Our Board of Directors consists of a mixture of people including those that have personal lived or professional experience supporting and advocating for children with behavioral health needs as well as allies to the behavioral health community who bring their own perspective and professional knowledge to the organization. Get to know each member a little better and learn why we’re so committed to connecting other families to the necessary training, resources, and support that can often feel so difficult or confusing to find.
Starleen Maharaj-Lewis
Board Chair
Championing Family Engagement in Transformative Care Starleen Maharaj-Lewis is a dedicated leader with over 10 years of experience in transformative care integration and capacity building and has emerged as a visionary force in the realm of public health and family and community engagement. As a dual USA/Canada citizen and parent to a neurodiverse young person, Starleen brings a unique perspective to her work, applying a trauma-informed lens and targeted universalism to drive meaningful change. Highlights: Starleen's journey as a thoughtful leader has been marked by a commitment to transformative care integration and capacity building among youth and caregivers, building upon the seven vital conditions for health and well- being. Strategic planning efforts focus on the intersections of well-being to operationalize sustainable improvements that support lived experiences and subject matter expertise of parents/caregivers. Starleen is instrumental in syndemic planning and alignment. Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident with the implementation of impactful DEI policies in adolescent health, emphasizing statewide innovation. She developed a multi-level innovation framework, showcased at national conferences, highlighting her leadership in fostering collaboration between tribal and non-tribal agencies. As the Systems and Family Tri-chair at North Sound FYSPRT, Starleen dedicates herself to high-level policy-making and strategic planning with a pro-equity lens. This amplifies the needs of underserved families and ensures effective performance management for stakeholders, the community, and government policy. Beyond her professional commitments, Starleen supports the prosocial development of at-risk youth as a parent, coordinating training and fostering peer-to-peer connections. Her transformative leadership in public health, particularly in family and youth engagement, reflects a commitment to inclusivity, equity, and well-being, guiding her vision for a healthier future.
Tafra Jones
Vice Chair
I am a parent advocate and Vice Chair of the WSCC Board, committed to ensuring that every parent's voice is heard and valued. With a professional background as a Market Research Manager, I bring organization, attentiveness, and strategic insight to my advocacy efforts. As a Native American parent with lived experience in behavioral and mental health—including crisis intervention, stabilization, and experience inside hospital systems—I understand the urgent need for compassionate, inclusive support systems. Through my volunteer work with organizations like Mothering Justice, South King County Discipline Coalition, and MomsRising, I have remained a steadfast and passionate advocate for families. My role within WSCC aligns closely with the state’s mission and has deepened my commitment to collaborative efforts that meet families where they are. I believe no parent's voice should ever be left behind—and that all parents, no matter who they are or where they’re at, deserve to be heard.
DeElaina Caldwell
Board Secretary
DeElaina Caldwell is the mother of three. Her 34-year-old son has Down syndrome with early onset dementia and her youngest son lives with complex medical and mental health challenges from a previous brain tumor to epilepsy and depression to suicide ideation. In addition to raising children with a diverse range of health and mental health needs, she was raised by a mother living with schizophrenia and many other mental health complexities. After losing her younger sister to substance use disorder related health conditions in 2006, Laina was inspired to return to high school to earn her diploma and has since dedicated nearly two decades to continuing her education journey. She recently completed her post-masters certificate in mental health efficacy and policy and is in the process of enrolling for a PhD program in psychology, social policy, and behavioral health administration specialization. Laina is currently the Behavioral Health Navigator for Hoquiam, Aberdeen, and Cosmopolis Police Departments in Grays Harbor County where she is a mental health first responder assisting community members in crisis alongside law enforcement.
