News

We would like to congratulate Alexus Fernandez on her recent promotion to Lead Registered Behavior Technician for the Mariposa Autism Services Center! Specializing in Applied Behavior Therapy, Alexus uses her expertise to support clients served through the MASC program. Prior to joining the Aprendamos Family of Services team, Alexus served as a barista and learned the art (or rather, addiction) of coffee. In her free time, Alexus can be found hanging out with her dogs, reading, playing in her band, or creating art. Trisha Braecklein, Director of Autism Services at MASC, said, “We are excited to announce Alexus’ promotion to the Lead Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) position. Alexus consistently brings exceptional energy and compassion to her work. In this new role, she will have the opportunity to demonstrate these qualities to all incoming behavior technicians. We are proud of Alexus for achieving this milestone and look forward to seeing her continued growth at MASC!” Congratulations, Alexus!

We would like to congratulate Jessica Vanderpoorten on her recent promotion to Board Certified Behavior Analyst for the Mariposa Autism Service Center! Specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis, Jessica will utilize her expertise to craft tailored treatment plans and behavioral interventions for clients. She also provides training for parents and staff, fostering collaboration with her colleagues along the way.  Originally from San Pedro, CA, Jessica holds a degree from Arizona State University where she studied Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Jessica has been working with Aprendamos for the past 4.5 years and has worked to train incoming Registered Behavior Technicians and provide direct services to clients. When we asked Jessica what this promotion means to her, she said, “ I have family members close to me that were diagnosed with autism, and I hope to help families like mine grow and thrive. I hope to grow professionally and help to provide other RBTs within this field with the support to grow and pursue any goals they may have of advancing in this field, as well.” Trisha Braecklein, Director of Autism Services for Mariposa Autism Service Center, said, “Jessica has shown remarkable growth, both professionally and personally, during her time as an apprentice with us. She has become a passionate advocate for our families and will undoubtedly enrich our BCBA team. We are immensely proud and thrilled as she transitions into this new role, and continues to make a meaningful difference!” In her free time, Jessica can be found reading, playing video games, or listening to true crime podcasts. Please join us in congratulating Jessica!

We would like to congratulate Kevin Tillinghast on his recent promotion to Lead Apprentice for the Mariposa Autism Service Center! Specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and Registered Behavior Technician new hire training, Kevin will use his expertise to oversee MASC clinic operations and assist with community outreach events. Originally from El Paso, TX, he holds a degree from Arizona State University where he studied Applied Behavior Analysis. Kevin also served as a Registered Behavior Technician and has experience delivering ABA therapy for families.  Trisha Braecklein, MASC’s Director of Autism Services said, “Kevin’s journey at MASC has been marked by remarkable growth, and I am thrilled to witness him embark on the next phase. This transition not only signifies his ongoing development but also contributes to the overall progress of the department. Kevin’s invaluable qualities of patience and adaptability are going to play a pivotal role in our RBT support. I am so looking forward to witnessing the multitude of achievements Kevin will accomplish in his new role!” When we asked Kevin what this promotion means for him, he said “I’m excited to be involved in our wonderful community and being able to make a difference! I’ve always taken pride in helping people, which will always motivate me to do my best in my career. Being a part of Aprendamos has helped me grow so much with all the support from my colleagues and the opportunities that have been given to me. I’m looking forward to contributing to all the amazing things Aprendamos has done for New Mexico and surrounding areas!”  Congratulations, Kevin!

We would like to congratulate Kari Hoskins on her recent promotion to Quality Assurance Coordinator for the Mariposa Autism Service Center! Kari is Level 5 credentialed in Skills Based Treatment, Level 2 in PEAK, and has over 30 hours of Acceptance and Commitment Training CEUs. She uses her expertise in these areas to achieve the best quality care for her clients and will be sharing her knowledge with other clinical supervisors in her new role.  Originally from Lubbock, TX, Kari holds a M.Ed. from Texas Tech University where she studied Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Prior to joining the Aprendamos Family of Services organization, Kari served as a Lead Clinical Supervisor at Centria Healthcare and has 10 years of experience in providing Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy to children with autism. Before that, she worked as a special education teacher in Roswell, NM.  In her free time, Kari can be found at her home in Lubbock with her husband, Robert, and their two dogs. She has two amazing grown sons, Tyler and Bryce, and a beautiful daughter-in-law, Genesis. In addition, when she married Robert, her family expanded to include a bonus son, Zach, and his wife, Karli, and a bonus daughter, Bailey, and two grand babies, Hazel and Millie.  Traveling with her large family to baseball games is her happy place. Go Red Sox!   When we asked Kari what this promotion means for her, she said, “I am so excited and very honored to be supporting MASC to ensure our clients are receiving the best quality care. We have the best supervisors and I look forward to working with each of them. One of MASC’s best qualities is our collaboration; this role will be the epitome of that.” MASC’s Director of Autism Services, Trisha Braecklein, shared, “I am thrilled about Kari’s new position! Kari consistently exemplifies the essence of delivering top-tier ABA services, and her expertise and capabilities will play a crucial role as we continue to expand and strengthen our team. This new responsibility adds another layer to our already highly collaborative team, offering additional oversight and support. The whole team applauds Kari as she moves down this new path.” Congratulations, Kari!

