Director since February 2016

Kim Belshé brings a wealth of experience in leadership positions in state government. 

In 2012, she was named executive director of First 5 Los Angeles, the county-level agency that promotes the well-being of children from birth to age five. Prior to joining First 5 LA, she served as senior policy advisor of Public Policy Institute of California and, from 2003-2011, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency in the administration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Previously, Belshé was the director of the Department of Health Services and deputy secretary of the Health and Welfare Agency under Governor Pete Wilson. 

She also served in leadership positions in California philanthropy, including as director for the James Irvine Foundation. She was a founding board member of Covered California, the state’s health benefit exchange, and is a member of the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. She also serves on the board of Blue Shield of California Foundation. 

Belshé received her master's degree in public policy from Princeton University and a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College.