Acosta, Henry MA, MSW LSW
Henry Acosta is the Executive Director of the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health, and the Deputy Director of the New Jersey Mental Health Institute. Mr. Acosta is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker and leader in the Hispanic mental health field and is a 2007 honoree of LBHI.

Barreiro, Isabel Teresa, MA
Isabel Barreiro is the Program Coordinator for Partners for Culturally Competent Behavioral Health Service Deliver to Hispanics at the New Jersey Mental Health Institute. Ms. Barreiro earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Rider University in New Jersey.

Beliz, Tony, PhD
Dr. Beliz is currently Deputy Director, Emergency Outreach Bureau (EOB), Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. EOB provides field response to psychiatric emergencies, school violence scenarios, barricade/hostage situations, critical incidents, and homeless issues in Los Angeles County. The Bureau provides the mental health response to LAPD (SMART) and LASD (MHAT) SWAT incidents. EOB also responds to disaster or terrorist events through the Los Angeles County and City Offices of Emergency Management. The Bureau provided services to the New Orleans Fire Department following Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Beliz is an Expert Witness for the Los Angeles County Superior Court and Expert Consultant for the State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology. He was a member of the Department’s Psychiatric Emergency Team (PET) from 1977–1979. Since then he has developed, supervised, and coordinated psychiatric emergency services in the private and public sector. Dr. Beliz was a Clinical Fellow in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School from 1979 to 1982 and served as a consultant to the Refugee Mental Health Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Washington, D.C., from 1988 to 1990.Dr. Beliz is currently Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, UCLA School of Medicine; Diplomate, American Board of Forensic Medicine; and Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, California Association of Hostage Negotiators and Association of Threat Assessment Professionals.

Burke, Bob M.
Bob Burke, Peer Mentor, Vice President. Recovery in Action International. Bob started his own company, Your Comeback Kid Peercoach Service LLC, is geared toward life coaching those who are working on recovery from various forms of mental illness. He has assisted many individuals in their growth and recovery. He has learned to use his experience of and recovery from mental health issues as strength in helping others to recover and giving back to the community. He is working on his Bachelor’s degree and he has a great sense of humor.

Camilleri, Christopher, MD
Cristopher Camilleri, MD, Psychiatrist, Advocate. President, Recovery in Action International. I have a great passion for working with individuals and groups to overcome their personal and social obstacles to achieve their goals and dreams. My objective is to help clients make the best use of their strengths and community supports to maximize their recovery, community integration and achievement of their goals and dreams. I enjoy working with client, family and professional groups. During the past several years I have been doing presentations on transforming our communities and mental health systems to becoming more recovery based and client driven. My approach is based on the learning and experience I have integrated from my professional education and work as a psychiatrist and my experience and recovery from severe depression.

Canivé, Jose, MD
Dr. Jose Canive is Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and Director of Psychiatry Research at the Albuquerque VAMC. He is originally from Cuba, earned his MD from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, and obtained his Diploma in Psychiatry at McGill University in Montreal. His research on the cortical basis of the schizophrenia sensory gating deficit is at the cutting edge of clinical neuroscience. He has received consecutive funding from the MIND Institute, NIH and VA Merit Review Program with a yield of 28 scientific articles from 2003 to 2008. He was a member of NIH Clinical Psychopathology Initial Review Group (IRG) from 1994 to 1999, the NIH Interventions Committee for Disorders Related to Schizophrenia, Late Life, or Personality (ITSP) IRG from 2006 to 2009, and the ITVA IRG since June 2009. He has received NAMI’s Exemplary Psychiatrist Award, UNM’s Department of Psychiatry Leonard H. Weisskopf Award and the Milton Rosenbaum Award, UNM’s School of Medicine Earl Walker Award in Neurosciences and APA’s Simón Bolivar Award. He has been President of the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry (ASHP), is a reviewer for many prominent psychiatric journals, has published numerous articles and book chapters, has lectured widely on the neurobiological aspects and treatment of schizophrenia, and has mentored a cadre of junior investigators.

Castro, Antonio MSW, ACSW
Mr. Castro is a graduate of the MSW Program at California State University, San Bernardino campus, and has worked over five years at Bilingual Family Services in Ontario, primarily with Latino immigrants. His passion is to strengthen the Latino Family and improve the well being of the children involved.

Cavazos Cardenas, Laura E., MD
Psiquiatra y Psicoterapeuta de la U.A.N.L. Psicoanalista de la Asociacion Regiomontana de Priscoanalisis A.C. Diplomado en Alta Direccion de Empresas en el IPADE. Docente de pregrado y Posgrado, actualmente de Psiquiatria del ITESM. Miembro de diversas Asociaiones Psiquiatricas. Fue Director del Hospital Psiquiatrico Estatal. Fue Copresidente de la Alianza de Coalicion Fronteriza Mexico – Estados Unidos Actualmente Director de Salud Mental y Adicciones de la Secretaria de Salud de Estado de Nuevo Leon y Secretario.

