Healthy Families America, Program Manager
(707) 585-6108
Katherineb@calparents.org

I was born and raised in Sonoma County and am a proud first-generation college graduate. I earned my B.A. in Sociology from Sonoma State University, and graduated from SRJC. My passion for social justice and community work has guided my career from the very beginning. I’ve dedicated my time to working with underserved populations, building strong relationships with marginalized and diverse communities. Through my studies, I developed a lens through which I see the world and a deep understanding of human behavior, communication, and social forces.

In 2021, I joined the Child Parent Institute (CPI), where I’ve worn many hats, including Parent Educator, Resource Navigator, Class Facilitator, and Community Health Worker at the Family Resource Center. Each role has allowed me to connect with families in meaningful ways, offering support, education, and resources. Today, I serve as the Program Manager for the Road to Resilience Program at CPI, using the Healthy Families America model to help families in Sonoma County build protective factors, and stay supported and healthy. My work is driven by a commitment to leadership, youth gang prevention, family empowerment, and creating pathways for lasting change.

Change is possible when we understand people in the context of their environments, when we challenge inequities, and when we create spaces where everyone feels seen and supported.

Program Data Analyst
nataliek@calparents.org

Over the past three decades, I’ve dedicated my career to the nonprofit sector, driven by a deep sense of purpose. My own challenging upbringing, marked by abuse and homelessness, ignited a desire within me to uplift others and help them thrive. While my initial aspiration was to become a social worker, life led me down a different path—I became a counselor for juvenile offenders, guiding them toward better choices.

Later, my journey led me to work with homeless single mothers facing domestic violence, where I ran an afterschool program at an emergency shelter. As the years went by, I found myself drawn to the power of data—how it could weave together the intricate narratives of people’s lives and circumstances. Surprisingly, I discovered immense satisfaction in deciphering these stories, understanding the nuances, and making a positive impact.

While my trajectory may not have followed the exact route I initially envisioned, it has been an incredibly fulfilling and purpose-driven journey. Each step has allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of others, and I’ve come to appreciate the unexpected twists that have shaped my professional path.

School-Based Program Manager
(707) 324-1312
melissam@calparents.org

Melissa is a first-generation Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with over five years of experience working within school and clinic settings. Working in those settings has provided her with invaluable insights into the unique challenges and strengths of youth, adults and families from a wide range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Melissa graduated from Sonoma State with a Bachelors in Sociology before obtaining her Masters in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco.

In her current role as a School-Based Services Program Manager, she provides oversight for both the Team Success and Juvenile Diversion programs by creating pathways for students to access mental health resources, regardless of their background or circumstances. Her background provides her with a unique lens for working with diverse populations, fostering culturally sensitive and impactful support for students and families. She provides an empathetic and culturally attuned approach allowing her to create a safe and inclusive therapeutic space where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered.

Program Manager
Family Resource Center
707-585-6108 x1120
yenir@calparents.org

Yeni Rodriguez, a devoted mother of three, and a native of Jalisco, Mexico. Her journey with the Child Parent Institute spans over 12 years, a testament to her unwavering commitment to serving her community.

Initially, Yeni embarked on her path as an intake navigator at our Child and Family Counseling Clinic, helping families connect to therapy services. Over time, her dedication and innate ability to empathize led her to ascend to the role of supervisor at the NEW Family Resource Center at John Reed Elementary.

Yeni's approach is rooted in her deep-seated desire to forge genuine connections with families, drawing from her own life experiences to better comprehend their challenges. Her passion, coupled with her compassionate nature, empowers her to extend unwavering support to those in need, fostering resilience within our community. Yeni enjoys spending time with her children, exploring nature, going for walks and having Sunday dinner with her family at her mother's home.

Counseling Services Manager
Child & Family Counseling Clinic
707-585-6108 x1225
emilyv@calparents.org

Emily is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and has been with CPI for 5 years. She spent 2 years as a clinician seeing children and parents in the clinic before moving into her current role, also becoming the Group Supervisor for the unlicensed therapists on staff. Before joining CPI, she worked with adolescents in residential treatment, children and adolescents in schools, and adults in community service agencies. Emily graduated from Kansas State University, before going on to CSU Sacramento to get her Masters in Counseling in 2015.

She enjoys supporting the students at the Nonpublic school on site, and is passionate about training, supporting, and supervising early career therapists as they grow and develop in this field. If she is not off traveling with her husband, she can often be found at home laying in any patch of sunshine she can find.

School-Based Services Program Manager
707-520-4569
flashw@calparents.org

Flash Welch, is a School-Based Services Program Manager, overseeing Team Success, Juvenile Diversion and Friday Night Live programming within the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District. Flash has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Master's in School Counseling from Sonoma State University. Additionally, he's earned his certification as a Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor and Life Coach for young adults. His experience in schools, clinics, clean and sober education, outpatient, crisis, and residential settings has helped to provide students and families with the support needed to make healthier choices and decisions.