We who care.
Our Team’s Biographies
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Esther Jacobo is the Director of Citrus FCN, a division
of Citrus Health, which serves as the Lead Agency in the Counties.
Most recently, Ms. Jacobo served as Chief Assistant State Attorney for
Operations at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office serving under State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. Previously, she was Chief of Staff to
the State Attorney. She returned to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office,
where she started her legal career in 1992, in May of 2014. Ms. Jacobo had
numerous responsibilities including the Human Trafficking Unit, Career
Criminal Unit, Juvenile Division, Community Prosecutions and Media
Relations. She was also responsible for a number of Felony Divisions.
Prior to re-joining the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Jacobo was the Secretary for DCF, a position to
which she was appointed by Governor Scott. In this role, Ms. Jacobo managed a $3 billion budget and
close to 12 thousand employees.
Ms. Jacobo earned her Law Degree from St. Thomas University in Miami in 1992. That same year,
Janet Reno appointed her to the Miami- Dade State Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State Attorney.
She served in several capacities. She litigated over 100 cases, including homicides and complex
sexual batteries, of which over 60 were jury trials. Her assignments included Division Chief of the
Domestic Crimes Unit, where she served before taking a position at the law firm of Elser & and FosterMorales in 2007. Ms. Jacobo has dedicated her entire public service career to the safety and wellbeing of Florida’s children and families and her community.
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John Antieau is the CFO of Citrus FCN which serves as
the Lead Agency in the Counties.
Mr. Antieau has 36 years of accounting and finance experience with the last
15 years in child welfare. Starting at Family Resource Center (“FRC”), an
FCMA, in 2008 before moving to Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe in 2016. Mr.
Antieau joined Citrus FCN as Contract and Budget Manager in July 2019.
Mr. Antieau oversees all financial aspects for Citrus FCN including developing
and managing the over $100 million budget. He is responsible for all financial
reports and communications with DCF.
Mr. Antieau earned his Master’s in Accounting in 1987 from Florida International University and has
been a Florida CPA since 1988. He worked in public accounting for 8 years before moving into high
level finance roles in private companies. For the last 20 years he has worked for non-profit agencies
and enjoys being a part of helping others. He also holds a green belt in Lean Six Sigma Certification.
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Renan Llanes is the Chief Information Officer at Citrus
Health and Citrus FCN, a role he has served in for 21 years and has worked
at Citrus Health for over 32 years.
Mr. Llanes has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science as well as a Master
of Business Administration, both from Florida International University.
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He has managed numerous implementations and has led several committees, both internal and
external, including the IT Committee of the Florida Behavioral Health Association where he has been
on the Board for several years and has served as President. Mr. Llanes also worked for two years at
Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, where he was involved in several key projects, and he holds a
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
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With more than seven years serving as In-House Counsel for
Citrus Health and more than a decade working within the child welfare system,
Marissa Rios brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in dependency law.
Ms. Rios began her legal career representing dependent children as an
Attorney ad Litem (“AaL”) in Broward County, with a specialization in
Education Law. Thereafter, Ms. Rios continued in the role of AaL in MiamiDade with a specialization in Immigration Law, serving as the Lead Agency
contracted attorney for all undocumented youth in the SOC from 2013 to 2016.
Ms. Rios joined Citrus in 2016 where she has been able to continue her passion of serving the
community on a broader scale. At Citrus, Ms. Rios is responsible for all legal matters of the Lead
Agency, including providing legal advice, interpreting and analyzing relevant statutes, regulations and
case law, assisting with compliance tasks, and reviewing/developing corporate policies and
procedures.
Additionally, Ms. Rios oversees the Contract Management Department which is responsible for
drafting, executing, and monitoring all of the subcontracted providers serving the SOC.
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Marta Torres is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
with over 25 years of experience within the child welfare system to include the
supervision of services related to (1) the intake and placement of children
requiring licensed foster care, triaging related needs and services; (2)
executing foster parent recruitment and training along with coordinating initial,
relicensing and support services for foster parents and (3) designing and
implementing the provision of independent living (“IL”) life skills services for
youth residing in licensed care to promote improved employability skills and
self-sufficiency skills.
She joined Citrus Health in 2015 as the Assistant Clinical Coordinator and a Clinical Supervisor for
Citrus’ CHANCE program. In this role, she led outreach to community stakeholders to raise awareness
and facilitate training on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, provided clinical supervision and
supervised service coordination for youth with a history of CSE. Service coordination including close
collaboration with the Dependency Court, specifically the G.R.A.C.E. court team and with the FCMAs
to ensure the best possible services and supports for youth who have been exploited or are at risk of
CSE.
