Strategy, overseeing the work of the Policy Team.

She is a recognized expert in mental health policy who has devoted her career to improving the well-being of people living with brain illness and substance use disorders. Adrienne became involved in mental health policy as a key staff person in the campaign to pass the 2004 Mental Health Services Act. Prior to her position with the CA Alliance, she has worked in a variety of roles to carry out the vision for services laid out in the law, including as the director of government affairs for the County Behavioral Health Directors Association.

Before joining CBHDA, Adrienne was a senior associate with the nonprofit California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions, and a senior policy analyst with the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies. She has been a champion for culturally relevant program design, incorporating peer support as a crucial piece of recovery, and using evaluation and outcomes-based reporting to drive strategy.

Shilton has served as an adviser on a number of statewide efforts, and currently sits on multiple task forces working to improve behavioral health policy in California, with a particular focus on youth, young adults, and families.  She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Knox College, and a master’s degree in public policy and administration from California State University, Sacramento.

Email Adrienne at ashilton@cacfs.org.