Meet our Team
Board President
Candy Caceres PsyD LMFT- (She/her)
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
Dr. Candy Caceres is a Doctor of Psychology with expertise in clinical and non-clinical services for adults and children with persistent and severe mental health conditions. She formerly supervised several programs at Children’s Institute, Inc. (CII), ranging from individual and family mental health treatment to family welfare and support programs. Dr. Caceres’ professional experience also includes training in a range of evidence-based practices, including, but not limited to, Couples Methods, Motivational Interviewing, Reflective Parenting, and Child Parent Psychotherapy. She describes her therapeutic approach as one which “guides, coaches and assists in the development of self-empowerment and advocacy skills.” Her work also reflects a sensitivity for, and knowledge of, appropriate interventions for diverse populations. In addition, Dr. Caceres is a dedicated adjunct professor in the applied clinical psychology program at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Chief Financial Officer
Ada Valladares, LCSW (She/her)
Ada Valladares obtained her Master in Social Work at California State University, Long Beach and her Bachelors in Social Work at California State University, Los Angeles. Ada has experience working with children and adults from different backgrounds. Ada is trained in different evidence based practices such as Seeking Safety, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Reflecting Parenting. Ada worked at AltaMed providing mental health services to pediatric clients and young adults. Previously, Ada provided mental health services to CalWORKs participants with the purpose to help them decrease mental health symptoms to re-integrate into the working life. Ada also worked alongside Los Angeles Police Department responding to domestic violence crisis calls to provide support, resources, and education to domestic violence victims. Furthermore, Ada also provided mental health counseling to domestic violence victims to help them become survivors and participates in events to support community education to reduce domestic violence. Ada is passionate about helping people reach their full potential by encouraging them to get informed and educate themselves so they can have a voice for those who can’t express themselves. Ada is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Secretary
Veronica Macias, Psy.D (She/her)
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
Veronica Macias is a Supervising Psychologist at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LAC-DMH). Dr. Macias received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Pfizer College, one of the five Claremont Colleges consortium schools. Dr. Macias received her doctorate from Argosy University in Orange County. During her training years she worked with adults and children birth to five doing dyadic play therapy. She also received training in several evidenced based practices such as Parent Child Interaction Therapy, Child Parent Psychotherapy, Incredible Years, and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Macias’s specialty is working with children birth to five exposed to trauma, under the evidenced based practice modality of Child Parent Psychotherapy. Dr. Macias participated in the NCTSN Child Parent Psychotherapy Learning Collaborative in 2010-2011, co-facilitating training on Child Parent Psychotherapy and providing consultation. She has presented on various topics such as mental health first aid, child welfare, sexual abuse, group therapy, child development, and assessment of young children, impact of trauma on young children, and the Shared Core Practice Model. Dr. Macias has coordinated and co-facilitated sexual abuse groups, Incredible Years Parent group, and Incredible Year Dina Dinosaur Social Skills group. She has clinically supervised multi-disciplinary teams of clinicians and paraprofessionals working with children in early childhood and intensive mental health departments. In addition to her clinical experience, she has an elementary school teaching credential and taught for 6 years for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Her administrative and clinical work has brought her knowledge and experience in collaborator with child welfare and building multi-disciplinary partnerships in the community.
Treasurer
Manuel Rivera, PhD. (He/him)
California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Rivera is a licensed clinical psychologist and a part-time faculty at California State University, Los Angeles. Classes taught include: Socio-cultural Aspects of Counseling, Preventive Counseling for Youth-at-Risk, Addictions Counseling, Psychopharmacology, Counseling Theories and Clinical Case Management. Dr. Rivera has written a chapter on Drug Abuse for the text book entitled “Medical, Psychological, and Vocational Aspects of Disability (3rd Edition) 2010. He has presented at numerous local, state and national conferences .Dr. Rivera previously worked at Children’s Institute, Inc. (CII) and directed clinical programs that served children and families. His experience included program management, administration and clinical supervision. He supervised staff that provided direct services to low resourced populations and communities. In addition, he provided direction on policy at CII to guide culturally and linguistically appropriate serves to populations in Los Angeles. He oversaw the clinical internships for pre/post master, pre/post- doctoral students and provided clinical supervision and mentoring for more than 50 interns.
