Sara Zepeda
Arroyo Grande
Summary
Experienced leader and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a PPS credential in School Social Work and School Counseling, bringing nearly 18 years of experience in human services. Demonstrated success in program development, training delivery, and strategic planning. Passionate about equity-driven education, student success, and institutional growth. Led agency-wide strategic initiatives, expanded funding for educational programs, and developed innovative mental health and student support services that had a meaningful impact on the system and target population. Skilled in curriculum development, employee retention, and cross-sector collaboration, with a focus on building and sustaining positive work culture. Utilizing data-driven decision-making and a trauma-informed approach to remove barriers to education and create inclusive, high-impact learning environments. Committed to intentional leadership, lifelong learning, and fostering a collaborative and psychologically safe campus and classroom environment. Bringing a strategic vision for strengthening student pathways and institutional effectiveness, always prioritizing social justice and educational equity.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Dignity Health Pacific Health Clinics
09.2024 - Current
- Recognize and address social determinants of health impacting equity of medical access and care.
- Demonstrate trauma informed patient care and educate medical staff about their role in reducing system trauma for patients accessing care.
- Created integrated care strategies tailored to individual patient needs.
- Addressed urgent needs of patients and families during crises.
- Engaged community resources to support at-risk patients.
- Counsel patients: Provide emotional support and counseling
- Coordinate resources: Help patients and families find resources to meet their needs
- Facilitate meetings: Arrange meetings between patients, families, and the healthcare team
- Assist with post-acute placement: Help patients with complex discharges
- Establish professional relationships: Build relationships with patients, families, physicians, case managers, nursing staff, and community resources
- Serve on hospital committees: Participate in developing and presenting in-services to hospital staff
- Provided insights and strategic planning for data-driven measurement to increase billable services.
- Leveraged passion for assisting vulnerable, marginalized and undocumented populations to address health equity barriers at both micro and macro levels.
- Collaborated closely with medical residents in a learning environment.
Departmentwide Training Manager
San Luis Obispo County Dept of Soc. Services
04.2022 - Current
- Oversee the needs assessment, development, and implementation of a departmentwide strategic plan
- Develop and implement new employee and supervisor onboarding training programs
- Develop & implement an employee wellness platform to improve staff morale, retention, and work/life balance strategies for DSS staff
- Develop and implement a data driven employee mentorship program to support staff with professional advancement
- Oversee the disbursement of department wide mandated training and the compliance and reporting related to those trainings
- Identify learning and development gaps within the organization and leverage partnerships and resources in order to address them in a cost-effective way
- Work collaboratively with County Human Resources, community-based organizations, contracted providers, and other county agencies to provide the most robust and data-supported training and development opportunities to Department of Social Services staff
- Supervise a team of staff development professionals in meeting the training goals of the agency.
- Supervise master’s and bachelor’s level interns including providing strengths coaching, mentorship, overseeing execution of assigned projects and providing evaluation of performance to the university.
County Behavioral Health Trainer
San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health
07.2015 - Current
- Responsibilities include providing trainings to county staff from various departments, staff from community-based organizations as well as school personnel on the topics of Trauma Informed Care, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Adult Mental Health First Aid, and Customer Awareness Response Effort
SAFE Program Manager
San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health
10.2016 - 04.2022
- Oversee three school-linked family resource centers.
- Facilitate the implementation of services to low-income and at-risk students and families.
- Supervision of bilingual and bicultural family advocates who deliver direct services.
- Providing supervision to the site supervisor of the resource centers.
- Responsible for direct coordination of services with Lucia Mar Unified School District, SLO County Child Welfare Services, and Department of Social Services.
- Execute relevant data tracking and program outcomes for grant funders.