Cordero Arrieta, Rudy, MSW
Rudy Cordero Arrieta is a member of the Yolo County Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services Management Team. As the Quality Improvement/UR Manager and Data Administrator he is responsible for managing the departments overall quality assurance and cost-containment initiatives and, the implementation and operation of the Electronic Health Record System (Avatar). Prior to this, he was a member of San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Administration. He directed mandated performance improvement projects, supervised staff of the performance outcomes unit, and administers state and federal consumer/provider surveys. He also managed the county's AB2034 funded, Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART) recovery oriented program team.

Delgado, Pedro L. MD
Pedro L. Delgdo, MD is Professor and Dielmann Distinguished Chair, Department of Psychiatry, and Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professionalism at the School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Schience Center at San antonio.

He earned an MD with election into AOA and an MA in pharmacology from the University of Texas at Galveston. His internship and residency in psychiatry were completed at Yale University, after which he served for several years on the Yale faculty. Between 1992 and 2000, he served at the University of Arizone, where he was Professor, Associate Department Head, and Director of Research in the Department of Psychiatry. From 2000-2005, he served as the Douglas Bond Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Delgado is an internationally renowed researcher and frequesnt lecturer on the neurobiology of major depression and the biological mechanisms underlying antidepressant action. He has had continuoius Federal funding for over 14 years for his research on the biology and treatment of depression. He is a past President of the American Society for Hispanic Psychiatry (ASHP) and takes an active role in mentoring young physicians.

Dominguez, Socorro, MSW, BHT
Socorro Dominguez, MSW, BHT is a Program Coordinator for Art Awakenings and Expressive Arts Therapist. She has a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University, as well as a Baccalaureate of Social Work, Summa Cum Laude. Ms. Dominguez also earned a Master of Business Administration, Ottawa University.

Esqueda, Silvia, MFT
Silvia Esqueda is a bilingual/bicultural licensed therapist, who has worked for over seventeen years with Latino families and Promotores Comunitarios. She is a program consultant, conference speaker, and writer of Latino immigrant issues as it relates to substance abuse and other mental health issues. Silvia Esqueda graduated from CSULA with a B.S. and M.S. in Counseling and is a licensed MFT.

Fischer, Leigh, MPH
For the past ten years Fischer has focused on reaching the underserved through public health program development, grant writing, research and evaluation. She is currently the Program Manager for SBIRT Colorado and provides training and technical assistance to hospitals, clinics, and community-based organizations across Colorado on how to implement substance use screening and brief intervention services into routine healthcare practice. Leigh is also President-elect of the Colorado Society for Public Health Education. Through her previous experience with Planned Parenthood of the Chicago Area, the Illinois Center for Violence Prevention, and Teen Mother Education Project of Denver Kids, Inc., she facilitated education and advocacy-based activities in order to help address behavioral and environmental risk factors that impact health. Furthermore, Fischer assisted on two research studies funded through the National Institutes of Health: (1) Life Support Decisions for Extremely Premature Infants, and (2) the Women’s Interagency HIV Study. She received a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a master of Public Health with an emphasis in behavioral sciences and health promotion from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Flores, Rogelio, JD
Superior Court Judge Rogelio Flores began his judicial duties in January 1987 as the first court commissioner for the North Santa Barbara County Municipal Court. In 1997, he was appointed to the municipal court bench and in 1998 he was elevated to the superior court. He received his law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1979.

Judge Flores is currently assigned to various problem solving courts in Santa Maria including the Substance Abuse Treatment Court-SATC, (Drug Court), and drug treatment mandated by passage of Proposition 36. He is also responsible for the Mental Health Court and calendars specializing in co-occurring disorders. Judge Flores is on the faculty of The National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.

He was also recently appointed to the Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee for the Judicial Council of California. He is a past president of the Latino Judges of California, and he is a member of the National and California Association of Drug Court Professionals. Judge Flores was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. He has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally on the topic of collaborative jurisprudence. Recently, Judge Flores has been serving as a consultant to the Office of National Drug Control Policy in overseeing the creation of drug courts in Mexico.

He has previously received Certificates of Recognition from the California State Legislature, Congresswoman Lois Capps, the National Latino Peace Officers Association, the County of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara County Probation Peace Officers Association, the City of Santa Maria, the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce, the City of Santa Barbara, the Community Recovery Network and he was granted the Achievement Award for 2001 by the Santa Barbara Hispanic Achievement Council. Judge Flores was elected as a Class A (non-alcoholic) Trustee to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous in New York in 2007.

Garza, Raymond T., PhD
Garza, Raymond T. is the Founding Director of the Culture and Policy Institute and Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is known internationally for his theoretical and applied research with Hispanic populations. His research and professional programs have been supported by major grants for the past decade.