Therapist
Marlene Blanco, LMFT (They/them)
Marlene has worked with the Hispanic community providing mental health services. Marlene is certified and trained in TF-CBT, Domestic Violence, Motivational Interviewing and crisis counseling. In addition to providing individual therapy. Marlene has also provided group therapy for victims of Domestic Violence and Parenting issues and school-based counseling. Marlene’s work with community organizations in LA County has widened her scope of practice as well her understanding for unique situations. Having been born and raised in LA has also added to them exposure to diverse individuals and situations. Most of Marlene’s experience has been working with both children and adults who have survived trauma and who experience mood disorders. Marlene has also guided individuals through crises during their work with The Trevor Project and Didi Hirsch. Additionally, they have provided mental health support for those facing sexual orientation stigma within the LGBTQ+ community.
Therapist
Victoria (Vicky) Garalina, LCSW, Ed D (she/her)
Vicky Garafola is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with children, youth, and families. After experiencing her own mental health challenges growing up and experiencing various types of mental health care, she went to UCLA and majored in psychology and sociology with a goal of helping others with similar experiences. She then pursued her MSW from USC. She recently graduated with her Ed.D from Johns Hopkin University and her dissertation was about the educational persistence of youth with a history of foster care, which is a population near and dear to her heart. She is passionate about social justice, creating inclusive environments, and reducing the stigma of mental health.
Therapist
Haley Farzley, AMFT (She/her)
Haley Farzley obtained her Master’s Degree in Psychology Counseling/Marriage Family Therapy at Argosy University, Los Angeles and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at California State University Dominguez Hills. With a focus on cognitive behavioral theories and a strength-based therapy style, she is dedicated to helping people heal, grow, and create meaningful change. She enjoys working with adolescents, adults, and elder adults, both individually and as a couple or family.
Therapist
Flor de Maria Rohr, LMFT (She/her)
Flor has worked in community services for various years in areas of Los Angeles County (Spa 6 Watts South LA, Compton, Spa 4 area in Downtown Los Angeles and Spa 7 surround areas of Bell Gardens. Flor carries a client centered approach and works along with the client(s) to help identify areas of need in Clinical and Non-Clinical support. Growing up in South Los Angeles, Flor was inspired to continue to work and provide services for clients with specialized need due to various Mental health barriers with trauma and generational trauma. Flor completed a Bachelor’s degree with focus on Psychology and Chicano Studies and obtained a Substance Abuse Certificate. Due to desiring a higher level of education, Flor completed Antioch University’s Clinical Psychology with a focus on Trauma (sex trafficking, domestic violence, grief and loss, immigration issues, substance abuse) focused courses. Flor has been able to help support client in finding ways to cope and be able to process Trauma impacting well-being. Flor has been able to obtain experience working with DCFS cases while in Children’s Institute (as a Senior Birth to 5 Therapist), along with working with various school ages (certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy and MAP). Flor experienced a desire to help victims of Domestic Violence (Certified in Domestic Violence 40-hour training by Victims of Crime) and had exposure to Homeless FSP population which created additional support for adult clients along with Seeking Safety certified and use CBT to help reframe thoughts. As a first-generation immigrant Flor has a passion to help and support transitions and trauma that have presented themselves to various people. I believe we all have a journey and sometimes we meet people to help us in that journey- and I try to be that for clients. Hablo Español efectivamente.
Administrative Manager
Evelyn Medina (She/her/ella)
Evelyn Medina earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach. Evelyn has worked in the social service field for 17 years working with the elderly, foster children/youth, probation youth and victims of sexual commercial exploitation (CSEC). Evelyn has provided crisis intervention, case management services, mentorship, and supported the development of independent living skills through a trauma informed lens. Additionally, Evelyn has provided, modeled, and taught advocacy skills to support client empowerment and activism. In 2016 Evelyn began her role at a Non-Profit Organization with a program focusing on assisting foster youth in developing life skills to become knowledgeable self-sufficient adults. Evelyn was promoted in 2017 to Program supervisor where she took the opportunity to create and implement a training curriculum becoming master trainer for the program, training to all new staff as well as providing ongoing trainings when new changes arise. In addition Evelyn maintains monthly data collection and analysis, program innovation and implementation, and attends outreach events, and maintains close relationships with community partners. Her staff and colleagues have recognized Evelyn as a supportive professional always lending a helping hand, honors time to listen, problem solves and offers guidance with a caring heart.