A team of talented and committed individuals help lead over 350 employees on eight campuses of the San Diego Center for Children. Each brings an expertise, understanding and personal story to their commitment to making San Diego a healthier and happier community.
Cheryl Rode, Ph.D.
Cheryl Rode, Ph.D.
Interim President & CEO
Cheryl Rode, Ph.D., was thrilled to join San Diego Center for Children’s leadership team in 2010. She is passionate about ensuring that children and families have access to high quality, effective behavioral health care, and to improving the quality of life for children with behavioral and emotional challenges. Dr. Rode brings experience and commitment to developing a clinical workforce that provides outstanding care, using evidence based and proven practices.
Dr. Rode completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at West Virginia University, where she specialized in working with children, teens, and families. She completed her clinical internship training at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry – Veterans Administration Medical Center Consortium; and her postdoctoral fellowship at UCSD and (Rady’s) Children’s Hospital of San Diego. Dr. Rode spent the next 12 years as a member of the Psychology Service at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital as staff psychologist for the child and adolescent programs, and as the Assistant Training Director of Sharp’s APA accredited psychology internship and fellowship programs. Her favorite aspect of working at the Center is to see children and families recover and blossom in our healing environments with the help of truly dedicated staff.
Winston Churchill – “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Michael Nelson
Michael Nelson
Chief Administrative Officer
Michael Nelson is an accomplished Finance Executive with a 23-year career serving Fortune 500 companies in Retail, Energy, and CPG industries. Mr. Nelson recently served as Chief Financial Officer of a $500 million dollar family of brands in the retail catalog space. Prior to that, Mr. Nelson was VP of Finance for H&M, a global leader in fashion retail, where he led US Accounting, FP&A and other functions for 6+ years through top line growth of almost $1 Billion. Previously Mr. Nelson has worked in FP&A for The Coca-Cola Company, in management consulting across various industries, and in finance and business development at a CPG startup.
Janelle Battaglia, LCSW
Janelle Battaglia, LCSW
Janelle has been employed with the Center since 2014. She has worked as an Intake Coordinator, Intake Manager, Assistant Director for Residential Services, and now as the Director of Business Development. Janelle has worked in the mental health field in San Diego since 2007, including inpatient psychiatric, outpatient, and education settings. Serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after college, Janelle discovered her passion for social work through serving newly arrived refugee families. Janelle greatly enjoys her current role in Business Development because she has the opportunity every day to promote and raise awareness about the excellent services SDCC offers. Outside of work, Janelle enjoys taking care of her new baby, quilting, and traveling. A San Diego native, Janelle has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of San Diego in English and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from San Diego State University.
Pam Hansen, LCSW
Pam Hansen, LCSW
Pam Hansen brings nearly 30 years of experience in the San Diego non-profit and mental health field. Originally from Los Angeles County, Pam moved to San Diego to earn her Masters in Social Work from SDSU. Pam fell in love with the San Diego climate and lifestyle and decided to make the city her home.
Pam has held many key positions at the San Diego Center for Children since joining in 2001 as a Day Treatment Program Manager. As the Director of Children’s Residential Treatment for eight years, she oversaw one of the Center’s largest programs and also developed an expertise and passion for mentoring new managers. She is able to use this expertise in her current role as the Senior Director of Specialty Clinical Programs supervising two diverse mental health programs: Foster Family Agency Stabilization and Treatment Program (FFAST) and North County Academy. Pam also serves as the Center’s Privacy Officer and representative on various San Diego County HHSA committees.
Pam still enjoys all San Diego has to offer, and in recent months, beekeeping with her husband.
Misty Howard
Misty Howard
Misty Howard has been with the Center since 2004, beginning her career as a Child Development Counselor and Administrative Assistant. She has been in her current role since 2007, providing administrative support to programs to ensure their compliance with all applicable regulations, accreditation standards, contractual obligations, and training requirements. She also chairs the Center’s Quality Council.
Misty is from a small farm town in Missouri and became interested in working for the nonprofit sector while studying Political Science at the University of Missouri. This interest led her to the Peace Corps following college, in which she served two years as an English Teacher in Romania. Since that time, she has lived and worked for various nonprofits on both the East and West Coasts. Today, Misty is a new mom and spends her weekends enjoying San Diego with her family. She is honored to be a part of the Center, an organization that continually works to improve the quality of services provided to San Diego’s children and families.
Ervey Salinas, LMFT
Ervey Salinas, LMFT
Ervey Salinas has been the Senior Director of Residential Programs since 2018. Before taking on that title, Ervey worked in a variety of positions at SDCC, including Clinical Supervisor, Intake Coordinator, and Program Manager of both Children and Adolescent Residential programs. Ervey holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University, a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and a Bachelor of Arts with a Field of Emphasis in Business and Leadership Studies. Prior to joining the team at SDCC, Ervey worked in inpatient psychiatric treatment, residential programs, and private practice.
What Ervey loves most about SDCC’s Residential Program is helping make a difference in the lives of children and families. “It’s an honor being part of a team that has such a passion for the well-being of youth and families.”
In his spare time, Ervey enjoys traveling and spending time with his two rescue dogs.
Kristi Worley
Kristi Worley
Director of Philanthropy
As the Director of Philanthropy at San Diego Center for Children, Kristi oversees, all of the Center’s fundraising activities as well as marketing and communications.
Throughout her successful career in fundraising, she has developed expertise in annual giving, major gifts, donor relations and event management within academic, research and health care settings.
Prior to joining the Center, Kristi held leadership positions at Scripps Health Foundation and UC San Diego.
Kristi is passionate about the mission of the Center and is grateful to work with an amazing community to bring awareness and support to children’s mental health in San Diego.
Kristi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from San Francisco State University.
Talin Yesaie, LMFT
Talin Yesaie, LMFT
Interim Principal
NPS Academy
Talin Yesaie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Program Manager for the North County Academy (NCA). She graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development, which included study in biology, psychology and social studies and received her Master’s Degree from the University of San Diego.
Talin manages the program for students in grades K-12 by implementing and incorporating Positive Discipline techniques both in the classroom and for the mental health services by supervising licensed clinicians and trainees providing therapy to students with high emotional and behavioral needs. She is responsible for training and creating a trauma informed and cooperative culture at NCA and believes that by validating cultural differences, acknowledging unique experiences and discussing strategies she will help those she works with overcome barriers and find peace and happiness.
Her passion comes from her belief that all people, regardless of age are at their optimum best self when they feel a sense of belonging and significance. Talin loves the creativity that comes with her job to create programs and implement protocols and initiatives that can be the most beneficial to staff and students.