With more than three decades of experience in behavioral health, Tison Thomas has dedicated his career to advancing mental health policy, practice, and services at the federal, state, and local levels. He currently serves as the Acting Director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In this role, he guides national efforts to strengthen the mental health system, expand access to evidence-based services, and lead federal crisis response and community mental health initiatives.
Before assuming his current position, Mr. Thomas served as Deputy Director of CMHS beginning in 2022. In this capacity, he collaborated with senior leadership to oversee programs of national significance, advance behavioral health policy, and manage the development and implementation of grants and technical assistance contracts that support communities nationwide. Earlier, as Director of CMHS’s Division of State and Community Systems Development, Mr. Thomas directed major federal mental health funding initiatives, including the Mental Health Block Grant, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), and the Community Mental Health Centers grant. His work ensured that critical resources reached states and communities to support individuals with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, individuals experiencing homelessness, and their families. During his tenure at SAMHSA, he also served as a subject matter expert on co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Prior to joining SAMHSA, Mr. Thomas held key leadership roles at the state level, where he spearheaded system transformation initiatives. His efforts focused on integrating mental health and substance use services, expanding evidence-based practices such as integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders, motivational interviewing, Assertive Community Treatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and others, as well as driving quality improvements across public behavioral health systems. He also worked as a clinician with adults and children in behavioral health managed care organizations, emergency psychiatry, crisis centers, and community mental health settings, including services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Mr. Thomas has expertise in policy development, grant oversight and management, and clinical practice, bringing a comprehensive perspective to behavioral health leadership from his work at the local, state, and federal levels. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Social Work. He is also a licensed clinical social worker, grounding his leadership in both administrative and clinical experience.