Gonzalez, Fernando, PhD, ABPP, QME
Dr. Gonzalez is currently a Head Clinical Psychologist, Co-Director of Training and Director of Neuropsychology at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, specializing in brain injury, spinal cord injury and chronic medical issues. Born in East Los Angeles, he grew up locally, and attended Columbia University (BA), Michigan State (MA/PHD) and UTHSCSA. Dr. Gonzalez is bilingual and bicultural. He has worked at Rancho since 1997 and is on the Board of Director for APAs Division (22) of Rehabilitation and Psychology.

Hendrick, Victoria, MD
Dr. Victoria Hendrick is a professor of psychiatry at UCLA Semel Institute and is director of psychiatric inpatient services at Olive View Medical Center. She is known nationally for her work in women’s mental health and has published four books and over 50 papers. Her research has focused on finding the safest treatments for pregnant and breast-feeding women who experience psychiatric symptoms. She is bilingual and bicultural and has worked extensively with Latina women and families.

Jacomé, Marco E., MA, LPC, CSADC, CEAP
Mr. Jacome earned his Master of Arts Degree in Family and Community Counseling at Northeastern University, and has participated in a Fellowship Program at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Employee Assistance Professional, and a Certified Supervisor Addiction Drug Counselor. He has worked in the field of mental health and substance abuse for the past 25 years. Mr. Jacome has been in his current position as Chief Executive Officer for Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc. (H.A.S.) for the last 15 years. He has served as the Board Member and President of the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA), Past Board President of Advanced Behavioral Care (a managed care corporation), and is part of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA) Board. He currently is a Board Member and the Treasurer for the Northern Illinois Employee Assistance Professional Association. He is a member of the Hispanic Stakeholders Group of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) which was just funded the start-up a National Latino Substance Abuse Resource Center for the Untied States.

Jimenez, Manuel J., MFT
Manuel J. Jimenez has worked in the mental health profession for 20 years throughout his career he has assumed a variety of leadership roles in his field as well as in his community. While working for Santa Cruz County Children’s Mental Health, he created innovative programs for SED children. Mr. Jimenez served as the Ethic Services Coordinator in El Dorado County where he worked for over 6 years. In 2002, he created a dual diagnosis program called Un Paso Adelante, which served the Latino community in San Joaquin County. Also while working for San Joaquin County Mental Health, he served as a program manager for several mental health programs serving adults. In Madera County Mr. Jimenez served as the Division Manager of Adult Services for Madera County Behavioral Health Services. Most recently he served as the Senior Manager of the Adult Mental Health Clinic in Fairfield, for Solano County, where he has also served as the Vallejo Clinic Manager. Currently, Mr. Jimenez is the Director of Mental Health for Merced County. Mr. Jimenez has made numerous presentations throughout the State. Topics have included: Latino issues, dual diagnosis, leadership and history. He has served on numerous non-profit boards and commissions. Notably, he received the honor of being appointed the first chair of the Latino Affairs Commission for the City of South Lake Tahoe. He also participated on the Juvenile Commission for the El Dorado County, and as president of the San Joaquin County Management Association. In 1999 the Clinton administration appointed him to the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee. Mr. Jimenez currently serves on the Statewide Mental Health & Spirituality Initiative Committee.

Jimenez, Roberto Leo, MD, FAPA
He was born in the west side of San Antonio, Texas. He completed his medical training at the University of Texas, Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and completed his internship at the Brady Green Medical Complex, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas. Served in the United States Navy and U.S. Marine Corp and is a decorated combat Vietnam Veteran with the 2nd Batallion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine, Division I Corp, Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He completed his psychiatric training including a fellowship in community and legal psychiatry at Boston University Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. He served on the faculties of Boston University School of Medicine, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, North Eastern University College of Criminal Justice and Harvard Medical School. In 2003, Dr. Jimenez was awarded The Pinnacle Life Time Achievement Award for lifetime work in mental illness, mental retardation, and substance abuse. In 2005, The Texas Council of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Centers, Inc. selected Dr. Jimenez for its highest recognition -- The Frank M. Adams Award for life time work in behalf of the citizens of Texas. In 2006, Dr. Jimenez was honored with both the Mary Holdsworth Butt Award and Marian Health Care Award for dedication to act on behalf of those with mental disabilities in the MHMR system and for his innovative leadership in the field of psychiatry. Again, in 2007, Dr. Jimenez was named Icon in Healthcare Recipient in 2007 from CentroMed for his life-long commitment to serve the poor and underserved.

E. Douglas Kihn, OMD, LAC
Kihn, E Douglas has been a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Licensed Acupuncturist with the State of California since 1987. He has taught classes at acupuncture colleges in the Los Angeles area for many years. His articles have been published in several periodicals and he is the author of three books: The Workbook of Chinese Herbs, Chinese Medicine in America, and Avoiding Death Indefinitely. Dr. Kihn currently practices Chinese Medicine and acupuncture at the Mar Vista Institute of Health in West Los Angeles.

