R e s u m e
IRENE I. MARTINEZ
(626) 483-9746 h
(323) 221-6696 w
(323) 221-6699 fax
fiestaim@aol.com
Education
Masters
Degree in Social Work, 1990
Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Spanish/Spanish Literature, 1967
Graduate
Studies in Public Administration, 1980-1981
University
of the
Graduate
Studies in Spanish Literature, 1969-1970
Professional Experience
Executive Director,
1998 – Present
Fiesta Educativa, Inc.
3839 Selig Place
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Administrative responsibility for
a private, non-profit, statewide organization serving families of persons with
disabilities. Functions include
management of fiscal and all program areas, fund development and board
development. Responsibilities include
administration of the National Fiesta Educativa, and representing the organization
on various state and national advisory boards and councils related to
disabilities and special education.
IRENE I. MARTINEZ
Professional Experience (continued)
Director of Membership Services,
1996-1998
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Administration
and coordination of Chapter membership recruitment and retention program. Responsibilities included development and
application of new paradigms to increase and enhance services to 12,000 members
in
Program
Director, 1992-1996
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Administration
of the
Project Director
Division of Special Education,
Coordination
of design, development and implementation of a multicultural model for the
Individualized Family Service Plan as part of a federal demonstration grant
from the U.S. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, (OSERS).
Project Director
Administered federally funded
project to design and develop family centered multicultural/multilingual
training model for families of high risk and developmentally delayed
infants/toddlers. Developed
Los Angeles Countywide Transition Plan to comply with provisions of Public Law
99-457.
MSW Internship
Research on
Lanterman Mental Health Act. Prepared and
presented testimony to: Joint Hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Mental
Health, Developmental Disabilities and Genetic Diseases; The Senate Subcommittee
on the Rights of the Disabled and the Assembly Subcommittee on Mental Health
and Developmental Disabilities. Designed family-centered empowerment model
(Fiesta Familiar), and secured funding for pilot projects in
IRENE I. MARTINEZ
Professional Experience (continued)
Administrator
Centro de Niños y Padres
Division of Special Education
Administered
private, non-profit, university-based early intervention program with emphasis
on fiscal and personnel management.
Founder, Director
Fiesta Educativa, Inc.
Organized and directed the
formation of a private, non-profit statewide organization established to
provide advocacy, educational and social services to families of persons with
developmental disabilities. Facilitated board and leadership development for staff and
volunteers.
Conducted and directed proposal
writing (public and private sectors), fundraising activities and mobilization
of volunteers. Secured
funding from State Departments of Education, Developmental Services and
Rehabilitation. Planned and
implemented statewide and national conferences which involved managing the
collaboration among the range of federal state and local agencies. Provided technical assistance and consultation to the development
of Fiesta Educativa model/organization and replication in
Director
Project TOT (Training of
Trainers), 1983-1985
Developed proposal, secured
funding from California State Council on Developmental Disabilities and managed
finances. Designed, implemented and
directed a Hispanic and Asian (Chinese and Korean) parent and leadership
training program in
Supervisor
Administered
the Community Education Services, Advocacy and Assessment and Diagnosis Unit. Drafted community education programs, program/resource
development and evaluation, Supervised Clients Rights attorneys. Developed and directed public information
programs and campaigns regarding the rights and legislative issues affecting
developmentally disabled persons.
Developed and directed the organizing and advocacy training of consumers
and their families.
IRENE I. MARTINEZ
Clinical Practice
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Child/Adolescent Psychiatry
Program, 1992-1993
Provided
in-patient group and individual psychotherapy to children and families.
Crime Victims Center, Los Angeles
MSW Internship, 1988
Provided
clinical services to crime victims and their families in a private agency.
Children’s Institute
International,
MSW Internship, 1989
Clinical and advocacy services to
mothers and their children who were wards of the court, within a private,
non-profit community-based agency infant/toddler shelter program.
Professional Appointments
Board of Councilors,
USC Department of Biokinesiology & Physical
Therapy, 2002 -
Advisory
Committee on Diversity,
Consumer
Advisory Committee,
OSEP’s Expert Strategy Panel on
Improving Results in Early Childhood for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
and their Families through Intervention, Supports and Services, 2000.
Self Determination Advisory
Committee,
Advisory Board and Consultant, The
Advisory Board and Consultant, The
Advisory Committee, Aging and
Developmental Disabilities Project,
Advisory
Board,
California Department of
Developmental Services, Ethnic Affairs Advisory Committee to the Director,
1991-1998.
Professional
Appointments (continued)
Chair,
Board of Directors, Fiesta
Educativa Inc.,
California
State Superintendent’s Ethnic Advisory Council, 1993-1995.
Consultant,
Consortium for Collaborative Research on Social Relationships,
National Task
Force on Cultural Diversity,
National Agenda for Achieving
Better Results for Children and Youth with Disabilities,
Professional Affiliations
Latino
Social Work Network of
National Association of Social
Workers
The Council for Exceptional
Children
Publications
Rueda, R. & Martinez, I.
(1992) Fiesta Educativa: One Community’s Approach to Parent Training in
Developmental Disabilities for Latino Families, Journal of the Association for
Persons with Severe Handicaps, Vol. 17, No. 2, 95-103.