Thirty years in human services. Fifteen years building systems.

Dr. Adela Cruz brings thirty years of experience working in human services organizations and fifteen years building systems that support children, youth, and families. Her career spans social services, community mental health, and public education, with deep work across multiple populations including children, families, the elderly, and individuals who are blind or living with disabilities. This breadth shapes her systems-level approach to equity, access, and the whole human person.

Dr. Cruz holds a Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California with a focus on Organizational Leadership, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from California State University, Long Beach, and an Administrative Services Credential. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance.

For the past fifteen years, Dr. Cruz has served within a large Local Educational Agency (LEA) supporting over 28,000 students across twenty schools. As Director of School Mental Health and Wellness, she led the development and implementation of a districtwide system of care, expanding services from no formal infrastructure to a multidisciplinary team of social workers, wellness coaches, and cross-sector partners. Her work emphasizes sustainability through strategic funding, grant development, and integrated service delivery models.

Dr. Cruz specializes in designing and implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) that align mental health, student services, and educational outcomes. Her approach integrates the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment) framework with the UCLA Comprehensive System of Support model, helping districts move beyond fragmented programs toward cohesive, prevention-focused systems. Her work spans policy development, workforce capacity building, safety and crisis response, family engagement, and cross-agency collaboration.

In addition to her district leadership role, Dr. Cruz serves as a Member of the Orange County Behavioral Health Advisory Board (BHAB), contributing to regional efforts that strengthen behavioral health systems, policy alignment, and access to care. She also serves on the CSUF MSW Advisory Board, supporting the academic pipeline that trains the next generation of school social workers.

Dr. Cruz founded the Center for Youth Mental Illness in Schools (CYMIinSchools.Org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs policy advocacy, parent coalitions, and the Community of Care Family Initiative™. CYMIinSchools.Org and AC Consulting & Training operate as complementary entities.