Community mental health leadership is reflected in Casey Powers’ work, where connection, support, and shared purpose help strengthen recovery and belonging.
For Casey Powers, Interim’s Division Director of Wellness Services, community has never been an abstract concept, it’s been a way of life since childhood. Growing up in Aromas, she learned early that small towns thrive when everyone pitches in. “It doesn’t have a city government. It’s all the community doing the work to make the community work.” That value of service, instilled by her family, has guided her through a career spanning Goodwill, child welfare, and now over seven years with Interim.
Casey’s professional path started with employment services, helping parents on TANF re-enter the workforce, and later expanded into foster care and mental health support for children and teens. Along the way, she discovered both the rewards and the hard truths of the child welfare system. “The bureaucracy made it hard to do what made sense. It wasn’t the kids or families—it was the systemic barriers that kept me from helping in the ways I knew would work.”
A Leadership Philosophy Built on People
That experience shaped her leadership philosophy: put people first, always. It’s what drew her to Interim. “We serve people with serious mental illness in a really comprehensive way. It’s challenging work, but incredibly rewarding.” She was also struck by Interim’s strong organizational leadership. “Even in my interview, I could see the leadership here was solid, the values clear. That matters.”
Her role today is a balancing act between oversight and connection. She manages programs like Shelter Cove, Keep It Real, and multiple wellness services, splitting her time between Salinas and Marina. Despite the demands, she still treasures moments of direct client interaction.
One memory stands out, walking into the Omni Wellness Center and being greeted warmly by clients who knew her by name. “It was the same way I saw clients greet Carmen [Torres] when I first started. It made me realize these relationships are built over time, and now I’m part of that,” she says.
Building Community Mental Health Beyond Services
Casey believes in helping clients build more than stability, she wants them to create their own networks of support beyond professional services. “When you’re having a tough day, you call your friends or family. Our role is to help clients create those connections for themselves.” She champions outings, peer-to-peer programs, and any opportunity for people to bond over shared experiences.
Casey’s motivation is rooted in a deeply held sense of service. “We are all responsible to one another. We have to take that very seriously. We’re living in a world where people think only they matter, and that’s where so much is going wrong. To me, the value we must hold onto is that we care for each other.”
She sees Interim as a place where that belief comes to life. Working with individuals who have often been cut off from family and natural supports, she emphasizes the importance of rebuilding connection.
Ask her what keeps her going, and the answer is immediate:Â “This is the best job I’ve ever had. Every day is different. Every day matters. And every day, something meaningful happens.”
Looking ahead, Casey hopes to see even more opportunities for connection in Interim’s programs because to her, building community and connection is essential to healing.