Malena Savell
Malena Savell
Senior Policy Consultant
Malena Savell, MA is a Senior Policy Consultant with the Integrated Care team at Aurrera Health Group. Malena works on projects supporting behavioral health policy in California, including monitoring and evaluation for the State Opioid Response grant program.
Prior to joining Aurrera, Malena served as a Research Scientist for the California Department of Public Health Maternal, Child & Adolescent Division, monitoring and evaluating mental and behavioral health programs and activities for individuals and families in California. She also supported local and state implementation and monitoring of Title V-funded activities serving pregnant persons, children and families in California, including children and youth with special health care needs. She has a robust background in academic and clinical research, having worked directly with children and families at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the University at Buffalo Child Health and Behavior Lab. Malena’s academic and professional experiences have exposed her to the impacts of mental and behavioral health challenges on individuals, families and community systems, deepening her commitment to population-based prevention and intervention efforts that ensure equitable access to systems of care for all.
Malena holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University at Buffalo. She volunteers her free time to support first-response efforts for individuals and families in mental or behavioral health crises. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, exploring nature, and traveling with her children and partner.