- Facilitate multi-disciplinary student centered meetings designed to identify and develop a plan to keep the student safe, at home, in school and out of trouble
- Oversee the referral process and connection to mental health services for students in Lucia Mar Unified School district
- Serves as treasurer of the board for the non-profit arm of the SAFE Program, the South County Youth Coalition
- As board treasurer, manages funds, coordinates fundraising efforts, and receives, reviews and processes funding requests of a scholarship fund dedicated for at risk students in the community
- As parenting coordinator manages thousands of dollars in grant funding designated for the provision of parent education in English and Spanish in Southern San Luis Obispo County
- Generates the parenting budget, secures parent instructors, identifies topics of interest in the community
- Collaborates with Lucia Mar Unified School District, Parent Connection, SLO Public Libraries and County Behavioral Health to ensure that parenting classes provided match the needs of the community
- Works with parent coordination assistant in ensuring venues, childcare, and marketing are executed properly
- Reports back to funder regarding parent education outcomes and use of funds
Crisis Evaluator
Sierra Mental Wellness
02.2016 - 10.2016
- Responsibilities include providing mobile crisis support services in San Luis Obispo County by performing mental health assessments and 5150 evaluations, providing short-term, stabilizing counseling and/or referral and linkage to community resources
- Additionally, provides crisis intervention for individuals who are in distress, completes admissions to an appropriate mental health inpatient unit; assists mental health clients in obtaining social and other human services by communicating directly and effectively with hospital staff and psychiatrists
- This was a weekend position in addition to full-time county employment
Mental Health Therapist IV
San Luis Obispo County Mental Health-Adult Outpatient Clinic
07.2015 - 09.2016
- Responsibilities include providing individual psychotherapy to a severely mentally ill population; conducting preliminary assessments of mentally ill and emotionally disturbed clients, completing diagnostics regarding assessed clients and providing treatment recommendations based upon severity of symptoms and associated appropriate level of care; formulating treatment plans in unison with the client; collaborating with colleagues and community agencies in carrying out treatment plans; providing consultation and psycho-education to lay and professional groups and individuals; referring clients to appropriate community agencies; learning and evaluating new techniques for addressing mental health symptomology; participating in crisis intervention activities as necessary
- Also in this position, facilitated Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) groups for a County Drug and Alcohol Services mandated population and documented accordingly
Volunteer
San Luis Obispo County Drug and Alcohol Services
02.2015 - 07.2016
- Responsibilities included co-facilitating Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) treatment groups and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) psycho-educational groups with legally mandated clients
Family Treatment Court (FTC) Coordinator
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2013 - 07.2015
- Coordinating the Family Treatment Court Program involves monitoring and recording program data for grant funding; assessing and recruiting new program participants; providing FTC orientations to pending participants; monitoring and documenting weekly court outcomes and generating the FTC calendar; facilitating communication between County Drug and Alcohol Services and Child Welfare Services; working with a team of professionals to make court recommendations to the commissioner
- In addition, one must understand and communicate Child Welfare and County Drug and Alcohol policies and research; utilize relevant and current research to support and generate program change and improvements; provide oral presentations regarding FTC and ancillary programs to grant funders and other organizations
- Furthermore, the FTC Coordinator serves and presents monthly at the FTC Steering Committee and represents the Family Treatment Court Program in the community
Dependency Investigations Social Worker
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2010 - 07.2015
- Responsibilities include writing court reports and petitions, testifying regarding cases and court recommendations, attending team decision making meetings regarding families served, and interfacing with service providers regarding clients' treatment
- In addition, one must advocate for clients despite limitations in availability of services due to the economic climate; have familiarity with Welfare and Institution Codes 300 and their application in the court process; assess causes and components leading to abuse and neglect in families and subsequently compile court ordered case plans to support reunification and; complete social assessments regarding parents to be provided to the juvenile court; mentor parents regarding abuse, neglect and parenting issues
- Train colleagues regarding procedures and protocol and; represent the department by providing public presentations at community meetings
- Utilize supervision to improve practice, use rapport-building techniques to motivate clients to make positive change in accordance with case plan goals
Foster Care Recruitment & Retention Social Worker Intern
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2012 - 05.2013
- Responsibilities include contributing to the development of formalized retention efforts for the Department
- Interfacing with community providers and partner agencies to gain financial supports for recruitment and retention efforts
- Representing the Department via public presentation at community meetings conveying recruitment needs
- Attend Quality Parenting Initiative Trainings and participate in the implementation of foster parent retention programming
- In addition, one participates in community recruitment efforts and events
Adoptions Social Worker Intern
