Kristi Silva
Get to know me
I am a trusted leader, evaluator, and bilingual facilitator with over 20 years of experience advancing equity and culturally responsive practices across public health, behavioral health, and social services. Since 2004, I’ve collaborated closely with agencies, tribal nations, community organizations, and higher education institutions to design and implement initiatives that strengthen systems, elevate community voice, and promote sustainable change.
Drawing on a unique combination of strategic systems thinking and deep community connection, I support partners in developing evaluation frameworks, creating culturally grounded work plans, and building organizational capacity through training and technical assistance. My collaborative approach is grounded in social justice and community engagement, and I have partnered extensively with Latine, Native American, and African American communities to center lived experience in policy, practice, and evaluation.
As Associate Project Director at the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS), I provide leadership for complex, multi-year projects and offer strategic guidance to state, tribal, and local agencies across the country. I previously served as Associate Project Director for the SAMHSA-funded Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), led evaluation efforts for multiple national and state initiatives, and served as a technical assistance specialist for SAMHSA’s Resilience in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) program, supporting trauma-informed, community-driven efforts in five jurisdictions.
I’m also an experienced technical writer, with contributions to key publications including the California Behavioral Health Workforce Assessment Report (California Department of Health Care Services), the Evaluation Toolkit: Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) Guide, and the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults.
In addition to my professional work, I bring long-standing nonprofit leadership and service experience. I served 12 years on the board—and four as Board Chair—of Las Cumbres Community Services, and I was selected as a Food Policy Fellow through a national program in partnership with the Pew Charitable Trusts, where I contributed to policy efforts at the intersection of food systems, equity, and public health.
Across every engagement, I bring strategic clarity, cultural fluency, and a collaborative mindset. Through my role at CARS, I welcome opportunities to partner with agencies and organizations seeking to advance equity, amplify community voice, and strengthen systems of care.
I am
Associate Project Director, Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS)
Work Showcase
Provider Plática, a Bilingual Webinar Series
I developed and facilitate the Provider Plática, a bilingual webinar series dedicated to mental health providers who serve clients whose primary or preferred language is Spanish.
Testimonial
The feeling of community having a space where I can authentically be myself & speak in both languages comfortably with ppl that get it […] gives me the freedom to be myself and express myself in the most authentic way possible. Se los agradesco mil veces!