Jonah C. Cunningham currently serves as President and CEO of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD). In this role he proactively advocates for national policies that recognize and support the critical role counties play in caring for people affected by mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities. In this capacity he also serves as Executive Director of the National Association for Rural Mental Health.

Prior to joining NACBHDD, Jonah worked at Trust for America’s Health, a public health think tank, where he focused extensively on ways to reduce mortality from substance misuse and suicide. Additionally, he worked as a congressional staffer for several years in the office of Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (CA) where he helped to reestablish the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and created a Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Caucus.

Jonah C. Cunningham has received numerous awards and recognition for his commitment to the field of behavioral health and those served by the nation’s behavioral health system. Jonah has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Utah and a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University. In his free time, he enjoys learning how to cook and is an avid Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.

Makana Meyer is the Operations Manager at the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD). In her role, Makana works to support members through coordinating outreach and developing content to strengthen state and local behavioral health and I/DD systems and the communities they serve.

Makana is a proud California native. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she moved north to attend college in the Bay Area. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, Berkeley, where she played Division I volleyball. Prior to NACBHDD, Makana interned for the Executive Office of the President within the Office of National Drug Control Policy. She is currently a candidate for a Master of Public Policy at Georgetown University. Outside of school and work, Makana enjoys spending her time hiking, camping, and cooking.