Erika Avila has been working with children and families since 2010. Erika’s work with families has occurred across an array of sectors, which include community and pediatric healthcare, early childhood recreation, child mental health, and social services. Her experience in these areas includes maternal and early childhood case management, parent-child psychotherapy, program evaluations, and development of programs related to children’s services. Erika also has experience in providing parent support groups, parent/toddler playgroups, and psychoeducation groups related to early childhood and mental health.
At the Center for Children and Families (CCF), Erika takes on a dual role as both clinician and program director of the Little Village satellite clinic. As the program director, Erika provides administrative leadership at the CCF satellite clinic, and as a clinician, she provides therapy for children and their families. Erika takes a relationship-based approach to therapy, and she provides support to parents as they help their children navigate their way through socio-emotional and behavioral challenges. She has experience working with children presenting with struggles in adjustment to a number of life events, anxiety, depression, trauma, and attention difficulties. Erika also has experience working with children in high conflict families and who are dealing with parental separation. Erika provides bilingual services in English and Spanish to children and their families.
Erika earned her Master of Social Work degree at Erikson Institute, where she was provided with a comprehensive understanding of child development alongside the social work curriculum. Erika is also a member of the Illinois Infant Mental Health Association and the National Association of Social Workers.