Washington, D.C. – Today, leading bipartisan mental health advocacy organization Inseparable announced the introduction of six new staff members to its team – Craig Obey as senior vice president for federal affairs, Marianne Gibson as vice president of youth mental health and workforce policy, Jason Wentworth as associate vice president of state affairs, Michaela Gaughan as vice president of development, Kim DiFonzo as press secretary, and Anastasia Goodstein as senior digital director. The need for bold mental health policy and advocacy has never been greater, and Inseparable is expanding its capacity to meet this moment for families and children.
The addition of three experienced governmental affairs and policy leaders will strengthen Inseparable’s efforts to engage policymakers on both sides of the aisle to make mental health an urgent policy priority.
- Craig Obey, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s former Director of Intergovernmental and Public Affairs, will join the Inseparable team as the new senior vice president for federal affairs. Before his role at SAMHSA, Obey held leadership roles at the American Psychiatric Association, Families USA, U.S. Department of Labor, and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.
- Marianne Gibson joins from the National Governors Association (NGA) where she served as the Program Director for Health, and brings extensive experience advancing state and local behavioral health systems. Prior to the NGA, she was the Deputy Director of Governor Larry Hogan’s Opioid Operational Command Center in Maryland.
- Jason Wentworth, Former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, brings extensive experience in building bipartisan coalitions and advancing policies to strengthen communities and expand opportunity. Since 2023, he’s served as part of Inseparable’s lobby team in Michigan, most recently helping to secure more than $375 million in school mental health funding for Michigan students. Before representing Michigan’s 97th District, he served five years as a military police officer.
In addition to its policy team, Inseparable is also expanding its development and communications teams. As the new vice president of development, Michaela Gaughan will lead fundraising strategy and donor cultivation. She previously served as Senior Advisor to the Director of the Peace Corps and as a senior fundraiser for a leading national political committee. Inseparable’s new press secretary, Kim DiFonzo, brings more than 20 years of health care communications experience, most recently from SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Anastasia Goodstein, Inseparable’s new senior digital director, comes from Ad Council, where she developed digital strategies for campaigns such as Seize the Awkward, Love Your Mind, and Sound It Out Together.
“Inseparable is thrilled to welcome so many new exceptional team members to scale our operations and amplify our impact on communities across the country,” said Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Inseparable. “We are united in our belief that improvements to the mental health care system are urgent and critical. I look forward to working alongside them as we advance Inseparable’s mission to ensure all people have the mental health resources they need to thrive.”
Inseparable has spent the past five years advocating to protect and expand access to mental healthcare at the state and federal levels, culminating in more than 96 wins across 23 states. The organization also led an aggressive campaign to protect Medicaid ahead of the H.R. 1 Bill, including a $1 million targeted advertising campaign and a comprehensive 50-state report.
About Inseparable
Inseparable is a leading mental health advocacy organization founded on the belief that mental health is inseparable from physical health. Inseparable drives transformative change at the federal and state levels by engaging policymakers, mobilizing support and advancing mental health and substance use disorder policies that help people thrive. Inseparable works to expand coverage of care, promote youth mental health, improve crisis response and bolster the mental health workforce.