CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
Dr. Ryan Cargando founded Creative Solutions with a mission "to uplift the lives of the children and families by providing treatment services that promote permanency and healing."
His breadth of experience in child welfare covers over 20 years of work in Social Work-as social worker, supervisor and agency administrator. Ryan's values and vision is deeply rooted in wanting to care for others, in listening with an empathetic heart and acting with a renewed faith hoping for the best outcomes for children and families.
His educational background includes a doctorate in Philosophy, graduate studies in Theology and Psychology.
Ryan's previous experience in teaching and administrative duties in graduate school and non-government organization in the Philippines have contributed to his success in establishing CSKF.
Ryan M. Cargando, PhD
CEO/President
Barbra Castillo
Chief Financial Officer
Barbra has more than 20 years of accounting experience and specializes in non-profit, corporate, fiduciary and public accounting. She also held several managerial positions in various industries. As Chief Financial Officer, Barbra is responsible for managing the organization’s financial operations on a day to day basis.
Jennifer Cargando, BSN, RN
Assistant Executive Director
Jennifer has worked in different industries that include sales and management prior to her nursing career. She has a bachelors degree in nursing and is licensed registered nurse in California and New Jersey of which she has a combined 17 years of experience in acute, surgical and recovery nursing. Jennifer is passionate in helping children and families. As the Asst. Executive Director, she assist the CEO in overseeing the different departments including personnel management.
Arleen Cabrera, MBA
Corporate Compliance Officer
As a former Board of Director of Creative Solutions for Kids and Families, Inc. , Arleen is very committed to the organizational mission and vision. She relinquished her board duties to manage the quality assurance department in 2007 and was promoted as the organization's corporate compliance officer. Arleen applies her wealth of experience in quality assurance and development in working with various organizations in diffrent countries that include Japan, Philippines and the United States. Arleen completed her MBA in California Coast University.
Executive Team
Key Staff
Linda Montoya, MS
Administrator
Linda B. Bays Montoya has been with Creative Solutions for over 12 years. Linda's journey is unique and one that evolved into a prospering career. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from University of La Verne in 2007 with honors. Linda began working at Creative Solutions in 2007 as a Social Work Assistant. Linda continued her education and received a Master of Science degree in Psychology from California Coast University. Throughout her tenure with Creative Solutions, Linda has held various positions as Agency Social Worker, Senior Social Worker and Supervising Social Worker. As the administrator,Linda oversees the programs and services of the agency. Linda is also a proud mother of two.
Pamela Tarango
Resource Family Manager
Pamela Tarango has a vibrant account of experience with almost 20 years in the child welfare field. Her passion is to work with children and families. Pam believes in healing children and families through interventions that promote connection, trust, redirection, and relationship. Pam's Christian faith has influenced her commitment and desire to see more families step up in the frontlines and extend their love and support to vulnerable children. Her notable experiences with Creative Solutions includes staff and foster parent training and business development. As the RFA manager, Pam ensures that our foster families are equipped to meet the needs of persons served
Maria Flores, MFT
Supervising Social Worker
For Creative Solutions and its families served, Maria Flores spreads compassion, receptivity, and professionalism in a myriad of circumstances. She has been working with at-risk youth for almost 10 years and often facilitates staff and foster parent trainings with her knowledge and bi-lingual accuracy. She received her Bachelors degree in Human Services and Masters of Science degree in Counseling with a specialization in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from the University of Phoenix. She has been a valuable member of the Creative Solutions team since 2008, holding experiences as Support Staff, Assistant Social Worker, Agency Social Worker, and now as a Supervising Social Worker.
Michelle Crain, MS
Supervising Social Worker
Michelle earned her Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Guidance and Counseling at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. She has practiced social work for over 20 years in California and in Tennessee. She has worked in many different settings such as group homes, FFA’s and juvenile shelters. Some of her experiences include agency social worker, child counselor, lead social worker, and supervisor. Michelle has been an Agency Social Worker and Supervising Social Worker for Creative Solutions for over 10 years. Michelle is welcoming, supportive, always smiles, and makes others smile with her positive attitude. Michelle conducts various staff and foster parent trainings for Creative Solutions, and is very much involved in foster youth activities, including various teen social outings, support trainings, mentoring and facilitating Back-to-School Night.
Noel Motus, MBA
HR Specialist
Noel joins our team with a “plateful” of experience and an accomplished career in the hospitality industry. His work background spans over 30 years as Hotel Food and Beverage Director and Restaurant General Manager for Hilton owned brands. He makes no secret about it that the main ingredient to his success is his ability to collaborate with everyone in the organization sharing the same values, focusing on the same vision and working together to achieve the same goals. Noel has many years of HR experience during his management career, which included recruitment, interviewing, hiring, orientation, training, and personnel management. Noel is engaged in volunteer work at church and serves other non-profit corporation. He holds a bachelors degree from Ateneo de Manila in the Philippines and his Master of Business administration in West Cliff University.
Program Staff
Dr. Niedha Welch, LMFT, PsyD
Clinical Director
Dr. Niedha Welch is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with PsyD in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has worked in the mental health field for about 13 years. Throughout her career she has enjoyed working with an extensive population that has ranges from the adult drug and alcohol population, victims of abuse, incarcerated adults, special needs children and students, as well children in group homes and residential treatment facilities that struggle with various disorders. Her passion has always been to help improve the lives of individuals and families but have focused much attention on the healthy emotional development and well-being of children. She believes in establishing and maintaining relationships and teaching others do do the same. Her belief is that relationships and connections help foster the development of a village that can raise healthy children to be healthy adults.
Lucia Villanueva, BSN, RN
Agency Nurse
Lucy is a licensed registered nurse and has over 13 years of experience to include providing critical care for heart and kidney transplant patients. Additionally, she also provided direct bed side care to a telemetry patient who requires constant monitoring at Sharp Memorial Hospital from 2004-2012. Lucy is passionate in caring for people and exudes compassion and care to her patients. Lucy is currently serving children and youth who requires specialized health care needs or are considered medically fragile.