CALM has announced the appointment of Dr. Chuck Merrill and Megan Rheinschild to its Board of Trustees.
“We are honored and delighted to welcome Megan and Chuck, whose decades of leadership in healthcare and victim advocacy reflect the heart of our work: strengthening families, improving systems of care, and ensuring children have the support they need to thrive,” said Alana Walczak, CALM president/CEO.
“Their insight will be instrumental as we continue to elevate CALM’s impact for vulnerable children and families,” Walczak said.
Merrill is a Santa Maria physician and healthcare leader with some four decades of experience serving local families.
“From his early work with a focus on pediatric trauma and emergency care, to developing residency programs in family medicine and obstetrics/gynecology at Marian, he has been committed to improving systems of care, advancing medical education, and strengthening community health,” CALM said.
Dr. Merrill has been involved in community service, youth athletics, and local philanthropy.
“Throughout his career, he has remained committed to ensuring children and families have access to high-quality, compassionate care,” CALM said.
Rheinschild has worked at the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office in the Victim Witness Assistance Program for nearly three decades, overseeing comprehensive services, support and advocacy for victims of violent crime and their families.
She also leads interagency collaborations with local, regional and state partners to address human trafficking and sexual assault, and to meet the needs of survivors.
She is a governor’s appointee as the victim representative for the California Interstate Commission for Adult and Juvenile Supervision and the victim representative for the National Interstate Commission for Juveniles.
Safety, advocacy, and justice for children and families have been at the forefront of Rheinschild’s career, CALM said.
CALM is a community-based mental health agency with a mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County.
For more about all of CALM’s work and services, call 805-965-2376, or visit http://calm4kids.org.