Marisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Management. Since 1998, she has worked extensively with individuals with developmental disabilities. Prior to joining CIWP, Marisa held various roles including counselor, teacher, Direct Support Professional (DSP), and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker. She is conversational in Spanish and has a particular expertise in supporting clients on the autism spectrum.
Marisa joined CIWP in August of 2008 as a Crisis Counselor and Behavioral Trainer. She launched CIWP’s first crisis team in the Los Angeles area in July 2012 and since then went on to develop six other programs, including an additional crisis team in CIWP Northern California. In the Southern California region of CIWP, Marisa oversees three mobile crisis teams and three therapy programs. Marisa also serves as CIWP’s Director of Program Development, guiding the growth and innovation of services across the organization.