calswec

Justin Martinez: Always be open, honest, authentic, and proud to stand in your truth

October 1, 2023
Hawkin Chan

“I don't regret my past. I'm thankful for it and that's not all of who I am,” says Justin Martinez, a California native, born and raised in Sacramento. One night when Justin was 15, his mom had to take him and his brothers and sister to a WEAVE safe house after their neighbors called the cops on his father. 36 hours later, the Child Protective Services (CPS) placed all four children into foster care in a house two blocks away from their home for one...

A conversation with Dr. Nancy Meyer-Adams

October 1, 2023
Hawkin Chan

Dr. Nancy Meyer-Adams began her journey to pursue a career in social work when her son entered residential treatment for drugs and alcohol when he was 16. The social workers and psychologists saved their lives, and helped them see different paths that they could take from the ones they were on. Nancy was a teen mother of two—she had her daughter at 16 and her son at 17—and a high school dropout. At 37, she earned her GED and graduated from Broward Community College in 1994. She went on to Florida International University (FIU) to earn her BASW in 1997 and her Advanced Standing MSW in 1998...

Public Behavioral Health MSW Training Program

May 10, 2023

The California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) is excited to announce the launch of the statewide Public Behavioral Health (PBH) MSW Training Program to address California’s pressing public behavioral health workforce development needs. Funded by the California Office of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) and administered by CalSWEC, this program expands on the work of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) MSW Training Program. Its central goal is to increase the employment and retention of MSWs in California’s publicly funded behavioral health programs and services by...

CalSWEC Advisory Board President profile: Toni Navarro brings her passion for behavioral health to her community in Santa Barbara

April 18, 2022
Hawkin Chan

Antonette “Toni” Navarro, a Santa Barbara native, was appointed as Director of the Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Department in November 2021. Toni is deeply committed to behavioral health, public service and collaboration. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 30 years in clinical outpatient services. Bringing her passion for the work and experience in the field to her community gives her a profound sense of purpose and motivation. Toni says, “Every day I am so excited to get to...

Fabiola Prieto-Martinez: A first-generation college graduate committed to protecting older adults from abuse in San Mateo County

May 12, 2023
Hawkin Chan

Fabiola Prieto-Martinez grew up on a ranch in rural Mexico. She has fond memories of her time there playing with her forty three cousins. Her grandmother had sixteen children and the extended family all lived on the ranch. The rural town was idyllic but education was almost impossible due to lack of resources. Fabiola’s parents only had a second-grade education. When Fabiola was fourteen, she decided to move back to the United States to learn English and pursue a career. She is a first-generation college graduate and received her master’s degree from...

A conversation with Dr. Jennifer Pabustan-Claar

May 12, 2023
Hawkin Chan

Dr. Jennifer Pabustan-Claar is currently the Managing Director for Riverside County’s Office of Integrated Services. She is responsible for coordinating the work of a multi-disciplinary leadership team to plan, implement, and evaluate the countywide Integrated Services Delivery Initiative for health and human services.

Previously, she was the Managing Director for the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) for three years, where she oversaw operations and planning for human services in the nation’s tenth largest county. Dr. Pabustan-Claar also headed Riverside County’s Adults...

COVID-19 Response Synthesis Report 2023

March 27, 2023
“We Couldn’t Keep Doing Things the Way We’d Done Them” – University and County Human Service Agency Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Strategies for the Future, March 2023

Over the last three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged universities and county human service agencies in unprecedented ways while magnifying existing inequities across the globe. Students, faculty, staff, and clients experienced profound losses and disruptions to daily life while continuing...

Gloria Musto: Be the person you needed when you were younger

February 3, 2023
Hawkin Chan

Ayesha Siddiqi said: “Be the person you needed when you were younger.” Born in San Francisco, Gloria Musto had very little guidance and support growing up. During her teenage years, she experienced some of her worst times, including family, community and personal trauma. She wished she had someone in her life at that time to just ask her what was going on with her, how she was and what she needed. Now, working as a behavioral health clinician at the Alameda County Juvenile Hall, Gloria...

Devondra Rodgers: I have a lot of dreams and this is just the beginning!

October 17, 2022
Hawkin Chan

Devondra Rodgers pursued her undergraduate degree at California State University, Los Angeles, and changed her major seven times. She wanted to help people with disabilities to function as contributing members of the society, and none of the majors seemed like a good fit. When a friend led her to the Rehabilitation Services department where they offered a unique program that focused on helping individuals with disabilities to function and lead...

Request for Proposals (RFP) California Child Welfare Core Practice Model

July 20, 2021
The In-Service Training Program at the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) is pleased to announce the release of the 2021 California Child Welfare Core Practice Model. Please distribute among your networks! Project Summary: The Regional Training Academy (RTA) Coordination Project is seeking written proposals for ongoing work and implementation of the California Child Welfare Core Practice Model. For questions concerning the anticipated work or scope of the project, please contact...