Dr. Latika D. Davis-Jones, Ph.D., MPH, MSW currently serves as the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), appointed to the position by Governor Josh Shapiro in January 2023. With over 30 years dedicated to addressing the physical and behavioral health needs of vulnerable populations, she brings extensive experience to her role. Prior to joining DDAP, Dr. Davis-Jones held the position of Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Highmark Wholecare, where she provided leadership and administrative oversight for behavioral health programs, including expanding into new markets and implementing health management initiatives.
Dr. Davis-Jones’s academic contributions include teaching foundational courses on social work practice, diversity, risk, oppression, resilience, and empowerment. She played a pivotal role in contributing to the content and analysis of measures for the book “Measuring Race and Ethnicity: Inside and Out” by the late Dr. Larry Davis and Dr. Rafael Engel. This work focused on psychological measures related to racial identity, acculturation, and intra and intergroup relations, enhancing researchers’ ability to compare concepts across groups and evaluate disparities. Additionally, she served as co-principal investigator on the Strengthening Pittsburgh’s African American Nonprofits (SPAAN) Project at the University of Pittsburgh-School of Social Work.
Dr. Davis-Jones’s commitment to community service is evidenced by her receipt of numerous community awards and her active participation on local boards, reflecting her dedication to making a positive impact beyond her professional responsibilities.
She has also been a vocal advocate in addressing the opioid epidemic, delivering public testimonies before the Pennsylvania House and Senate Policy Committees, and presenting at national and local conferences. Her collaborative efforts have contributed to published reports and journal articles focused on tackling the opioid epidemic in Allegheny County.