Karen McLeod

Karen McLeod, MSW, has served as the President/CEO for Benchmarks, a statewide non-profit association, since June 2006. In this role, she provides strategic leadership in representing provider agencies that deliver mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use services as well as child welfare and juvenile justice programs to children, adults and families across North Carolina. She engages state legislators and state and federal agencies to secure funding and legislation that support providers in improving behavioral healthcare and quality of life outcomes for the people they serve. Karen moves forward policy and practice issues to proactively promote association positions with key state government decision makers, legislators and community advocacy groups. Before this position, Karen was the executive director of the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services, a non-profit association representing the 100 county DSS agencies. She also served as Director of the Office of Victim Services for the NC Department of Correction. Karen has worked in mediation and hospice and provided family intervention services for high-risk children. Karen currently serves as co-chair of the Legislative Child Fatality Task Force and is a Past Chair of the National Organization of State Associations for Children.