Blaire Jones
Board Member
Blaire Jones is a transformative leader, certified sound healing practitioner, and advocate for holistic healing and youth empowerment. Drawing strength from a journey shaped by adversity—including poverty, systemic injustice, and personal loss—Blaire has turned lived experience into a platform for change. As a survivor of juvenile incarceration and domestic violence, she embodies the power of resilience and recovery. A first-generation college student, Blaire attended Spelman College, majoring in Chemistry with a pre-med focus. Balancing the demands of single parenthood, she achieved academic distinction on the Dean’s List. The loss of a child during an abusive marriage deepened her resolve to build a life rooted in healing and service. Alongside these challenges, Blaire also raised children with neurodifferences, navigating the complexities of developmental, emotional, and educational needs with compassion and strength. This lived experience has further shaped her trauma-informed lens and commitment to inclusive, empowering care. Her journey led to the founding of Esuaj LLC, a therapeutic sound healing practice that helps individuals reclaim inner peace through restorative wellness experiences. For over eight years, Blaire has guided clients through emotional and energetic realignment using integrative healing methods. Blaire also serves as the Executive Director of Amber Empowering Resilience, a nonprofit dedicated to building healing-centered pathways for youth and families impacted by trauma, incarceration, and generational adversity. Through Esuaj and Amber Empowering Resilience, Blaire bridges personal growth and community transformation. Her work offers a compelling blueprint for empowerment, equity, and healing—for individuals and communities alike.
Kayleen Perkins
Board Member
Hi, I’m Kayleen. I'm a dedicated parent leader and advocate for youth mental and behavioral health. I’m a proud Mom to my 17-year-old daughter. My family has been through a lot over the years, and like many others, we’ve had to find our way through some really difficult moments—navigating healthcare systems, fighting for effective support, and learning how to keep going when it felt like too much. That lived experience is what drives me. I show up for this work as a parent and professional who understands what it means to push through mental, emotional, and behavioral health crises for the life of your child. I try to be an active participant in community events that support improving and strengthening youth behavioral healthcare, because I want the next child and family to have access to the resources and support they need to heal, enjoy life, and thrive. In my professional life, I’m a strategic business leader with 12 years of experience, including in children’s healthcare. I’ve led HR functions across multi-site organizations, supported leaders through major transitions, and worked hard to build inclusive, transparent, people-first workplaces. I recently earned Master’s in Business Administration and hold SHRM-SCP and SPHRi certifications. I bring both strategic insight and lived empathy to this work. I’m honored to serve as a Board Member and show up for families like mine. I hope to help connect more families to the people, resources, and help they need to be supported through their hardest moments. In my personal life, I have a kid, a cat, and two dogs. I’m very passionate about snowboarding and good music, and I find humor to be an especially appealing hobby.
Thomas Jackson
Board Member
Thomas Jackson is a trainer, facilitator, and reentry leader dedicated to expanding opportunity, strengthening peer-support systems, and building pathways for people to thrive after justice involvement. With a background rooted in real-world experience and community-driven leadership, Thomas has become a trusted voice in training design, workforce development, and peer network coordination across Washington State and beyond. He played a key role in the success of the Washington Peer Network and built the WA Peer Jobs Database, a first-of-its-kind resource that connects peer professionals to meaningful careers statewide. As a training specialist and mentor, Thomas is known for dynamic, engaging facilitation that blends lived expertise, technical skill, and deep empathy. He creates learning spaces where people feel seen, capable, and empowered — whether he’s teaching professional skills, coaching reentry strategies, or guiding organizations in building trauma-informed practices. Driven by a belief in human potential and the power of community, Thomas continues to champion equitable reentry systems and the professional advancement of peers nationwide.
Jasmine Martinez
Board Member
Jasmine Martinez had experience in behavioral health, working as a Behavioral Management Specialist, Milieu Counselor, and Program Director long before she could have envisioned her own family being so deeply impacted by the behavioral health system. It was because of the belief in recycling joys and sorrows, alike, that Jasmine returned to the field as a Certified Peer Counselor. As a wife and mother of four, three of whom live with chronic illness, behavioral health challenges, and special needs, Jasmine has spent over a decade navigating and advocating within the behavioral health system. Currently, she serves as Guided Pathways Support Senior Program Manager for the Governor's 1580 Rapid Care Team and as CLIP Administration Family Liaison, merging family voice with leadership expertise. She is an active member of the CLIP Parent Steering Committee and collaborates with families, system partners, and providers across Washington State. A co-valedictorian of the WA System of Care Kagen Leadership Fellowship, Jasmine applies Adaptive Leadership principles in both her personal and professional life. Being a bridge towards sincere partnerships, broadening & deepening perspectives, and holding Hope are values she holds close and aimes weave in all aspects of life.