Michael Butler, MA
Associate Principal
Health Management Associates
Los Angeles, CA
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Michael Butler is a skilled strategist, evaluator, and community engagement consultant with 30 years of experience working with public agencies, foundations, nonprofits, membership associations, universities, and school districts. His work is concentrated at the intersections of behavioral health, public health, and public education. Michael focuses on helping public agencies and community-based organizations accelerate equity and demonstrate measurable impact.
In the realm of strategy, Michael has directed dozens of strategic planning projects, including county public health and behavioral health departments, university colleges of medicine, statewide foundations and associations, and nonprofits in the areas of behavioral health, healthcare and human services, and education. His experience is extensive with agencies serving children, youth, and families, and has expanded to include services and supports designed to meet the needs of older adults. He regularly facilitates multi-stakeholder collaboratives engaged in using data to make decisions about what and where to prioritize their efforts. He also facilitates coherence and alignment both within organizations and as part of interagency and cross-sector partnerships.
As an evaluator, Michael has extensive experience leading mixed-method and impact evaluations of community health and wellness services, public education and outreach campaigns, and workforce development initiatives. He is experienced in using continuous quality improvement (CQI) as part of program and participatory evaluations, as well as action research and improvement science.
He is regularly involved in community engagement and needs assessment activities, including key informant interviews, focus groups, survey design and administration, and the analysis of quantitative data to assess impact. He has led multiple comprehensive needs assessment processes, including community health assessments and community health improvement plans, in alignment with Public Health Accreditation Board standards.
Michael has also served as an advisor, coach, and trainer to public agency and nonprofit leaders. He is well-versed in adult learning theory and has designed and delivered professional development and training on data-driven decision-making, strategic alignment, and collaborative problem-solving within organizations.
Michael joined Health Management Associates (HMA) from NPO Solutions, where he worked with public agency and nonprofit decision-makers at the local and state levels to enhance accountability, measure effectiveness, disseminate best practices, and implement research-based strategies for continuous improvement. He also worked to embed program evaluation and key performance indicator metrics into the firm’s strategic planning model.
Michael cofounded and served as vice president of Public Works, Inc., a nonprofit organization headquartered in Pasadena, California, dedicated to improving the effectiveness of public schools and nonprofits serving marginalized children, youth, and families. His work there centered on enhancing equitable access to high-quality education, integrating health-related social needs and other wraparound supports, and using research and program evaluation data to scale best practices.
Michael earned his master’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an undergraduate degree from Occidental College. He was a research fellow at the RAND Corporation and is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s executive program in social innovation through the Price School of Public Policy.
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