Community Human Services’ longtime CEO announces her retirement.

Pam Marino here, feeling fortunate for good people who do good works here in Monterey County.

One of those good people doing good works is Robin McCrae, CEO of Community Human Services since 1994. Under her leadership, CHS has grown from three programs and 55 employees with a $1 million budget to an organization with over 100 employees and a budget last year of nearly $12 million. In its 55 years of existence, CHS leaders estimate the organization has helped over 100,000 people.

After 31 years of leading the organization to bring shelter, mental health services and substance abuse disorder treatment to youth and adults, McCrae’s term is coming to an end. Last Thursday, July 17, McCrae announced at the CHS annual luncheon that she will be retiring in March 2026. 

“It was a difficult decision to make. It’s the right decision for me and my family but I am going to miss this job. I love this job and I love our mission,” she said to over 100 people gathered in the Ferrante Room inside the Monterey Marriott.

In some ways, McCrae said, CHS saved her life, because shortly after she took the job, her extended family experienced a mental health and substance abuse challenge. The organization’s mission and programs taught her how to navigate such a daunting challenge.

“It’s not just a job, it’s not just a career, it feels like a calling,” McCrae said.

In my eight-and-a-half years of covering health and homelessness stories, I’ve watched as McCrae served as a key leader in improving the number of shelter beds on the Monterey Peninsula. She was integral with other partners in opening Casa de Noche Buena, a shelter for women and families with children in Seaside in 2021. In 2023, CHS opened a similar shelter, Shuman Heart House, in Monterey.

Last year under her leadership, CHS successfully went through a competitive process to take over management of the SHARE Center in Salinas, another shelter for individuals and families. CHS also opened up Safe Place Salinas, a resource center for youth experiencing homelessness.

During the luncheon, McCrae shared that in 2024 nearly 1,000 youth and adults received mental health services through CHS. More than 330 people—over half of them youth—benefited from homelessness services. Over 3,330 people—again over half of them youth—particpated in substance abuse programs. CHS also distributed more than 1,000 Narcan kits to the community, the antidote used in opioid overdoses.

There is more for McCrae to do before she leaves next March, including the official opening in September of a much-needed adolescent drug treatment program providing Medi-Cal services on an outpatient basis to youth ages 13-17.

McCrae shared that there is a succession plan and that she is confident the board will find the next “dynamic” leader to take over CHS and continue its vital mission.

I, for one, will miss McCrae and the very good work she’s done over the past 31 years. Fortunately, she will leave a solid foundation for the next leader to grow from.