Deborah Werner, M.A., PMP

Deborah
Werner

Senior Program Director, CTTAC

Deborah (Deb) Werner, M.A., PMP, is a senior program director at Advocates for Human Potential (AHP). Since 1989, she has been engaged in efforts to leverage individual and community assets to build quality, supportive health, housing, and social services that improve resiliency, recovery, and social well-being for individuals, families, and communities. Ms. Werner serves as the project director for the California Youth Opioid Response (YOR California) project and as a Senior Advisor for the Crisis Care Mobile Units and Behavioral Justice Intervention Services Projects. She served as the technical assistance (TA) lead for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Homeless and Housing Resource Network (HHRN) for 4 years and as the project director for the SAMHSA Women, Children, and Families Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) contract for 10 years. She received the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) 2020 Women’s Service Champion Award, recognizing an individual who demonstrates exemplary commitment and dedication to enhancing services for women and their children.

She is a certified project management professional and uses a right-size project management approach to implement large-scale initiatives. Ms. Werner is an expert in leadership development, strategic and collaborative planning, data-informed change processes, risk assessment, communications, and stakeholder involvement. Her qualifications include superior client service, development of high-quality products and lasting solutions, and effective management of resources, budgets, and schedules.

Ms. Werner is also a subject matter expert with significant expertise in effective, evidence-based, comprehensive behavioral health and housing services. She has worked with a wide array of populations; she has developed training programs on perinatal substance use, community-based prevention, addressing co-occurring substance use and psychiatric conditions, Housing First for homeless families, trauma-informed and trauma-specific services, adolescent behavioral health, recovery and youth development, youth and family engagement, opiate and other substance use disorders, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services. She draws on 30 years of experience managing federal, state, and local projects to provide agencies with sound strategies and support. She is a professional trainer, facilitator, and motivational speaker. Ms. Werner received her M.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.