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Ronnita Waters is a licensed clinical social worker
entering the 20th year of her child welfare career. Starting as a Family Services
Counselor intern in adoptions with DCF, Mrs. Waters served as an adoption
case manager immediately following her BSW studies. Mrs. Waters has filled
various administrative roles in FCMAs from 2006 through 2019.
Mrs. Waters has received various child welfare and social work committee
awards and honors, including 2017 Miami-Dade NASW Social Worker of the
Year and has also serviced individuals and families as an intake assessor for
therapeutic services.
In 2019, Mrs. Waters joined Citrus FCN developing and overseeing the CBC permanency initiative.
Mrs. Waters also has experience in Social Work education, enjoying various roles in social work
internship placement and supervision within the Miami-Dade County SOC for over a decade and as a
University employee for 8 years. Mrs. Waters continues in this work as Internship Coordinator for Citrus
FCN.
As Director of Permanency and Placement, Mrs. Waters has guided focus on licensed care as a
support to permanency and connections as a necessary assistance when placement in family and
community is not possible. In addition, to ensuring that connections to community of origin are utilized
even when placement in community of origin is not an option. Having a personal passion for families
and children serviced in the child welfare system, Mrs. Waters has served as a foster parent and grew
her family via foster care adoption.
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Director of Placement & Behavioral Health, Citrus FCN –
Dr. Linda Martinez: Linda Martinez, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical
psychologist. She received her Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
from Nova University. She joined Citrus FCN as a Behavioral Health Clinical
Manager in 2021 and assumed the role of Behavioral Health Program
Administrator in 2022. In that role, she oversaw the daily operations of the
Behavioral Health Department, served as point of contact ("POC”) for
internal and external stakeholders on all matters pertaining to children’s
mental health, assisted with the development of the PPN, provided training
and quality reviews to Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessment
(“CBHA”) providers, and acted as liaison for area CCSUs, Voices for
Children, and Psychiatric Service Providers.
Dr. Martinez started her career in Miami with Bertha Abess Children’s Center, where she oversaw Day
Treatment programs in more than 40 Miami-Dade County and Monroe County Public Schools. She
also launched the agency’s Early Intervention Program and managed the University of Miami/Jackson
Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Fellows working in the agency’s day treatment settings. Dr. Martinez
worked with DCF personnel to create the first CBHA report format and supervised the agency’s
assessors. After leaving Bertha Abess, she continued to conduct assessments for children in
dependent care for Citrus Health before transitioning to the Citrus FCN division: Linda Martinez, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical
psychologist. She received her Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
from Nova University. She joined Citrus FCN as a Behavioral Health Clinical
Manager in 2021 and assumed the role of Behavioral Health Program
Administrator in 2022. In that role, she oversaw the daily operations of the
Behavioral Health Department, served as point of contact ("POC”) for
internal and external stakeholders on all matters pertaining to children’s
mental health, assisted with the development of the PPN, provided training
and quality reviews to Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessment
(“CBHA”) providers, and acted as liaison for area CCSUs, Voices for
Children, and Psychiatric Service Providers.
Dr. Martinez started her career in Miami with Bertha Abess Children’s Center, where she oversaw Day
Treatment programs in more than 40 Miami-Dade County and Monroe County Public Schools. She
also launched the agency’s Early Intervention Program and managed the University of Miami/Jackson
Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Fellows working in the agency’s day treatment settings. Dr. Martinez
worked with DCF personnel to create the first CBHA report format and supervised the agency’s
assessors. After leaving Bertha Abess, she continued to conduct assessments for children in
dependent care for Citrus Health before transitioning to the Citrus FCN division.
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Maria Alonso, MBA, serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Citrus Health. She is also the Designated Institutional Official (DIO), overseeing graduate educational programs accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the ACGME. Under her leadership, Citrus Health became the first FQHC to achieve institutional accreditation from ACGME, offering Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship programs since 2015 and 2018 respectively. Since 1988, Citrus Health has trained psychologists through APA accredited programs and has been running a unique Psychology Residency program based in a CMHC.
Ms. Alonso's contributions extend beyond Citrus Health. She serves as an Affiliate Dean at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and is an Advisory Council member for the FSU College of Social Work Center for the Study and Promotion of Communities, Families, and Children.
With over 40 years of healthcare experience, Ms. Alonso holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and an MBA with a specialization in Health Administration from the University of Miami. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, with a Subspecialty certification in Patient Safety and Risk Management.
Ms. Alonso's commitment to community service is evident through her roles on various boards, including The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County, where she served as Chairman from 2013-2015, and the Miami-Dade County Children’s Services Council, where she was Chairperson from 1996-1998. She has also served on several state and local boards, contributing significantly to community welfare.
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Dr. Kimberly McGrath: Kimberly McGrath is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
She received her Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the
Florida Institute of Technology. She assumed the role of Director of Programs
and Service for Citrus FCN in 2019 and brings 23 years of Child Welfare
experience to the team.
