Office of Individual and Family Affairs
Who We Are
Susan Kennard, Administrator
Susan Kennard serves as the Administrator at the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) - Division of Community Advocacy & Intergovernmental Relations, Office of Individual and Family Affairs. Susan has been involved with the behavioral health community for over a decade serving as an advocate, manager of family support, human rights liaison, family psychoeducation facilitator, mother of a young man with a serious mental illness and active volunteer with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental illness) where she has helped hundreds of families who have been affected by mental illness. Susan is a past president for NAMI Southeast Valley, NAMI Family-to-Family teacher/trainer and family support group facilitator. Susan holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and paralegal certification. Susan is also co-author on a book chapter on stigma.
Chaz Longwell, Recovery & Resiliency Programs Coordinator
Chaz Longwell is the Recovery & Resiliency Programs Coordinator for the state of Arizona. Since 2012 he has overseen the policies and procedures guiding Arizona’s Medicaid-Reimbursable peer support programs.
He had previously been employed in public relations, event coordination and program development in the non-profit sector, before coming into the behavioral health field on a dare by his therapist.
Mr. Longwell is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Sociology.
Cynthia Burr, Children's Behavioral Health Community Liaison
Cynthia Burr joins AHCCCS as the Children’s Behavioral Health Community Liaison with more than 25 years delivering social services in Maricopa County. Her many past experiences include managing group homes, crisis shelters, domestic violence shelters, vocational rehabilitation, behavioral health, and serving as a case manager.
Cynthia brings extensive lived experience to her new role serving children. Her grandmother was a foster parent and she herself has decades of experience as a kinship foster parent. She is a single parent to three biological children and one child whom she adopted after becoming foster licensed. Cynthia brings a lifetime of passion about children’s behavioral health, inclusion, disability rights, fostering, and adopting to her new role.
While in recent roles at the University of Arizona and Grand Canyon University, respectively, Cynthia also continued her 17 years of work in Home and Community Based Services with the Department of Economic Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities. Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services and a Master of Arts in Human Rights Practice, both from the University of Arizona. She served as co-chair for Maricopa County’s STEP for Youth Coalition and is an avid volunteer, advocate, and mentor for the March of Dimes.
Jamie Green, Healthcare Advocacy Coordinator
Jamie Green serves as the Healthcare Advocacy Coordinator at the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) – Division of Community Advocacy & Intergovernmental Relations, Office of Individual and Family Affairs. Jamie is a Certified Peer Support and Family Support Specialist with advanced training in health & wellness and health coaching and has extensive experience in navigating the public behavioral health system both professionally and personally. She has past experience in program development, implementation and facilitation of a Whole Health Wellness Program focused on self-activation, efficacy and resiliency. Jamie considers herself a self-proclaimed subject matter expert in behavior change gained through her many years of lived experience in both her personal life and professional career.
Melanie Jensen, Administrative Assistant
Melanie serves as the Administrative Assistant for AHCCCS’ Office of Individual and Family Affairs. Melanie has experience in direct patient care from an Associate Nutrition Worker to Patient Benefit Coordinator. Melanie also serves as a Native Services Mentor to high school students with the Boys and Girls Club of Flagstaff AZ. Melanie holds a certificate in Medical Billing & Coding and Associates of Science in Health Information Technology with San Juan College. Melanie plans to attend Western Governors University to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management.
Get involved! Would you like to receive more information?
Email us: oifa@azahcccs.gov.