Kopelowicz, Alex, MD
Alejandro (Alex) Kopelowicz, M.D. is Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Medical Director of the San Fernando Mental Health Center (SFMHC), a community mental health center operated by the Department of Mental Health of Los Angeles County and Chief of Psychiatry of Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Kopelowicz has been a frequent lecturer on biobehavioral treatment and psychiatric rehabilitation techniques. He has written a number of articles and book chapters on these subjects. Dr. Kopelowicz was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and immigrated with his family to New York City at a young age. He graduated Haverford College with a B.A. in Psychology, and went on to receive his medical education at Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey. He completed his psychiatric residency at the UCLA/San Fernando Valley program.

Lagomasino, Isabel, MD
Dr. Isabel Lagomasino is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the USC Keck School of Medicine and Director of the LAC+USC Psychiatry Residency Program. Her research and clinical activities focus on improving the quality of mental health care for underserved ethnic minority communities.

Lind, Mimi, LCSW
Mimi Lind is the Director of Mental Health and Domestic Violence Intervention Program at the Venice Family Clinic. She has been a clinical social worker in health care settings in Massachusetts and California since 1988. After receiving her Masters in Social Work from USC in 1990 she worked as an ER social worker and outpatient psychotherapist specializing in victims of trauma, specifically victims of domestic violence (DV). In 1991 she was certified to work with batterers and understand the experience of the battered woman. Ms. Lind brought this training to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston and started one of the first hospital based domestic violence programs in the country as well as trained the entire hospital to better screen for and respond to victims of DV. After her move to Los Angeles in 1994, she started the Safe Families Domestic Violence Intervention Program at the Venice Family Clinic where she continues to train medical professionals to better screen for DV.

Ms. Lind specializes in training medical professionals about the psychosocial issues of their patients. She has conducted trainings across the country on domestic violence for health providers and for four years was an Adjunct Professor at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine teaching a 3-year required course called “Doctoring.” She currently teaches domestic violence intervention at Loyola Marymount University.

As part of her efforts in bridging the medical and domestic violence communities, Ms. Lind became the Director of the Westside Domestic Violence Network for a few years, which aims at improving community collaboration by providing trainings and professional task forces to local agency staff.

Loera, Gustavo, Ed.D.
Loera, Gustavo, Ed.D. founded the Human Services Academies, high school learning communities that helps over 500 low-income, at risk youth make college and career a possibility. Since earning his doctorate in 2006, he has added Systems design and research, working with both California’s mental health and education systems as they each undergo major transformations. Dr. Loera designed state standards for human services pathways, as part of the Department of Educations growing emphasis on career technical education. As a researcher, Dr. Loera is studying the effects of student’s centered themes, such as academic engagement and expectations, personal and social development, family orientation and college-going culture, on student’s high school achievement and future educational attainment.

Lopez, Stella, PhD
Lopez, Stella is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her training has been in research methodology and quantitative analysis of designs. She has conducted basic research on areas of social psychology such as attribution processes, prejudice and stereotyping, and social perceptions and interactions. Lately, she has expanded her research focus to include applied and community-focused research in behavioral health.

Madrid, Chilo L., PhD, LCDS, MAC, CCJAP
Dr. Chilo Madrid has 40 years experience in the provision of drug demand reduction and behavioral health care services, he holds two post-graduate degrees in Clinical Psychology and is a Board Certified Professional Counselor. He is the President of the Border Institute of Excellence and the CEO for Aliviane, Inc.

Martinez, Maria Luz, MSW
Ms. Martinez is a Psychiatric Social Worker with the County of Los Angeles, Department of Mental Health - Emergency Outreach Bureau Field Response Operations. She is currently working with the countywide School Threat Assessment Response Team (START). Through START, Ms. Martinez provides field response, training, consultation, and monitoring of cases involving school violence. She is responsible for interfacing with students, families, educational institutions and law enforcement agencies pre and post intervention. She also has worked with the Specialized Foster Care Program in South Central Los Angeles providing psychiatric evaluations and treatment for children in foster care. Ms. Martinez is a reserve Deputy Probation Officer for Los Angeles County and a member of the National Association of Social Work, Latino Professional Network Association Los Angeles, and American Psychological Association. She is also a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals.

Mascarenas, Dee Dee, LMFT
Dee Dee has been working in the mental health field with individuals and families for over 25 years. She is a Latina, fluent in both English and Spanish. As a clinician she has worked with a multi-cultural, multi-racial clientele, addressing such topics as adoption, parenting concerns, stress management and anxiety disorders and depression, abuse recovery, codependency recovery, grief and loss issues, self-esteem and assertion skills building and bi-culturation. Dee Dee is also a Certified Facilitator of the Kinship Center’s Adoption Clinical Training Program and has for the past fifteen years been sharing her professional expertise as well as her personal experience as an adoptee (who has been in reunion with her birth family) in her work with members of the Adoption Constellation as well as with mental health professionals. As a consultant, she has worked with numerous non­profit and for-profit companies/agencies throughout Southern California, such as, El Nido Family Centers, Vaughn Family Center, The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Mexican-Baptist Convention of So. California, and The Judicial Council of the Court, State of California, and the Children’s Bureau. She has also served as adjunct faculty at both Phillips Graduate Institute and Pacific Oaks College in Los Angeles County. She has also been a frequent guest on Telemundo/Channel 52 News Broadcast offering psychological insight on various topics. Dee Dee is fully committed to helping people grow and change in order to develop more fulfilling, healthy and effective lives.

