Vanessa is a Vegas native and a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is currently enrolled in the Clinical Psychology doctorate program at Walden University. Informed by both education and lived experience as a former teen parent who has navigated the welfare system, Vanessa brings a deep understanding of the challenges faced by children and families involved in support systems. She is committed to trauma-informed, culturally responsive care and is passionate about advocating for stability, empowerment, and healing within the foster and kinship care community.