Encompass Community Services
We are so proud of our Encompass Families Together program! Families Together is an innovative counseling program that provides home-based services to Santa Cruz County families. The primary objectives of the program are to improve safety, child development, and family relationships. Our counselors work with parents, caregivers, and children to prevent child maltreatment and promote social and emotional well-being.
Families referred by Santa Cruz County Family & Children’s Services or CalWORKs are assigned a therapist who helps families with parenting strategies, child development, and parent-child attachment, and can connect families with other community resources such as substance use counseling, interpersonal violence services, and early education support.
Here’s an in-depth profile featuring our awesome Families Together Staff. We appreciate the support and services they provide to families across Santa Cruz County. To learn more about the Encompass Families Together program, please visit our web page.
Bree B., LMFT, PMH-C, Clinical Supervisor
Bree provides individual and group clinical supervision to Families Together clinicians working towards licensure and counselors. She ensures that all staff are following the law & ethics of the profession and providing sound clinical services.
When did you join Encompass?
I started with Encompass in 2005 as a graduate school trainee at Escuela Quetzal in Watsonville. During my tenure with Encompass I have had many roles including school-based counselor, Manager of Escuela Quetzal, North County outpatient clinician, clinical supervisor of North County outpatient, Manager of school-based and youth SUDs services in South County, I implemented and Managed the FUERTE program, and finally I managed the Families Together program and implemented the Thrive by Five program before taking some time off to have my daughter and returning to Families Together as the Clinical Supervisor in 2021.
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
I was pregnant with my son when I was offered the Manager position at Families Together. I liked that Families Together was focused on prevention and early intervention work with families who had been in contact with Child Welfare. Since I was on my way to becoming a new mother, I was also excited to work with pregnant people through the Thrive by Five program, and ultimately developed a passion for Perinatal Mental Health and became a certified Perinatal Mental Health professional through Postpartum Support International.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I can honestly say I enjoy most things about my work. I really like teaching and supporting clinicians on the path to licensure. Families Together is such a unique and special program with such dedicated staff—there is a reason I returned!
Guadalupe, Family Support Specialist
Guadalupe connects families in need with resources in the community such as food, clothing, medical, and other emergency needs.
When did you join Encompass?
I’ve been with Encompass for the past 4 years. 3 years with Families Together and prior to that, I was with Encompass Head Start.
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
I like that Families Together is a preventative program. The staff are so kind and truly care for the families and believe in what Families Together stands for.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The fact that I can help families in need and connect them to resources and help change the outcome for the day.
What do you do when you’re not working at Encompass?
I am passionate about self-care, helping others, and I am a certified Reiki Master.
Annalisa M., Clinician I
Annalisa provides counseling and case management for parents, families, and children.
When did you join Encompass?
I've been with Encompass since July of 2018. I was with the TAY (Transition Aged Youth) team previously and joined Families Together as an intern in June 2021 and as a clinician in May of 2022.
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
I wanted to work with all sorts of different populations (adults, teens, and kids)
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love making a difference and getting to be a part of families' lives. I love the variety and freedom of the work to be able to meet clients’ needs in a way that caters specifically to them.
What do you do when you’re not working at Encompass?
I love to spend time with my nieces in my free time and am always down for a good jigsaw puzzle or a comforting book.
Raquel D., Mental Health Therapist
Raquel provides bilingual counseling services to Families Together families.
When did you join Encompass?
I joined in January 2023.
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
I appreciate the vision of Families Together in partnering with individuals to help bring mental health to families. I also enjoy working with the team. They are supportive and encouraging.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy the constant learning and training opportunities that are provided. I really enjoy knowing that there is always something new to learn in the field of mental health.
Desirae A., Program Manager
Desirae supports and oversees a great team of people that provide all different types of services for families.
When did you join Encompass?
July 2022
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
I loved the idea of having a "menu" of services that could be provided to families.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I work with the best team of people! Also seeing our families' self-defined successes. At Families Together we are able to meet clients at their level while providing: counseling, case management, parent education, and much more.
What do you do when you’re not working at Encompass?
When I'm not working, I spend my time with my husband and twin toddlers.
Kona G., Clinician and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Kona provides family and individual therapy as well as parenting, case management, collaboration, resource connections, and wraparound support for at risk families.
When did you join Encompass? I have been at Families Together for 5 years.
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
I love being of service and making a difference for families in the local community. The team of clinicians at Families Together are amazing and inspiring, and I appreciate the supportive and collaborative work we do.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The clients. They are incredibly resilient, capable, and wonderful to work with.
What do you do when you’re not working at Encompass?
In my free time I love to travel the world with my own family.
Lizeth D., Family Support Specialist
Lizeth provides support to families and children with a variety of needs from case management, counseling services to referrals for other services needed.
When did you join Encompass?
I began working with the FUERTE Wrap Around team in 2021 as a Transitional Specialist and joined Families Together in January of 2022.
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
I wanted to work with a different age group, I had only worked with teens in the past, I had not worked with adults or children in the past. The idea of working with the family was also appealing as in FUERTE I worked closely with the families of the youth.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy seeing families receive the services they need (employment, housing, child care); also hearing how family dynamics change in a positive way.
What do you do when you’re not working at Encompass?
In my free time I enjoy cooking or going on walks to the beach when I have time.
Marisol B., Program Assistant II
Marisol provides support to staff and clients and manages data entry.
When did you join Encompass?
I joined Encompass when it was named Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center. While at Encompass, I have also assisted the programs of Head Start, Youth Services and Fuerte Wraparound.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy the friendly atmosphere and support that Families Together gives to their staff and families they serve.
Shae T., Clinician II
Shae provides support to staff and clients and manages data entry. Shae provides individually tailored services based on her client’s needs. This can include family and individual counseling, case management, advocacy, and emotional support in the community.
When did you join Encompass?
I joined Families Together and Encompass in April 2021.
What interested you in joining Encompass/Families Together?
Prevention! Families Together provides a space where families develop the tools and skills to better engage within their family system, working to prevent future involvement with CWS (Child Welfare Services).
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Seeing our client's success at the end of their time with the program.
What do you do when you’re not working at Encompass?
In my free time, my husband and I like to spend as much time as possible outdoors with our two pups hiking or playing on the beach.
Thank you to our Encompass Families Together team! We appreciate all of your hard work. To learn more about all of our Encompass programs, click here.