Who Is Inseparable?

David Lloyd is the Chief Policy Officer at Inseparable. David is a nationally recognized expert on a range of mental health and substance use issues. He has deep knowledge of health insurance coverage, mental health parity, and the barriers individuals and families face when seeking services. David was previously Chief Policy Officer at The Kennedy Forum, where he led successful state and federal policy initiatives, including the enactment of nation-leading insurance legislation in California and federal legislation that ended the ability of state and local governments to discriminate against their employees seeking mental health coverage.

David’s journey to mental health policy began in the U.S. Senate, where he served as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a longtime mental health champion. After the Senate, he served in leadership roles at an Illinois-based children’s advocacy organization, where he developed a deep interest in childhood trauma and its long-term effects on children, families, and communities. In Illinois, he helped secure major investments in early childhood education and expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, which puts hundreds of millions of dollars back into the pocket of low-income working families.

David testifies regularly before state legislatures on mental health policy and has been quoted in outlets across the country, including major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and NPR. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and serves on the board of the California Access Coalition. He has a bachelor’s in History from Cornell University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his husband, Jeremy.

Craig Obey is Inseparable’s Senior Vice President for Federal Affairs, heading our federal advocacy strategy, providing organizational leadership, and building and sustaining strong bipartisan relationships with federal legislators, officials and partners. He is an experienced executive and advocate with deep and diverse experience in federal advocacy and organizational leadership. Mr. Obey is widely recognized as an effective leader across legislative and policy settings, has testified before Congress multiple times, and has lectured on advocacy at the university level.

Immediately prior to joining Inseparable, Mr. Obey directed the Office of Intergovernmental and Public Affairs for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which encompassed SAMHSA’s ten regional offices, Office of Communications, Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy, and External Engagement Team. Previously as Senior Advisor for the American Brain Coalition, he spearheaded partnership efforts connecting patients and caregivers with medical device makers focused on improving the lives of those affected by brain disease and movement disorders.  

As Chief of Government Relations for the American Psychiatric Association, Mr. Obey built a highly effective and respected federal and state relations team that enacted significant state and federal legislation promoting mental health parity, funding the mental health crisis continuum including the 988 crisis hotline, expanding telehealth and furthering evidence-based integrated care. He also oversaw the APA Political Action Committee and was part of administrative leadership. His experience with mental health dates to his work as the senior health staffer for a key member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, his role in advancing the first mental health parity amendment to pass a Senate committee, and his leadership of government affairs for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. 

When Mr. Obey was Deputy Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer at Families USA, he played a key role defending the Affordable Care Act from repeal. He oversaw Families USA’s operations, worked closely with strategic partners, and chaired the leadership team. He was a central founder and national leader of the primary national coalition that fought repeal of the Affordable Care Act, partnering with and guiding advocates nationwide in protecting access to healthcare for millions of Americans.  

Mr. Obey has extensive experience in federal and state policymaking, organizational management, fundraising, and partnership development. During his 30 years working with and in the private and public sectors, he has been a change agent in organizational leadership roles and across public policy settings. He spent nearly a decade in key staff roles for a U.S. Senator, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs.  He received his BA from the University of Wisconsin and holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.

Abbie Hodgson brings two decades of experience driving public policy change, building bipartisan coalitions, and advancing equity in state government. As Vice President of State Affairs at Inseparable, she leads efforts to strengthen mental health policy across the country, working alongside advocates, lawmakers, and community leaders to create lasting systemic change.

Her career spans state government, political campaigns, and philanthropy. She served as the founding director of The Ascend Fund, a collaborative fund dedicated to achieving gender parity in politics. There, she invested more than $12 million in national and state organization and led a pilot program to increase women’s representation in state legislatures.

Abbie also spent several years at The Pew Charitable Trusts, working in more than a dozen states to advance evidence-based policymaking, build cross-partisan support for reform, and engage diverse coalitions around complex policy issues. Earlier in her career, she served as Chief of Staff in the Kansas Legislature and as a speechwriter for Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

In addition to her policy and advocacy work, Abbie holds a PhD in Communications and has taught at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, the University of San Francisco’s Master of Public Leadership program, and the University of Kansas.

She now lives on a small farm in New York’s Hudson Valley, where she raises chickens and bees, tends a sprawling garden, and volunteers as a firefighter in her community.

Arpit Jain is an accounting and finance professional with a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector. He has extensive experience in financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance, and has dedicated his career to supporting organizations that drive positive social impact.

