Mental Health and Justice Partnerships

Lorenzo Frausto supports Pew’s mental health and justice partnerships project, which works with state policymakers, local officials, and national experts to identify health-focused, evidence-based policy options that can improve responses to behavioral health emergencies. Before joining Pew, Frausto was the assistant director of human resources and operations for Achieving the Dream Inc. He also served as a field organizer for President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign in Pennsylvania, where he managed organizing efforts to increase the Latino vote. Frausto holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Fullerton, and a master’s in education and human development from George Washington University.

Kati Habert manages the technical assistance for the mental health and justice partnerships project, supporting state and local policymakers in identifying approaches that improve responses to behavioral health emergencies. Before joining Pew, Habert was a program director at the Council of State Governments Justice Center, where she led Stepping Up, a national initiative focusing on behavioral health and local justice systems. She also worked as a senior associate at the National Association of Counties. Habert holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

April Rodriguez provides research and writing support for Pew’s mental health and justice partnerships and public safety performance project. Before joining Pew, Rodriguez served in several research positions, including one at a nonprofit organization working alongside incarcerated individuals assisting with advocacy work and policy issues. Rodriguez holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a double major in criminal justice from Florida International University. She is pursuing a master’s in forensic and legal psychology from Marymount University.

Rebecca Smith provides research, writing, and project management support for Pew’s mental health and justice partnerships and public safety performance project. Before joining Pew, Smith served as principal investigator on a research project funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. She previously worked as a research analyst at a juvenile justice agency and a clinician at inpatient forensic and acute psychiatric hospitals. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Mary Washington, a master’s in clinical social work from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a master’s and doctorate in developmental psychology also from VCU.

Tracy Velázquez leads research activities for Pew’s mental health and justice partnerships and public safety performance projects. Her team produces and publishes analyses of criminal justice, courts, and crisis systems, and provides ongoing research assistance to help achieve all of the projects’ goals. Before joining Pew, Velázquez served in research and policy positions for several national and state criminal justice reform and health policy organizations and as a consultant to local, state, and federal governments. She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from Harvard University, a master’s in justice, law, and criminology from American University, and a master’s in public administration from Montana State University.