Our Team
Our organization thrives because of our inspiring and dedicated team. The partnership they form with our families is the foundation for the transformative work we see at Family Connections every day.
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Eric Valladares joined Family Connections as the Executive Director in November 2021. For more than a decade, Eric has worked at various nonprofits in San Mateo County, where his focus has been on supporting some of our most vulnerable families and communities. His work has included home visiting services for children and their families, family reunification, school-based counseling, therapy in childcare settings, and supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
More recently, Eric has taken on leadership roles overseeing programs that focus on Early Childhood, Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention, and Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. Eric has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from San Francisco State University and holds a Marriage and Family Therapy license through the State of California.
Eric loves spending time with his wife and two small children and, whenever he can, loves to visit Disneyland!
Melissa joined Family Connections in 2022 as the Director of Infrastructure and Clinical Services. Her clinical experience of over 15 years working with at-risk youth, families, and adults has enabled her to develop and oversee specialized programs tailored to improve outcomes for youth in San Mateo County. Melissa is passionate about education and has dedicated several years to cultivating a training program that nurtures early career professionals in the mental health field.
Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Development from the University of California, Davis. She later completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, where she focused her research on aggressive behavior and empathic expression in adolescent males from the inner city.
In her free time, Melissa loves cooking and trying new restaurants. She also enjoys visiting plant shops and spending quality time with her family and pets.
Carolina Caldarón Balladares joined Family Connections as Program Director in May 2022. For over 25 years, Carolina has worked in the early childhood and family services field in San Mateo and San Francisco County, including working as a preschool teacher, early education trainer, and program manager for several non-profit organizations, including the Resource & Referral Network, AbilityPath (Help Me Grow-San Mateo County), Homeless Prenatal Program and The Primary School-East Palo Alto. Her work is driven by the understanding that children need emotionally nourishing relationships during the first five years of life to lay the foundation for lifelong learning, health, and well-being.
Carolina is the proud daughter of parents who emigrated from El Salvador in the late ’60s. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in child development from St. Mary’s College.
Carolina and her husband have two adult sons. In her free time, she enjoys sharing a nice meal with friends and family, going on long walks, listening to music, and journaling.
Marsha Quita joined Family Connections in August 2013 as a volunteer supporting our Preschool and Young Scholars Program. Since then, she has performed many roles in the organization. Currently, as Director of Administrative Operations, she is responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational duties, including human resources, finances, administration of payroll, savings and investment funds, annual audits, and monitoring of the operating budget.
Marsha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of San Francisco and has past nursing experience from Stanford Hospital. Marsha continues to volunteer in her children’s organized school events and athletic and sporting organizations.
Marsha has two children; her son is in college, and her daughter is in high school. Marsha enjoys playing with her dog, traveling with her family, and loves visiting Disney Parks all over the world.
Before joining Family Connections in July 2024 as the Lead Early Learning Teacher at the Daly City site, I spent over a decade in the field of education. My academic journey began at San Francisco State University, where I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Child and Youth Adolescent Development with a focus on Early Childhood. Throughout my career, I have had many diverse experiences, allowing me to work with children of various ages, but my true passion lies in managing infant and toddler classrooms, as well as preschool classrooms.
Born and raised in San Francisco, I carry a deep appreciation for the community and its cultural richness. This connection to my roots has fueled my commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education within the area.
In addition to my professional endeavors, I recently embarked on the journey of motherhood. As a first-time mom, I enjoy every moment spent with my son, cherishing the opportunity to witness his growth and development. This personal experience has deepened my understanding and empathy for both children and caregivers.
Adriana Mendez Sanchez is a dedicated bilingual Mexican American educator with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Studies from San Francisco State University. With a strong commitment to education, she began her career as a paraeducator and behavior technician before advancing to the role of Education Specialist, providing support to students with mild to moderate disabilities. She has over six years of experience working with children from 3 to 10, including in a transitional kindergarten program. Over the years, she has developed a deep passion for special education and is eager to further her education in this field.
Her experience has shown that many parents are either unaware of their rights or unfamiliar with how special education works. This has inspired her to help parents advocate for their own rights and those of their children. She is motivated by a desire to empower her community and ensure that every student receives the fair and necessary education they deserve.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and family and relaxing by cuddling with her dog. She is passionate about visiting the beach and exploring scenic locations with beautiful views. Additionally, she takes pride in her hobby of nail art, skillfully doing her nails as her own personal nail technician.
Yadira is originally from Mexicali, Baja California. She arrived in East Palo Alto in 2001. In 2007, Yadira and her son enrolled in the Nurturing Families class at Family Connections. She returned with her second child in 2009. As a participant in the program, she noticed that some families struggled with the Special Education system. Yadira worked with members of the team to facilitate a Parent Support group where parents shared their experiences, supported each other, and learned how to advocate for their children with autism, ADHD, and Down Syndrome.
Yadira eventually joined the team as a Parent Educator for the Preschool and Nurturing Families classes at the Redwood City site. She worked for several years in different capacities, including as an Early Childhood Teacher and Program Coordinator.
In September 2023, Yadira returned to Family Connections as an Early Childhood Teacher.
Yadira is continuing her education in Early Childhood and Special Education. She likes to read books while drinking coffee. She also loves to spend time with her family singing, dancing, watching movies, and going on walks, especially to her favorite beach in Pacifica.