Arpit‘s expertise encompasses financial management, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance, enabling nonprofits to achieve their missions effectively. His proficiency in financial analysis and risk assessment has been instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring fiscal responsibility within the organizations he serves.

Outside of work, I enjoy stand up and love being active. I’m currently trying to be the best golfer, pickle ball player, and boxer I can! 

Cara Cheevers is the Vice President of Coverage Policy at Inseparable, bringing more than fifteen years of experience in health equity advocacy, strategy, and social impact to the team. She most recently led Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) enforcement at the Colorado Division of Insurance to ensure people have commercial insurance coverage for life-saving and -improving mental health and substance use disorder care. She has also worked extensively to ensure access to gender affirming care both in her role at the Division, as well as Policy Director of One Colorado Education Fund, where she used research and data collection, regulatory advocacy, and coalition engagement to improve public health outcomes for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. 

Cara is an AmeriCorps enthusiast, having served two terms as an AmeriCorps member herself working on rural housing security and homelessness, as well as the Deputy Director of Service Colorado, the Governor’s Commission on Community Service. She led a multimillion-dollar AmeriCorps grantmaking process to build organizational capacity and leverage national services members to serve the state’s most pressing economic and health priorities. Cara holds a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Spanish Language from Western Michigan University. In her free time, she gardens, travels, and explores the outdoors with her pitty puppy, Rita.

Michaela Gaughan is the Vice President of Development at Inseparable, where she leads fundraising strategy and donor cultivation across the organization’s 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC entities. With a decade of experience in fundraising, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement, she works to build donor relationships and support campaigns that advance mental health policy nationwide.

Prior to Inseparable, Michaela served as Senior Advisor to the Director of the Peace Corps, where she advised on policy issues and supported executive engagement across more than 25 countries. She worked with government officials, Congress, and international partners while helping oversee global partnerships and supporting the safe reentry of volunteers into Peace Corps countries following the global evacuation. Previously, as Tri-State Finance Director for the Democratic National Committee, Michaela helped build fundraising programs, working to secure support from new donors while maintaining relationships with returning supporters.

Michaela‘s career began in public service at the White House, and she has worked at the intersection of fundraising, policy advocacy, and strategic communications. She is drawn to Inseparable’s mission to treat mental health as health care and motivated by the organization’s approach to driving change through policy reform, grassroots engagement, and narrative transformation.

Michaela graduated summa cum laude from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, with degrees in Political Science and Gender & Women’s Studies. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and cooking with her husband and exploring the outdoors with their golden retriever.

Jason Wentworth is the Associate Vice President of State Affairs at Inseparable. A former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Jason brings extensive experience in building bipartisan coalitions, navigating complex legislative processes, and advancing policies that strengthen communities and expand opportunity. 

Elected in 2016 to represent Michigan’s 97th District, Jason quickly rose to leadership as Speaker Pro Tempore and Chair of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee before being elected Speaker in 2021. In that role, he led a divided government to deliver pragmatic, results-driven policy, including $2.5 billion in COVID-19 relief prioritizing families, seniors, and essential workers. He also championed investments in education, economic development, and veteran services. 

A U.S. Army veteran who served five years as a military police officer, including a tour in South Korea, Jason later joined the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency as a Regional Coordinator to help veterans and their families access earned benefits prior to being elected. In 2023, he founded JW Strategic Solutions to support organizations and nonprofits in navigating state and federal government processes. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Petersburg College and a master’s in Leadership from Central Michigan University. He lives in Clare, Michigan, with his wife Heather and their three daughters, and can often be found enjoying the outdoors or at one of his girls’ sporting events cheering them on.

Ali Larson is the Senior Director of Policymaker Relations at Inseparable bringing a background in community engagement, campaigning, education, and public service. Having started her career in the United States Senate, she developed a strong passion for advocacy which only grew as she shifted gears and later entered the world of public education. Ali spent over a decade working in various leadership roles, serving a diverse neighborhood school in Denver, CO, where she led turnaround efforts with fellow community advocates. She saw firsthand the deep need for mental health care access and its significant and indisputable role in students’ overall academic and social-emotional success. She counts her time working in this complex system, serving, working, and advocating with families and students from all backgrounds, as one of the most impactful and rewarding experiences of her life. 

Ali has degrees in Political Science and Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and she later attended the University of Colorado at Denver’s Graduate Urban Community Teacher Education Program. Volunteerism being one of her core values, she spends time supporting and managing the campaigns of local leaders, serves as an Editorial Board member of an educational journal, and is extremely active in the community that she loves.

