Amanda Almendarez, LCSW
Director of Programs- Veteran Services
Amanda was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She received her Bachelor’s from UCLA and her Master’s from USC. She considers herself a “Brojan” and loves both schools equally. Amanda began her career in the field of mental health in 2007, working with children and adolescents suffering from severe emotional disturbances (SED) in a group home setting. Her passion to help others experiencing crisis continued to grow, which led her to pursue her master’s degree. Amanda graduated from USC in 2016 with a Master’s in Social Work, concentrating in Military Studies. She worked towards licensure, focusing on the adult population, specifically individuals suffering from acute psychiatric disorders, chronic homelessness, substance use disorders, military trauma, and recently incarcerated individuals. Amanda’s experience consists of providing therapeutic services in psychiatric hospitals, shelters, and residential group homes. She has a profound passion for working with the veteran population as she comes from a military family herself and understands the importance of providing services through a trauma-informed lens.
Amanda is happily married with a young daughter and a pug. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and taking trips to Disneyland.