Sofi Acuna has worked supporting children, teenagers, and adults at various organizations in San Mateo County, including San Mateo County Public Libraries and Skyline College. She is passionate about helping the community learn more about the available resources and opportunities.
Born and raised in El Salvador, Sofia moved to the Bay Area six years ago. Sofi graduated from Skyline College with an Associate's degree in Communication Studies and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design at San Francisco State University.
Jacqueline Rodriguez Luna joined Family Connections as an Early Learning Teacher-Up Intern at the Redwood City site. She is currently continuing her professional preparation by studying Early Education and ESL at Cañada College. Jacqueline completed studies in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Education in Mexico. She is particularly passionate about the area of special education. Jacqueline’s belief in holistic learning is her compass and guiding principle. She is convinced that diversity is an enriching opportunity for all students and that the foundation of human development is established in early childhood.
Jacqueline is a parent leader for the Innovate Public Schools program, and she advocates for high-quality education for all students.
Jacqueline is proudly Mexican and the daughter of a strong, tenacious, intelligent, and hard-working woman who helps raise her children, Marian and Emiliano. She enjoys practicing yoga and going on long walks. Jacqueline treasures every moment that she spends with her family and the love that her children transmit.
Prior to joining Family Connections as our Family Services Coordinator, Georgina Almaraz worked in Southern California as a home visitor, lactation education specialist, domestic violence advocate, Board-Certified Supervised Visitation Provider, and Board-Certified Autism Technician.
The daughter of immigrants who came to the US from a small town in Mexico, Georgia has a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of California, Riverside.
When she is not working, she is probably listening to music, solving sudoku puzzles, or exploring her new home, the Bay Area.
Judith Cortes joined Family Connections in March 2023. She brings over 17 years of experience working with children and families. Judith has extensive knowledge of parent engagement practices, assessments in early childhood, and community resources.
She holds a Child Development Credential, a Site Supervisor Permit, and an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Judith possesses a deep understanding of child development principles, curriculum, and instruction. She prides herself in communicating effectively with parents and guardians through various channels.
Judith is the daughter of immigrant parents. She was born in Daly City, California, and raised in South Lake Tahoe, California. Growing up in a multicultural environment, she developed a deep appreciation for diversity and a passion for advocating for marginalized communities. Her personal experiences have shaped her work ethic and drive to succeed in all aspects of life. Judith is fluent in English and Spanish.
Judith likes to read and listen to podcasts in her free time, but her favorite pastime is spending quality time with her husband and three children.
Natalia Maravilla joined the Family Connections team in September 2024. She is the proud daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico and Peru and earned her dual Bachelor's degree in Communications and Technical Writing from San Francisco State University.
She has years of early childhood education experience - partially accredited to her mother, who runs her own family daycare in the East Bay. Natalia brings with her a deep passion for supporting young learners and their families.
In her free time, she loves spending quality moments with family and friends, playing board games, and walking her dog, Smokey.
Stephanie Loera joined Family Connections in 2019 as the in-house clinician for parents. Throughout her career, Stephanie has worked with individuals and families using a trauma-informed, social justice, and strength-based approach. As a Pilates instructor, Stephanie is passionate about families and children being aware of their mind and body connections.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in Peace and Conflict Studies and Spanish and Portuguese and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.
During her free time, she likes to arrange flowers, read the latest books, and go hiking with her rat terrier, Toby, and her husband.
Jessica Sirias joined Family Connections in 2023 as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. She is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor. She holds a Master's in Counseling from SF State and has worked with multiple age groups, including infants/toddlers and preschoolers and their families, adolescents, and college students.
Jessica has over eight years of experience working in the early childhood field, including providing training and consultation support to childcare providers and case management and supportive services to children and their families. Jessica approaches her clinical work using a trauma-informed, social-justice, strengths-based, and attachment-informed approach. When providing consultation support, Jessica prioritizes collaboration to support staff and parents to find their inherent wisdom to help little ones thrive.
During her free time, she likes to go for walks, travel, and watch TV with her husband and furry poodle, Moose.
Karina Meneses is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and joined the Family Connections team in 2022 as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. As a Consultant, Karina works collaboratively with the whole early childhood team, supporting and empowering staff and caregivers; encouraging them to keep in mind the social and emotional development of young children while delivering care and interventions in the context of the child’s and caregiver’s everyday activities and caregiving.
Karina has provided Early Childhood Mental Health services to Family Connections since 2016 through an outside agency. She has over 14 years of experience working with children and families in preschool, community, and outpatient settings.
Karina is a proud mother of an 11-year-old daughter. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking long walks, and going on road trips.
Marissa is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling at Palo Alto University. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Marissa is passionate about providing comprehensive support to children and families in vulnerable communities, recognizing this as essential to fostering holistic wellness. Marissa is fluent in both English and Spanish, allowing her to connect deeply with individuals to help facilitate authentic self-expression.
She is committed to making children and families feel safe discussing personal challenges and aims to cultivate a safe space that nurtures growth and healing.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Marissa enjoys swimming, watching criminal justice shows, exploring the culinary delights of the Bay Area, and cherishing moments with her friends and family.
Join our Team
Joining our organization means you will be a part of an experienced, hard-working, kind, and welcoming team who all work together to support our community and our families. With funding secured through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, we have funding to provide our staff with a wide variety of high-quality professional development opportunities with the goal of setting up our staff for success and sustainability.