About Us - Meet the Team

Elva comes to IFF with more than more than 20 years of experience working with children and their families as a Child Life Specialist. Her expertise includes child and parent development, assessment and early intervention, and therapeutic play for children with acute and chronic illness. In addition, she has provided training for early childhood educators, and is responsible for forging community and interagency partnerships.

Prior to IFF, she taught undergraduate Child Psychology courses at CSU Dominguez Hills, and was the Director of Child Development Services at Braille Institute.

While at Braille Institute, Elva supervised consultants working with infants, young children and their families with visual impairments. Her work at Braille Institute has provided her with knowledge of childhood eye diseases, and the impact they may have on a child and the family's development.

Elva's professional career has come full circle. Her career began in 1987 as a Child Life Specialist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where she was fortunate to work alongside Nancy Mansfield. Under Nancy's guidance and mentorship, Elva worked in close partnership with the families from the Institute.

Elva is excited to join the team at Institute for Families, and to continue to honor the work of founder, Nancy Mansfield.