Dr. Soraya Fallah presents at Child & Adolescent Development Alumni Chapter Career Development Panel – CSUN, May 3, 2025
Event Report: Child & Adolescent Development Alumni Chapter Career Development Panel – CSUN, May 3, 2025Presenter: Dr. Soraya Fallah
Title of Presentation: Working with Children, Adolescents, Families & Communities: LAUSD, Refugee Educational Support Program & Healthy Start Program
On Saturday, May 3, 2025, I had the honor of serving as a speaker at the Child & Adolescent Development Alumni Chapter Career Development Panel, hosted at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). This event brought together a group of alumni professionals working in diverse fields related to children, adolescents, and families, with the goal of sharing insights and career guidance with students preparing to enter the workforce. The event organizers generously allotted me extended time to speak, recognizing the significance of the topics I was addressing—two key programs within the second-largest educational system in the nation, LAUSD.
The primary goal of the panel was to introduce undergraduate seniors and graduate students to a variety of professional settings and career opportunities available after earning a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Attendees had the chance to learn about each presenter’s agency or institution, job title, required education or credentials, and the overarching mission and philosophy behind the work being done. My presentation focused on two programs I am deeply involved with: the Refugee Educational Support Program (RESPite) and the Healthy Start Program. I offered an overview of both, emphasizing the importance of holistic, community-centered approaches to supporting newcomer and underserved populations.
I discussed how my roles at LAUSD as RESPite Liaison and Healthy Start Navigator are grounded in culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices, and how these approaches are essential in meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of refugee and immigrant students and their families. I provided insights into LAUSD’s certificated and classified career paths, explained how the RESPite Program operates across more than 200 school sites, and shared how the Healthy Start Program functions as a critical bridge connecting students and families to services such as mental health care, food access, and housing support.
To make my session more interactive and reflective, I facilitated an activity I titled “Find Your Impact Zone.” This activity encouraged students to identify their academic strengths, social values, and personal passions, and explore how these could guide them toward meaningful careers in education, health, or community services. It was rewarding to see students engaging thoughtfully and making connections between their lived experiences and the professional paths they aspire to pursue.
Participating in this event was a true privilege. It provided a valuable opportunity to represent LAUSD and highlight the efforts being made to uplift and empower refugee and immigrant communities. The panel served as a powerful reminder of the many impactful ways professionals in this field can make a difference—by leading with empathy, embracing cultural diversity, and working collaboratively toward educational and social equity.
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