Currilum Vitae

Education:
  • LEND Fellowship (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities – JFK Partners/University of Colorado– Graduated June 2017 (areas of Leadership, Key Concepts in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Intervention for Children and Youth with ASD/Neurodevelopmental Disabilities)
  • Subject Matter Expert in Outreach to Hispanic Communities - Community of Practice Project, SPARK, SaLSA - COMIRB
  • Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Non-profit concentration, Minors in Psychology and Spanish Language- Metropolitan State University of Denver – Graduated December 2014
  • Associate in Liberal Arts with Honors – Cum Laude – Community College of Denver – Graduated May 2011
 
Skills Profile:
  • Fluent in the verbal and written Spanish language.
  • Education consultant and advocacy in early childhood and school-age.
  • Extensive experience providing support and advocacy for families with children with disabilities.
  • Multicultural competence and experience working with diverse families and special. knowledge in outreach and serving Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish-speaking communities.
  • Knowledge of community resources locally and nationally.
  • Maintain relationships with local agencies, including Community Centered Boards.
  • Marketing and outreach experience in social media.
  • Expertise in building cooperative relationships with parents, educators, and support providers.
  • Management of special and fundraising events and volunteers.
  • Management of client software and database systems.
 
Community Experience and Honors:
  • Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
  • Psi Beta National Honor Society in Psychology
  • Former Member of the Latino Age Wave Community Advisory Committee
  • Former Member of the Parent-to-Parent Colorado Advisory Board
  • Former Board Member of Hayley House
  • Former Educational surrogate parent volunteer with Colorado Department of Education
  • Former Vice-Chair, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council
  • Former Board Member, Rocky Mountain Human Services
 
Contributions to Science
  • DiGuiseppi, C., Rosenberg, S. A., Tomcho, M.A., Colborn, K., Hightshoe, K., Gutierrez-Raghunath, S. Cordova, J. M., et al. (Published online November 27, 2020, Issue published May 1, 2021). Family navigation to increase evaluation for autism spectrum disorder in toddlers: Screening and Linkage to Services for Autism pragmatic randomized trial. SAGE Journals, volume 25 (issue 4), pages: 946-957 https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320974175
 
  • Spark Consortium. 2018. SPARK: A US Cohort of 50,000 Families to Accelerate Autism Research. Neuron, volume 97, issue 3, pages: 488-493. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.01.01
  
Experience:
Association of University Centers on Disability, Silver Spring, ME
August 2021– Present, Bilingual Program Manager, ITAC & URC TA Teams
  • Provide technical assistance (TA) to interdisciplinary training and research programs across the United States.
  • Manage projects, initiatives, and meetings that address the objectives of the funder’s training programs.
  • Actively promote continuous improvement for individual programs and fulfill broader workforce development goals outlined in the Autism CARES Act.
  • Support the Spanish Language Caucus, People with Disabilities workgroup and other workgroups, and other entities that serve as platforms for addressing emerging training and public health issues.
 
Parent to Parent Miami, Miami, FL
July 2019 – August 2021, Education and Support Specialist, Miami, FL
  • Provide information and resources to families who have loved ones with disabilities.
  • Review and advise on IEP, IFSP, Section 504 plans.
  • Assist families with the preparation of meetings and attend when necessary.
  • Advocacy case management for new and ongoing families.
 
Autism Society of Colorado, Remote
June 2018 – November 2019, Operations Manager and I&R Specialist (Contract-BF LLC)
  • Hired to reduce costs, assist with financial cleanup and get the organization's financials back in the black.
  • Assist President with board governance.
  • Manage all daily operations.
  • Ensure financial excellence, management of financials with the accountant, donor cultivation.
  • Program supervision and training interns.
 
Bright Futures LLC Colorado, Remote
September 2014 – Present, Owner, Educational Consulting and Advocate
  • Special education advocate and Trainer.
  • Guardianship Assistance and Trainer.
  • SSI Assistance and Trainer.
  • Non-profit consulting and staff training in both English and Spanish.
  • Cultural consultant and Trainer in outreach and serving the Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish- speaking community.
  • Private advocacy on a sliding fee scale for English and Spanish-speaking families with a child with any disability.
 
