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Staff and Board

Cathy Spensley, MSW, Senior Division Director

Cathy Spensley, MSW - Cathy came to FSA in the Spring of 2004, and since August 2008 she has been the Senior Division Director overseeing a full range of geriatric mental health programs contracted with CBHS, including the low-threshold community integration services/Day Support Center, two Geriatric Outpatient Service programs, citywide geriatric intensive case management, an older full-service partnership, and the Community Aftercare Program. She also oversees the Ombudsman program and the Senior Companion/Foster grandparent programs.

She is an active member of various committees and coalitions in the city, assisting greater partnerships among services providers and between the fields of aging and mental health. She is a strong family advocate for mental health and aging, and she has published several articles in the field. She has a MSW from UC Berkeley, specializing in gerontology. For the past two years she has been leading a writing group at FSA's Day Support Center, has been trained in PST and Motivational Interviewing, and specializes in group therapy and community integration.

Cathy entered the aging field mid-career, previously working for environmental and educational nonprofits and as a journalist. Her publications include popular media as well as academic journals. She has lived extensively in Europe and the Caribbean. She has a B.A. in Communications from American University in Washington DC and a M.S.W. from UC Berkeley, specializing in gerontology. (Ca. ASW Lic. # ASW, 20619)