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.
Executive Director
Melissa Guariglia
Director of Infrastructure & Clinical Services
Director of Programs
Family Service Coordinator
Family Service Coordinator
Early Learning Teacher
Early Learning Teacher
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Early Learning Teacher
Early Childhood
Mental Health Consultant
Enrollment & Operations Coordinator
Early Childhood
Mental Health Consultant
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Parent-Child Group Facilitator
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!
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 child’s organized school events and athletic and sporting organizations. Marsha has two children: one son in college and a daughter in high school. Marsha enjoys playing with her dog, traveling with her family, and loves visiting Disney Parks all over the world.
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. 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.
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.
Born and raised in San Jose, Isabel Gonzalez has worked alongside children and families in academic and recreational settings, including working as a community worker aide, where she helped parents and their children prepare for kindergarten. Isabel has an Associate degree in Child Development from De Anza College and a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development, with a community focus, from San Jose State University. Isabel was born and raised in San Jose and currently lives in the East Bay. Outside work, Isabel enjoys going to the beach, eating, and attending Body Combat, a mixed-martial art class!
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.
Maribel Agredano has worked as a behavioral therapist and preschool teacher for infants, toddlers, and kindergarteners. A native of Northern California, Maribel is the daughter of Mexican immigrants whose dream was to start a family in a more promising place. The first in her family to graduate from college, Maribel received her Bachelor’s degree in Film and Media studies, with a minor in Chicano Latino Studies, from UC Irvine. Her passion for learning did not end after college, and she is now pursuing an Associate degree in Child Development at Cañada College. In her free time, Maribel enjoys being outdoors, camping, grilling, and having picnics at the park. Despite not knowing how to swim, Maribel also loves spending her weekends at the beach close to the shore to relax or catch up on some readings to unwind.
Erendida Gonzalez joined Family Connections as an Early Learning Teacher in December 2022. She has worked in non-profit organizations for over six years as a Resource Coordinator and Educational Specialist. Erendida was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States as a young girl. During the pandemic, she decided to return to school and is currently attending Cañada College to get her Associate's degree in Humanities. She is also working on getting her Inclusion Certification. Erendida's older son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of three. This started her passion and love for working with children with special needs. Over the years, she has gained experience supporting children with varying needs and their caregivers. Erendida is a proud mom of two children who keep her busy with their baseball and softball schedules. In addition, she enjoys taking long walks with her children and dog.
Erendida Gonzalez joined Family Connections as an Early Learning Teacher in December 2022. She has worked in non-profit organizations for over six years as a Resource Coordinator and Educational Specialist. Erendida was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States as a young girl. During the pandemic, she decided to return to school and is currently attending Cañada College to get her Associate's degree in Humanities. She is also working on getting her Inclusion Certification. Erendida's older son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of three. This started her passion and love for working with children with special needs. Over the years, she has gained experience supporting children with varying needs and their caregivers. Erendida is a proud mom of two children who keep her busy with their baseball and softball schedules. In addition, she enjoys taking long walks with her children and dog.
Karina Meneses is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and joined the Family Connections team as their Early Intervention Consultant. As a Consultant, Karina works collaboratively with the whole early childhood team: supporting and empowering caregivers (staff and parents) 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 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.
Amada Jibaja joined Family Connections in March 2023 as the Enrollment & Operations Coordinator. She was born in Ecuador and moved to the Bay Area in 2014. Prior to joining Family Connections, Amada worked for South San Francisco Public Library, planning and facilitating virtual programming for the California State Library grant funded by the Stay & Play Project for Friends, Families, and Neighbors of South San Francisco. Amada is passionate about advocating for accessible health care for minority communities. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UC Davis and is working towards a Master’s degree in Public Health. During her free time, Amada volunteers at Expanding Your Horizons, supporting young women in 6th through 12th grade to learn about career opportunities in math and science. Amada enjoys exploring California State Parks with her family and friends.
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 8 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.
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, 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.
In her free time, she likes to read and listen to podcasts, but her favorite pastime is spending quality time with her husband and 3 children.
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.