Maritza Hilario
Los Angeles
Summary
Results-driven and trauma-informed social services professional with extensive experience working with vulnerable children, youth, and families impacted by abuse, violence, homelessness, exploitation, immigration-related challenges, and child welfare involvement. Skilled in crisis intervention, client advocacy, sensitive interviewing, psychosocial assessment, case management, and multidisciplinary collaboration with attorneys, law enforcement, schools, medical providers, and community agencies. Experienced supporting survivors of trauma, conducting home visits and client investigations, coordinating resources, and maintaining detailed case documentation in high-stress and confidential environments. Bilingual in English and Spanish with strong interpersonal, crisis response, and victim-centered advocacy skills.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Immigration Social Worker
Children's Law Center
Monterey Park, CA
04.2026 - Current
- Provided trauma-informed and culturally responsive support services to immigrant children, youth, and families impacted by abuse, violence, exploitation, trafficking, family separation, and complex legal systems.
- Conducted psychosocial assessments, sensitive client interviews, crisis intervention, safety planning, and individualized service coordination for vulnerable populations.
- Collaborated with attorneys, child welfare professionals, medical providers, schools, shelters, and community organizations to support clients involved in legal and protective service systems.
- Assisted unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, survivors of domestic violence, and mixed-status families with accessing housing, healthcare, mental health services, education, and community resources.
- Provided client accompaniments to government agencies, immigration-related appointments, biometrics appointments, court-related services, and county offices to offer advocacy, guidance, emotional support, and assistance navigating complex systems.
- Identified trauma-related symptoms, behavioral concerns, and safety risks while providing victim-centered emotional support and referrals for counseling and specialized services.
- Maintained detailed, accurate, and confidential case documentation, assessments, case notes, and reports in compliance with ethical standards and mandated reporting requirements.
- Supported youth and families navigating high-stress situations involving trauma, displacement, abuse investigations, and system involvement using trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
- Participate in multidisciplinary case consultations and coordinated with legal teams and service providers to promote client safety, stabilization, and long-term well-being.
- Assisted with advocacy, outreach, and resource coordination for underserved immigrant and vulnerable youth populations.
Assistant Program Coordinator
1736 Family Crisis Center
06.2023 - Current
- Alongside the Program Coordinator, assist the Program Coordinator with all shelter services, such as, case management, advocacy, counseling, recordkeeping, and house functioning
- Provide crisis intervention services (hotline and in-person)
- Support all designated Child Enrichment services throughout the agency conducting case management, community education, assist with implementation of agency youth programs, outreach, presentations, obtain community partnerships
- Performs assigned record keeping and documentation relevant to agency work, reviews documentation of client services in client files and assist with monthly statistics
Community Advocate Intern
Survivor Justice Center
Los Angeles, CA
08.2024 - 05.2025
- Developed outreach programs to engage underrepresented populations effectively.
- Fostered relationships with stakeholders to promote collaborative solutions for community challenges.
- Provided trauma-informed advocacy and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and immigrant survivors involved in family law and immigration-related legal matters.
- Collaborated closely with attorneys and legal staff to support clients throughout the legal process, including intake, case coordination, safety planning, and resource linkage.
- Conducted client needs assessments and assisted with navigation of public systems including immigration services, public benefits, housing, healthcare, mental health, dependency court, and community resources.
- Provided court accompaniment and emotional support during restraining order hearings, family court proceedings, mediations, interviews with law enforcement, and immigration-related appointments.
- Assisted clients with individualized safety planning to address immediate safety concerns, family stability, housing, transportation, and access to supportive services.
- Connected clients to culturally responsive community resources including shelters, counseling services, food assistance, healthcare, and legal support programs.
- Supported immigrant survivors and mixed-status families with advocacy, referrals, document preparation support, and court accompaniments.
- Maintained accurate and confidential case documentation while utilizing trauma-informed, client-centered, and culturally responsive practices.
Investigator
The Children’s Law Center
Monterey Park, CA
02.2022 - 04.2026
- Visit with clients, caretakers and others in order to develop a trusting and professional relationship with clients
- Interview caretakers and children, to the extent possible, in order to observe and document the children’s current living situation, developmental progress and emotional wellbeing
- Identify services in the community and make referrals as needed
- Assist attorneys with client interviews
- Communicate regularly with the attorneys, both verbally and in writing, regarding status of caseloads
- Developed and maintained detailed case files, tracking progress and outcomes of investigations.
- Manage and maintain caseload; Schedule appointments for client visits and collateral meetings
- Conducted comprehensive investigations into child welfare cases, ensuring adherence to legal standards.
- Collaborated with legal teams to gather evidence and prepare case documentation for court proceedings.
