About Dr. Cruz
Thirty years in the work. Fifteen building the systems.
DSW, USC
MSW, CSULB
LCSW
PPSC
Administrative Services Credential
TF-CBT Certified
Foundations of Motivational Interviewing
QPR Gatekeeper Trainer
Positive Discipline Parent-Educator Trainer
40-Hour Domestic Violence Certification
Community of Care Parent Educator
OC Behavioral Health Advisory Board
CSUF MSW Advisory Board
Grant Writer
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. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California with a focus on Organizational Leadership, a Master of Social Work from California State University Long Beach, and an Administrative Services Credential. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance.
For fifteen years, Dr. Cruz has served within a large Local Educational Agency 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.
Dr. Cruz specializes in 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. She serves on the Orange County Behavioral Health Advisory Board and the CSUF Master of Social Work Advisory Board. She is also a grant writer, drawing on decades of program development experience to align funding with sustainable service delivery.
