Jessica was born in Bellflower California and was raised in the border town of Nogales AZ. She started her career in behavioral health in 2008 working as an Instructional Specialist Senior/Administrative Assistant in Youth Prevention Programs, Parenting Programs and Early Childhood Development Programs for the University of Arizona. This allowed her the opportunity to work with both children and adults using preventative care methods in recovery of different mental illnesses. In her next role, serving as a Program Manager for an outpatient recovery center, Jessica was certified as a Peer Support Specialist giving her the chance to grow and learn more about recovery, substance abuse, and how our life experiences can be utilized as a tool to help others going through similar situations. Jessica helped in the growth and development of programs while collaborating with public law enforcement, first responders, behavioral health agencies, and other non-profit community resources in her hometown.
In 2019, Jessica began working as a Direct Support Manager in Nogales where she was certified as a Family Support Partner. She then transferred to Tucson, AZ as a Family Support Manager. Her personal and professional experiences, combined with her passion for helping others, have guided, and motivated her to find success daily. Jessica believes strongly in teamwork to enhance her results and make stronger bonds with staff, members, and our community. She feels very blessed to have been given the opportunity to be part of the Amistades team and is looking forward to what the future holds. As a Project Manager at Amistades, Jessica is responsible for the direct supervision of staff and grant oversight to ensure that Tucson programs are compliant.