100+ years serving populations most
in need
Evaluates solutions, programs, and research to develop industry best practices
An industry-leading resource for best practice innovations in behavioral health, trauma-informed care, residential care, early childhood assessment and intervention, and psychoeducational content, HCFE exists to share the latest research and evidence-based treatment approaches with those who can use them for good.
HCFE is a program of Sycamores, Southern California’s largest provider of behavioral and mental health services, committed to helping those in its programs achieve a better life for over a century.
Research at HCFE examines solutions and programs to evaluate the best path forward. Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and the catalyst for new programs well-suited for realistic needs. By leveraging our expertise in implementation science, we’re able to close the research-to-practice gap.
Our staff are certified in multiple evidence-based practices, including as trainers. Our team maintains a Training Professional and multiple Agency Supervisors in the Managing and Adapting Practice system, which is the standard practice at Sycamores.
By having staff from multiple disciplines on our team, we understand and meet the high-quality standards that are unique to psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and educators.
President and CEO
Debra Manners has dedicated her career to serving children and families. Her innovative leadership and visionary work to lead the child welfare and behavioral health fields has resulted in positive changes for thousands of children in the foster care system throughout California.
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Jana Lord is seasoned in conducting training in Law and Ethics, Child Abuse, Crisis Management, Mobile Crisis Services, Loss and Grief, and Differential Diagnosis.
Chief Program Officer
Joe Ford provides training best practices in residential care, family-finding and engagement, and building community partnerships.
Senior Vice President of Hathaway Center for Excellence
Dr. Janine Quintero provides training on a range of data visualization and program evaluation topics, as well as on technology solutions for measurement-based care.
Vice President of Clinical Programs
Dr. Ayana Rose is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an EMDR practitioner and holds a Doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology.
Implementation Support Practitioner
Eleanor Owen provides training on a range of clinical topics such as evidence-based practices and measurement-based care, mandated reporting and child abuse and neglect prevention, as well as providing development and technology support.
Training Coordinator and MHFA Trainer
Katouya Dixon provides training on Mental Health First Aid and provides training coordination and support for all Hathaway Center for Excellence activities.
Chief Public Policy & Advocacy Officer
Ms. Wang is a champion of many issues critical to the success of community-based organizations, including the importance of culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate care practices. This crucial work reflects the experience and insight acquired not only during her time at Sycamores (where she co-facilitates the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee), but also her previous experience at Pacific Clinics, the Association of Community Human Services Agencies and as a member of Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn’s administration. Ms. Wang currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Public Policy Committee for the Association of Children’s Residential Centers (ACRC) where she is also a board member. At her alma mater, USC, Ms. Wang served as President of the Price Alumni Association Board of Directors and on the board of the Asian Pacific Alumni Association. She was recognized for her dedication and years of service with the USC Widney Alumni House Award, the GPAC Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award and the Student Health Administration’s Honorary Alumna of the Year Award.
Ms. Wang received a Master of Public Policy from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts from Claremont McKenna College.
Quality Management Coordinator
Zaiah Horton provides training on youth and adult Mental Health First Aid.
Vice President of Clinical Programs
Charity Wang has over 25 years of experience working with children, youth, and families in the mental health field. She provides training on best practices in Wraparound care, as well as program development and support.
Dr. Saltzman is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University, Long Beach where he directs the MFT graduate program. For the past twenty-five years Dr. Saltzman has worked nationally and internationally developing and implementing treatment programs for children, couples and families contending with serious and chronic illness, traumatic death, foster placement and family reunification, community violence, war, disaster, and military deployment and associated injuries. As lead author of two nationally-disseminated evidence-based programs (the FOCUS Family Resilience Enhancement Program and Trauma - Grief Component Therapy - TGCT), he has trained and supervised thousands of mental health providers in the community, medical, juvenile justice, and military systems of care, and published over fifty articles.
Ceth Ashen is a licensed clinical psychologist and consultant with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. In 1997, she received her Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology and completed her final year of clinical APA internship at the University of California in Los Angeles. Dr. Ashen specializes in the impact of trauma on youth and the evidence-based strategies for healing. Her dissertation focused on violent behavior related to experience of trauma among female, adolescent high school students. Dr. Ashen is a nationally certified trainer in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression, Incredible Years, Managing and Adapting Practices, Wraparound and a supervisor, adherence rater for Seeking Safety. In 2017, Dr. Ashen joined the Hathaway Center for Excellence team to provide evidence-based practice (EBP) training and to support advancing the field of implementation science for behavioral health agencies who serve the most vulnerable youth and their families.
Erica is a licensed mental health counselor who provides professional mental health treatment and consultation services for adolescents and their families. She specializes in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, traumatic grief, alcohol and drug use disorders, training in dialectical behavior therapy, and group therapy. Erica owns and operates a private practice mental health counseling and consultation company, TREEmendous Care LLC Therapeutic Services in Cincinnati, Ohio, and she is also an adjunct professor at Xavier University in the graduate program counseling department.