Mireles, John, BS, BATH
John Mireles is a member of the Diversity Committee of the Arizona Council of Human Service providers, and AZ DBHS Cultural competency Advisory Committee. Mr. Mireles is also Director of Diversity, Ombudsman, and Internship and Volunteer Coordinator for PSA Behavioral Health Agency in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Mireles is Deputy State director, Arizona League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He has a BS Degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and a BA Degree in Theology from the Phoenix Bible College and Seminary.

Miskim, Theresa, MD
Dr. Miskim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Robert Wood Johnson medical School, UMDNJ. In May, 2009 she was elected President of the New Jersey Psychiatric Association and is serving as the Secretary General for the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry. Dr. Miskim is board certified in the medical specialty of Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She divides her time between administration, clinical practice, teaching and clinical research. In addition, she is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and is actively involved at both the regional and national levels.

Over the years, Dr. Miskim has incorporated the delivery of culturally competent treatment with clinical research resulting in publications addressing the influence of culture on symptom presentation. She participates in community based projects such as "Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics" sponsored by the NJ Mental Health Institute, Inc focused on enhancing access to and the quality of mental health services for Hispanics. She has spearheaded the formation of culturally competent treatment groups for Hispanic patients with severe and persistent mental illness and works on integration of mental and physical health care endeavors. Her research experience includes pharmacological clinical trials, both as co-investigator and principal investigator, among patients suffering from severe mental illness and is currently a co-investigator on a multi-site NIMH-funded study on ethnicity and the diagnosis of affective illness.

Morales, Carlos C., MFTI
Mr. Morales completed his studies in Clinical Psychology in 1989 from the “Universidád Del Salvador” in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Worked in multiple settings as a as a clinical psychologist, in preventions and creating awareness of mental health issues in public and private agencies. He also worked private practice, as assistance professor. In 2004 he came to the U.S., completed a Master’s of Science Program in Marriage & Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. From 2007 to current he is working in Solano County H&SS, Mental Health in the Mobile Crisis Unit. Works in conjunction with Law Enforcement agencies, with hospitals and other agencies conducting crisis interventions and prevention of psychiatric hospitalizations.

Morales, Cynthia T., PhD
Dr. Cynthia T. Morales is the CEO of her corporation. She has her doctorate from UCLA. She was a consulting psychologist at UCLA for years before starting her private practice in 1993. She specialized in clinical and forensic psychology. The focus of her specialty is in the assessment or Latinos with immigration cases. She has received numerous awards at the federal, state, county, city and university jurisdictions. She is the proud mother of a dynamic 15 year old daughter, Christina Mia.

Moreno, J. Jesse, BA
Mr. Moreno is currently a Children Services Administrator and a Trainer /Training Coordinator with the L.A. Country, Department of Children and Family Services and actively envolved in the curriculum development and presentations of a variety of past and present Child Welfare and State-mandated initiatives including: Katie A., Wraparound, Concurrent Planning, Domestic Violence; Parenting; Team descision Making; Child Development; structured Decision Making; Transitional Independent Living; Civil Rights and several others. Mr. Moreno has presented in several conferences at a local, state, national and international level.

Ortega, Stacia, MA
Stacia Ortega is the Regional Director of Southwest Behavioral Health for the national and international organization: Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. Stacia travels the Southwest region conducting clinical reviews on YAP’s behavioral health programs to ensure compliance with contracts and that the youth and families served by YAP in the communities in the southwest are receiving the services to the fidelity of the wraparound model as well as program expansion in autism and behavioral health. Prior to joining YAP, she worked at the Arizona Dept. of Health Services overseeing Meth Centers of Excellence, and Young Adult Transition areas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the Maricopa County LULAC #1111.

Paul, Christine, PsyD
Paul, Christine, Psy.D. is currently completing her postdoctoral psychology residency at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, CA. She is originally from the Bay Area, CA Dr. Paul completed her undergraduate Degree at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, HI and obtained her Psy.D. from John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, CA She has a variety of professional interests including multiculturalism and diversity, rehabilitation psychology, and trauma and is also a volunteer for the American Red Cross.

Perez, Lemney, MA
Perez, M.A. is a Dominican-American from Washington Heights, New York. She is a student of Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley California, and is a member of The Association of Black Psychologists. Ms. Perez has a Master of Arts in Writing and Consciousness from the New College of California in San Francisco, California. Her professional interests include forensic psychology, social justice, and multicultural thinking within the context of psychodynamic theory. Ms. Perez enjoys creative writing, and she is an avid painter.