The Aprendamos Family of Services organization is once again honored to partner with the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico and Ivy Child International to present the 2024 Advancing Social Equity Initiative! The goals of the Advancing Social Equity Initiative (ASEI) are to support and empower nonprofit organizations working towards social equity, resulting in impactful work and engagements that advance racial and social justice in Southern New Mexico.  Over the past two years, ASEI has successfully supported and empowered nonprofit organizations working towards social equity. In 2022, Jardín de los Niños and CAFéNM were selected as the grant recipients and nonprofit partners, while Play Sharity and Bold Futures made up the 2023 cohort. By offering the participating nonprofits intense diversity, equity, and inclusion training, these organizations were given the tools to embed their learnings into their work, policies and procedures, and workplace cultures. This year we are introducing an innovative approach by bringing together the alumni from cohort 1 and cohort 2 to participate in an Alumni Work Group. This will allow the four nonprofits to continue to strengthen their sustainability practices, build collaborative networks, and amplify their long-term impact. We hope by combining these cohorts, they can come together in community to share success stories, best practices, and build upon and further develop the impact they are having in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.  Over four months, the alumni cohort will gather to collaboratively address DEI sustainability challenges and develop a strong foundation for long-term impact. By fostering knowledge-sharing, providing capacity-building support, and promoting collaborative efforts, it is our hope that the four participating nonprofits will achieve sustainable growth and continue to foster lasting social equity in their communities. Our goal is to use their success stories to build a toolkit that can be used by other organizations that are eager to deepen their commitment to advancing social equity. Laura Elmquist, Culture, Equity and Belonging Champion for the Aprendamos Family of Services organization said, “The four nonprofits are doing amazing work in our community and we are thrilled to have them come together to learn from each other. It is exciting to know that our collective impact will create positive outcomes for our community!” The Advancing Social Equity Initiative is made possible through the generous support from the Aprendamos-Covarrubias Family Foundation Fund and the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico in partnership with Ivy Child International. For more information on ASEI, please contact Laura Elmquist at lelmquist@aitkids.com.    

Please join us in congratulating Mariposa Autism Service Center’s Raven Mendoza on her promotion from Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) to Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)! Raven recently passed her BCBA exam, and the Aprendamos Family of Services leadership team is thrilled to see her continue her professional journey at MASC. When we asked Raven what this promotion means for her and the clients she has the honor of serving, she shared the following: “I began my journey as an RBT in 2018, initially aiming to gain experience for pursuing a Speech-Language Pathologist certification. However, I soon fell in love with the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and decided to change my path. I went on to earn my MS in Psychology with an emphasis on ABA. After many hours of dedicated learning, I passed my exam and became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Every day, as a neurodivergent professional, I use my passion and skills to help children and families succeed in a world that often seems limiting. As a behavior analyst, I am committed to helping them reach their goals and make positive changes in their lives. B.F. Skinner once said, ‘A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.’ These words resonate deeply with me. As a professional who faced challenges while pushing through the board exam and managing my own learning difficulties, I aim to be a source of support and guidance for my colleagues taking the BCBA exam. I believe in the importance of seeking accommodations when needed, being authentic, and being upfront about the support you require in the workplace. I believe your disabilities are a strength, not a weakness, and I am here to help empower others.” MASC Director of Autism Services, Trisha Braecklein said, “Raven brings a beautiful and essential perspective to MASC and southern New Mexico. Her unwavering commitment and passion for assisting our families in reaching their full potential is truly commendable and does not go unnoticed. We are all eagerly anticipating the positive impact she will undoubtedly make as a BCBA. I look forward to witnessing the meaningful change that Raven will bring in her new role!” Raven, thanks for all you do to embody our values and put families first!  

The Aprendamos Family of Services leadership team would like to welcome Lindy Matthews as the new Human Resources Manager for the Aprendamos Family of Services organization. Specializing in researching the latest practices and trends in Human Resources, Lindy prides herself in ensuring she is up-to-date with state and federal labor laws so companies are always protected.  As the HR Manager, Lindy will oversee the human resources responsibilities for all Aprendamos Family of Services programs. When we asked Lindy what she was eager to accomplish, she said, “I am looking forward to implementing the latest software to help benefit the company. My goal is to create an open and inviting atmosphere that is in line with the company’s values.” Originally from Wrightwood, California, Lindy holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources from New Mexico State University. Prior to joining the Aprendamos team, she served as the Human Resources Manager for Masson Farms of New Mexico for seven years.  In her free time, Lindy can be found spending time with her family, reading, and dancing. “I have a passion for teaching dance. I teach Ballet and Contemporary in my free time at Dance Connection Las Cruces,” she said. When we asked Lindy what she is most looking forward to in her new role, she shared, “I am very excited to be joining a team who has the same passion I do for children and families. I am looking forward to meeting my human resources responsibilities with a company that encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Please join us in welcoming Lindy!