With the recent election results now clear, the Encompass Community Services Board of Trustees has announced that its CEO, Monica Martinez, will be transitioning from her role at Encompass as she steps into her new position as Santa Cruz County supervisor for District 5.
The Encompass Board stated that it is “immensely proud of Monica and the transformative leadership she has brought to the organization,” and it applauds her “continued dedication to serving the public.”
Martinez has served as Encompass CEO for more than 10 years, through a significant period of growth and change at the organization.
Under her visionary leadership, Encompass has significantly expanded its behavioral health infrastructure and treatment capacity, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of the Santa Cruz community receive the care they need.
With over 6,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries benefiting from Encompass’ services across the County, and an annual operating budget of over $38 million, Encompass serves as an invaluable resource for the community.
As CEO, Martinez has tirelessly advocated for health equity and has transformed the organization to meet evolving client needs with compassion and foresight. Under her leadership, Encompass received a much-celebrated $9.4 million state grant to build a new state-of-the-art Sí Se Puede Behavioral Health Center, which she commemorated with community partners and staff at the official groundbreaking ceremony in June of this year.
During her tenure, Martinez also led Encompass through CARF accreditation and unified its care services with a “whole person care” approach. She pioneered the establishment of an Enhanced Care Management (ECM) model, one of the first of its kind in the area, helping clients with complex health needs, stable housing and connections to other community services.
Respected for her innovative ideas and strategic approach, Martinez has prepared Encompass for continued financial sustainability and expansion of services. Thanks to her vision, the organization is “now stronger than ever and well-prepared to continue its vital work for years to come,” according to the Encompass Board.
“Monica Martinez has been an extraordinary leader for Encompass Community Services. Her dedication to improving behavioral health, housing and early childhood development has transformed countless lives in our community,” added Elaine Johnson, Board chair. “Monica’s unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion, coupled with her ability to forge impactful government and business partnerships, has made her an invaluable asset to Encompass, and these skills will certainly translate into more success as the District 5 supervisor in Santa Cruz County. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments, and she will be greatly missed.”
In preparing for this transition, the Board has been proactively working to ensure a seamless handover. It has drafted a comprehensive succession plan, which includes the recruitment of a new CEO and interim leadership to guide Encompass during this transition.
Encompass’ commitment to the community remains unwavering, and the organization stands ready to meet future challenges with an experienced program leadership and executive team.
“As I step down from my role as CEO of Encompass, I am filled with deep gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve shared,” Martinez said. “Together with the 400-plus dedicated Encompass staff, we’ve cultivated a community of passionate individuals committed to making a difference in Santa Cruz County. I am proud of the work we’ve done and the lives we’ve impacted. In my new role as County supervisor, I will carry with me the inspiration and dedication of this amazing team, and a deep understanding of the needs of this community. Thank you for believing in the mission that everyone deserves access to high quality health care.”
