SACRAMENTO – On behalf of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), Chair Andrew Poat and Vice-Chair Larry Poaster announced Wednesday that the new MHSOAC Executive Director is Ms. Sherri L. Gauger.
The MHSOAC is responsible for oversight and accountability of mental health services in California.
The 16-member MHSOAC was formed by the passage in 2004 of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).
Gauger is currently the deputy director of the Division of Addiction and Recovery Services, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
She has previously served as a career executive (CEA) for the Governor’s Strike Force on Prison Reform; Deputy Director, Office of Legislative and External Affairs for the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs; and Assistant Deputy Director, Administration Division, for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.
MHSOAC Chair Andrew Poat enthusiastically welcomed Ms. Gauger to her new position saying, “Sherri Gauger is exceptionally well qualified to assume the duties of executive director of the MHSOAC. She brings a wealth of executive level state work experience to the commission and we are very fortunate to have her join us.”
MHSOAC Vice-Chair Larry Poaster seconded Mr. Poat’s comments in saying, “Sherri Gauger has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead the commission staff to better serve mental health clients, families, and stakeholders.”
Sherri Gauger will begin work at the MHSOAC later in April.
LAKEPORT – Do you find yourself more stressed out than usual lately?
Although life can seem overwhelming at times, you have the power to choose how you will react to stress in your life. Studies published in medical and scientific journals show mindfulness-based programs are beneficial to one’s health and well-being.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital invites you to move towards greater balance and control in your life by participating in the stress reduction and relaxation clinic.
During this eight-week intensive program, participants will learn how to become stress responsive and let go of reactive habits when faced with life stressors.
Among those benefiting from these clinics are those suffering from depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and work stress.
“Stress is always a part of our lives and therefore unavoidable,” explained Leslie Lovejoy, PhD, clinic facilitator, “but we can change both how we perceive stress and respond to it.”
Through the use of abdominal breathing, progressive relaxation, mindful meditation, gentle movement yoga and other strategies, participants will learn how to consciously and healthily cope with life stress, improve self esteem and have greater enthusiasm for life.
“In making a change with how we respond to stress, we take back our lives and can regain the richness and joy of living,” said Dr. Lovejoy.
This program can offer great benefit by reducing work stress and improving balance between work and personal life.
The program begins Wednesday, March 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and meets at the hospital’s Integrative Healing House.
Dr. Lovejoy has provided this program for the past seven years and in 2006 Sutter Lakeside Hospitals Stress Reduction and Relaxation Clinic was featured on Sutter Health’s LifeStages television program.
The video can be viewed at https://mylifestages.org/MyLifeStages/videos/video_library.page .
To register for the program, call the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Wellness Center at 707-262-5171. Scholarships opportunities are available.
To learn more about Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s programs and physicians, or to hear what our patients have to say, please visit www.sutterlakeside.org .