James M. Lepanto, MFT

James M. Lepanto, MFT
Senior Vice President, Mental Health Division

MA, Psychology with Clinical Emphasis, Eastern Illinois University, 1982
BA, Psychology with Developmental Emphasis, UC San Diego, 1980

James has administrative responsibility for Mental Health Systems’ diverse funding and service delivery portfolio for Child, Adult and Family Mental Health programs throughout California and Utah. He also oversees the division’s RFP and grant-writing operations. With over 30 years of clinical expertise in child and adult mental health. James is sophisticated in program administration, development, implementation, budget/fiscal management, staff supervision and outcome evaluation. From 1991 to 2000, he was in private practice treating child and adult psychopathology, child and family trauma, child abuse, domestic violence child and adult exploitation and victims of crime. He has worked in a variety of career capacities as a therapist, clinical director, administrator, program director, media consultant and educator. 

James has provided trainings and motivational talks for the Anheuser Busch Company, State of Idaho Educators Conference, California Health Families Conference, National Training Associates, the San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego Zoological Society among many others. He has provided expert testimony for the San Diego Criminal and Juvenile Court and has provided services for the California Victims of Crime Program. He previously served in the capacity of Co-Chair of the MHS Co-occurring Pillar Guide Team and is currently the Chair the Cultural Inclusiveness Guide Team.  James and his team have received a National Association of Counties Award (NARCO) for creative and innovative programming. He represents Mental Health Systems on the San Diego County Mental Health Contractors Association.