Ayasha Johnson is a Foster Care Social Worker for Guardians of Love Foster Family Agency (GOLFFA) Los Angeles area office. She assumed her position in September 2008 and is committed and motivated to assist the clients and families to whom she is involved. Ms. Johnson has been working in the social services field since 2004, where she began working as a Residential Counselor at an agency confronting the issues of teen pregnancy and parenting, educational/vocational and probation issues and worked to assist in strengthening families to become self-sufficient and independent. Later, Ms. Johnson joined an organization that is a community based mental health center serving children from birth to 21 years of age. There she provided wraparound and case management services, which included crisis intervention, life assessments, consultation with schools and various linkages to community resources, advocacy information and other direct services to benefit her clients. Ms. Johnson obtained her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Cal State Dominguez and her master’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Counseling from the Springfield School of Human Services. She is her son’s #1 fan at his basketball and football games on Saturday’s and enjoys spending time with family and friends. To contact Ms. Johnson, please call the office at 323-295-6030 or you may reach her directly at ajohnson@guardiansoflove.org

Joycelyn Bennett is a Supervising Foster Care Social Worker for Guardians of Love Foster Family Agency (GOLFFA) Los Angeles area office. Her responsibilities are often outstretched to the San Bernardino office, which is an expression of her dedication and commitment to her field and position. She assumed his position in July 2008 but was no stranger to GOLFFA, because from 2001 – 2004 she had maintained a Foster Care Social Worker position for the agency. Ms. Bennett has worked as a children and family social worker and/or supervisor for various counties and private agencies for over 12 years. As a social worker, Ms. Bennett worked with children and families either maintaining family services, reunifying the family, providing a permanent plan for the family, or requesting adoption when reunification was not an option for the biological parents. As a supervisor, she provides her social workers and families with the proper protocols and standards that are expected to meet the Agency’s licensing and contractual requirements. Ms. Bennett oversees and maintains a watchful eye on each home and minor placement to ensure that the child is appropriately placed with the best match foster family home. Ms. Bennett has experience in program planning and coordination, dealing with the public and has a special interest in working with teenage girls in foster care placement. She promotes the empowerment for children and families with at-risk youth, and of diverse social, economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Antioch University awarded Ms. Bennett with her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and she received her undergraduate degree in Child Development from the California State University, San Bernardino. Additionally, she is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and a Trained Facilitator for the University of Phoenix. To contact Ms. Bennett, please call the office at 323-295-6030 or you may reach her directly at jbennett@guardiansoflove.org

Jose Meza is a Foster Care Social Worker for Guardians of Love Foster Family Agency (GOLFFA) Los Angeles area office. He assumed his position in July 2008 and because of his bilingual skills (English/Spanish) he is able to work with a multitude of clients and families. Mr. Meza has a long history of working in the social services field, with ten years experience as a psychotherapist and nearly nine years as a social worker. Prior to joining GOLFFA, Mr. Meza worked as a Therapist for a counseling agency since 1998 where he provided one-on-one and family counseling and case management services to children and their families. He was and is capable of assessing, implementing and providing treatment for clients in need. Mr. Meza maintains a good rapport with credentialed and clerical staff, clients, visitors and other community groups, of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. These assets are undoubtedly due to his upbringing; born in Guadalajara, Mexico, attendance in a private Catholic school before coming to the United States. Since arriving in the United States, Mr. Meza has obtained his master’s degree in psychology from the California Graduate Institute. He is also registered with the Board of Psychology as a Psychological Assistant and is in progress with his doctoral degree. Mr. Meza is interested in religion and philosophy. His attention is also geared in multiple personality disorders from a cultural/religious point of view. To contact Ms. Meza, please call the office at 323-295-6030 or you may reach him directly at jmeza@guardiansoflove.org