Alex Ruth

About Alex Ruth

I specialize in strategic planning at the intersection of health policy and the justice system, with a focus on Medicaid reentry initiatives. At the CSG Justice Center, I help state and local agencies implement practical solutions that improve access to care for people leaving incarceration.Much of my recent work supports agencies preparing for or implementing Medicaid reentry demonstration waivers and new federal coverage requirements for young people. This includes advising on cross-system coordination, data-sharing strategies, and scalable technical assistance models. I often partner with jails, Medicaid agencies, and behavioral health providers to bridge policy and practice in ways that are sustainable and equity-driven.I’m particularly focused on identifying the structural gaps that make continuity of care difficult and helping systems build smarter, more accountable responses.

Experience

1. Deputy Program Director, Health Policy

   The Council of State Governments

   Mar 2025 — Present

   Provides leadership, including strategic guidance and quality assurance, to teams doing Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) projects to bring innovative and research-based strategies at the intersection of justice, Medicaid, health policy, and housing to state and local policymakers. Supervises staff to ensure the quality and timeliness of projects and deliverables. Oversees the training and skill development of more junior staff, including ensuring that staff are aware of the most up-to-date research and policy literature for relevant areas. Ensures coordination across the team and with other deputy program directors, project managers, and other team members as appropriate. Collaborates with senior staff to develop long-range strategies to incubate and execute projects in the behavioral health division. Supports the development of funding proposals and other strategies to engage new and ongoing funding for the team. Monitors timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure that responsibilities to funders are met.Coordinates with funders, external partners, and the team to ensure deliverables meet the needs of the field and grantees. Manages relationships with external partners and subawardees, including working with the operations, finance, and grant teams to ensure contracts are executed and deliverables are met. Ensures that senior staff are aware of relevant initiative developments and that other work in the field is leveraged for the advancement of the portfolio\'s goals.

Education

• Old Dominion University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Cognitive Psychology

  2009 — 2013

• Southern New Hampshire University

  Master of Science - MS, Forensic Psychology

  2016 — 2018