Sharon A. Jones was born in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana, raised in the rural area of Coushatta, Louisiana, in the Northwest area of Louisiana and now resides in California. She is a graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, University of Phoenix in Pleasanton, California, and University of Phoenix in Lathrop, California. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Rehabilitation Psychology, Master of Science in Organizational Management and a Master of Arts in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling.

Sharon is employed at Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, serving as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) coordinator and ethnic services manager for 14 years. Her work history is over 30 years, which includes experience working in residential treatment with children; outpatient services for children and adults; crisis services domestic violence and sexual assault; foster care; shelter services for the homeless; adults with disabilities; individuals with health conditions; inpatient psychiatric hospitalization care; and support to diverse communities. Her current work is dedicated to the Mental Health Services Act program development, facilitating culturally-responsive and stigma-reduction training, community stakeholder planning process and working with diverse underserved communities.

Sharon is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is also a group facilitator resident trainer certified by California Institute of Behavioral Health Solutions for the California Brief Multicultural Scale Multicultural Training. Sharon is trained in Mental Health First Aid for youth and adults, Raising the Emotionally Healthy Child, safeTALK and ASIST Suicide Prevention. In addition, she wrote the Merced County MHSA Innovation Plan Strengthening Families Program and Innovative Strategist Network.