Click on the name of the person to see details: | Please don't hesitate to call us: Carrboro Clinic number: 919-338-1939 Siler City Clinic number: 919-799-2625 Durham Clinic number: 919-688-7101  Staff photo from 6/11 |
Christa Atkinson, LCSW
Therapist (919) 338-1939 x517
Roberto Blanco, MD
Psychiatrist (919) 688-7101 x613
Mary Dominguez
Clinical Assistant/Receptionist (Durham) (919) 688-7101 x600
Mary is from Venezuela and moved to the United States in 2008. She got her International Relations degree from "Universidad Central de Venezuela". She is also a GED Instructor at Durham Technology Community College. Mary's love for helping the Hispanic community brought her to El Futuro. Her cheerful personality and work ethic make her an asset to our organization. On her free time she enjoys zumba, running and spending time with friends.
Birgitte Espitia, LMFT, PhD
Therapist (919) 688-7101 x606
Birgitte is from Denmark and obtained a MA and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University, New York. Birgitte has worked with marginalized populations in Denmark, Colombia, and the USA, including refugees, immigrants, child prostitutes and the "chronic poor." She continues to explore how issues of oppression impact mental health. Birgitte is specializing in trauma, loss, and/or betrayal within the family system. Birgitte is trained in both Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She sees clients of all ages.
Adris Fortunato, CSAC
Substance Abuse Counselor (919) 688-7101 x612
Adris Fortunato has years of experience providing substance abuse counseling to the local Latino community. Adris has lived in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and New York before moving to North Carolina. Adris brings warmth, energy and hope to every interaction whether it be in individual counseling, group treatment or in casual interactions with fellow coworkers. In his down time he can be found with his family, playing baseball, or instructing Zumba!
Connie Garcia
Clinical Assistant/Receptionist (Carrboro & Siler City)
(919) 338-1939 x501
Connie Garcia is the Clinical Assistant who first greets most callers and visitors to El Futuro. She is of Nicaraguan descent and grew up in New Jersey and Philadelphia. A licensed cosmetologist and legal secretary, Ms. Garcia has a wide variety of experience including organization, customer service, home health work, supervision, soldering, electronics, and site maintenance. Ms. Garcia is a proud grandmother and is active in her church community and extended family.
Sarah is originally from Maine, where she got her start in the mental health field through her work in social justice projects. She credits her early education in social work to consumer advocates working to end homelessness in New England, and colleagues from the two years she lived in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Sarah received her Masters in Social Work from Simmons College in Boston, where she cultivated a passion for empowering adults and adolescents in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. During the summers she traveled to the US/Mexico border to lead reflection groups with undergraduate students about immigration. Sarah is glad to be back in North Carolina where she feels at home. She loves language- poetry and song- and practices both while driving in her truck.
Molly Hayes, M. Ed., LPC
Therapist (919) 688-7101 x614
Molly and others dreamed of creating a place like El Futuro 8 years ago when she was a mental health case manager helping immigrant children in Orange County. She helped found El Futuro and since then pursued training to become a therapist earning her Masters degree in Counselor Education from NC State. Over the last several years Molly provided therapy for small children and their families as well as leading groups. She is trained in attachment based therapy models including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Child Parent Psychotherapy and Strengthening Families. She also has advanced training in Motivational Interviewing. Molly lived in the Dominican Republic for several years as a child, but is native to North Carolina and loves calling the Triangle her home. Molly joined El Futuro in 2011 in order to more fully use her bilingual ability in helping families in our community.
Gabriela Livas Stein, PhD
Therapist and Director of Research (919) 338-1939 x509
Gaby was born in Mexico City, Mexico and immigrated with her family to the United States when she was a young child. Dr. Stein completed her clinical psychology training at UNC - Chapel Hill, and she is currently an Assistant Professor at UNC-Greensboro. At El Futuro, she provides therapy, supervision, and consultation on research. She and Dr. Cathy Lee are currently coordinating the Right Question Project at El Futuro - a multi-site research project with Cambridge Health Alliance that aims to increase patient empowerment. She enjoys running, eating good food, and spending time with her ever-growing family.Chuck Rigsbee, CPA
Business Manager (919) 688-7101 x609
Chuck grew up in Durham and worked as an accountant and in small business before joining El Futuro in 2011. He earned his Masters of Accounting from East Carolina University and has worked as a controller, accountant, manager, collections representative and facility manager - pretty much all duties we now ask him to do at El Futuro and more! Chuck brings a positive can-do spirit to our work and is an ethical and trustworthy leader of our business team. In his free time Chuck enjoys being with family and friends, East Carolina football, Golf, and dabbles with guitar!
Tiffany Ruffin
Authorization Specialist (919) 688-7101 x608
Tiffany was born in Rich Square, NC. She went to school at NC State University and got her degrees in Spanish and Accounting. She has worked at Support Works Inc, Easter Seals UCP and HOPE Foundations and brings a lot of experience in dealing with the Developmental Disabled population as well as the Mentally Ill population to El Futuro. Tiffany always has a smile on her face and is ready to help out. She quickly became part of the El Futuro family and is learning more and more Spanish everyday! On her free time she enjoys to read.
Gulny "Sarelli" Rossi, MHA
Clinical Manager (919) 688-7101 x607
Sarelli was born in Peru before moving to the US in high school and since has been in North Carolina. She came to know El Futuro through volunteering and so was already part of our team before she joined El Futuro's staff in the late summer of 2010. With a Masters in Health Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill, she brought knowledge and years of experience in the healthcare field to our team to help us work efficiently and help more people. Sarelli also brings a fun loving spirit and has a unique way of making those around her do their jobs better. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two precious daughters. In her free time she loves to go dancing!
Sandy Ruiz, LCSW, LCAS, CCS
Therapist and Substance Abuse Program Clinical Supervisor (919) 338-1939 x508
Karla Siu, LCSW
Therapist and Clinical Director (919) 688-7101 x601
Karla Siu grew up in Honduras, Tokyo and Virginia. She has worked in welfare reform, community mental health, research on biculturalism, and services to Latino domestic violence offenders. Karla has special expertise in serving families and children, conducting play therapy, and assisting in recovery from trauma. She recently co-authored a paper on cultural issues in treating Latino-Hispanic families with domestic violence issues, published in 2009.David Lucas "Luke" Smith, MD
Psychiatrist and Executive Director (919) 688-7101 x604
Luke Smith was raised in Arkansas and moved to North Carolina for psychiatry residency training in child and adult psychiatry. After volunteering in the community and perceiving a great need for Spanish language services, Dr. Smith mobilized the community to create El Futuro. He is the Executive Director and Medical Director, and provides psychiatric care to both children and adults. He is double board certified in both adult psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry. On the weekend you can find him hanging out with his wife and two daughters or mountain biking.Kelly Strickland, P-LCSW
Originally from Ohio, Kelly worked with with inner-city youth in Baltimore, Maryland and the rural homeless population of Athens, Ohio, before coming to North Carolina for masters training at the UNC School of Social Work. She is trained in trauma-focused treatments, Motivational Interviewing, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. She is also currently being trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy and CBT for treating eating disorders. In her free time, Kelly enjoys running, yoga, reading, cooking, hiking, card playing, camping and most of all, hanging out with friends and family. She learned her Spanish while studying abroad in Ecuador.