Executive Director
707-585-6108 x1101
robinb@calparents.org

If you believe that our children are our future , then our number one job is to help children and families thrive. This is the focus of the work at the Child Parent Institute. For that reason I have dedicated my professional career to CPI.

My work at CPI has included championing innovative and efficient services to meet the needs of vulnerable and underserved families, working to increase collaborations with community organizations and a comprehensive expansion of programs to offer prevention, intervention and therapeutic support when needed and being involved in both local and regional advocacy efforts on behalf of children and families.

I am a mother of three, grandmother of four and my extended family includes three dogs, two pigs and a flock of chickens.

School-Based Services Director
707-585-6108 x1201
jasonc@calparents.org

As School-Based-Services Director at Child Parent Institute, Jason Carter (he/him) leads a diverse team of credentialed educators and licensed mental health professionals that collaborate with multiple school districts, nonprofit organizations, and law enforcement agencies to support our students across the entire North Bay region.

Jason’s commitment & authentic dedication in creating healthy, inclusive and resilient communities stems from overcoming barriers and adversities as a former high-risk youth himself. As a 1st-Gen college graduate of the Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University, Jason obtained a Master of Public Administration with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership. Additionally, Jason is certified as a Gallup StrengthsFinder’s Coach, an organizational development strategy that provides strength-based coaching to individuals, small groups, and executive management teams.

Jason’s professional experience began with direct services, evolved to program design and management, to eventually leading a City’s Community Engagement, Recreation, and Violence Prevention departments as a member of a local government’s executive leadership. This combination of personal and professional experiences have provided Jason a unique perspective and unconditional drive towards achieving equity, resilience and self-sufficiency for our youth, families, and community.

Accounting & Human Resources Director
707-585-6108 x1130
jessicah@calparents.org

Since 2018, Jessica has dedicated herself to strengthening CPI through exceptional financial oversight and people-centered leadership. She believes that caring for our team's well-being and agency financial stability go hand in hand when it comes to serving our community.

With more than 20 years of expertise in operations and financial management, staff development, information technology, youth development, and arts organizations, Jessica brings technical excellence and deep compassion to her role. As a foster/adoptive parent, her valuable lived experience profoundly shapes her approach to supporting both our staff and the communities we serve. This unique perspective ensures our financial and human resource strategies remain firmly aligned with CPI's mission and values.

Community Resilience Center (CRC) Director
707-585-6108 x1107
lizbetht@calparents.org

Lizbeth is a first-generation Mexican American raised in San Diego California. Raised by her single father of three, experiencing foster care, and learning to navigate resources for her father, she has a deep-rooted passion for strengthening families. She shares, "I remember being in 4th or 5th grade translating Medi-Cal and Cal-Fresh award letters for my father while he just finished his 8-hour shift as a delivery driver." Through adversity, Lizbeth shares her resilience with parents and children affected by foster care in hopes of a brighter future. Lizbeth manages all aspects of CPI's Southwest Santa Rosa Family Resource Center including Family Supported/Supervised Visitations, Resource Navigation, and Foster Care Pre-Service Training.

Deputy Director
707-585-6108 x1243
elizabethv@calparents.org

There is a concept in Judaism called Tikkun Olam, put in its simplest form it means to “repair the world.” My intention in my work is to repair the world through helping those who help others to do a good job and avoid harm. In my field of traumatic stress this is a very important task. When I train therapists and consult with agencies I do so with a view toward repairing the world by supporting those in the trenches doing healing work. I’ve learned a lot in this work, that I can never give up on a person, never write them off, because people are more resilient than we imagine, and we never know when the moment of hope will come -the moment of immersive transformation that gives someone a reason and the will to continue. I’ve learned to trust people’s judgment about themselves. I’ve learned to be kinder.

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.