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Lee Johnson III, Ph.D., CHES®

Founder and Principal

Lee Johnson III, Ph.D., CHES®, is the Founder and Principal of Early Quest Strategies™, a consultancy dedicated to enhancing early childhood and mental health outcomes through strategic planning, leadership consulting, and policy advising. Dr. Johnson combines his extensive background in policy, public health, and early childhood education to drive impactful innovation. Recently, Dr. Johnson served as Vice President of Policy at the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), where he led NBCDI’s advocacy and thought leadership initiatives, research and publications, and public policy and legislative agenda. In this role, he was instrumental in shepherding the development of policy priorities and recommendations, engaging in in-depth research and analysis, and providing strategic advice in creating and launching NBCDI’s Eight Essential Outcomes for Black Child Development framework. His efforts have directly contributed to solidifying a framework that shapes national dialogues in crafting equitable early childhood policies and practices that respond to Black children’s unique strengths and needs and further champion their rights and well-being.

Before joining NBCDI, Dr. Johnson served as Senior Policy Analyst for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) at ZERO TO THREE (ZTT)—the national leader in infant-toddler policy and program development. He focused on avenues to positively influence the size, diversity, quality, and accessibility of IECMH clinical workforce development pathways through a communication, messaging research, and analysis-driven effort. Additionally, he helped fulfill ZTT’s mission of ensuring that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life by translating the science of brain development into improvements in early childhood policy and programs. Specifically, he led a federal policy portfolio in support of the first and only IECMH federal grant program in the country. In his role, he was responsible for maintaining and increasing state support of the current $20M appropriated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) IECMH grant program. His leadership work at ZTT laid the foundation for increased federal support for the mental health of infants and toddlers, emphasizing the critical nature of the first three years of life.

Dr. Johnson also held previous appointments in the state of Alabama as a director at the Department of Early Childhood Education and state director at First 5 Alabama®, Alabama’s Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. During his tenure, he focused on advising and consulting with state agency leaders, the state legislature, and the Governor’s office on infant and early childhood mental health recommendations, grant opportunities, and directing, securing, and maintaining federal funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) and the Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) programs. His leadership in these roles was pivotal in securing substantial federal investments into Alabama’s early childhood home visiting programs, demonstrating a profound impact on children’s health and educational outcomes across the state. Dr. Johnson earned a B.S. in early childhood education, an M.A., and a Ph.D. in public health from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®). The CHES® designation recognizes his commitment to promoting public health education, a foundation that enriches his approach to policy and advocacy in early childhood development.