Christine Brown-Taylor, MSW is the Program Manager for the Senate Bill 618 Community Case Management of University of California, San Diego. Before serving as the Program Manager, Ms. Brown-Taylor was a clinical social worker for the Transitional Case Management Program (TCMP) where she conducted mental health assessments in six institutions for male and female inmates of CDCR. Prior to working at UCSD, Ms. Brown-Taylor was the Coordinator of the Consensus Organizing Center for San Diego State University. She is a San Diego State University graduate and holds a Masters of Social Work degree.
Brock Frankel, MA is a Community Case Manager for Senate Bill 618 Community Case Management at the University of California, San Diego. Mr. Frankel holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration and a MA in Multicultural Counseling. Prior to joining the SB 618 team, Mr. Frankel has spent seven years as a federal peace officer and over twenty years in public and social service positions serving diverse populations throughout San Diego County. Additionally, he previously served as a Program Coordinator responsible for developing and managing Case Management Services for five area schools and the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, Child Welfare Services. Mr. Frankel will be providing support and direct services to the participants and partners of the SB 618 Program.
Michelle Gallegos, BA, is a Community Case Manager for Senate Bill 618 Community Case Management at the University of California San Diego. Ms. Gallegos has a BA degree in Criminology, Law and Society and a minor in Educational Studies from UC Irvine. Prior to joining SB 618, Ms. Gallegos was a case manager at UCSD Perinatal Case Management for six years. In this position she assisted women who were pregnant and in recovery from drugs and alcohol. She provided resources that led women to live clean and sober lives, reunify with their children, and develop self sufficiency and stability. Prior to that Ms. Gallegos was an employment case manager for the CAL-WORKS program at Maximus for two years. Ms. Gallegos provided services to parents receiving cash-aid that focused on employment training and job readiness in order to become self-sufficient. She also has experience working in other San Diego County programs such as UCSD CAL-Learn, Child support department, juvenile probation, and court schools.
Bennie Herron, MSW is one that is dedicated to promoting growth through the human interaction. He considers himself a change agent, whether it’s social work or art he attempts to take full advantage of any opportunity to learn. He has worked in the social service field for over 10 years in many different capacities and with every experience he has developed more insight into himself and the populations he serves.
Louise Thomas, MA is a Community Case Manager for Senate Bill 618 Community Case Management at the University of California, San Diego. Ms. Thomas has a B.S. degree in Human Services and a MA in Counseling/Marriage Family Therapy. Prior to joining SB 618, Ms. Thomas was a case manager at UCSD Perinatal and Parenting Case Management for nine years. In this position she helped pregnant, substance abusing women find the resources necessary to lead productive, drug and alcohol free lives and provide safe and stable homes for their families. Prior to that position, Ms. Thomas was a case manager at the UCSD Cal-Learn program for three years, helping 18 year olds on TANF complete high school. Additionally, Ms Thomas has extensive volunteer experience in the field of domestic violence and experience as an intern providing individual therapy to federal parolees.
Gianina Wards first taste of social service began with the Neighborhood Houses Head Start Programs. She conducted home visits for many disenfranchised families. Gianina assisted each family with parenting skills training and community resources. This was the beginning of new outlook towards social change in her life. This led to Gianina’s assistance in founding a group home for teenage adolescents, her main focus was trying to find community resources and support that would eventually lead to these children reunifying with their parents. Gianina has numerous experiences to her credit and with UCSD she plans to share those experiences to enhance the lives of the clients that we serve.
SB 618 Trainings to date:
San Diego Bar Association (100 attendees)
International Community Corrections Association Conference (October 2007; 55 attendees)
Richard J. Donovan State Prison (March 2007; 72 attendees & June 2007; 47 attendees)
California Institute for Women (March 2007; 106 attendees & June 2007; 18 attendees
