First Place for Youth
Erica Waterford has a diverse work experience spanning over 15 years. Erica started their career as an Instructional Assistant Trainer at Therapeutic Pathways, Inc./The Kendall Centers in 2004, where they also worked as an Instructional Assistant providing therapy to children with autism spectrum disorder. In 2007, they joined EMQ FamiliesFirst as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist, focusing on developing behavioral tools for at-risk youth and individuals with mental disabilities. In 2008, Waterford worked as a Program Support Specialist at the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions, managing conferences and trainings, as well as implementing training protocols and managing logistics for various projects. Erica then moved on to the Los Rios Community College District as a Career Planning Services/Student Personnel Assistant in 2009. From 2009 to 2018, Waterford worked at First Place for Youth as the Director of Career and Workforce Programs, overseeing program management, operations, and staff supervision. Most recently, they joined Summer Search in 2018 as an Associate Program Director and was promoted to Vice President at First Place for Youth in 2019.
Erica Waterford completed their Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of California, Davis from 2003 to 2006. Following this, they pursued a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services at Chapman University from 2008 to 2010.
First Place for Youth
First Place for Youth was founded in 1998 to prevent poverty and homelessness among youth who age out of foster care. The mission of First Place is to help foster youth build the skills they need to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood. First Place was the first organization dedicated exclusively to providing housing for transitioning foster youth in Northern California and has grown into the state’s largest provider for this vulnerable population. First Place utilizes a scattered-site housing program model, which puts youth in a realistic, independent setting in their local communities.