About Me

I was born and raised in Quezon City, Philippines. I came to the United States in the 1990s to pursue my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and learn how to help people touched by mental health and substance use issues. I started my career as one of the few Tagalog-speaking licensed therapists in the San Francisco Bay Area who was also certified as a domestic violence and addiction counselor. 

Since then, my role has shifted to public servant: I currently direct behavioral health and recovery services for a Bay Area county, a position I’ve held since 2018. For a decade prior to that, I served as director of the Office of Diversity and Equity for the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division of San Mateo County Health. Every day, I strive to integrate effective, culturally responsive practices into the core functions of the healthcare system.

To that end, I am an activist and an advocate for the physical and emotional well-being of individuals and families, with an emphasis on improving health care equity for historically marginalized communities. I believe that love and justice are essential to transforming people’s lives.

A few things I’m particularly proud of:

• Received the Distinguished Humanitarian Contribution Award from the California Psychological Association for exemplary work in promoting equity and social justice.

• Named a Steinberg Institute Champion, an annual award that recognizes crusaders and visionaries whose efforts have helped light the way forward to mental health care in California.

• Participated in a two-year fellowship at the California Health Care Foundation’s Leadership Institute, a network of innovative and transformative leaders working to improve health care delivery statewide.

• Served on the board of directors of NAMI California, the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

• Created the Jei Africa Dissertation Award for Filipino American Studies, a fund that supports Ph.D. candidates in clinical psychology with research projects. 

• Helped establish San Mateo Pride, the first LGBTQ+ center in San Mateo County.

• Featured as an LBGT Local Hero by KQED, an acknowledgement of leadership in promoting effective and culturally responsive services in the San Mateo County health system.

• Became the first openly transgender county behavioral health director in California (possibly the nation).

A Crusader for Compassion and Inclusion

“I keep thinking about the people who are not lucky enough to have the resources, the support from family and friends, to get the help they need. The core of who I am is really about caring for these vulnerable individuals, those considered second-class, often marginalized.” —Jei Africa, interview with the Steinberg Institute

Making a High-Level Difference

“We are in a place and time where many people’s rights are being challenged and taken away, and I think psychologists and people in the behavioral health field have a role in changing that. We should be social justice advocates and policy leaders. We should be in the front lines and be stronger advocates because there is so much injustice out there.” —Jei Africa, interview with Alliant International University