The Hispanic Mental Health Conference will provide opportunities for mental health professionals from across the state to learn how to serve the growing Hispanic community.

Sessions will be held in English and Spanish on best practices for mental health professionals and will also provide a track of sessions for the general public to learn more about mental health treatment, understand stigmas, and meet local mental health providers through informative workshops in English and Spanish.

Fred Sandoval, MPA

Executive Director, National Latino Behavioral Health Association

We are honored to welcome Fred Sandoval, a nationally recognized leader with over 34 years in health and human services. As Executive Director of the National Latino Behavioral Health Association, Fred champions culturally informed care and equitable health policies for Latino communities. He has served under two U.S. Presidents and a state governor, and held leadership roles with SAMHSA, NAMI, and La Raza. A dynamic speaker and award-winning advocate, Fred brings deep expertise in public policy, community health, and systems change.

Dr. J. Rocky Romero, LMSW

Program Director, Connecting Our Voices

CEO, JR Romero & Associates

We are also honored to welcome Dr. J. Rocky Romero, a nationally recognized leader in behavioral health, with over 20 years of experience in program development, evaluation, and culturally informed training. As CEO of JR Romero & Associates, and a longtime consultant for SAMHSA’s National Hispanic & Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, he drives innovation at the intersection of culture, equity, and mental health. His doctoral work focuses on colonization and legal discourse through a Critical Race Theory lens, bringing powerful insight to community-centered solutions.