With her husband and two children (a soccer-loving pre-teen son and a sassy, energetic daughter with Cystic Fibrosis), Ali enjoys traveling and adventuring in the great state of Colorado and beyond. She also enjoys diving into books with her book club, listening to and playing music with friends, and supporting Denver’s women and minority owned businesses. Senior Director of Policymaker Relations

Anastasia Goodstein is the Senior Digital Director at Inseparable. Anastasia has over 20 years of experience leading digital product development, online community building, content strategy, and digital marketing for non-profit organizations and media companies. 

Anastasia brings her passion for empowering young people through media, the intersection of youth, technology, and mental health, and the importance of social impact in her work. She was a senior leader at the Ad Council, where she developed digital strategies for campaigns such as Seize the Awkward (youth suicide prevention), Love Your Mind (adult mental health), and Sound It Out Together (middle school mental health). Before the Ad Council, Anastasia served as Digital Director for the U.S. version of the groundbreaking Australian youth mental health organization ReachOut. She also served as a pre-launch consultant and advisory board member for the Crisis Text Line. She worked with Headstream, a youth mental health accelerator, as a consultant and evaluator. 

As a former entrepreneur, Anastasia scaled and sold her online youth culture newsletter and conference business (Ypulse.com). She has been an external thought leader throughout her career, initially in the youth culture and online safety spaces, where she was quoted extensively in national and international publications and was paid to speak on these topics. Anastasia is the author of Totally Wired: What teens and tweens are really doing online, one of the first nonfiction books on teens and social media in 2007 (published by St. Martin’s Press). She was recognized by the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) in 2011 for outstanding achievement.

At the Ad Council, Anastasia continued to write regularly for the Ad Council’s blog, was quoted in several advertising trade publications, including Advertising Week and The Drum, about the organization’s work in the video gaming space, and spoke and/or moderated multiple panels at conferences like SXSW, CES, and Games for Change.

Anastasia holds a BA from Antioch College and an MS from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She loves pop culture, reading great novels, watching British television shows, and solo travel. Anastasia lives in New York City, where she is a parent to a teenager, and two rescue dogs.

Dana Balter brings more than two decades of experience in communications, policy, advocacy, and politics to her work at inseparable. She has previously overseen communications at nonprofit organizations working in social justice and disability services. She has also taught and done research in the field of public administration. Dana is most well known as a two-time Democratic nominee for Congress in New York’s 24th district in 2018 and 2020. One of her proudest campaign achievements is that dozens of her staff and volunteers–many of whom were involved in electoral politics for the first time–have since run for and won local office. 

Dana has taught at every level from pre-K to graduate school, from special education students to senior government officials. She has held various appointments at universities including Syracuse University, Binghamton University, and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan. A true lover of education, she holds a Bachelors of Science in Speech from Northwestern University and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut. When she is not working, you might find Dana hiking (or forest bathing) in Pratt’s Falls Park, making art in the sunroom, or snuggled up watching TV with her son and rescue pups.

Kim is the Press Secretary at Inseparable, bringing more than 20 years of health care communications and media relations experience. Throughout her career, she has provided communications counsel and support to various professional trade associations, public relations agencies, and, most recently, the federal government. Kim came to Inseparable from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), where she led the communications efforts within the Center for Mental Health Services. Prior to SAMHSA, Kim spent two years as a press officer at the Food and Drug Administration and 12 years at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, where she provided media relations and content support on substance use and addiction issues. Kim began her career in the public affairs office at the American Psychological Association. She then served as a national spokesperson for the American Nurses Association and the American Red Cross, and also worked for the PR agencies of Ogilvy, as well as Burson, where she managed Eli Lilly’s Campaign on Clinical Depression.

Kim’s interest in mental health began in college where she received a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA, where she played Division III volleyball. Kim grew up on Long Island, NY, and now lives in Rockville, MD. She enjoys volleyball, the beach, and spending time with her husband and three children.

Caden Fabbi is the Director of State Affairs at Inseparable. To this role, he brings several years of experience as a passionate advocate in elected and professional nonprofit positions.

Before joining Inseparable, Caden was the Director of Government Relations at MENTOR. In this role, Caden oversaw the organization’s federal policy and advocacy work and provided coaching and training for MENTOR’s Affiliate Network to increase state and local investment into mentoring programs. Caden spent the first three years of his career at the National Association of School Psychologists, where he supported the Association’s state and federal advocacy efforts to increase access to school-based mental health services.

Caden’s passion for this work is grounded in his time spent as a student leader during his undergraduate and graduate school programs. During this time, his advocacy efforts helped lead to several policy wins for students in Nevada and Maryland, including a new medical amnesty law, an improved student fee policy with accountability measures, eligibility for graduate students in a loan tax credit program, and improved working conditions for graduate workers.

