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
Karla Curran
Assistant Director
Dedicated to unifying and strengthening local communities, she brings decades of leadership experience to Safe Families for Children, having served as an Executive Director in the nonprofit sector as well as holding various director-level roles across diverse industries. Her background includes a degree in marketing, extensive experience in program development, and a proven track record of designing and executing high-impact fundraising initiatives. Beyond her professional expertise, her passion for family stability is deeply personal: as a foster parent, a mentor to youth and parents for over twenty years, and a mother of four, she understands firsthand the transformative power of a reliable support system. Originally from Seattle and now based in Monterey—where she actively engages in community life and healthy living—she is deeply aligned with the mission of Safe Families because it empowers everyday community members to show up for families when they need it most.
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.
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.
Isaiah Guzman
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.
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.”
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.
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.
