NASWCA Member Promotion Spotlight

NASW-CA member Vanessa Cuevas-Romero, MSW, was recently promoted as the new Youth Initiatives Officer at Sacramento Native American Health Center, Inc. (SNAHC).

Her new position entails developing a community-based system of care for American Indian/Alaskan Native children with mental health needs, suicide and substance use. Her main role is to leverage resources and new partnerships to develop capacity and build the necessary infrastructure to assist Native people living in the Sacramento area. A system of care is an organized way for everyone (youth, families, professionals, clinicians and agencies) to work together and help children/youth who are experiencing challenges to wellness. They recently received a large $1.25 Million SAMHSA Circles of Care grant and $1 Million SAMHSA Native Connections grant that focuses on creating this system of care which emphasizes collaboration and considers culturally responsive approaches for Urban Native youth.

Said Cuevas-Romero, “I am honored to be selected to participate in this life changing and meaningful work.”

Previously, Cuevas-Romero was the Wellness Director for two years, Interim Behavioral Health Director for eight months, and Development Director for a year at SNAHC.

Additionally, she was the TRiO Director at Woodland Community College, Legislative Aid for Assemblywomen Cristina Garcia, Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs at St. Norbert College, and Executive Assistant at American Indian Health and Family Services.

Cuevas-Romero received her BA in Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley and her MSW at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.