Caden holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a dual Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Nevada, Reno. A proud 6th-generation Nevadan, he lives in Washington, DC, with his Yorkie puppy, and enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and exploring outdoors in his free time.

Germán Partida currently serves as the Senior Political Program Manager for Inseparable. He supports Inseparable’s Political Programs by engaging elected officials and candidates to become true mental health champions. With extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and managing digital ad campaigns, Germán is passionate about advocacy and is excited to help advance mental health policy. 

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Health from UC San Diego. Germán was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and is the proud son of Mexican immigrants. In his free time, he enjoys running, attending concerts, trying out new coffee shops, and traveling.

Julianne Hopper is the Policy and Advocacy Manager at Inseparable. Before joining Inseparable, she served as the Program Associate for the Overdose Prevention Initiative at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, providing research, policy analysis, and programmatic support to promote federal policy changes aimed at reducing overdose deaths and expanding access to treatment. Earlier in her career, Julianne interned with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), supporting the Office of the Director at the Center for Mental Health Services.

Her passion for mental health and substance use policy is deeply rooted in her academic background. She holds a Master of Public Health with a certificate in Mental Health and Substance Use Law and Policy from Boston University School of Public Health, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Boston University. Julianne is based in Washington, D.C., and enjoys hiking, traveling, and reading.

Shannon Hoffman is the Policy and Advocacy Manager at Inseparable, bringing a background in mental health policy, advocacy, and legislative strategy. Her commitment to this work is deeply personal, shaped by being a sibling of brothers with mental health and substance use challenges and by an early career in counseling. Witnessing systemic barriers to affordable and accessible care ultimately inspired her to pursue systems-level change through public policy.

She began her policy career as a Legislative Aide in the Texas House of Representatives, where she saw the fundamental role of the legislative process in driving systemic change. Shannon went on to lead statewide initiatives on youth mental health, behavioral health financing, and substance use at the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. Before joining Inseparable, she supported legislative strategy and stakeholder engagement at Commit Partnership, focusing on early childhood and school finance. Across four Texas legislative sessions, she played a key role in advancing bipartisan legislation and securing budget increases, advising lawmakers and agency leaders on community-informed policy solutions.

Shannon holds master’s degrees in social work and public affairs and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She resides in Texas, where she enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring local coffee shops, and keeping up with her three-year-old daughter and their energetic chocolate lab, Barkley.

Allison Bane is the Events and Operations Associate at Inseparable. In her role she offers administrative and logistical support across the team. Prior to joining Inseparable, Allison had experience in legal, research, and other administrative support roles.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Psychology from Coastal Carolina University. Allison was named the 2023 Political Science Student of the Year. One of her proudest achievements was completing her Spadoni Research Fellowship which was centered on the subject of immigration and citizenship.

Her passion for advocacy and interest in mental health reform ignited as a direct result of an internship she participated in at a youth crisis center. In her free time, you will find Allison traveling to new cities, enjoying great food, and spending time with family and friends.

Chloe Weitzman is the State & Federal Affairs Coordinator at Inseparable.

Before joining Inseparable, Chloe worked as a Government Affairs Policy Analyst at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, supporting congressional and state advocacy policy work that focused on protecting children online. She has also previously held policy and government relations roles with DC Action, MENTOR, and 340B Health, conducting research, supporting coalition advocacy, and contributing to work focused on youth and mental health.

Chloe holds a B.A. in Justice and Law with a minor in Sociology from American University. Originally from outside of Cleveland, Ohio, Chloe now lives in Arlington with her partner and her golden retriever, Bailey.

Alexandra (she/her) is a senior at Yale University majoring in neuroscience and completing additional coursework in American politics and public health. After graduating, she hopes to combine her academic passions and pursue a career in mental health policy research and advocacy.

In her free time, she loves conducting research in her developmental neuroscience lab, playing for Yale’s water polo team, reading all kinds of books, and having board game and cooking nights with her friends.

Alexis Campbell is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Education Policy at Brown University. She is passionate about advancing equitable systems that support the mental health and well-being of the youth.

Alexis is excited about development work because it allows her to combine her interest in policy and advocacy with building the resources and relationships needed to make meaningful mental health initiatives sustainable and impactful. Outside of her academic and professional work, she enjoys theatre and writing on her travel blog.