Ramos, Juan, PhD
Dr. Ramos retired after 35 years at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) where he held a number of program and administrative positions, and was in the Senior Executive Service from its inception in July 1979. He received a Master of Social Work degree from the School of Social Work, University of Southern California and a Ph.D. from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. He was an adjunct professor for 11 years teaching mental health policy at the School of Social Work, University of Maryland. Also, taught at 2 other schools of social work. He has been a long time advocate for the implementation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He has received recognition from numerous national health and mental health organizations.

Reimann, Brie, BA
Brie Reimann has worked with Peer Assistance for five years. She co-authored both the SBIRT and the ATR grants for the state of Colorado. Her primary role at peer Assistance has been to manage and provide oversight to several prevention-focused contracts. Before working as program director for SBIRT Colorado, Reimann managed a program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to prevent women from drinking during pregnancy and to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Colorado. Prior to Peer Assistance Services, Reimann worked on the star-up program for the Denver Community Development Institute to implement an English Language Learner’s program at Head Start programs nationwide. Reimann has an undergraduate degree in international studies and cultural anthropology, with a minor in Spanish. Where is currently pursuing her master’s degree in public affairs with an emphasis in healthcare policy.

Rodriguez, Carlos, PhD
Dr. Carlos Rodriguez is a licensed psychologist who has been in private practice for over 20 years. He has evaluated and treated Geriatric patients throughout his career, the majority being Latinos. A large portion of Dr. Rodriguez’ practice has been treating and evaluating the elderly Latino in an acute psychiatric facility in Southern Colorado.

Rodriguez, Mario, PhD
Dr. Mario Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor with the School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University. Dr. Rodriguez teaches advanced Psychopathology in the Clinical Social Work program. He has worked in the field of aging for over 20 years as an Administrator and Social Worker on a Geriatric Hospital team at Colorado Mental Institute at Ft. Logan. Dr. Rodriguez was also a member of the Jefferson County Dept. of Social Services Adult Protection team providing expertise in Geriatric services.

Rodriguez, Michael A., MD, MPH
Dr. Rodriguez is a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the UCLA Department of Family Medicine. His research activities focus on family violence and health care disparities. He has consulted for the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization, and the Institute of Medicine. He completed undergraduate training at UC Berkeley; medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine; Family Medicine Residency at UCSF; Master of Public Health degree at the John Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health; and was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at Stanford University.

Salazar Villegas, Jesus, MD
Psiquiatra y Psicoterapeuta de la U.A.N.L. Psicoanalista de la Asociación Regiomontana de Priscoanalisis A.C. Diplomado en Alta Dirección de Empresas en el IPADE. Docente de pregrado y posgrado, actualmente de Psiquiatria del ITESM. Miembro de diversas Asociaciones Psiquiátricas. Fue Director del Hospital Psiquiátrico Estatal. Fue Copresidente de la Alianza de Coalición Fronteriza Mexico – Estados Unidos Actualmente Director de Salud Mental y Adicciones de la Secretaria de Salud de Estado de Nuevo León y Secretario.

Saldivar, Aida, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Aida Saldivar was born in Los Angeles, California and is bilingual and bicultural. She attained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Los Angeles and her Doctoral degree from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. She has worked at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center since 2002 and is boarded in Rehabilitation Psychology. She specializes in psychological and neuropsychological assessment and treatment of Spanish speaking persons with brain injury, stroke, and neurological disorders. Dr. Saldivar was guest editor for the Rehabilitation Psychology journal's special edition on capacity assessment and is a member of the American Bar Association and American Psychological Association Workgroup that developed and published "Assessment of Older Adults with Diminished Capacity: A Handbook for Psychologists."

Segovia, Sherrie, MA, PsyD
Dr. Segovia received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology and has principally been affiliated with community based mental health and social service agencies. For the past 28 years, Dr. Segovia has primarily worked with at-risk African American and Latino children and their families in clinic, school, and home settings. She has functioned as a counselor, family and child advocate, parent educator, and foster care training specialist. Currently as the Mental Health Coordinator at Hope Street Family Center, Dr. Segovia works within a multi-disciplinary team to access, coordinate, and provide families with appropriate services. She provides clinical and administrative support and reflective supervision to Early Head Start professional case managers, as well as assessment, crisis intervention, and ongoing therapy for families and children. A frequent presenter at national, state and regional conferences, she also co-wrote an article on infant mental health for Zero To Three. In December of 2003, she completed her Doctorate in Psychology and a dissertation with a focus on domestic violence and the impact on early language development.

Since 2004, she has been lead faculty for undergraduate and graduate courses in human services, psychology, and counseling in the college of social and behavioral sciences at the University of Phoenix. Additionally, Dr. Segovia has facilitated a course on Parenting in High Risk Families in the Child and Family Studies Department at California State University at Los Angeles.  She is also affiliated with the Latino Technical Assistance & Training Division of the California Hispanic Commission as an educational consultant.

