Jeff Vanderploeg, PhD
President and CEO
Jeffrey Vanderploeg, PhD, has served as CHDI's President and CEO since 2017 and has been with the organization since 2009. Dr. Vanderploeg leads CHDI’s work to advance evidence-based, equitable, and sustainable systems, practices, and policies that support optimal children’s behavioral health and well-being.
Vanderploeg was the lead author of the 2014 Children’s Behavioral Health Plan and led the initial design and implementation of a training, data analysis, reporting, and quality improvement system for Connecticut’s statewide youth Mobile Crisis service, which is now considered a national best practice. Vanderploeg also co-developed the School-Based Diversion Initiative, which successfully reduces school-based arrests and exclusionary discipline, connecting more students to behavioral health services and supports.
Dr. Vanderploeg’s recent work has focused on infrastructure development in children’s behavioral health systems of care and the role of public-private partnership between states and intermediary organizations to improve system functioning and outcomes.
During his tenure as President and CEO, CHDI has experienced significant growth and has been named for several consecutive years to the Hartford Business Journal’s list of Best Places to Work in Connecticut. CHDI received the 2024 Mission Award from the Society for Implementation Research & Collaboration for its work in partnership with DCF, providers, and schools in disseminating EBTs to over 25,000 youth and families since 2007.
Dr. Vanderploeg received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University and completed Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Yale University School of Medicine. He holds voluntary faculty appointments in Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center and at the Yale Child Study Center.