John Steinfirst, LCSW has been CEO of the well-respected residential and community based Fred Finch Youth Center in Oakland, CA. for 20 years, with programs throughout California. He has experience with an array of services for a variety of institutions, government and private agencies, with clients including but not limited to abused and neglected children, developmentally disabled and mentally disabled, co-occurring disordered, children, youth, and families, adults, the elderly and those with substance abuse problems. As a licensed and experienced mental health therapist, he can also assist in cases where suits have been brought against therapists for malpractice.
Matthew Madaus is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience in the behavioral health field. He has held positions as CEO, Executive Director, COO, Residential Treatment Director, Clinical Director, Director of Community Mental Health, Program Director, and other manager and clinical roles. He has experience working in special education schools, day treatment programs, crisis stabilization and inpatient units, emergency shelters, residential treatment facilities, and community-based programs in both California and Massachusetts. Mr. Madaus has provided expert witness consultation and testimony for both plaintiffs and defendants in multiple states. He is currently a consultant to non-profits and the CEO of Child and Youth Well-being for Obviate, a clinical software company.
Cheryle L Roberts Smothers has worked in the foster care and adoptions field for over 20 years. She has held positions from social worker to program director for a private non-profit treatment FFA and Adoption Agency in Northern California. Currently, she teaches classes at CSU Sacramento Division of SW and a class at Sacramento City College’s Sociology Department. She is a registered Adoption Services Provider working with birth mothers who have relinquished their children to adoption, she consults to adoption agencies, and conducts home studies for a Foster Family Agency in Sacramento.