Currently, she continues to serve as a member of the board of directors for the California Head Start Association. Dr. Segovia’s specific areas of expertise include parental depression, substance abuse, cultural competence, communication skills, parenting, and partnerships. Bilingual and bicultural, Dr. Segovia has a particular interest in culturally responsive service delivery.

Smith, Jason, PhD
Dr. Smith is a Clinical Psychologist II/Neurologist at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, specializing in the evaluation of Spanish speaking individuals with epilepsy, works with spinal cord injury and chronic medical issues. From Wisconsin, he studied at the University of Wisconsin –Milwaukee and at ITESM (Nuevo Leon, Mexico), completing his Ph.D. at Biola University in CA. He is investigating surgical intervention of epileptic Hispanics. Dr. Smith is polyglot and bicultural.

Taylor, Elizabeth, MS
Elizabeth Taylor has a BA en Sociologia y Maestria en Consejeria de la Universidad de Northridge. Instuctora para el Colegio de Ventura y Oxnard an el programa de educacion de Foster & Kinship Care. Tengo un programa hablado en la estacion de radio KMLA “LaM” 103.7 FM en Oxnard CA, Soy Senior Preventionist para Behavioral Health Alcohol and Drug Programs of Ventura County.

Tellez, Antonia, MFT
Ms. Antonia Tellez is a graduate of the MFT program at Loma Linda University and has worked over five years at Bilingual Family Services in Ontario, CA. Her passion is to provide culturally appropriate therapy to Latino Clients utilizing an innovative approach for engaging marginalized clients.

Valdez, Avelardo, PhD
Dr. Avelardo Valdez is currently a Professor at the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston and Director of the Center for Drug & Social Policy Research. He obtained his PhD in Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He has published over 75 journal articles and chapters and academic publications including two books.

Valenzuela, Guillermo, BA
Guillermo Valenzuela is an expert on contemporary U.S-Mexico Relations and has over a decade of behavioral health and drug demand reduction experience. He has worked for Congressman Silvestre Reyes as his Latin America and Mexico Liaison where he assessed and evaluated drug violence developments in Latin America and made policy recommendations.

Vasquez, Manuel, LCSW
Manuel Vasquez is retired Psychiatric Social in Private practice in Oakland, California. Previously he was Assistant Director of Program Performance and Compliance for the City and County of San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services. From 1996 to 2006 he was Director for Mission Mental Health Services in San Francisco. It was during his tenure at Mission Mental Health that Manuel was instrumental with developing an inclusive and comprehensive mental health clinic; thus providing co-occurring services for dual disordered (mentally ill and substance abusing populations) along with primary care. His administrative and clinical service background began approximately 25 years ago. Mr. Vasquez grew up in San Francisco, and is the proud father of four children and four grandchildren.

Aguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio, MD, PhD
Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola is a Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine at the School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. He is the Founding Director of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities at UC Davis Health System and the Director of Community Engagement of the UCD Clinical Translational Science Center (CTSC). He is Co-Chair of the NIH’s Community Engagement Key Function Committee for the CTSA awards, the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors (after completing a two-year term as Chair) of Mental Health America and Research Scientist member of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse (NHSNDA). He is also a member of the International Advisory Committee of the CARSO Health Institute. He holds several World Health Organization (WHO) advisory, board, and consulting positions, and is the Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean of the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Consortium. Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola’s research includes cross-national epidemiologic research on patterns and correlates of mental disorders in population samples and understanding and reducing health disparities. He has worked effectively to bridge research with services delivery and policy development and has been active translating research into practical information of value to consumers and their families, providers, service administrators, and policy makers. He is a first generation Latino of Mexican origin.

Backer, Thomas E., PhD
Dr. Backer is President of the nonprofit Human Interaction Research Institute. Founded in 1961, the Institute uses behavioral sciences strategies to help nonprofits handle innovation and change. He also is Associate Clinical Professor of Medical Psychology at the UCLA School of Medicine, and was Senior Fellow of UCLA's School of Public Policy and Social Research for the 2003-2004 academic years. He is the author of more than 500 books, articles and research reports. Evaluating Community Collaborations (the first major work on this topic), and (with Jane Ellen Bleeg and Kathryn Groves) The Expanding Universe: New Directions in Nonprofit Capacity Building are his most recent books.

A licensed psychologist in California, Dr. Backer holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and a member of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. He has been President both of APA's Division of Consulting Psychology and of the Knowledge Utilization Society.

A licensed psychologist in California, Dr. Backer holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and a member of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. He has been President both of APA's Division of Consulting Psychology and of the Knowledge Utilization Society.

Gamulin, Lidia, LCSW
Lidia is a Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of California in Los Angeles in 1991 and her Bachelor’s Degree from Universidad Nacional de Rosario in Argentina.