Lead Community Support Coordinator
Easter Seals Southern
11.2021 - 02.2022
- Supervise and coordinate services: intake process, associated collaterals, and training sessions
- Conduct home visits, works with individuals with behavioral and emotional challenges & medical issues
- Maintain effective working relationships with participants, referral agencies, community resources
- Monitor and ensures associates’ schedules meet required ratios & attendance, billing
- Ensures all reports, documentation are accurate, complete and processed in a timely manner
Family Support Service Worker
Los Angeles Education Partnership
11.2019 - 10.2021
- Establish positive, supportive and reciprocal relationships with families, children, and community resources
- Conduct outreach to families, and agencies through one-to-one contacts, socializations, school meetings, and local events and via flyer distribution
- Completes family applications/enrollment, verify income eligibility
- Completes family assessment and partnership agreements
- Refer children and families to community resources as needed
- Provide overall program information and health education content at workshops, school meetings and other events
- Data entry for all ERSEA service areas
- Provide overall program information and health education content at workshops, school meetings and other events
Family Support Worker
Women & Children Crisis Shelter
03.2021 - 08.2021
- Act as the first point of contact for WCCS clients, offer client-centered, confidential services: Provide trauma informed services to hotline callers and shelter residents
- Handle crisis and information calls from victims of DV law enforcement, social service agencies; Assess if shelter is appropriate program for clients’ needs
- Provides advocacy, crisis counseling, crisis intervention, safety planning, case management, community referrals to adults and children using a strength-based, client-centered, trauma-informed approach
- Assure that advocacy plan is carried out; and linkages services in coordination with the case manager
- Keeps team informed of status of clients, urgent program needs, client non-compliance, emergency, and program process
- Maintains a written record of operations in a timely manner through client log, client files
Residential Care Manager
1736 Family Crisis Center
03.2019 - 12.2020
- Lead in working with homeless/at risk youth to develop an individualized plan that addresses their needs and goals during their stay for a 2-week program.
- Conduct screenings that determine eligibility
- Provide support for resources youth can utilize once exited program such as housing
- Work alongside Department of Children Family Services to provide alternative options
- Attend to 24-hour crisis hotline and provided emergency resources for crisis callers
Independent Living Instructor
Future Focus
11.2017 - 11.2019
- Provides support to adults with developmental/intellectual disabilities
- Building professional relationships and good rapport with clients
- Help with job placement
- Assist with medical, social security, CalWORKs, Cal fresh applications
- Provide self-advocacy training, assisted with daily living skills
- Provide assistance in securing housing options
Site Staff/After School Teacher
Los Angeles Unified School District
09.2011 - 09.2017
- Assists in conducting various enrichment and recreation activities in out-of-school programs on
- Assists in organizing and conducting a variety of enrichment and recreation activities, such as arts and crafts, athletics, games, roller skating, and dramatics, during out-of-school
- Assists in maintaining safety and order at out-of-school program sites
- Checks a variety of equipment in and out to adults and children and assists with equipment repair and maintenance
- Administers first-aid in cases of minor injury
- Performs related duties as assigned of School Program Supervisor in conducting enrichment and/or recreation activities
- Routine maintenance of enrichment and recreation equipment and supplies
- Travel to other District sites and locations
Education
Master of Arts - Social Work
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA05.2026
Bachelor of Arts - Child Development
California State University of Los Angeles
06.2021
Family Development Credential - undefined
University Of Connecticut Center For The Study Of Culture, Health & Human Development
06.2021
Associates Degree - Psychology
Glendale Community College
06.2017
Skills
- Knowledge of Research and Analysis Methods
- Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint and Excel
- Highly Motivated, Ethical and Organized
- Bilingual (Spanish) Fluent
- Record accuracy
- Research Skills
- Culturally- Sensitive
- Team Player and Team Building skills
- Multitasking
Certification
Sexual Assault Counselor Certificate
Domestic Violence Certificate
Timeline
Immigration Social Worker
Children's Law Center
04.2026 - Current
Community Advocate Intern
Survivor Justice Center
08.2024 - 05.2025
Assistant Program Coordinator
1736 Family Crisis Center
06.2023 - Current
Investigator
The Children’s Law Center
02.2022 - 04.2026
Lead Community Support Coordinator
Easter Seals Southern
11.2021 - 02.2022
Family Support Worker
Women & Children Crisis Shelter
03.2021 - 08.2021
Family Support Service Worker
Los Angeles Education Partnership
11.2019 - 10.2021
Residential Care Manager
1736 Family Crisis Center
03.2019 - 12.2020
Independent Living Instructor
Future Focus
11.2017 - 11.2019
Site Staff/After School Teacher
Los Angeles Unified School District
09.2011 - 09.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Child Development
California State University of Los Angeles
Family Development Credential - undefined
University Of Connecticut Center For The Study Of Culture, Health & Human Development
Associates Degree - Psychology
Glendale Community College
Master of Arts - Social Work
San Jose State University