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South Central Region

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Irene Ornelas Regional Director

As a native Californian and first-generation student, Irene received her Bachelors of Arts degree from California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks) and her Masters of Social Work from California State University Long Beach (Distance Education at CSUCI Camarillo). She also holds a license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Her professional social work experiences include: working directly with individuals and families from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds primarily as a medical social worker in public health, renal dialysis, hospital, home health, hospice, and pediatric clinic settings as well as working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) as a behavioral health clinician.

Following her years as an active social worker, Irene entered the field of education in 2015. Her experiences include: Health Liaison for the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) via the California Career Pathways Trust Grant (K-12), Prevention Coordinator for VCOE’s Health and Prevention Program, and Career Technical Education (CTE) Designated Subject Credential instructor in Health – Mental and Behavioral Health for VCOE’s ROP/Career Education Center. Currently, Irene is the South-Central Coast Regional Director for the Health Workforce Initiative.

Hosted by College of the Canyons.