Gerardo P. Laviña is a licensed clinical social worker whose interests lie in working with children and families, particularly in the fields of school social work, mental health, and multicultural issues.

As the Project Coordinator for the CalSWEC Mental Health Education Stipend Program, a collaborative effort of California social work programs and the Department of Mental Health, Mr. Laviña works with second-year MSW students placed in the County Mental Health agency (e.g., LACDMH) and contract agencies. Prior to becoming the Director of Field Education, he served as field liaison with many local school districts, including the Los Angeles Unified, developing and monitoring student internships in school social work and coordinating the Pupil Personnel Services Credentialing/SSW program . In the classroom, he has taught an advanced practice course in school social work and courses related to diversity.  Mr. Laviña also worked for several years as a Field Consultant for the IUC program, a collaboration between Southern California MSW programs and DCFS. He also acts as faculty advisor for the department’s Latina/o Caucus and the Diversity Caucus; and, for the Luskin D3 Initiative.

Prior to joining the field faculty, Mr. Laviña was a social worker in the Family and Child Guidance Clinic of the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center in Culver City. Here he acted as program coordinator and clinician in two different programs working with severely emotionally disturbed children and their families. He has also served as a contract assessor for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s Children and Youth Services Bureau, and as a private practitioner. In fall 2016, Mr. Laviña was awarded “Social Worker of the Year” by the NASW California Chapter.