Liz DePuydt

Chapter Director

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. 

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.

Xochitl Arredondo

Undergraduate Intern

Xochitl Arredondo is an undergraduate student in Collaborative Health and Human Services with a focus on Social Work at California State University, Monterey Bay. She is drawn to Safe Families for Children because of their mission to provide healthy, stable environments, and their effort to keep families together. She has a passion for protecting children and ensuring that they can grow up in safe environments where they can develop healthily and grow into successful adults. She is excited to enhance her skills as a professional for the well-being of our community through this internship.

Synthia Moreno

Undergraduate Intern

Synthia Moreno is an undergraduate student in Collaborative Health and Human Services with a focus on Social Work at California State University, Monterey Bay. She is passionate about supporting children and families, which is why she is excited to be interning with SFFC. Her career goal is to make a meaningful impact in lives of vulnerable populations by providing compassionate care and advocacy.

Adrian Moreno

Adrian is a Pastor at Vintage Faith Church. He began his work with Safe Families when his family was considering fostering and learned about the number of local children in the area who experience the trauma of being taken away from their families. He, his wife, and two girls are committed to coming alongside families that are in trouble by rallying church communities to step in and provide support.

Kira Hettinger

Kira is a local attorney in Santa Cruz. She brings with her previous experience as a guardian ad litem, advocating on behalf of a child’s best interest in court, and previous experience 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

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 with the Monterey County Independent Living Program to provide respite care, resources, and training for Monterey County foster youth and families. Judith provides consulting for many local non-profits and works with them on data informed program evaluation. Judith is dedicated to using her role as an educator, statistician, and volunteer to serve families in the Monterey Bay Area.

Rob Cole

Originally from the Chicago area, Rob recently retired from a 14 year career with Monterey County Department of Social Services. Rob also held a previous position for seven years as a State Humane Officer with the Monterey County SPCA, including intensive training regarding the link between animal cruelty and child abuse.

Jeannine Cole

Jeannine was born and raised in Salinas and has had a diverse career path, with 20 years in banking and public relations. She then moved to Chicago in 2001, where she worked in care ministry for 17 years. During this time, she was introduced to Safe Families for Children (SFFC) and her family hosted several children. Jeannine later returned to Salinas to care for her aging parents, where she spent 2 years in Human Services, until her retirement. She is dedicated to helping others achieve their goals and keeping families together.

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. 

Karla Curran

Karla is a Seattle native who settled in Monterey in 2021 and built her wellness business as a private practice. Her career as a Program Director has given her the privilege of contributing to nonprofits, corporations, and private communities. She also brings decades of experience in fundraising and community service. Her passion for children has guided 25 years of mentoring single parents and at-risk teens. Karla is a mom of four and a proud grandmother of three!