Carla obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. In the final year of her master’s program, she took a semester off from the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) to complete an internship at the Veterans Administration Hospital. There, she was part of a multidisciplinary team working with doctors and other professionals through the Home-Based Primary Care Program and in the inpatient lockdown unit.
Carla continued her career with OSDH, where she retired after thirty years of service. During her tenure, she had the privilege of working under the Social Work Director, overseeing the social work program in county health departments across the state of Oklahoma. She also provided counseling services to clients in several different county health departments. Carla received annual continuing education training in Child Abuse Prevention and Domestic Violence through OSDH.
For ten years, she was a member of the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Task Force, headed by the Attorney General’s Office, and served on both the Violence Against Women and Girls Committee and the Postpartum Depression Committee. Carla also worked part-time for a Youth Center in Norman, Oklahoma, for seven years, where she facilitated group sessions teaching the First Offender Program, Anger Management, and Parenting classes.
Carla volunteered for seven years at the largest Domestic Violence Shelter in Oklahoma. She received yearly continuing education training and was certified as a Sexual Assault Advocate. Her efforts were recognized with the Power of One award from the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault for her work to educate and prevent domestic violence across Oklahoma.
She attended Break the Cycle certification training in Los Angeles, California, and presented the information in schools throughout the state. Carla also earned a National Certification in Bullying Prevention and spent ten years delivering Anti-Bullying presentations in schools across Oklahoma. She was honored with the National Bullying Prevention Award by the National School Safety Advocacy Council and traveled to Florida to accept the award and deliver an acceptance speech.
Carla was selected, along with other social workers at OSDH, to participate in the Prevention Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) and the Within My Reach program. After becoming a certified facilitator, she spent several years providing relationship classes in Cleveland County. She holds a National Certification in Anger Management, obtained in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a National Certification in Grief Recovery from San Diego, California.
Carla was honored to be selected by HRSA to participate in a federal grant review in Washington, D.C. In 2017, she was invited by Ruth Glenn, President/CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to participate in an event in Washington, D.C., where she helped lobby for the VAWA grant and support domestic violence programs nationwide.
She is also a Batterer Intervention Program (BIP) facilitator, overseen by the Attorney General’s Office. Carla has an interest in holistic wellness and has a background as a holistic wellness life coach. She has done contract work as a home health social worker and in hospice care, providing psychosocial assessments.
Carla served on the Oklahoma Women’s Coalition for several years and was a member of Zonta International. Passionate about empowering women, she volunteered her time to speak publicly on women’s issues and was invited to speak to women in a federal prison. She also provided group work for women transitioning from prison back into society.
She has supported numerous charities and organizations and has traveled across the United States to speak on topics close to her heart. One organization she is particularly proud to support is the Wounded Warrior Program in New York, where she delivered a speech honoring those who have served the country. In 2012, Carla received an award from President Obama recognizing her volunteer service and commitment to strengthening the nation.