Phillip A. Saperia graduated with a B.A. in Politics from Brandeis University. He holds an M.A.T. from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education where he was elected to Phi Delta Kappa, the National Honorary Education Society.

Mr. Saperia has been Executive Director of the Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies since October 3, 1994. In this position, he has overseen The Coalition’s program of education advocacy and technical assistance to the diverse community-based behavioral health providers of New York City.

He has been in the fields of community and government relations for over 20 years. Since his arrival at The Coalition, Mr. Saperia has been immersed in mental health public policy, government support of community mental health and critical training and technical assistance for non profit community based providers.

Before coming to the Coalition, Mr. Saperia was a consultant to several not-for-profit agencies on matters related to community siting of special care housing and on the development of local community advisory boards.

During the administration of David Dinkins, he served as Director of the Mayor's Office of Jewish Community Affairs. Prior to this, Mr. Saperia was a public and private school teacher, administrator and government and community relations specialist for several organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, where he directed its Metropolitan New York Region and HIAS, the international refugee and migration agency, where he was Associate Executive Vice President.

Mr. Saperia has been active in community organizations in the brownstone neighborhoods of Brooklyn. A former Democratic Committee person from the 50th Assembly District, he was a long time member of the local Community Board and President of The Carlton-Willoughby Block Association.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn AIDS Task Force, on the Board of Directors of the Human Services Council of New York City and on the Board of Directors of SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Elders). He is a past President and active member of Congregation Kolot Chayeinu, a progressive Jewish congregation in Brooklyn.

Areas of expertise
Public policy affecting community behavioral healthcare, non-profit management, services and programs for people living with mental illness, issues of housing and homelessness, geriatric concerns, co-occurring psychiatric and addictive disorders and the growing area of rehabilitation and recovery for people with psychiatric disabilities.