Ana Gonzalez
Hesperia,CA
Summary
A dedicated and compassionate Training & Education Professional with over 7 years of experience, including direct work with unaccompanied refugee children through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Expert in developing and delivering high-quality training and resource materials for refugee-serving agency staff, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams. Proven ability to create trauma-informed and child welfare-centric curricula, facilitate engaging live and virtual workshops, and conduct training needs assessments. Fluent in English and Spanish, with a deep commitment to protecting the rights of refugees and immigrants and advancing fair and humane public policy.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Trainer
Building Bridges Foster Family Agency
Ontario, United States
06.2022 - Current
- Developed and delivered high-quality, live training programs for staff and resource parents on trauma-informed care, mental health, and cultural sensitivity, enhancing competencies for working with vulnerable minors, including unaccompanied refugee and immigrant children.
- Facilitated interactive training sessions in both live and digital formats, adapting content for diverse learning styles and ensuring comprehension of complex child welfare topics.
- Created and validated comprehensive digital training materials and curricula, incorporating feedback from subject-matter experts to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with best practices in the field.
- Conducted training needs assessments through compliance audits and feedback analysis, using data to identify knowledge gaps and improve training content and delivery effectiveness.
- Coordinated with multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, social workers, and case managers to ensure a unified, trauma-informed approach to supporting child safety and cognitive development.
- Maintained a working knowledge of best practices in child welfare, trauma-informed care, and foster care licensing standards, integrating this knowledge into all training and resource materials.
Parent Mentor
Purposefully Chosen, Inc./ Born for Nia
San Bernardino, United States
02.2022 - 06.2022
- Guided teen mothers in adopting evidence-based positive parenting strategies, promoting child development and disrupting cycles of abuse.
- Provided trauma-informed emotional support, empowering teen mothers to navigate parenthood confidently.
- Advocated for family preservation, connecting mothers with legal resources, healthcare services, and housing assistance.
- Facilitated access to services by coordinating and accompanying mothers to appointments, offering childcare to eliminate barriers.
- Modeled healthy caregiver-child interactions, reinforcing nurturing behaviors and crisis de-escalation techniques.
Bilingual Parent Workshop Facilitator
Parent Empowerment
, Remote
12.2021 - 06.2022
- Designed and delivered virtual training curriculum and educational handouts for diverse groups, demonstrating ability to create accessible resources and facilitate effectively in an online format.
- Facilitated interactive sessions on topics like cyberbullying prevention, fostering literacy, and stress management.
- Provided tailored guidance to address parents' concerns, fostering a supportive virtual environment.
- Adapted the curriculum to resonate with cultural and linguistic needs, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.
- Tracked engagement metrics and post-workshop surveys, achieving a 90% satisfaction rate across sessions.
Youth Care Worker
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Pomona, United States
06.2021 - 10.2021
- Gained direct, hands-on experience implementing trauma-informed care frameworks for unaccompanied refugee children, ensuring their rights and dignity were safeguarded in a transitional setting.
- Provided bilingual translation in medical, legal, and mental health settings, ensuring culturally sensitive care, and equitable access to services—directly applicable to creating multilingual resources for refugee families.
- Advocated for equitable access to essential services, safeguarding children's rights, and dignity.
- Championed child safety and confidentiality by adhering to HIPAA protocols and ORR policies.
- Monitored developmental progress, and adjusted interventions to meet individualized goals.
Facilitator
Victor Community Support Services
Barstow, United States
10.2020 - 01.2021
- Facilitated holistic support through wraparound services, addressing familial, emotional, and social needs.
- Led the development of Individualized Child and Family Plans, applying a strength-based approach that aligns with child welfare-centric service provision.
- Provided crisis intervention and stabilization support, including 24/7 on-call availability.
- Coordinated care teams advocate for clients' needs, ensuring continuity of care.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify risks, strengths, and service gaps.
Infant Teacher
Montessori Association of Covina
Pomona, United States
06.2019 - 09.2020
- Cultivated a nurturing environment for infants and toddlers, aligning with Montessori principles and safety protocols.
- Designed individualized curricula using the Creative Curriculum model, fostering social-emotional growth and language acquisition.
- Conducted systematic observations to track developmental milestones, refining instructional strategies.
- Collaborated with parents to share progress updates and reinforce learning at home.
- Advanced professional expertise through annual attendance at Early Childhood Education conferences.
