Prevention and Early Intervention team.

Diana A. Gutierrez, MS, LMFT, LPCC

Administrative Services Manager

Diana is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) & a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). She received her Master’s degree from Loma Linda University in 2001. Mrs. Gutierrez has worked for Riverside County Behavioral Health since 2001 and is currently the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Manager with Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health. She has experience working with children and their families providing intensive outpatient services as well as school-based services. Her work focuses on the prevention of mental illness to include mental health education and stigma reduction, suicide prevention, as well as the implementation of prevention services throughout Riverside County as guided by the PEI plan, funded through the Mental Health Services Act. Mrs. Gutierrez co-leads the Riverside County Suicide Prevention Coalition: Building Hope and Resiliency which aims to eliminate suicide in Riverside County.

Prevention and Early Intervention team.

Melinda (Mindy) McFarland, LMFT

Staff Development Officer

Mindy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Staff Development Officer with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). Mindy began working with the County in 2016 and has been with PEI since 2017. Mindy provides technical assistance and support to PEI’s contracted program providers in the areas of Triple P, Seeking Safety, Celebrating Families!: Strengthening the Circle, and Stand Against Stigma. Mindy is a certified trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), and Honest, Open, Proud (HOP). Mindy is lead coordinator for PEI’s Virtual Trainings as well as Mental Health First Aid. Mindy supports Riverside County’s Suicide Prevention Coalition with her liaison role for the Measuring and Sharing Outcomes sub-committee. Mindy’s work also includes partnership with Public Health and Riverside County Office of Education in the development of standardized suicide risk assessment tools and the collection of data to better inform suicide prevention efforts. Mindy tries not to take herself too seriously, and always enjoys a good laugh and a good meme. She loves spending time with her family, enjoying foodie delights, and traveling.

Picture of PEI staff member.

Andrea Deaton, LMFT

Staff Development Officer

Andrea Deaton is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Staff Development Officer with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). She has worked with the County of Riverside and PEI since 2017. In her work as a Staff Development Officer, Andrea provides support and technical assistance to contracted community-based providers for a variety of evidence-based programs including: Mamás y Bebés, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Later-Life Depression, PEARLS, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), and the TAY Resiliency Project. Andrea is also a certified trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), CBITS, Trauma Informed Systems 101, and ACEs Aware. Andrea is the lead coordinator for ASIST Trainings throughout Riverside County and Trauma Informed Systems 101 for RUHS-BH Staff. Andrea also supports the Riverside County Suicide Prevention Coalition by serving as the liaison for the Prevention Subcommittee which includes the ‘Engaging Schools’ and ‘Trainings’ workgroups. In her time away from work, Andrea can likely be found on Main Street USA in Disneyland (with or without her kids) or watching a baseball game. She, along with her husband, are on a quest to see a game in every major league stadium. She also enjoys spending time with her three kids, watching reality TV, and having a good laugh with friends.

Prevention and Early Intervention team.

Myeshia Bobo, LCSW

Staff Development Officer

Myeshia Bobo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Staff Development Officer with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). She currently serves as the Riverside County Suicide Prevention Coalition Coordinator. She is a trainer in Adult Mental Health First Aid and provides virtual trainings to the community regarding mental health and suicide prevention. She works alongside her amazing team to plan community wide events to promote mental health awareness and stigma reduction. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and cooking.

Prevention and Early Intervention team.

La-Thea Davis, LMFT

Staff Development Officer

La-Thea Davis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Staff Development Officer with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). She has worked with the County of Riverside since July 2015 and joined the PEI team Aug 2023. Previously, Thea worked as a social services assistant with In-Home Supportive Services and later transitioned to the role as clinical therapist with the Transitional Age Youth program. In her work as a Staff Development Officer, Thea provides oversight and support to the Mamás y Bebés program. She co-facilitates with her peers to provide virtual and in-person training as identified by the community. Thea served 24 years active duty in the Air Force and enjoys leisurely visiting the countries where she was previously stationed. She is a fan of pretty much anything marked 50% off and enjoys watching Christmas movies, musicals and finding a new place to see the production of Lion King.

Picture of PEI staff member.

