Sasha Wildfong
Sasha Wildfong is a child welfare and behavioral health consultant with experience in policymaking, rate development, contracting, and data analysis across the child welfare and Medicaid landscapes.
Sasha supports state agencies across the country in developing sustainable, equitable payment structures for child welfare and behavioral health services. Her work includes conducting rate analyses, supporting rate model development, and facilitating provider and stakeholder engagement to ensure rates reflect both service needs and fiscal realities. She also analyzes child welfare and Medicaid financial data to inform provider payment methodologies and collaborates with states to design value‑based payment strategies that incentivize improved outcomes for children and families.
Experience
Sasha is committed to improving outcomes for children and families and leverages data-driven strategies to support system reform, fiscal stewardship, and evidence‑based decision‑making. She served in several key leadership and analytical roles at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS). She oversaw the administration's budget for child welfare and juvenile justice programs. She led federal and state reporting and managed fiscal audits. Sasha also developed budget proposal processes grounded in continuous quality improvement, implemented performance‑based congregate care contracts, and created real‑time monitoring tools to support strategic decision‑making. She helped design and implement Michigan’s performance‑based funding pilot, developed performance measures, and informed the state’s case‑rate and capitated funding models.
She also created utilization management strategies to reduce congregate care reliance and monitored private agency contracts for fiscal and policy compliance.
Sasha began her career in direct service as a Foster Care Specialist and Home Visitor, providing case management, early intervention services, and family support. This early experience grounds her financial and policy work in a deep understanding of the lived realities of children, families, and providers.
- Approved Professional
- Master of Science in Administration, Public Administration, Central Michigan University
- Bachelor of Science, Family Studies & Psychology, Central Michigan University