It is with love, admiration, respect, and bittersweet best wishes that Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, one of the largest mental health agencies in LA County, announces the retirement of psychologist Dr. Gail Jackson.
Dr. Jackson has been with Hathaway-Sycamores for over 10 years and started as the assistant director and then as the director of the agency’s Full Service Partnership – Children’s and Wraparound Services in South and East Los Angeles. She was later promoted again to assistant vice president (AVP) overseeing all programs at Hathaway-Sycamores South Los Angeles site. “Gail is truly a phenomenal leader who has led with integrity and passion,” shares president and CEO of Hathaway-Sycamores, Debra Manners. “She is direct, dynamic, and motivates her staff and managers, pushing them to be the best that they can be.”
Dr. Jackson has been successful in her current role as AVP. She advocated the merger of Hathaway-Sycamores Full Service Partnership (FSP) with the Center for Grief and Loss in 2014 as well as built up and increased capacity for the FSP and Wraparound programs in South Los Angeles. These initiatives have both been recognized by the county for the quality care that the agency provides to youth and families. Dr. Jackson was also pivotal in helping Hathaway-Sycamores build new alliances and expand school linked services across multiple charter school locations in South Los Angeles.
Dr. Jackson, a Graduate/Alumni of UCLA (BA, Psychology), Pepperdine (MA, Clinical Psychology) and U.S. International University (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology), has mentored many Hathaway-Sycamores staff members, co-workers, community partners, and clients throughout the years and encouraged them to return to graduate school to obtain masters and doctorate degrees. She can share a success story at the drop of a dime!
A Los Angeles native, Dr. Jackson is deeply connected and rooted in this community. Her service spans back some 40 years plus, a vast and adventurous career of service with medical organizations, mental health organizations, and academic settings to name a few: Drew Child Development Cooperation, California State University, Board of Behavioral Sciences, and Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center.
Dr. Jackson is married to community activist and CEO of Drew Child Development Family Services Dr. Michael Jackson and is the mother of three adult children and “grammie” to two handsome grandsons. Dr. Jackson recently shared, “It’s time to go, I just want to spend more time with my family, especially my two beautiful grandsons.”
Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services will not be same without her wisdom, wit, and dynamic leadership. Congratulations from your Hathaway-Sycamores Team!
