Luis brings a unique blend of compassion, vision, and purpose to his role—creating impactful learning experiences that support staff and ultimately benefit children and families.
Empowering Staff Through Learning and Compassion: Meet Luis
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Cayuga Centers’ culture is built on compassion, collaboration, and a shared commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and families. On our Changemakers blog, we share our stories, values, and everyday moments that highlight what it means to be part of the Cayuga Centers family.
cayuga changemakers
EMPLOYEE
SPOTLIGHTS
CLINICAL LIFE
LESSONS FROM
THE FIELD
OUR IMPACT
INSIDE CAYUGA CENTERS
Latest Posts
25 Years of Functional Family Therapy
For 25 years, Cayuga Centers has led the nation in Functional Family Therapy (FFT), helping youth and families build skills, resolve conflict, and thrive.
Finding purpose in the work: Shayne Jervey shares her journey working with teens in foster care
Hear how Shayne finds purpose in her work helping teenagers in foster care.
What it’s like to work with youth in Treatment Foster Care at Cayuga Centers
Cayuga Centers’ treatment model includes a dedicated team of professionals who surround the youth, offering comprehensive support in various areas, including living environment, mental health, family relationships, community resources, and case management.
Lessons from the field: How to plan for a safe home visit in social work
If you’re new to the field, entering family homes can feel overwhelming. That’s why field safety is an essential part of social work practice.
Case Manager Spotlight: Lia Velazquez Builds Bridges and Brighter Futures
Lia Velazquez brings both heart and insight to her role. Lia reflects on the journey that led her to a career in social services—and the impact she strives to make each day.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS
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CLINICAL LIFE
LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
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OUR IMPACT
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INSIDE CAYUGA CENTERS
Program Spotlight: Post Release Services for Unaccompanied Children
Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and connected. For unaccompanied children entering the United States, the journey doesn’t end once they’re reunited with family or a sponsor. That’s where Post Release Services (PRS) come in.
#MeetOurChangeMakers
At Cayuga Centers, our mission is based on care. We care for the individuals and families we serve. We also care for our employees who make this work possible. We asked our employees what benefits they love, and here’s what they had to say...
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Employee Spotlight 🧡 🌟
As Program Manager for HealthySteps, Maya Odle leads with care, ensuring families receive the wraparound support they need to thrive.
Since joining Cayuga Centers in 2023, Maya has strengthened community partnerships to ensure quality care for families in Miami-Dade. Her leadership reflects our mission of supporting families and empowering them with the tools for lifelong success.
Thank you, Maya, for your dedication and heart in everything you do!
#EmployeeSpotlight #HealthySteps
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Change is constant in human services, but one thing stays the same - the importance of getting incident reporting right. #worldqualityweek
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✨ Employee Spotlight ✨
Meet Sadiel Perez, Learning Center Assistant Principal in the UC-TFC program in NYC! 📚
For the past 7 years, Sadiel has brought compassion, leadership, and a deep understanding of youth development to Cayuga Centers. With a Master’s in Youth Studies, he’s committed to helping young people from all around the world have the skills to succeed.
Sadiel shows up every day to remind minors in our TFC Program that their background doesn’t define their future.
Thank you, Sadiel, for your unwavering dedication to youth and education. 🧡
#EmployeeSpotlight #CayugaCenters #UCProgram #MeetOurChangeMakers #NYCTeam
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✨ Employee Spotlight ✨
Meet Nestor Beard Medina, Director of Policy and Procedure Development in our NYC Continuous Quality Improvement Department (CQI)!
With a Master of Public Administration and a passion for clarity and impact, Nestor has spent the past year strengthening our policies so teams across Cayuga Centers can better serve youth and families.
His work behind the scenes drives quality and consistency. We`re proud to have his leadership shaping our agency’s future! 🧡
#EmployeeSpotlight #CayugaCenters #CQI #MeetOurChangeMakers
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🌟 Employee Spotlight 🌟
Meet Heidi Cabral, Director of UC Foster Home Recruiters and Licensors in our Harlem office!
Heidi plays a critical role in helping youth find safe, loving homes in our UC programs by certifying foster parents and supporting them through every step of their journey.
As we recognize Kinship Care Month, we also celebrate Heidi and her team for supporting not only foster parents, but also relatives and close family friends who step in to care for youth in foster care when their biological parents are unable to.
Thank you, Heidi, for all you do to uplift youth and families across our communities! 🧡
#EmployeeSpotlight #CayugaCenters #FosterCareLeadership #MeetOurChangeMakers
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🌟 Employee Spotlight 🌟
Meet Luis Madera, a mission-driven leader who has been an integral part of Cayuga Centers for the past seven years. In his role as Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instructional Technology, Luis brings together heart and strategy to strengthen how we train and support our staff and foster parents.
“Supporting children, families, and staff resonates with me not just as a job—but as a ministry. It’s a calling to lead with compassion, respect, and heart.” ~ Luis Madera
We’re proud to have Luis on our team, helping to build a stronger, more informed Cayuga Centers every day. 🧡
#MeetOurChangemakers #CayugaCenters
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✨ Employee Spotlight ✨
Meet James Murtari, a Marine Corps veteran and Restorative Case Manager in our Diversion Programs in Auburn, NY 🧡
James brings heart, purpose, and real-world experience to his work with youth. He helps young people understand that their past doesn’t define them—and gives them the tools to build a brighter future.
Whether supporting a young person in crisis or celebrating their everyday breakthroughs, James is there every step of the way.
Thank you, James, for being a true agent for change.
#EmployeeSpotlight #CayugaCenters #MeetOurChangeMakers
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Meet Sue Raiti, the heart of our admin team in Auburn at Cayuga Centers 🧡
Sue is the kind of colleague who makes everyone feel welcome and the workplace brighter just by being in it. She`s our go-to for everything — with a smile, a solution, and a whole lot of love.
This month marks her 8th work anniversary — congrats, Sue!
We’re so grateful for you and your unwavering commitment to our mission of supporting children and families.
#EmployeeSpotlight #CayugaCenters #MeetOurChangeMakers
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✨ Employee Spotlight ✨
Meet Ana Alcantara, our incredible Program Impact Director in the CQI Department at Cayuga Centers!
Ana plays a pivotal role in helping our programs deliver high-quality, effective, and individualized services to the communities we serve. With a focus on collaboration, she is a driving force behind ensuring organizational excellence and identifying opportunities for sustainable impact.
Thank you for everything you contribute to our mission of supporting children and families every day. 💼✨🧡
#EmployeeSpotlight #CQI #CayugaCenters #QualityAndEffectiveness #MeetOurChangeMakers
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✨ Employee Spotlight ✨
Meet our very own Allyssa DelPiano, a talented Marketing Specialist in our Communications Department! 🎨🧡
Allyssa creates content to share Cayuga Centers’ mission and programs with the world, ensuring our stories reach and inspire our communities.
Thank you, Allyssa , for your creativity, passion, and dedication! 👏✨
#MeetOurChangeMakers #CayugaCenters #hiring
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Listen as Shayne Jervey talks about the teens in foster care and why you should consider opening up your home for a youth in need. Checkout the resources in our #linkinbio to learn more. #fostercare #fosterlove #fostercayugacenters #cayugacorner
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News
We have a lot going on at Cayuga Centers! Keep up to date with our latest news and press releases.