A team of talented and committed individuals help lead over 350 employees on eight campuses of the San Diego Center for Children. Each brings an expertise, understanding and personal story to their commitment to making San Diego a healthier and happier community.
Moisés Barón, Ph.D.
Moisés Barón, Ph.D.
Dr. Barón, a psychologist with more than 26 years of clinical and administrative experience, joined the San Diego Center for Children as President and CEO in 2014.
Prior to joining the Center, he served for 11 years as the first Assistant Vice President (AVP) Student Wellness at the University of San Diego. Dr. Barón conceptualized and implemented a plan to restructure, expand and integrate health and wellness services, remodel facilities, and established integrated clinical, preventive and educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students. His responsibilities included general oversight of operations, budget and strategic development of the wellness area units, including the Student Health Center (AAAHC Accredited), Counseling Center (APA Accredited Internship Program), Center for Health and Wellness Promotion and Disability Services. He provided ongoing leadership and guidance to university students, faculty and administration on issues related to diversity, inclusion, wellness, health, mental health and crisis response.
Prior to this, Dr. Barón was Director of the Counseling Center from 1997 to 2006 where he managed all of the center’s operations and budget. He has been Adjunct Faculty at the School of Leadership and Education Sciences for over 20 years, and is the Founder of the COMPASS Academic Center at USD where he led a team that developed multidisciplinary and innovative programs to help and support families of children with special needs. He also served as Executive Director of the services arm of COMPASS in the community until 2012.
In addition to his experience at USD, Dr. Barón also worked in private practice as a clinician and in different supervisory and leadership positions in community mental clinics and inpatient facilities in San Diego including: The Center for Counseling at Catholic Charities, Southwood Hospital and Vista Hill Hospital, where he served as Director of Psychology.
Dr. Barón is honored to be part of a team of skilled professionals who are truly committed to serving the behavioral health and educational needs of at-risk and underserved children and youth in our community.
Cheryl Rode, Ph.D.
Cheryl Rode, Ph.D.
Cheryl Rode, Ph.D., was thrilled to join San Diego Center for Children’s leadership team in 2010. She is passionate about ensuring that children and families have access to high quality, effective behavioral health care, and to improving the quality of life for children with behavioral and emotional challenges. Dr. Rode brings experience and commitment to developing a clinical workforce that provides outstanding care, using evidence based and proven practices.
Dr. Rode completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at West Virginia University, where she specialized in working with children, teens, and families. She completed her clinical internship training at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry – Veterans Administration Medical Center Consortium; and her postdoctoral fellowship at UCSD and (Rady’s) Children’s Hospital of San Diego. Dr. Rode spent the next 12 years as a member of the Psychology Service at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital as staff psychologist for the child and adolescent programs, and as the Assistant Training Director of Sharp’s APA accredited psychology internship and fellowship programs. Her favorite aspect of working at the Center is to see children and families recover and blossom in our healing environments with the help of truly dedicated staff.
Winston Churchill – “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Janelle Battaglia, LCSW
Janelle Battaglia, LCSW
Janelle has been employed with the Center since 2014. She has worked as an Intake Coordinator, Intake Manager, Assistant Director for Residential Services, and now as the Director of Business Development. Janelle has worked in the mental health field in San Diego since 2007, including inpatient psychiatric, outpatient, and education settings. Serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after college, Janelle discovered her passion for social work through serving newly arrived refugee families. Janelle greatly enjoys her current role in Business Development because she has the opportunity every day to promote and raise awareness about the excellent services SDCC offers. Outside of work, Janelle enjoys taking care of her new baby, quilting, and traveling. A San Diego native, Janelle has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of San Diego in English and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from San Diego State University.
Carole Fisher, MS Special Education
Carole Fisher, MS Special Education
Since her time at San Diego Center for Children, Carole has worked as an Academic Department Supervisor, Assistant Principal and was recently selected as the Principal of the Academy. Carole has worked in the special education field in CA since 1995, including public and charter school educational and vocational settings.
Working in general education and as an instructional assistant in special education, Carole found her passion providing individualized educational opportunities for students ranging from refugees learning English to students with a range of abilities and at promise to develop skills. It’s a pleasure to work with the students and staff at SDCCA and be a part of reaching their potential.
Outside of work, Carole enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. A Detroit, Michigan native, Carole has a bachelor's degree from Marygrove College in Social Science, Biology and Elementary Education and a master's degree in Special Education from National University.
Pam Hansen, LCSW
Pam Hansen, LCSW
Pam Hansen brings nearly 30 years of experience in the San Diego non-profit and mental health field. Originally from Los Angeles County, Pam moved to San Diego to earn her Masters in Social Work from SDSU. Pam fell in love with the San Diego climate and lifestyle and decided to make the city her home.
Pam has held many key positions at the San Diego Center for Children since joining in 2001 as a Day Treatment Program Manager. As the Director of Children’s Residential Treatment for eight years, she oversaw one of the Center’s largest programs and also developed an expertise and passion for mentoring new managers. She is able to use this expertise in her current role as the Senior Director of Specialty Clinical Programs supervising two diverse mental health programs: Foster Family Agency Stabilization and Treatment Program (FFAST) and North County Academy. Pam also serves as the Center’s Privacy Officer and representative on various San Diego County HHSA committees.
Pam still enjoys all San Diego has to offer, and in recent months, beekeeping with her husband.
Misty Howard
Misty Howard
Misty Howard has been with the Center since 2004, beginning her career as a Child Development Counselor and Administrative Assistant. She has been in her current role since 2007, providing administrative support to programs to ensure their compliance with all applicable regulations, accreditation standards, contractual obligations, and training requirements. She also chairs the Center’s Quality Council.
Misty is from a small farm town in Missouri and became interested in working for the nonprofit sector while studying Political Science at the University of Missouri. This interest led her to the Peace Corps following college, in which she served two years as an English Teacher in Romania. Since that time, she has lived and worked for various nonprofits on both the East and West Coasts. Today, Misty is a new mom and spends her weekends enjoying San Diego with her family. She is honored to be a part of the Center, an organization that continually works to improve the quality of services provided to San Diego’s children and families.
Ervey Salinas, LMFT
Ervey Salinas, LMFT
Ervey Salinas has been the Senior Director of Residential Programs since 2018. Before taking on that title, Ervey worked in a variety of positions at SDCC, including Clinical Supervisor, Intake Coordinator, and Program Manager of both Children and Adolescent Residential programs. Ervey holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University, a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and a Bachelor of Arts with a Field of Emphasis in Business and Leadership Studies. Prior to joining the team at SDCC, Ervey worked in inpatient psychiatric treatment, residential programs, and private practice.
What Ervey loves most about SDCC’s Residential Program is helping make a difference in the lives of children and families. “It’s an honor being part of a team that has such a passion for the well-being of youth and families.”
In his spare time, Ervey enjoys traveling and spending time with his two rescue dogs.
Kristi Worley
Kristi Worley
Born and raised in San Diego, Kristi Worley has a strong relationship to the San Diego community. Kristi’s successful career in fundraising and development spans over 20 years and within several areas. Over the years, she has developed expertise in annual fund, leadership giving, donor relations and event management within the academic, research and health care settings.
Most recently, Kristi was the Manager of Annual Giving for Scripps Health Foundation. She oversaw the annual fund and leadership giving programs, and worked with the development team to implement the grateful patient program throughout the Scripps hospital system. Prior to this, Kristi worked for nearly 13 years at UC San Diego within the health sciences advancement, and special events and protocol teams.
Kristi is passionate about the mission of the Center and works every day to bring awareness to the community through a multi-channel approach of community outreach, communication and stewardship.