Fernanda Ruiz is a dedicated and bilingual child welfare professional with extensive experience in foster care placement, case management, and program operations. Since 2017, she has served in multiple roles at Families Uniting Families, where she is currently the Placement Assistant for the Foster Care and Adoption Program. In this position, Fernanda works closely with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to match foster youth with appropriate resource families, ensuring that each placement meets the child's unique needs and supports their well-being.

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In her role, Fernanda conducts placement assessments, facilitates youth intakes, and ensures compliance with agency and county protocols. She collaborates with social workers, school districts, childcare providers, and foster families to support successful transitions and resolve issues as they arise. Her work also includes data tracking, statistical reporting, and presenting at Resource Family Approval (RFA) orientations.

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Fernanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach, and Associate degrees in Sociology and Liberal Arts from Santa Ana College. Her previous roles at Families Uniting Families include Program Assistant, Case Manager for Project Fatherhood, and support staff for the Life Coaching and Fundamentals of Fatherhood program. She also served as a Peace Corps TEFL teacher in Ecuador and as a mental health worker at a Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP), gaining hands-on experience supporting youth with complex needs.

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Fernanda is fluent in English and Spanish and holds certifications in CPR, Motivational Interviewing, Pro-ACT crisis intervention, and the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative. She brings a trauma-informed, client-centered approach to her work and is committed to promoting stability, healing, and hope for children and families in the foster care system.