Joe Bañez is currently serving as a Senior Director of State Engagement for California on the Treatment Atlas team. Leveraging over a decade of behavioral health experience, Joe spearheads Shatterproof's efforts in his home state, building critical connections to expand access to quality addiction treatment, recovery, prevention, and other resources.
His deep expertise in behavioral health was honed through high-impact roles across multiple branches of the federal government. At the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), Joe led external engagement and legislative affairs teams with reach into California, fostering key stakeholder collaborations and playing a pivotal role in the successful national launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. As a White House aide in the Office of National Drug Control Policy, he proactively worked with partners and was instrumental in securing opioid treatment funding within the 21st Century Cures Act. Furthermore, his experience working with several California Members of Congress as a congressional committee policy advisor included drafting essential funding provisions for mental health services and addiction treatment included in the American Rescue Plan Act.
Joe's contributions have been recognized with awards for Excellence in Mental Health Leadership from the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and special commendations from the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from California State University, Chico. Outside of his professional commitments, Joe enjoys exploring the outdoors and spending time with family and friends throughout southern California.