Prior to this position, Dr. McGrath was the Clinical Coordinator of Foster Care
services at Citrus Health from 2002 to 2019. She is also the founding
psychologist for the Treating Adolescents Coping with Trauma program, an
outpatient program for sexual offenders, victims of sexual abuse, and their families. Most recently, Dr.
McGrath founded the Citrus Helping Adolescents Negatively Affected by Commercial Exploitation
(“CHANCE”) Program, a Specialized Therapeutic Foster Care (“STFC”) and Community Response
Team for victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (“CSE”). The CHANCE Program addresses the
emotional, social and behavioral needs of victims of human trafficking.
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Melina Visser, Psy.D. Dr. Visser is a licensed clinical
psychologist who completed her undergraduate training in psychology at
Boston University and her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology
at the University of Denver. She has a specialization in the assessment and
treatment of children, adolescents, and families. Dr. Visser has over 12 years
of direct clinical experience in a variety of settings including schools, CMHCs,
medical hospitals, psychiatric centers, and university settings across different
states and internationally at varying levels of care (outpatient, emergency,
crisis stabilization, inpatient, and residential). She transitioned to Quality Improvement (“QI”) in 2018
and has been involved with the implementation and oversight of QI activities at Citrus Health and Citrus
FCN and providing consultation for external agencies. She has experience with Joint Commission
Accreditation, National Committee for Quality Assurance (“NCQA”) Patient Centered Medical Home
Recognition, State and Federal government regulations. Dr. Visser has a special interest in the
provision of quality integrated healthcare for diverse and under-served populations. She is also the
chair of CHN’s Scholarly Activity Committee and has been involved in research in the areas of QI,
clinical and health psychology, integrated care, pedagogy, and professional development.
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Leslie Veiga is the Director of Communications and FCN Human Resources for Citrus Health Network, Inc..
Ms. Veiga joined the Citrus team in 2013 and has since worked on a variety of initiatives to address diverse needs across the organization. Through strategic planning and communications, project management, and legislative advocacy, she has been involved in developing and implementing a variety of initiatives aimed at improving delivery and availability of services for individuals with mental illness, people who are homeless, teen survivors of human trafficking, and children, young adults, and families involved in the foster care system. She has acted as a liaison to stakeholders and payers and provided other support for operational needs including various accreditations, licenses, and quality improvement activities.
Prior to joining Citrus, Ms. Veiga served as the Communications Director for a member of Congress, and the Congressional campaign. The Congressional office was considered one of the most active press operations in the House of Representatives at the time. Before that, she was an Executive Project Coordinator at a Miami-based governmental affairs firm that advises private and public sector clients on matters at federal, state, and local levels.
Ms. Veiga serves on the Young Professionals Council of Amigos for Kids and served as the Chair of the Florida KidCare Coalition of Miami-Dade County, a group dedicated to increasing community awareness about children’s health insurance coverage. She also serves as the President-Elect of the Pilot Club of Miami, a volunteer service organization that focuses on youth, brain-related health, and caregiver support.
Ms. Veiga holds four degrees from the University of Florida; a Master of Business Administration from the Warrington College of Business, a Master of Arts in Political Science with a certificate in Political Campaigning, a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, and a Bachelor of Arts in History. Further, Ms. Veiga holds a certificate in Transformative Leadership in Disruptive Times from Stetson University, as well as Gold and Yellow Belt Lean Six Sigma Certification.
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Luis Tomas has over 25 years of experience working in the child
welfare system.
Over the years, Mr. Tomas has risen through the ranks, demonstrating
exemplary leadership in various capacities within the child welfare sector. As
the Director of QI, he has championed initiatives aimed at enhancing the
effectiveness and responsiveness of child welfare programs. His leadership
has been marked by a commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and a
tireless pursuit of excellence.
Under Mr. Tomas’s guidance, Citrus FCN has undergone significant positive transformations. Key
performance indicators related to child safety, permanency, and well-being have shown marked
improvement, reflecting his strategic and data-driven approach to QI. Luis is not only a leader within
his organization but also a passionate advocate for systemic change in child welfare. He collaborates
with community stakeholders, policymakers, and advocacy groups to address the root causes of
challenges faced by children and families. His ability to build bridges and foster partnerships has
resulted in innovative, community-based solutions that prioritize the best interests of the children under
Citrus’ care.
Mr. Tomas holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Florida International University. Before working for
the Lead Agency, Mr. Tomas worked for a program sponsored through the University of Florida as a
behavior analyst working with runaway teens in Orlando, Florida. He is well-versed in the principles of
QI and holds a green belt in Lean Six Sigma Certification.
