Liz serves as the Chapter Director of SFFC-MB and oversees all program management, fund development, and outreach in the Santa Cruz and Monterey County areas. She comes from a background in family crisis intervention and launched the local SFFC chapter here in 2019 as a result of career and life experiences witnessing the deep need for prevention focused support for parents and children at risk of entering the child welfare system. Liz believes strongly in the possibility of changing a family’s trajectory through the power of individuals in the community stepping up to help their neighbors facing difficult times
Our Staff
Our amazing volunteers bring the Safe Families movement to life in the community, guided by a devoted staff pouring their hearts into supporting isolated families, training and vetting volunteers, and partnering with local agencies to help keep families together!
Liz DePuydt
Chapter Director
Gabriella Bradley
Family Support Coordinator
Gabriella oversees the intake of new families into SFFC-MB as well as the on-going mobilization of our volunteers. With a Master’s in Human Development and Family Studies, she is passionate about supporting parents, children, and volunteers by equipping them with the tools they need.
Isaiah Guzman
Community Engagement Coordinator
Isaiah has worked for the past 12 years with families and children of all ages in education, youth ministry, sports coaching, and orphanage house parenting. Having personal lived experience facing homelessness for a period when his family came to the U.S. from Mexico, he is committed to Safe Families’ mission of keeping families together while facing hard times. Isaiah loves to engage the community in expanding the good work of Safe Families for Children.
Monique Dow
Operations Manager
Monique has a diverse work career working in both non-profit and the business worlds. She melds her experience helping run an SLE serving those in addiction recovery and her organizational and accounting skills in the finance sector. She started with SFFC several years ago as a one of our amazing volunteers, and has transitioned into her staff role. Monique loves the Safe Families mission of coming alongside isolated families struggling in our community to provide them with life-giving resources and support.
Synthia Moreno
Intern
Synthia is a student at California State University, Monterey Bay majoring in Collaborative Health and Human Services, specializing in social work. As an intern with SFFC-MB, her responsibilities include social media management, donor communication assistance, and volunteer certification data entry.
Xochitl Arredondo
Intern
Xochitl is a student at California State University, Monterey Bay, majoring in Collaborative Health and Human Services, specializing in social work. She assists with various tasks, including intake translation, volunteer event planning and recruitment.
Our Leadership Council
Board members from the community build connections with our partners, plan events, and provide input on the growth and sustainability of Safe Families Monterey Bay.
Karla Curran
Karla Curran has served on the Leadership Board of Monterey Bay Safe Families for Children since July 2025. She is the owner and operator of her own wellness business, bringing over 20 years of experience in leadership, program and event management, with expertise in sustainable program design, volunteer and staff engagement, and community-centered organizational practices. Karla is deeply committed to empowering parents and protecting children. She joined the board to support efforts that build sustainable programs and responsible resource management in order to provide immediate, qualified care to families in need. She herself is the mother of four children, a foster child and a mentor to several single mothers nationwide.
Rob Cole
Rob Cole recently retired after a 14-year career with the Monterey County Department of Social Services, where he dedicated himself to strengthening and supporting vulnerable families in the community. Prior to that, he served for seven years as a State Humane Officer with the Monterey County SPCA. In that role, he received specialized training on the correlation between animal cruelty and child abuse, deepening his understanding of family systems and community protection. Originally from the Chicago area, Rob brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to his service as a board member for Safe Families Monterey Bay
Jeannine Cole
Jeannine Cole was born and raised in Salinas and has built a diverse and service-oriented career spanning more than two decades. She spent 20 years working in banking and public relations before relocating to Chicago in 2001. There, she served in care ministry for 17 years, supporting individuals and families through seasons of transition and need. During her time in Chicago, Jeannine became involved with Safe Families for Children, and her family had the privilege of hosting several children. She later returned to Salinas to care for her aging parents and concluded her professional career with two years in Human Services before retiring. Jeannine is passionate about helping families remain strong and connected through her service as a volunteer and board member for Safe Families Monterey Bay.
Asheley Gardner, RN, PHN
Asheley has been a nurse leader in Public Health for the last 19 years. She has worked for County Health, overseeing evidence-based home visitation programs, to improve health and brighter futures for families who are newly pregnant and parenting. Her work has been in close collaboration with clinic providers, Child Protective Services, mental health clinicians, and other community non-profit organizations. As a Board Member for Safe Families, her passion and expertise align with child abuse and injury prevention and supporting families who are in crisis. “Safe Families provides the most practical help for families in need- for example, taking a child into their home while a parent goes in for substance use treatment, while maintaining very close communication and ongoing support to the parent during their stay. This program aligns with community health in every way.”
Kira Hettinger, JD
Kira is a local estate planning, privacy, and business attorney in Santa Cruz. She brings with her previous experience as a guardian ad litem and student attorney prosecuting domestic violence cases. Kira is dedicated to serving those in her community and is passionate about furthering SFFC-MB’s mission of supporting and strengthening families facing crisis to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
Judith Canner, PhD
Judith is a Professor of Statistics at California State University, Monterey Bay. She has volunteered previously with the Guardian Scholars Program on her campus and through her church to provide respite care, resources, and training for independent living to Monterey County foster youth and families. Judith is dedicated to using her role as an educator, statistician, and volunteer to serve families in the Monterey Bay Area.
Yolanda Beaudoin
Yolanda has served as a children’s ministry director and a camp director for over two decades, all while raising four children as a single parent. With a strong foundation in nonprofit management and theology, Yolanda is deeply committed to helping children deal with trauma, assisting families to find support, and giving kids opportunities to thrive. Yolanda currently serves as the Children’s Director at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, CA.
Kaitlin Childs
Kaitlin is a social worker who has worked with Santa Cruz Department of Family and Children’s Services, as well as in other states and abroad. While working as a social worker she saw the overwhelming need for preventative support and wanted to help families before they needed county services. Kaitlin is thrilled to be on the SFFC Board, using her social work experience and skills to support families in our community.
Our Volunteers
We are fueled by an incredible army of dedicated volunteers, and happily welcome you to join our team! Volunteers serve a variety of roles from hosting children for a temporary period of time to providing services such as transportation, parent mentoring, respite care, and supplying tangible items such as diapers, car seats, and meals.