Respite Care Provider and Skills Trainer
In Roads Creative Program
Ontario, United States
11.2015 - 08.2019
- Delivered individualized care for a child with autism and epilepsy, employing ABA strategies to enhance communication and safety.
- Developed individualized skill-building programs and visual resources to foster independence and improve executive functioning, showcasing ability to create tailored support materials.
- Collaborated with parents and healthcare providers, sharing progress reports, and adjusting strategies.
- Facilitated community integration by modeling social interactions and teaching public navigation skills.
- Developed visual schedules to improve task transitions and support executive functioning.
Program Leader
Think Together
, United States
03.2019 - 06.2019
- Implemented holistic development for students, facilitating daily enrichment activities to bolster academic achievement and social-emotional skills.
- Mentored students, fostering leadership and conflict resolution using trauma-informed practices.
- Developed a dynamic curriculum incorporating STEM workshops and arts integration.
- Ensured student safety by enforcing protocols and conducting risk assessments.
- Collaborated with school administrators to align program goals with classroom learning objectives.
Child Enrichment Specialist
Karnig Infant-Toddler Success (KITS)
San Bernardino, United States
02.2018 - 06.2019
- Designed enrichment programs for children from at-risk families, fostering growth across developmental domains.
- Mentored interns in applying child development theories and positive guidance techniques.
- Led hands-on activities aligned with developmental milestones to stimulate engagement and learning.
- Coordinated family support initiatives, addressing food insecurity barriers.
- Implemented community outreach initiatives, increasing enrollment through targeted engagement.
Assistant Teacher
Institute for Child Development and Family Relations
San Bernardino, United States
05.2018 - 09.2018
- Collaborated with Lead Teachers to implement a play-based curriculum, fostering development across multiple domains.
- Supported secure adult-child attachments through responsive caregiving and trauma-informed practices.
- Designed developmentally appropriate activities tailored to each child's needs and interests.
- Maintained records to ensure compliance with licensing standards and family communication protocols.
- Engaged families through daily updates and parent-teacher conferences.
Education
B.A - Early Childhood Development
California State University of San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California, United States06.2018
Master of Arts - School Counseling
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZSkills
- Trauma-Informed Care & Child Welfare
- Curriculum & Training Resource Development
- Staff Training & Professional Development
- E-Learning & Instructional Design
- Facilitation & Public Speaking
- Student Assessment & Progress Monitoring
- Behavioral Management & Crisis Intervention
- Fluent in English & Spanish
- Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced PowerPoint, Word, Excel)
- Web-Based Training Platforms (Zoom, MS Teams)
- E-Learning Tools
- Data Tracking & Analysis
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Other Professional Experience
- Alumni Representative, San Bernardino, CA, 06/01/24, Present, Provided expert insight and guidance in field-related areas, collaborating closely with faculty advisors and club leadership to achieve club objectives., Enhanced alumni engagement and participation., Assisted students in exploring diverse career paths.
- Catechist, Rilato, CA, 09/01/16, 05/01/18, Delivered in-depth instruction on Catholic doctrine, traditions, and values, fostering spiritual growth among students from diverse cultural backgrounds., Crafted and executed dynamic lesson plans integrating scripture and interactive activities to ensure an engaging learning environment., Coordinated with parish staff, volunteers, and parents to align instruction with catechetical goals., Evaluated student progress and tailored teaching methods to individual learning needs., Managed sacramental preparation records, ensuring adherence to diocesan guidelines., Maintained continuous communication with parents, providing updates on student progress and program developments., Promoted inclusivity by adapting discussions to resonate with students' unique backgrounds.
Timeline
Program Trainer
Building Bridges Foster Family Agency
06.2022 - Current
Parent Mentor
Purposefully Chosen, Inc./ Born for Nia
02.2022 - 06.2022
Bilingual Parent Workshop Facilitator
Parent Empowerment
12.2021 - 06.2022
Youth Care Worker
Office of Refugee Resettlement
06.2021 - 10.2021
Facilitator
Victor Community Support Services
10.2020 - 01.2021
Infant Teacher
Montessori Association of Covina
06.2019 - 09.2020
Program Leader
Think Together
03.2019 - 06.2019
Assistant Teacher
Institute for Child Development and Family Relations
05.2018 - 09.2018
Child Enrichment Specialist
Karnig Infant-Toddler Success (KITS)
02.2018 - 06.2019
Respite Care Provider and Skills Trainer
In Roads Creative Program
11.2015 - 08.2019
B.A - Early Childhood Development
California State University of San Bernardino
Master of Arts - School Counseling
Grand Canyon University