JFK Partners/UCD Anschutz Campus, Aurora, CO
October 2017 – July 2018, Professional Research Assistant
  • Research assistant on the SPARK for Autism project working on outreach, enrollment, and collecting DNA of people with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
  • Explain and answer questions about the registry and help obtain saliva samples from multiple family members of study participants.
  • Follow-up with participants and families via telephone.
  • Meet set enrollment goals and arrange recruitment events in the community.
  • Use social media to create awareness about the registry.
  • Help participants navigate the online enrollment process.
  • Manage research database.
  
El Grupo VIDA, Denver, CO
October 2016 – April 2017, Development Director (Part-time Contract)
  • Help with annual fundraising goals and objectives in conjunction with the Executive Director, Treasurer, and board that includes timelines, procedures, and tasks to be accomplished to meet organizations' future goals.
  • Draft and executive all grant applications for the organization.
  • Lead the special projects or grants, IE Mentor program.
  • Participate in the EGV Development and Fundraising Committee with the Executive Director.
  • Maintain grants calendar, research, applications, and progress reporting with the Executive Director.
  • Help ensure proper management of the fundraising database, including confidentiality, accuracy, and timely entry of donor records with the Executive Director.
  • Assist the Executive Director in creating and implementing a fundraising culture throughout the organization. Assist families with the execution of guardianship paperwork.
  • Manage the interns involved with the Development Director's scope of work.
  • Translation of all EGV documents for the organization and grant work.
 
El Grupo VIDA, Denver, CO
November 2013 – October 2016, Executive Director        
  • Work with the board, volunteers, families, and other community members to create a strategic plan.
  • Recommends procedures and policies to the Board of Directors and the Board/Program Committees.
  • Develop, implement and execute the annual work plan.
  • Develop and record all documentation needed to demonstrate the results of activities as they relate to desired outcomes, i.e., surveys, evaluations, etc.
  • Develops and coordinates the donation revenue streams and cultivates new funding sources for the organization, monetary, grants, or in-kind.
  • Communicate and work with the board, volunteers, families, donors, and other community partners.
  • Develop and maintain relationships within the community with other non-profit organizations and for-profit organizations supporting the mission.
  • Responsible for overall leadership of the volunteers in the development, implementation, and coordination of short- and long-range plans, policies, and other activities.
  • Develop relationships and recruit volunteers through effective management methods including, but not limited to, delegating, assigning, evaluating, training, and mentoring processes.
  • Develop and implement public relations opportunities.
  • Translation of all EGV documents for the organization and grant work.
 
The Arc Arapahoe & Douglas Counties, Centennial, CO
March 2011 – November 2013, Community Outreach Coordinator (Bilingual)
  • Created and maintained The Arc’s social media: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
  • Maintain and update The Arc’s website events and calendar in CMS Builder.
  • Plan and implement the new case management and database software for the agency.
  • Create reports for federal grants requirements, monthly and yearly reporting.
  • Present on different topics: The Arc, IDEA, IEP, Guardianship, Marketing including publicizing events and education programs, managing social media, website content, agency documents, and announcements.
  • Participate in the strategic planning for The Arc.
  • Create and implement all marketing for agency events (media, Constant Contact, etc.).
  • Manage the Arc’s use of building for outside agencies.
  • Co-facilitate new self-advocate leadership group for Self-Advocates aged 15 and up.
  • Work on several councils and committees.
 
Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center, Aurora, CO
Nov 2008 – Jan 2011, Bilingual Outreach Coordinator and Parent Advisor
  • Community outreach, including participation in state councils, resource fairs, public speaking engagements and workshops, speakers’ bureau, and volunteer management.
  • Marketing includes publicizing events and education programs managing social media and website content.
  • Present on different educational topics.
  • Assist with federal grant application and administration.
 
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome (fna Mile High Down Syndrome Association), Denver CO
Aug 2003 – Nov 2007, Latino Outreach Coordinator / Parent Visitation Manager
  • Community outreach, including participation in state councils, resource fairs, public speaking engagements, speaker’s bureau.
  • Created, implemented, and managed the Latino outreach program.
  • Managed the parent visitation program and volunteers, including visits to new and expecting parents, training the parent volunteers, and facilitating the parent support groups.
 
Events Coordinator    Dec 2002 – July 2004
Aug 1998 – Dec 2002, Development & Membership Manager for Special Events
  • Management of all special events, fundraising events, and membership events with the support of staff and volunteers.
  • Cultivation of upper-tier donors.
  • Help with management of donor database (Raiser’s Edge).
  • Supervise part-time administrative staff position.