Leadership Team
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Keith Diederich
Executive Director
Prior to joining Stanford Home, Keith Diederich gained more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit administration and leadership. He holds a master’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Nebraska, dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and sociology from Wayne State College and numerous special licenses and certifications.
Keith is committed to the organization’s family-centered service approach. "As I spoke with people in Sacramento, I realized that Stanford Home is Sacramento’s best-kept secret," he says. "By creating alternative solutions to institutional care, this agency is leading the field with successful, long-term solutions for children and families. I am honored to be a part of Stanford Home’s mission to improve the health and welfare of local kids and families facing crisis situations."
Susan DaviniAssociate Executive Director of Human Resources
Susan Davini oversees our Human Resources Department and has been the Human Resources Director since 2000. Susan has more than 15 years of human resources leadership experience and a varied background in management. She enjoys providing the human resources leadership for Stanford Home and has staffed her department with internal transfers from direct services programs to ensure the department stays in touch with workforce needs.
Susan is involved in a variety of industry organizations, including the Society for Human Resource Management and the Sacramento Area Human Resource Association. She also belongs to the California Chamber of Commerce.
Susan finds great reward serving in a family-centered practice agency. She says, "After many years in the for-profit arena, this has been and continues to be where my heart lies in providing human resources leadership. To assist staff who are so committed to our mission has been very rewarding. Our focus on the family and its strengths feels like the right thing to do every day!"
Jovina NevesAssociate Executive Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
With more than 14 years of nonprofit experience to her credit, Jovina Neves has played a crucial role at Stanford Home since joining the staff in 1997. In addition to serving as CFO, she also manages and directs several departments including Accounting, Quality Assurance, Facilities and Information Technology. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UC Davis.
Jovina has witnessed exciting growth at Stanford Home and looks forward to enhancing programs in the future. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to integrate Stanford Home’s mission and values into my daily work. Although I’ve seen the agency grow tremendously over the years, we’ve kept our commitment to improving family-centered practices a number-one priority.” She hopes her contributions help “create and support systems that, in turn, support families who so desperately need our care."
Gordon RichardsonAssociate Executive Director of Programs
Since joining Stanford Home in 2000, Gordon Richardson has been developing innovative, family-centered, solution-focused social programs that are effective, affordable and reduce the need for incarceration, congregate care and psychiatric hospitalization. Since 1996, he has served as an executive and program director in California and Nevada, directing programs in residential care, treatment foster care, therapeutic behavioral services, juvenile justice and wraparound.
Gordon received his master’s degree in social work, specializing in policy analysis, planning and administration from the University of Manitoba in Canada. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a certified Group Home Administrator in California. He has published and presented research papers on wraparound, birth parent participation in foster care and restorative justice.
When he is not at Stanford Home, Gordon is a disaster relief services volunteer for the American Red Cross. In 2007, he was named Social Worker of the Year by the Sacramento Unit of the National Association of Social Workers.
Gordon sees the difference family-centered practices can make on the health of the community. “The Stanford Home vision of a community filled with safe, healthy and productive families guides my day-to-day practice as a program director at Stanford Home. The modern, complex challenges facing families demand innovative, effective and affordable solutions that are centered in family empowerment, partnership and self-determination. It is deeply gratifying to see families actually living our mission—dreaming, overcoming and thriving."
Kären WoodruffAssociate Executive Director, Development and Marketing
Kären Woodruff is responsible for raising funds and awareness for Stanford Home for Children’s programs. The former director of corporate relations for UC Davis Health System, Kären has more than 21 years of progressive business and management experience in business development, marketing communications, alliance partnerships and project management.
Kären sits on several local boards and is a member of Women in Philanthropy, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Advisory Council for St. Ignatius Parish School.
“It is a privilege to work with such a talented and committed organization making such a major impact on Sacramento's at-risk families. Together, working with Stanford Home's board, executive leadership and the community, we are increasing visibility and resources for Stanford Home to further the research-driven programs that help these families heal.”
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Deborah BennettDirector of F.O.C.U.S.
Deborah has been leading social service programs in Northern California for more than 10 years. Deborah received her master’s degree in social work from CSU Long Beach, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and received an award for outstanding community service to children, youth and families in 2001. She received a bachelor’s degree in social work from CSU Humboldt in 1989. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Practitioner of the Healing Arts as well as a Certified Group Home Administrator and Authorized 5150 Site Coordinator and Designee. She also serves as the Professional Development Coordinator for the National Association of Social Workers in Sacramento County. Deborah joined Stanford Home in 2001 and recently began teaching part-time in the University of Phoenix Health and Human Services Department.
"It's a pleasure to provide leadership in an agency that emphasizes family-centered practices,” she says. “It’s my desire to promote individualized, culturally responsive, flexible and relevant services that empower families to address the many challenges they may be facing. As a Stanford Home Program Director, I am committed to providing family-centered, community-based services that strengthen family relationships and ensure safety, permanency and optimal outcomes for the families we serve."
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Katie ReadDirector of Wraparound
As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a master’s degree in integral counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, Katie Read has many years of experience in community mental health. She recently directed Alameda County's largest program for transitional-age youth and previously performed direct-service work in inner-city Oakland and Taos, New Mexico.
Katie is an active trainer who has developed and delivered trainings in topics such as suicide assessment, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic trauma, somatic approaches to trauma, verbal crisis de-escalation, cultural competency, anger management, harm reduction, the Recovery Model and motivational interviewing. She is also an expert in the field of eating disorders and frequently lectures to parents about prevention, early intervention and raising body-positive children.
Katie is "energized" by Stanford Home's family-focused environment and enjoys helping children and families live happy, healthy and positive lives. "Being involved with Stanford Home is the opportunity of a lifetime," she says. "We're dedicated to those we serve, and we utilize an approach that embraces each family's unique culture and viewpoints." With a belief that families have an innate sense of what works best for them, Katie thinks that Wraparound is the ideal way to empower families to carve out their own unique paths and solutions. "We do whatever it takes to support their wisdom and turn the solutions into reality."
Jennifer ShebestaDirector of Foster Care Program
A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology from San Jose State University, Jennifer has worked with Stanford Home since 2003. Prior to assuming her role as Director, she served as both a Clinical Program Manager and Residential Therapist for Stanford Home, working in the residential program, FOCUS and the Counseling Center. Her background includes extensive training and experience in the mental health field, where she has specialized in areas like cognitive-behavioral treatment, domestic violence training, child abuse treatment, gang awareness and suicide prevention.
Jennifer sees first-hand the benefits of providing a family-centered practice for children and families who become involved with the CPS system. "Our program strives to involve family members in the treatment process, actively supporting family reunification whenever possible," she says. "The emphasis on family involvement has provided a healthy forum for many children and families to reach their goals."
Jennifer WellensteinDirector of Therapeutic Behavioral Services and Community Protection Treatment Program
A Marriage and Family Therapist intern with a master’s degree in counseling education from California State University Sacramento, Jennifer has worked with Stanford Home since 2002. Prior to assuming her role as Director, she served as a Behavior Analyst, Coordinator, and Clinical Program Manager for Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS). Her background includes extensive training and experience in the mental health field, where she has specialized in child development, behavior analysis, and Functional Family Therapy.
Jennifer’s rich experience with Stanford Home’s programs is a true asset as she now directs two programs, “Providing an opportunity for youth that would otherwise be left behind is the most rewarding work I have ever done, and I am proud to be able to make a difference through our work at Stanford Home for Children. We are reaching the top one percent of our community’s most challenging youth. Because of our intensive services, these children and youth have a renewed opportunity to connect to family, while creating a new future for themselves.”