In California, she obtained a broad mental health and clinical expertise working at the UCLA Spanish Speaking Clinic, LAC-USC Psychiatric Hospital and West Valley Mental Health Clinic.

As a trainer, she started her journey at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Training Division coordinating and providing trainings in Cultural Competence, Recovery and Mental Health Interpreters. She coordinated over 200 hundred trainings in various clinical subjects.

For the past six years, she has developed her own consulting and training company. She has developed several training curriculums that have been used to train service providers and mental health interpreters locally and nationally.

Jimenez, Dante, MA
Dante Jimenez is a native from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, who made the move to the United States at the age of 15. He holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Masters of Arts Degree in Counseling from Webster University. Mr. Jimenez is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). His career has an extensive work experience in the Mental Health Field. He completed one year as a caseworker from the Homeless Unit at the El Paso Mental Health Authority (MHA). Then he advance and completed 2 years as a Court Liaison under the auspice of the MHA but located at El Paso Psychiatric Hospital. After that, he continued his career for another 2 years as a therapist at the Children Adolescent Mental Health Programs (CHAMPs). While he was working at CHAMPs, he started working until present, as a professor of Introduction of Psychology at El Paso Community College. He finally landed the position of Clinical Director at Aliviane Inc., at the Behavioral Health Clinic (BHC) in El Paso, Texas where he has serve as administrator and clinician for about 3 years. His primary task at the BHC is to change directions of a target substance abuse facility, to that of a clinic that concentrates in a holistic multi-systemic mental health and substance abuse clinic. The main expertise in this clinic is to provide trauma focus treatment under the auspice of The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). Within the NCTSN, Mr. Jimenez had participated in the Culture Consortium, Translation Committee, and in the Culture and Trauma Speaker Series-Part III.

Ocegueda, Antonio, CASII
Mr. Ocegueda is Currently Consulting and Advocating for Recovery Services for Latinos. He had been involved with the South County Drug Court since it began in 1997. Mr. Ocegueda started as a substance abuse counselor and the Program Manager until 2007. Before that, he worked as a facility manager for the Latino men’s recovery home. He has been active in advocating for quality treatment in the Baja region of Mexico.

Under-served populations continue to be his focus. He is a Certified Alcohol/Drugs Specialist and a graduate of San Diego City College’s Alcohol and Other Drug Studies. Mr. Ocegueda was the past Chairman of the Latino Constituent Committee, which advises the Director of the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) advocating Latino issues. Mr. Ocegueda is also a trainer for the National Drug Court Institute and is a Board Member of the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources (CAARR) Institute, which certifies addiction specialists in California. Mr. Ocegueda is also one of the co-founders of Mejorar and serves as chair in the Latino Association of Drug Court Professionals. He has been a presenter at both the State and National Conference for Drug Courts. He has 2 sons, Tony Jr. and Carlos. Grandfather of four, Andres, Alexa, Marika and Olivia.

Topete, Enrique
Enrique Topete is a native of Los Angeles County and is the Programs Manager of The Wall - Las Memorias Project which is dedicated to promoting wellness and preventing illness among Latino populations affected by HIV/AIDS. Enrique is involved, makes a difference in the Latino community and is committed to social justice. Joining The Wall-Las Memorias Project family seven years ago, he has developed into a strong voice and has become an advocate in the Latino gay community.

Mr. Topete has been a member of the Los Angeles County Prevention Planning Committee (PPC) since 2006 and is currently serving his third term and served as Deputy-Chair of the PPC’s Operation Subcommittee. The mission of the PPC is to engage in an ongoing process to develop and update a comprehensive HIV prevention plan for the diverse populations of Los Angeles County.

Zaldivar, Richard
Richard Zaldivar is the founder and executive director of The Wall Las Memorias Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting wellness and preventing illness among Latino populations affected by HIV/AIDS. Combining HIV/AIDS education and prevention, sensitivity to the spiritual needs and religious beliefs of it clients and supporters, and a commitment to social justice, The Wall, under Zaldivar’s leadership, has been in the forefront of the fight against HIVAIDS in Los Angeles and beyond.

As executive director, he oversees programs that reach out to Latino populations in the Los Angeles area, including men who are gay, bisexual and MSM, communities of faith and the general public. The Wall Las Memorias Project is noted for several highly visible endeavors, including construction of the nation’s first publicly funded AIDS monument in the U.S., hosting of Strike Out AIDS, the first-ever AIDS awareness day at Dodger Stadium, and leadership in the fight against crystal meth amphetamine use.

Zaldivar has continued to serve his community on several advisory boards, including the Training Advisory Board of the National Council of La Raza-Cal State Long Beach Center for Latino Community Health, Education and Leadership, the Capacity Building Division Advisory Board of the U.S. Office of Minority Health Resource Center and the RAND Corporation’s Urban Congregations and HIV/AIDS Project. In 2000, he served as Co-Chair of the National AIDS Prevention Summit and is the former co-chair of the Los Angeles County HIV Prevention Planning Committee where he served six years as a member.