John Hatakeyama, MS

Partner

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John Hatakeyama is a highly seasoned leader who devoted more than 30 years with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), the largest county-run mental health services organization in the United States, which currently services more than a quarter of a million people annually. At LACDMH, he served as the Deputy Director of the Children, Youth, and Family Program Administration for more than 10 years, driving policy changes, securing funding, and spearheading organizational improvements to expand services to an ever-growing diverse client base of vulnerable families and at-risk youth.

In addition to being an agency leader himself, John has devoted his advocacy and expertise as a consultant helping community-based organizations develop sound infrastructure, navigate county government partnerships, obtain critical funding, and expand evidence-based services. He has also been a front-runner in establishing collaborative care partnerships by building relationships between service organizations (such as healthcare, mental health, children and family, and more).

John has significantly contributed to over two dozen community-based organizations in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, including the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), United Advocates for Children and Families (UACF), Stars Behavioral Health Group, Masada Homes, Foothill Family Service, Pacific Clinics, Braille Institute, Jr. Blind, Anka Behavioral Health, and the University of Southern California Telehealth Program. He formerly served as the District Chief of the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center, as well as Program Director of Youth Services at MacClaren Children’s Center in Los Angeles County.

John has also applied his expertise in service to numerous boards, task forces, and commissions. He was an officer of the California Mental Health Advocates for Children and Youth (CMHACY), member of the Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Statewide Children’s System of Care Committee for the California Mental Health Directors Association, and Chair of the Southern Counties Children‘s Coordinators. He has served as a Board Member of the California Institute for Mental Health, Children’s Law Center, United Advocates for Children and Families (UACF), First 5 LA Commission, and many other community and civic organizations.