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2011 - 05.2012
- Responsibilities include writing court reports, developing concurrent plans to prepare children for permanency, interfacing with adoption agencies, permanency mediation agencies, and prospective adoptive parents regarding minor dependents
- Participates in team decision-making meetings to advocate for minors regarding permanency concerns
- Completes adoptability assessments
Family Maintenance & Family Reunification Social Worker
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
12.2008 - 08.2010
- Responsibilities include the provision of case management services to clients in family maintenance, family reunification and permanent placement
- Studies and applies the principles and techniques of social work to a caseload composed of people who have areas of need which include substance abuse, mental health, and parenting
- Conducts assessments to determine the social services needs of clients
- Develops and carries out social treatment plans for an assigned caseload
- Networks with community agencies and assists clients in utilizing available community resources
- Interprets the policies, rules and regulations of the department in addition to the court process for clients
- Completes home visits in connection with casework assignments
- Prepares and maintains case records and court reports
- Adheres to court timelines, participates in staff development activities and represent the agency in a professional manner
- Responds to crisis, evaluates and analyzes client progress as well as safety and risk
- Uses CWS/CMS computer database and DSS Net online tool
Social Worker Assistant
Life Steps Foundation Wisdom Center
08.2008 - 11.2008
- Serve an elderly population under a medical model
- Facilitate Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings with occupational therapist, physical therapist, registered nurse, and social worker supervisor
- Provide direct interaction with the client including interviewing and assessing their needs to be communicated to the appropriate interventionist
- Document all client interactions
- Facilitate, coordinate and publicize an Alzheimer's Support Group
Behavioral Health Counselor
Butte County Behavioral Health
11.2007 - 07.2008
- Manage caseload of clients who require intervention, testing, evaluation, counseling and guidance
- Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and prepare and present progress reports
- In addition, plan and implement client placements; apply integrity in decision making; gain knowledge and exercise adherence to county policy; acquire skill in interacting with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds; assess, analyze, and identify issues with clients, and recommend solutions to problems
Education
Pupil Personnel Services Credential - School Counseling
National University
03.2020
Pupil Personnel Services Credential - School Social Work
San Jose State
11.2019
Masters - Social Work with a concentration in Children and Families
California State University, Long Beach-Distance Program
05.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology with Honors in the Major
California State University, Chico
12.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Social Science
California State University, Chico
12.2007
Skills
- Leadership Development and strategic planning
- Data-driven program development and oversight
- Budgeting and Resource Allocation
- Ability to leverage retention strategies to improve student and employee outcomes
- Identify and address barriers to access for marginalized and underserved populations
- Curriculum development, staff and leadership onboarding, and training delivery
- Communication and collaboration across disciplines, organizations, and governances
Specialized Training
- Child Forensic Interview Training, 11/01/13, 16 hours
- Multi-Disciplinary Team Training, 11/01/13, 1 hour
- Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Training, 11/01/13, 16 hours
- Attachment & Affect Regulation Conference UCLA, 03/01/14, 16 hours
- Trauma Informed Care Train the Trainer, 05/01/14, 16 hours
- National Drug Court Conference, 05/01/14, 16 hours
- Adoption Clinical Training, 08/01/14, 8 hours
- Safety Organized Practice Conference, 07/01/14, 16 hours
- Child and Family Team Meeting Training, 09/01/14, 16 hours
- County Supervisor Training, 06/01/14, 16 hours
- Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5 Training, 07/01/15, 8 hours
- Welfare and Institution Code 5150 Training, 02/01/16, 2 hours
- Group Facilitation Training, 05/01/16, 4 hours
- Mental Health First Aid Training, 06/01/16, 8 hours
- Mental Health First Aid Youth Instructor Training, 10/01/16, 16 hours
- Mental Health First Aid Adult Instructor Training, 10/01/16, 16 hours
- Health Information Privacy & Security Training, 12/01/16, 1 hour
- Best Use of Psychiatric Medication for Youth Training, 08/01/18, 1.5 hours
- HIV/Aids A Comprehensive Review Training, 08/01/18, 1 hour
- Child Development & Disorders Training, 08/01/18, 1 hour
- Cultural and Linguistic Competence Training, 08/01/18, 1 hour
- California Law and Ethics Training, 08/01/18, 8 hours
- Screening, Assessment & Referrals Training, 08/01/18, 1 hour
- Suicide Assessment & Treatment Training, 08/01/18, 1 hour
- Foundations in Excellence Leadership Training, 09/01/18, 16 hours
- DISC Behavior Training, 10/01/18, 16 hours
- Groundwork in Multi-Cultural Care, 03/01/19, 1 hour
- Strategies 2.0 Facilitating Change Talk, 04/01/19, 6 hours
- Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention Training, 04/01/19, 2 hours
- Motivational Interviewing, 05/01/19, 8 hours
- Human Trafficking Training, 05/01/19, 7 hours
- Mandated Reporter Training, 06/01/19, 3 hours
- Motivational Interviewing Train the Trainer, 04/01/24, 16 hours
- Clifton Strengths Coach Certification, 08/01/23, 40 hours
Certification
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, #75367, 2017
- Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach, 2023
- Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Certified, 2024
Recognition
- National Association of Social Workers San Luis Obispo Chapter Social Worker of the Year, 2020
- California State University, Chico (CSUC) Commencement Speaker, 2007.
