ALAMEDA, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 10, 2015) - David J. Kears, who led the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency for 23 years, has been appointed to the Telecare Corporation board of directors.

"It is an honor and privilege having such a respected, passionate and visionary health care leader join our board," said Anne Bakar, president and CEO of Telecare. "Dave brings extensive knowledge of California's health and hospital systems, as well as decades of operating experience in the public sector developing innovative approaches to behavioral health. Dave's insights will be invaluable to our company as we respond to the rapidly changing healthcare landscape and look forward to new opportunities as we celebrate our 50th anniversary."

As director of one of the nation's most challenging healthcare agencies from 1986 to his retirement in 2009, Kears guided the $450 million organization through turbulent economic times, while simultaneously improving the availability and quality of services. Kears was instrumental in developing innovative approaches to providing better quality, more compassionate care to persons with severe mental or behavioral illnesses. He led efforts in the 1980's to move mental health clients from state institutions into community‐based programs that were focused on recovery. He also spearheaded public/private partnerships and performance‐based contracts that generated innovative and cost‐effective approaches to the mental health treatment of adolescents, older adults, the homeless, and people who are dually diagnosed.

"Telecare played a vital role in those early efforts to deinstitutionalize clients through public/private partnerships," said Bakar. "Our partnership with Alameda County became a model that is being replicated nationally and Dave's vision was key to making that possible. The hallmarks of his leadership will add tremendous strength to our board as we position ourselves to meet the needs and opportunities ahead."

A life‐long resident of Oakland, Calif., Kears earned his undergraduate and master of social work degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. While in school, he interned at the Sonoma State Hospital and Children's Guidance Clinic in Palo Alto. After graduation he worked as a psychiatric social worker at Napa State Hospital, eventually becoming an assistant program director. Kears' career in Alameda County began as a psychiatric social worker and he held several department head positions in the Health Care Services Agency before becoming agency director and, at the time, acting director of Highland General Hospital. Since his retirement, Dave has served on the board of directors for the Blue Shield of California Foundation and is currently board chairman of St. Rose Hospital, Hayward.