Center for Excellence Advisory Committee

Committed to Kin-first Culture

The Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support (CFE) is a collaboration between the California Department of Social Services and UC Davis and is at the forefront of promoting kinship care and fostering a kin-first culture throughout California's child welfare jurisdictions, partner agencies and providers. The Center is honored to work with a statewide advisory committee who is actively engaged with the Center for Excellence’s administration on implementation activities, primarily providing key recommendation on products/materials and serving as ambassadors and advocates for a family-centered, kin-first culture and system-transformation.
 
A man holding a happy child. To their left are an elderly couple and to their right a younger child and a woman. All of them appear excited to see the girl being held by the man.
The advisory committee is comprised of individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to a kin-first culture in their personal and professional lives. They have lived expertise and professional expertise within child welfare and juvenile justice. Committee members are representative of California's diverse geographical landscape, encompassing large, medium and small counties. It also includes members from vital partner groups, such as child welfare, juvenile justice, Tribes, legal professionals, advocacy groups, kinship families, birth parents, foster youth, service providers and a wide array of other stakeholders.

The Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support wishes to thank these guiding forces, decision-makers and visionaries who help us reach our mission:

 

Committee Members

  • Alice J. Langton-Sloan, HHSA Director, Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria
  • Andrea Hunt, Social Worker Supervisor II, El Dorado County Child Protective Services
  • Brianna Kidwell, Youth/Parent Partner, Victor Community Support Services 
  • Bridgette Hernandez, Assistant Director, Riverside County DPSS – Children and Family Services 
  • Caitlin Radigan, Statewide Policy Manager, California Youth Connection 
  • Candy Madrigal, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work Education/Gerontology, CSU Fresno
  • Cole Lancaster, Family Engagement Specialist, Office of Youth and Community Restoration Honorable 
  • Daniela Reali-Ferrari, Judge, San Diego County Superior Court 
  • Deannie Choiselat, California Coalition for Youth, Lived Expert
  • Dorothy L. Wait, Tolowa/Chetco/Tutut’ni, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Tribal Council
  • Emily Bahne, PPCNP-BC, MPH, Community Member, KC Kids Early Childhood Center 
  • Fatima “Selena” Latifi, YEP Ambassador
  • Hannah Clyde, Kinship Allies, Child Advocates of Placer County 
  • Honorable Roger C. Chan Judge, San Francisco Superior Court
  • Jennifer Kleinbach Deuschel, Kinship and Placement Coordinator, Placer County; CSOC of Placer County 
  • Jenny Leon, MSW, Chief Program Officer, CASA of Orange County
  • Jennifer Rexroad, Executive Director, California Alliance of Caregivers
  • Kellon Thompson, County Liaison / Attorney, EA Family Services / Law Office of Kellon Thompson
  • Kristin Power, Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, Alliance for Children’s Rights 
  • Lauren Mendez, YEP Ambassador
  • Lauren Crutsinger, Chief Program Officer, Seneca Family of Agencies 
  • Lisa Campbell-Motton, Director, LA County Probation Child Welfare
  • Marie Canete, Transition Coordinator, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health 
  • Michelle Neumann, Training Coordinator, Caltrin
  • Parker Terese, UC Davis Instructor, and CEO of Speaking Through Parkers Purpose 
  • Pattee Russell-Curry, MFT, BC-DMT, LPCC, Private Practice, Kinship Family
  • Rebecca Ingerman, Firm Director, Children’s Law Center of California 
  • Rhonda Okonkwo Young, Manager of Mental Health Programs - Quality Management with El Dorado County 
  • Rob Woolridge, Deputy Director, Los Angeles County, Department of Children and Family Services 
  • Roger de Leon, Jr., Lived Expert, Co-Chair, Peer Partner Advisory Committee, RCFFP UC Davis 
  • Serina Allen, Lead Social Services Practitioner, San Bernardino County Children and Family Services 
  • Dr. Shemone Howard-Phillips, Lived Expert 
  • Sydney Bice, Associate Director of Advocacy & Policy, Stanford Sierra Youth and Families
  • Vonya Quarles, Esq., Director & Co-Founder, Starting Over, Inc.
  • Wendy Hernandez, Lead Care Manager, Sunlight Health Group 
  • Zarah Latifi, Lived Expert
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