On August 30, 2022, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved the appointments of a new Mental Health Director and a Public Guardian.

Director of the Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) Nolan Sullivan announced the appointment of Karleen Jakowski as the Yolo County Mental Health Director. The appointment followed the unanimous recommendation of the Yolo County Local Mental Health Board. Ms. Jakowski has also been appointed effective immediately to a newly created Assistant Director position, overseeing HHSA’s Adult & Aging and Child, Youth & Family branches.

Additionally, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors appointed Ian Evans as the Yolo County Public Guardian. Mr. Evans will retain his roles as Adult & Aging Branch Director and Alcohol & Drug Administrator for Yolo County.

Ms. Jakowski is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Sacramento, and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco. She has been serving as the Interim Mental Health Director since February 2022, in addition to her former role as the Child, Youth & Family Branch Director, which she held for the last three years.

Mr. Evans is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Counseling from Alliant International University in Sacramento. He has served as the Public Guardian since February and has been the Adult &Aging Branch Director for the last two years.

“My colleagues and I unanimously approved the appointments of Ms. Jakowski as our new Mental Health Director and Ian Evans as the Public Guardian,” said Board Chair, Supervisor Angel Barajas. “Ms. Jakowski and Mr. Evans will excel in their roles because they share the Board’s compassion and commitment to help expand services and support for health and mental health to the residents of Yolo County.”

The Health and Human Services Agency is pleased to get these two vital roles filled and know these candidates will do an excellent job serving our community.

For more information on the Yolo County HHSA, please visit www.yolocounty.org/HHSA.