Carmina Hernandez

Social Service Planner

Carmina Hernandez is a Social Service Planner with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). Carmina joined Riverside University Health Systems – Behavioral Health in 2015 and has been with PEI since 2021. Carmina provides support to SFP Strengthening Families Program and Celebrating Families Native American Program. She is responsible for the programs data tracking, updates and thoroughly reviews and observes programs fidelity. She is also certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in both English and Spanish. Carmina also provides support to the community by facilitating Virtual Presentations in Spanish and English. Outside of work Carmina loves to travel and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Picture of PEI staff member.

Carlos Escobedo

Social Service Planner

Carlos Escobedo is a Social Service Planner (SSP) with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). Carlos joined Riverside University Health Systems – Behavioral Health in 2015 as a Behavioral Health Specialist in a Children’s Clinic, where he enjoyed supporting others through skill-building. He recently joined PEI in June of 2022. In his role as an SSP, he supports the Community Mental Health Promotion Program and the Triple P parenting program. He is responsible for the programs’ data tracking, updates and thoroughly reviews and observes programs’ fidelity. Carlos is Bilingual in English and Spanish. In his free time, Carlos enjoys going to the movies, watching his favorite TV shows, and pizza.

Picture of PEI staff member.

Anniemarie Morales

Behavioral Health Specialist II

Anniemarie is a Behavioral Health Specialist II with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). She has an associate degree in psychology and continues to pursue higher education. Anniemarie recently joined the team in June 2023. She supports the Staff Development Officers with planning, organization, and coordination of PEI community events, conferences, and workshops. Anniemarie also plays a pivotal role in supporting the Riverside County Suicide Prevention Coalition's meetings, events, conferences, and initiatives. She loves providing support to her amazing team to promote mental health awareness and stigma reduction. Anniemarie is Bilingual in English and Spanish. In her free time, Anniemarie loves to spend time with her family, attend live music shows and go on new adventures.

Roberto (Robert) Diaz

Peer Support Specialist

Robert is a Peer Support Specialist in Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). He joined the team in April of 2022 and coordinates and presents in the Stand Against Stigma program, where he shares his lived experience and recovery journey with the community to reduce stigma and spread messages of hope. Robert also facilitates groups in Seeking Safety and assists with outreach in the community. Robert coordinates outreach and program services for Desert region. Robert enjoys watching horror movies and playing card games with his kids. In his free time, he can also be found enjoying the great outdoors, either at a park, the beach or the mountains.

Prevention and Early Intervention team.

Mirna Andrade

Peer Support Specialist

Mirna is a Peer Support Specialist for Prevention and Early Intervention. Her journey with PEI began in August of 2021 as an Office Assistant III and promoted to a Peer Support Specialist in 2022. She coordinates and presents in the Stand Against Stigma program, where she shares her lived experience with mental health challenges and substance abuse in the hopes of reducing stigma, encouraging others to reach out for help and inspiring hope. Mirna also facilitates groups in Seeking Safety, which teaches participants the skills they need to cope with and overcome trauma and substance abuse. She also assists with outreach in the community and is the outreach and program coordinator Mid-County region of Riverside County. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching reruns of The Office or Game of Thrones, as well as reading and riding horses.

Prevention and Early Intervention team.

Lizbeth Contreras

Peer Support Specialist

Liz joined Prevention and Early Intervention as a Peer Support Specialist in August 2023. She facilitates groups in Seeking Safety and assists with outreach to talk about mental health and the different resources that are available to help. Additionally, Liz shares her lived experience with mental health challenges during Stand Against Stigma presentations, to inspire hope for recovery and reduce stigma in the communities she serves. When she is not at work, Liz loves to re-watch Scream or go to Disneyland.

Prevention and Early Intervention team.

Shamika Beavers

Peer Support Specialist

Shamika Beavers is a Peer Support Specialist with Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) and started working with the County in 2024. Shamika shares her lived experience with mental health and substance use challenges during Stand against Stigma presentations, with the intention of spreading some hope and recovery and reducing stigma in the community she serves. She facilitates groups in Seeking Safety and assists with outreach to discuss available resources in the community. When Shamika is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and has a special love for basketball and football.

Miriam Resendiz

Secretary

Miriam is a Secretary I for Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). Miriam has been with the Department of Behavioral Health since 2012, and has been part of the PEI team since 2019. Miriam provides administrative support to the PEI team as well as clerical support to the Suicide Prevention Sub-committees of Measuring and Sharing Outcomes and Intervention. Miriam enjoys spending time with her family and cheering on her favorite sports team, the Raiders.

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