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Michelle Samuels has over 23 years of experience in the
child welfare system, serving as a dedicated, vocal advocate for vulnerable
children and families. As Director of Training and Diversity for Citrus FCN also
chairs the Addressing Child Welfare Disparities (“ACWD”) Steering
Committee.
Prior to serving in this capacity, Mrs. Samuels served four years in Program
Management and Program Director overseeing service delivery to families
involved in the child welfare system. She also has over seven years in direct
CM and CM Supervision. In addition to training, and coaching, her extensive child welfare system
experience also includes intake, full CM services and supervision, placement with a specialization in
large sibling groups, OTI/ICPC, Voluntary Prevention Services, and special programs including family
advocates. Highlights of her career include receiving the 2022 Child Welfare Collaborator of the year
award, 2010 5th Annual Regional Child Welfare Outstanding Performance Award, and the 2011
Excellence in Supervision Award. Mrs. Samuels has the distinguished honor of operationalizing the
supervisory coaching and training program in Miami-Dade County in partnership with University of
Denver Butler Institute for Families and in 2017, Mrs. Samuels had the honor of presenting the
coaching program model as a conference speaker at the 1st Annual Coaching Conference at USC
Davis.
Mrs. Samuels holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida, Master of Science in Human
Services with a specialization in Child Welfare Administration from Nova Southeastern University, and
a Certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from University of South Florida. Ms.
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Samuels holds full certification with the State of Florida Certification Board (“FCB”) as a Child Welfare
Case Manager Supervisor. She is also certified as a General Instructor with the Miami-Dade and
certified as a Family Group Decision Making Facilitator.
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Natheena Soto is an accomplished professional with a
multifaceted skill set, showcasing expertise in teaching, coaching, mentoring,
assessments and evaluations, business management, leadership, and project
management. In her current role as the Director of Intake at Citrus FCN,
Natheena oversees the intake team and leads initiatives to provide solutionfocused problem-solving ideas that meet local, state, and federal
requirements.
Before her current position, Natheena served as the QI Manager at Citrus
FCN. In this role, she demonstrated a keen understanding of quality standards, performance
measures, and compliance. Natheena has 14 years of child welfare SOC experience, and her career
trajectory includes significant roles such as Child Welfare Training Manager, Case Manager
Supervisor, and Case Manager.
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Natheena holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from Barry
University. Her academic achievements have laid a solid foundation for her strategic thinking and
leadership skills. Her commitment to professional development is evident in her certifications as a
Florida Child Welfare Dependency Case Manager, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and Lean Six Sigma
Yellow Belt. These certifications underscore her dedication to excellence, efficiency, and continuous
improvement in her roles. Natheena Soto's career reflects a commitment to excellence, leadership,
and a profound impact on the child welfare SOC. As she continues to drive positive change, Natheena
remains dedicated to the betterment of the communities she serves.
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Marcel C. Rivas has over 30 years of professional experience in child welfare and human services, serving in administrative, senior management operations, and direct service roles. His extensive career has been dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families within the foster care system. Marcel has over 20 years of experience in adoptions, residential care management, dependency case management, behavioral health, and quality improvement.
Marcel's educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree with a double major in Psychology and Economics, and a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Florida International University. Additionally, he holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Miami Dade College and is certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
As the Director of Case Management and Program Development, Marcel has been instrumental in developing and implementing programs that support the mental health and well-being of children and families in foster care. His leadership and commitment have significantly impacted the foster care system, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the care and support they need.
While much of Marcel’s professional career has been spent serving youth and families, both as a director and staff member, he is also volunteered for over 20 years as a Commissioner and Team Leader for the Council on Accreditation (COA), demonstrating his dedication to maintaining high standards in human services worldwide.
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Mario E. Jardon, L.C.S.W. is the President and CEO of Citrus Health, a non-profit FQHC in Hialeah, Florida. Founded in 1979 as a CMHC, Citrus Health expanded its services to include primary care in 2004 through a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Under Mr. Jardon's leadership, Citrus Health now serves over 30,000 patients annually across behavioral health, primary care, and community-based supportive services.
Mr. Jardon began his career in New York and New Jersey before joining Citrus Health. He holds a Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in organizations supporting communities in need, including serving as Chairman of the Health Council of South Florida and Co-Chairman of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade County’s Jail Diversion Task Force. He also serves on various boards, including the Florida Council for Community Mental Health and the South Florida Behavioral Health Network.
Mr. Jardon's involvement extends to academia, where he serves on advisory councils for institutions such as Florida State University College of Social Work and Florida International University College of Nursing and Health Sciences. He is currently Chairman of the Managed Care Committee for Health Choice Network, an administrative services organization serving FQHCs in 11 states. Additionally, he plays a role in Prestige Health Choice, serving on its Audit Committee and subsequently its Board of Governors.