- Summa Cum Laude, CSUC Class of 2007.
- CSUC Outstanding Psychology Student of the Year, 2007.
- CSUC Honors in Psychology, 2006/2007
- Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society in Higher Education, 2005, 2013.
- Dr. Cindy Ratekin Child Development Scholarship, 2005.
- Psi Chi National Honors Society in Psychology, 2005.
- Psi Chi Member Achievement Scholarship, 2006.
- CSUC Academic Achievement Award, 2004.
- Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society in General Education, 2004.
- Deans List, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013.
- Phi Alpha Phi National Honors Society in Social Work, 2013.
Expert Witness Testimony
- Risk Assessment
- Child Placement
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Working with Traumatized Children
- Placement of Dependent Children
Leadership Experience
- South County Youth Coalition Board Treasurer, 10/01/16-Present
- South County Youth Coalition Parenting Coordinator, 10/01/16-Present
- Customer Awareness Response Effort (CARE) Trainer, 07/01/18-04/01/19
- Trauma Informed Care Committee Member, 05/01/14-Present
- Mental Health First Aid Instructor, 10/01/16-Present
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW) SLO Chapter Chair, 06/01/14-04/01/17
- Safety Organized Practice (SOP) Coach, 08/01/13-07/01/15
- Mentoring CWS Interns, 01/01/14-07/01/15
- Family Treatment Court (FTC) Coordinator, 08/01/13-07/01/15
- After Hours Training, 03/01/14
- PRIDE Trainer for Prospective Foster Parents/Resource Families, 2014-2015
Timeline
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Dignity Health Pacific Health Clinics
09.2024 - Current
Departmentwide Training Manager
San Luis Obispo County Dept of Soc. Services
04.2022 - Current
SAFE Program Manager
San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health
10.2016 - 04.2022
Crisis Evaluator
Sierra Mental Wellness
02.2016 - 10.2016
County Behavioral Health Trainer
San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health
07.2015 - Current
Mental Health Therapist IV
San Luis Obispo County Mental Health-Adult Outpatient Clinic
07.2015 - 09.2016
Volunteer
San Luis Obispo County Drug and Alcohol Services
02.2015 - 07.2016
Family Treatment Court (FTC) Coordinator
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2013 - 07.2015
Foster Care Recruitment & Retention Social Worker Intern
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2012 - 05.2013
Adoptions Social Worker Intern
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2011 - 05.2012
Dependency Investigations Social Worker
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
08.2010 - 07.2015
Family Maintenance & Family Reunification Social Worker
San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare Services
12.2008 - 08.2010
Social Worker Assistant
Life Steps Foundation Wisdom Center
08.2008 - 11.2008
Behavioral Health Counselor
Butte County Behavioral Health
11.2007 - 07.2008
Pupil Personnel Services Credential - School Counseling
National University
Pupil Personnel Services Credential - School Social Work
San Jose State
Masters - Social Work with a concentration in Children and Families
California State University, Long Beach-Distance Program
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology with Honors in the Major
California State University, Chico
Bachelor of Arts - Social Science
California State University, Chico
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