WHAT IS THE LATINO MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK OF RI?
The Latino Mental Health Network of RI is a community initiative that was co-founded by two first-generation Latina professionals in 2017 as a response to burnout among their fellow Latinx colleagues, an increasing need for Latinx and multilingual mental health providers in RI, Latinx mental health providers leaving the field and lack of representation in mental health graduate programs.
The mission of the Latino Mental Health Network of RI is to recruit and retain aspiring and current Latinx/ multilingual mental health providers by providing support and professional development.
WHO WE ARE
JENNIFER GAVIRIA, LICSW
Co-Founder
Jennifer Gaviria, LICSW has worked in the social services field for over 10 years in various capacities. She is a proud first-generation Latina professional that grew up in Central Falls, RI. It is her upbringing that brought her to the field of mental health as many of her friends and family did not seek mental health treatment due to stigma. She graduated with her Bachelors from Providence College and obtained her Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Jennifer is passionate about health and mental health equity as well as workforce development. She is a Behavioral Health Clinician and provides counseling to the whole lifespan. She is a Supervisor to BSW and MSW Social Work Students and an Adjunct Social Work Faculty. In her free time she likes exploring hiking trails with her husband and daughter, as well as trying new restaurants in RI.
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SANDRA VICTORINO, LMHC
Co-founder
Sandra Victorino is the co-founder of the Latino Mental Health Network of Rhode Island
and Director of Workforce Development, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations. She has worked in the mental health field for 16 years. Her areas
of interest in health care are access for all populations, health and behavioral health
equity, and culturally and linguistically appropriate health services. In addition, her
current work focuses on building leadership capabilities, equity and inclusion, and
developing and strengthening partnerships in our communities.
Sandra earned a Masters in Counseling at The University of Mary Hardin Baylor, and a
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Degree in Mental Health Counseling at Rhode Island
College. She is a bilingual, Spanish speaking, bicultural Licensed Mental Health
Counselor in Rhode Island. She is also the Vice President of Recycle-A-Bike, a
nonprofit bicycle organization, and the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island. She
is a board member at the Women’s Fund of RI and Providence/Cranston Workforce
Board. She is on the behavioral health advisory board at Clinica Esperanza, a free clinic
for the uninsured, the LunaYou advisory committee, a free online maternal wellbeing
program, the Health Insurance Advisory Council in RI and serves as co-chair of the
Commission for Health Advocacy and Equity.
When she is not involved with her work and boards, she enjoys powerlifting, drawing
trees, experiencing live music, playing the drums with the Providence Drum Troupe, and
spending time with her family and friends.
