MARIA WYATT

Maria Wyatt, has been employed with Imperial County Behavioral Health Services since 1997. From 1997 to 2013, Maria worked in a substance use disorder program providing SUD prevention, early intervention and treatment to adolescents as well as working in the perinatal program for pregnant and post-partum women with SUDs. In 2000, Maria was promoted from a Substance Abuse Counselor to a Program Supervisor overseeing the adolescent SUD program, expanding services under her supervision from 7 school sites to 18.

In 2003, Maria was promoted to a Behavioral Health Manager. In 2005, she assisted in the development and implementation of 3 MHSA FSP programs under the Community Supports and Services (CSS) component: Transitional Age Youth, Ward Assess to Supports and Services and the Adolescent Dual Diagnosis programs and assisted in transitioning all three programs under the Youth and Young Adult Programs. Since 2013, Maria has been the Behavioral Health Manager under the Children’s Services program, overseeing the Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention program and the Vista Sands Socialization program co-located at three elementary schools. In 2014, Maria developed and implemented the MHSA Innovation Project: First Step to Success. Maria holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling from Redlands University. Maria said she was assigned to co-host the show by her former boss, Warren Sherlock.

As for a favorite segment or topic, Maria said all of them are her favorites -- “everything about mental health or substance use disorders especially from renowned experts in the field and shows with people talking about their lived experiences.” Maria and her husband have a 12-year-old daughter. She also has a 33-year-old stepson and 29 year-old stepdaughter. She enjoys traveling and going to stock car and off-road races with my family who also participate in the races.