Our opening speaker Ebony Clarke, Director of Multnomah County Health Department, and previous Multnomah County Behavioral Health Director is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has 24 years of experience working in both the publicly funded and non-profit behavioral health arena developing services and supports, providing leadership, organizational development, people management, and equity and inclusion. Ebony joined Multnomah County in 2010, stepping in as the Senior Manager of Direct Clinical Services. Before joining the county, she worked as a Service Director of Child and Family Services at Lifeworks NW. In that role, she oversaw child and family outpatient mental health, prevention, and culturally-specific adult mental health and addiction services.

Ebony earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon in Community and Human Services in 1999 and earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from Portland State University in 2001. In October of 2020, Ebony was appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to the Oregon Health Policy Board. In April 2013, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Ms. Clarke to the Oregon State Board of Licensed Social Workers, where she served two terms. She also volunteered her time on the Lake Oswego School District Board Appointed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee serving as one of the Co-Chairs. Ebony’s mission is to build and support a continuum of care that yields equitable and quality services to promote individual, family, and community healing and wellbeing. During her off time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 18 years Matt, and their two son’s Matteo and Miles ages 14 and 9.