Yaridis Garcia, Senior Planner, Mid-County

Yaridis Garcia is a Senior Planner and liaison to the JWB mid-County Community Council, Task Force on Youth & Sexual Activity and Abuse Neglect and Dependency Committee.

She was born and raised in The Dominican Republic and migrated to New York City in December 1987 where she started to study English as A Second Language (ESL). She earned a B.A. in Psychology at City College of the City University of New York (CUNY). After graduation, Yaridis started to work as a Community Worker at one of the biggest youth agencies in New York City, Covenant House while earning her Master’s Degree in Psychology at City College.  Meanwhile, as part of a management training program for Covenant House, she had the opportunity to work with the Administration of Children Services, Mental Health Department, Volunteer Department, Public Relations, and The Board of Education of the City of New York.  Yaridis also worked for the oldest Settlement House in New York City, University Settlement, providing direct services to children who have been diagnosed with Axis I. This program offered home based care services to families from various ethnic backgrounds. As the Assistant Director, she always advocated for staff cultural competence and sensibility in order to offer comprehensive and effective mental health services to the participating families.

Yaridis is a past recipient of the Belle Zeller scholarship and Latina Woman of the Year for Youth Advocacy.  She earned her Mental Health Intensive Case Management Certificate and Certificate to work with Sexual Abuse Victims; served as a Certified Children Assessment & Needs Services Trainer and completed Mentally Ill and Chemical Dependency Training.

Email Yaridis: ygarcia@jwbpinellas.org

Call Yaridis: 727-547-5662