Ana Paula is a passionate advocate with experience in nonprofit advocacy, digital engagement, and grassroots organizing. Her work with organizations such as the ACLU of Georgia and HOPE has focused on empowering marginalized voices and influencing policy. A recent Georgia Tech graduate, Ana Paula is committed to using her skills and lived experiences to build a more inclusive and equitable society.

Gabriel is an undergraduate at Cornell University. After graduating, he hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in public service focused on public policy, elections, and democratic governance.

He is an avid sports fan and enjoys playing chess, swimming, and occasionally studying.

Jennifer is a recent graduate from the University of California, Irvine, where she established a strong foundation in Public Health and Urban Planning. She is from Mission Viejo, California, and brings experience in health policy at both the state and federal levels.

Most recently, she works with the Government Affairs team at Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM), where she supports lobbying strategies aimed at expanding Medi-Cal access in California. She has also served as a Legislative Intern with the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, where she advocated for the Children’s Cardiac Safety Act, managed communication with legislators, and conducted legal research on 504 Plans and IEPs. Beyond these roles, she has experience in research, policy analysis, and advocacy through fellowships and internships at organizations such as the National Women’s Law Center, the University of California Office of the President, and the Nutrition Policy Institute.

Kimberly Hestermann is a senior at Indiana University Indianapolis pursuing a double major in Philanthropic Leadership at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Finance at the Kelley School of Business. She is passionate about advancing youth mental health through advocacy and systems change, with leadership experience through Active Minds, The Steve Fund’s Youth Ambassador Board and Rare Beauty’s Rare Impact College Ambassadors program.

Kimberly is also a long distance runner and has raised over $9,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by running marathons in support of suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Outside of work and school, she enjoys taking long walks, doing portrait photography, trying new foods, and exploring new places.

Kaylee is a sophomore at Harvard, currently studying Government with a minor in Economics. She has been involved in mental health advocacy work since high school and is particularly interested in finding effective solutions for promoting youth mental health. In her free time, she serves as a peer mental health counselor and loves to write.

Mina Bilal is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin double-majoring in Government and International Relations, with a minor in Arabic. Previously, Mina served as a Legislative Intern with the Texas Senate, where she assisted with constituent outreach and policy research. She has also interned with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), supporting refugee clients with healthcare access, housing navigation, and cultural orientation during the resettlement process.

Through these experiences, Mina continues to deepen her passion for public service and policy solutions that advance equity for marginalized and vulnerable communities. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new movies, exploring coffee shops, and learning new board games.

Nora is a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley studying economics and public policy with a passion for civic engagement and public speaking.

She enjoys music, travel, and discovering new restaurants with friends, and is excited to support Inseparable’s work this semester!

Olivia Lopez is studying Neuroscience and Public Health at The University of Texas at Austin. She first developed an interest in mental health policy while working on a citywide initiative with the San Antonio Youth Commission. Since then, she has deepened her passion for health policy as a policy analyst at the Texas Capitol and as a research specialist with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Beyond policy, she is committed to public health on the ground, from serving at a clinic for uninsured children to developing affordable diagnostic testing. She is thrilled to support Inseparable’s mission to win bold mental health policy reforms that make care accessible, equitable, and central to our nation’s health.

Riley Elliott is a senior at Yale University majoring in Political Science. Riley has experience working in government at both state and local level. 

After graduating, she intends to combine her passions for advocacy and community-centered policy to pursue a career in the legal field.

Tate Buchwald is a junior at Boston College studying Political Science. She served as a Legislative Intern in the office of U.S. Senator Ed Markey, where she drafted policy recommendations, engaged with constituents, and monitored Congressional hearings. Her passion for advocacy began as an intern at the Eastern Connecticut Center for Housing Opportunity, where she conducted research on housing affordability and developed outreach materials to strengthen community-based solutions to the housing crisis.

Tate has also worked in political communications, serving as Social Media Director for State Senator Martha Marx’s reelection campaign and as a consultant for Nick Menapace’s State Representative campaign. Beyond politics, she has been a Patient Ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children since 2017, sharing her personal story to raise awareness. She also dedicates her time to volunteering at Shriners and local elderly care homes. As a proud resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, Tate enjoys hiking, surfing, kayaking, and traveling to new places.

Trace Terrell is a fourth-year student and Kessler Scholar at Johns Hopkins University studying public health. He hopes to pursue a career in behavioral health policy. Recently, Trace worked with MTV Entertainment Studios to create A.S.K. (Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch), the new “stop, drop, and roll” for teaching young people how to support their friends. He has spoken at the Biden-Harris White House and testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and several federal agencies. Outside of class, Trace enjoys running, pottery, and playing board games with friends.