About us

Dia Cirillo has led state, county and municipal initiatives on mental health policy and public behavioral health services. Her work has culminated in $43 million to communities, new state laws and lasting, innovative programs that demonstrate public accountability. She has focused on creating policy solutions responsive to underrepresented populations and diverse communities, including individuals living with mental health conditions and substance use disorders, through the development of stakeholder engagement and results-based strategy development. She led the development of the Nashville mental health - law enforcement co-response model for mental health crisis when she served as Senior Policy Advisor to Mayor John Cooper. She also served in the Illinois Governor's Office, leading a national demonstration project on behavioral health integration during healthcare reform implementation. Dia has extensive experience in strategic planning, collective impact, performance measurement, stakeholder collaboration and group decision-making processes. She is certified or trained in the following change management and strategy methods: Prosci Certified Change Pracitioner, Results-Based Accountability, Human-Centered Design, Technology of Participation and Consensus-Building Processes. She holds a master’s degree from New York University, where she was a University Fellow, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound. Dia is a proud graduate of the Chicago Public Schools, where she first learned life's lessons in ally-ship and humility.