Public Affairs Roles Established to Bolster Advocacy Efforts for Those with Serious, Advanced Illness

Falls Church, VA –   Feb. 12, 2020 — Capital Caring Health has named two leaders to enhance the organization’s public affairs efforts and advance policies to improve care for those with serious advanced and life-limiting illnesses.  Altonia Garrett, MBA, MHA, has been named Vice President, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, and Jason Parsons has been named Vice President, Public Affairs and Philanthropy.

Altonia has worked at Capital Caring Health for more than a decade holding leadership roles including Clinical Supervisor, General Manager, and Executive Director for offices in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia and Prince George’s County, Maryland.  In her new role, she will lead organizational-wide initiatives to build, strengthen, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders that advance the work of Capital Caring Health. Altonia will also work closely and collaborate with policy makers, elected leaders, and industry partners as well as oversee the organization’s relationship with local, state and federal legislative and executive branches in Richmond, Virginia; Annapolis, Maryland; and Washington, D.C.

On a national level, Altonia works with the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation as the Program Director for Innovation Lab. In this role, she supports all Innovation Lab activities, including the upcoming launch of the advanced disease specific programs and the ongoing development of other Innovation Lab programs.

In addition to overseeing Capital Caring Health’s corporate and foundation relations and philanthropic partnerships, Parsons will  also lead various aspects of Capital Caring Health’s relationships with local, state, and federal elected leaders, trade associations, civic organizations, business groups, advocacy organizations and work with other stakeholders to build support for Capital Caring Health’s mission of providing patients and families with advanced illness care of the highest quality.
Prior to joining Capital Caring Health, Jason served as Executive Director of Business for West Virginia where he advised the West Virginia Secretary of State. He also served as the Executive Director of Keep Prince William Beautiful, a not-for-profit serving Prince William County, Virginia, where he led the organization to record fundraising and new programs and initiatives.  He most recently worked as a consultant focusing on Public Affairs and Philanthropy at Capital Caring Health.

“It’s critically important for Capital Caring Health to lead advocacy efforts that advance policies for those with serious, advanced illness,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, Capital Caring Health President and CEO. “Bringing Garrett and Parsons on board in these roles reinforces our advocacy engagement with local, state and federal leaders as we work to address the critical need for earlier and easier access to care for those with serious, advanced illness.”

######

About Capital Caring Health
Capital Caring Health is one of the leading nonprofit providers of elder health, hospice, and advanced illness care for persons of all ages in the mid-Atlantic region.  A member of a national network of 70 nonprofit hospice providers, our mission is to provide patients and their families with advanced illness care that is second to none.  We also have special hospice teams serving children and veterans.  On an annual basis, we serve over 7,000 hospice patients and provide more than $3 million in charity care to those who are uninsured and have nowhere else to turn.  Almost 90 cents out of every dollar goes to caring for patients and their families. Our website, www.capitalcaring.org, is available in English, Spanish, and Korean plus offers 24/7 Live Chat.  Since the beginning of hospice care over 40 years ago, we have served 120,000 patients and their families in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

24-Hour Care Line:  (800) 869-2136 www.capitalcaring.org