Citlali Cardona
Santa Barbara
Summary
Bilingual public service and community advocacy professional with experience supporting vulnerable populations through county social services, healthcare access initiatives, and child advocacy work. Skilled in client support, benefits navigation, crisis communication, interdepartmental collaboration, and administrative systems including CalSAWS and MEDS. Experienced working with homeless individuals, foster youth, justice-involved populations, and low-income families in fast-paced, trauma-informed environments.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Administrative Office Professional II
County of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
09.2024 - Current
- Assist diverse client populations including homeless individuals, college students, families, and vulnerable community members with public assistance programs including Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, and General Relief.
- Provide front-line reception and administrative support for approximately 50 clients daily while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and trauma-informed communication.
- Utilize county systems including CalSAWS, MEDS, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Input & Data Integration, and MIST for case processing, documentation, imaging, task management, and client support services.
- Support inter-office coordination across county offices to ensure timely processing of applications, documentation, and client referrals.
- Guide clients to appropriate county resources including Child Welfare Services, Adult Protective Services, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and assigned eligibility workers or case managers.
- Selected for the specialized CalAIM initiative to assist incarcerated individuals within Santa Barbara County Jail with Medi-Cal enrollment and healthcare continuity planning prior to release.
- Successfully completed enhanced background clearance and training, and received unrestricted facility access for one-on-one inmate assistance under supervisor and division chief approval.
- Designated as a Disaster Service Worker for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), completing FEMA and county emergency response trainings including Psychological First Aid and EOC operations.
Assistant Manager
Hollister Co.
Ventura, CA
10.2023 - 09.2024
- Supervised daily operations and supported teams across multiple store locations in fast-paced environments.
- Trained and mentored new employees and leadership staff while promoting collaboration, professionalism, and customer service excellence.
- Resolved escalated customer and operational concerns using effective communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.
Lead Brand Representative/Keyholder
Hollister Co.
Santa Barbara, CA
09.2021 - 10.2023
- Assisted with team training, customer relations, and daily operational support in a high-volume retail environment.
- Strengthened communication and interpersonal skills through direct customer interaction and peer mentorship responsibilities.
Day Care Assistant
Noemi's Day Care
Salinas, CA
03.2020 - 09.2021
- Supported children’s daily care and supervised activities while maintaining a safe, structured, and supportive environment.
- Built positive relationships with families through consistent communication and attentiveness to children’s needs.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Major in Sociology, Minor in Applied Psychology
University of California, Santa Barbara
05-2023
Skills
- Bilingual Communication (English/Spanish)
- Trauma-Informed Communication
- Client Intake & Eligibility Support
- Benefits Navigation (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, General Relief)
- Case Referral & Resource Coordination
- De-escalation & Conflict Resolution
- CalSAWS, MEDS, MIST, and IVR Systems
- Data Entry & Case Documentation
- Interdepartmental Coordination
- Microsoft Office Suite
Community Advocacy & Leadership
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer
Court Appointed Special Advocates — Santa Barbara, CA
(May 2025 – Present)
- Advocate for the best interests and wellbeing of a foster youth within court and child welfare systems.
- Build supportive and consistent rapport with assigned child while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and trauma-informed communication.
- Collaborate with social workers, caregivers, attorneys, educators, and court personnel to support the child’s needs and long-term stability.
- Attend trainings and maintain detailed documentation, case updates, and required communications regarding the child’s progress and services.
- Strengthened skills in crisis communication, active listening, advocacy, and navigating complex social service systems.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Certification
- Crisis De-escalation & Conflict Resolution Training
- Trauma-Informed Communication & Client Support
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) Training
- Confidentiality & Protected Client Information Training
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC) & Disaster Response Training
- FEMA Emergency Management Courses (IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800)
- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Training
- Psychological First Aid Training
Timeline
Administrative Office Professional II
County of Santa Barbara
09.2024 - Current
Assistant Manager
Hollister Co.
10.2023 - 09.2024
Lead Brand Representative/Keyholder
Hollister Co.
09.2021 - 10.2023
Day Care Assistant
Noemi's Day Care
03.2020 - 09.2021
Bachelor of Science - Major in Sociology, Minor in Applied Psychology
University of California, Santa Barbara