Five Acres CEO Chanel Boutakidis named ACHSA board president

Five Acres CEO Chanel Boutakidis has been elected president of the Association of Community Human Service Agencies board, putting a longtime child welfare and behavioral health leader in a role that influences nonprofit services across Los Angeles County. The appointment underscores Five Acres' push for systems-level change as local providers face growing demand for mental health, foster care and family support.

Why it matters: - Boutakidis will help shape ACHSA's work for nonprofit human service providers serving about 820,000 Angelenos each year. - The role gives Five Acres' leader a broader platform to support policies, partnerships and resources for child welfare, behavioral health and family services across Los Angeles County. - The appointment signals continued emphasis on coordination among community-based organizations serving vulnerable children, families and communities.

What happened: - Five Acres announced that CEO Chanel Boutakidis was elected president of the ACHSA Board of Directors. - Boutakidis has led Five Acres since 2011. - ACHSA describes itself as the leading voice for nonprofit human service providers in the region.

The details: - ACHSA member organizations provide mental health, child welfare, foster care, juvenile justice, housing and family support services. - Boutakidis said she is honored to serve as board president and to work with nonprofit leaders to strengthen the safety net for vulnerable children, families and communities. - Five Acres said the appointment reflects its commitment to advancing systems-level change and strengthening the network of care in Southern California. - Five Acres provides foster care, adoption, behavioral health services, special education, prevention programs and family support services. - The organization said it serves more than 7,000 children and families each year across Southern California. - Five Acres was established in 1888. - The agency opened its historic Altadena headquarters on July 15, 1926. - Five Acres runs Wear Your Heart, a countywide initiative aimed at encouraging mental health support, reducing stigma and building connections. - Boutakidis said the challenges facing children and families are complex and interconnected, and that solutions require partnership, innovation and advocacy across the human services sector.

Between the lines: - The appointment extends Five Acres' influence beyond direct service delivery into regional policy and coalition work. - Boutakidis' focus on prevention and community engagement suggests Five Acres is pairing program growth with public-facing efforts to normalize mental health support. - ACHSA's reach gives the board presidency potential leverage in a county where nonprofit providers play a central role in the safety net.

What's next: - Boutakidis is expected to help guide ACHSA's advocacy and partnership strategy across Los Angeles County. - Five Acres said it will continue building outreach and education through Wear Your Heart while supporting children and families throughout Southern California. - The organization will keep pushing for broader access to essential care through collaboration across the human services system.