Liz Franklin
MSW, LICSW - Chair
Liz received her BAs from the University of Kansas in Spanish and in American Studies with an emphasis in human sexuality in American culture. She received her MSW from the University of Minnesota. Liz is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and uses a Developmental Repair lens in her work. She focuses her direct clinical work on supporting kids, teens, and their parents as they heal from experiences of complex trauma, and she particularly enjoys supporting young people with developmental differences in their healing process.
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Liz is currently the Senior Manager of Community Based Mental Health Services at Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES) and teaches the Advanced Clinical Practice with Children and Adolescents course in the School of Social Work’s graduate program at the University of Minnesota. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH).
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Liz is passionate about helping families and caregivers understand and work with the multiple systems that impact their children in a more empowered way, as well as advocating with those systems to make their processes more inclusive and equitable. She believes strongly that building connections across settings and creating access to high quality educational and supervisory experiences for providers is central to improving experiences for service participants.
In her free time, Liz likes to read, knit, grow things, and cook with her kids.
Fanny Fernandez,
Vice-Chair
Jordan Jones,Â
MSW LICSW -Secretary
Jordan completed a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Spanish at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a Master of Social Work at St Catherine University/University of St Thomas. She is trained in Narrative Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mindfulness interventions, and works with both English and Spanish speakers.
Jordan Jones is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who has experience working with adults in residential settings, community-based care, and outpatient psychotherapy.
She currently provides outpatient individual psychotherapy to adults and adolescents in the Twin Cities metro area. She provides a supportive environment where clients can reorient themselves, build skills, and develop new insights in order to reach their goals.
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Jordan enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, gardening, and foraging for mushrooms.
Mica Cavuoto,
MS, LPCC - Technology Officer
Mica began her professional development in Mexico, where she obtained a Degree in Psychology and became a Licensed Psychologist. She then pursued higher education and obtained a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with dual a concentration in Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse, from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
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Mica currently works as a Mental Health Psychotherapist at CLUES, where she offers psychotherapy to individuals- children and adults- families and couples, in her office located in both CLUES Minneapolis and St. Paul locations.
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​In her practice, Mica uses and combines therapeutic modalities and culturally sensitive services to accommodate and help her clients thrive. She has been trained in EMDR and TFCBT. Mica has been immersed in the Latin American cultures and values of Uruguay, Paraguay, Mexico, and Argentina.
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Mica devotes herself to helping the Latino community thrive, providing not only psychotherapy to help them deal and cope with their struggles in healthier, more successful ways, but also connecting them to resources available in the community.
Mica also has a goofy sense of humor and love for all living beings, especially animals. In her free time, Mica enjoys photography, sewing and spending time with loved ones, her family and her rescued cats.
Nancy Ortega,
MSW, LICSW - Director
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Nancy received her Bachelors in social work (BSW) and her Masters degree, focused in Multicultural Clinical Social Work (MSW), from Augsburg University. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), and is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
She is an Intensive In-home Therapist at Washburn Center for Children, where she works predominately with Latinx minors and families. Nancy has worked in Children’s Mental Health since 2017. Nancy also serves as a Board Member of the Youth Leadership Initiative program (YLI-MN)--which advocates for the advancement of racial equity and social justice by teaching diverse youth and systems about youth leadership practices.
Nancy identifies as being Mexican-American and leading with her heart. She is firmly grounded in her bicultural identity, holds values stemming from equity practices, and has a longing for communities bursting with culturally affirming mental health services. Nancy celebrates and honors the journeys and various perspectives of her clients, colleagues, and community members.
In her spare time, Nancy enjoys spending time with her family and Guinea Pig. She also enjoys grounding and connecting with nature.
Michelle Ortiz,
MS, LPCC, CCTP, NCC- Director
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Michelle completed a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Studies with a minor in Substance Abuse and Addictions and certificate in Drug Alcohol Studies at the University of North Texas, and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Wisconsin - Stout with dual concentration in Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focus, and Internal Family Systerms and works with both English and Spanish speakers.
Michelle Ortiz is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and National Certified Counselor (NCC) who has experience working with children, adolescents and their families in day treatment level 1 & 3 settings, community-based care, and outpatient psychotherapy since 2015. Michelle has worked with adults in an outpatient care setting since 2019. She currently provides outpatient individual psychotherapy to adults and adolescents (15+) in the Twin Cities metro area.
Michelle enjoys spending time hiking, kayaking, boxing, traveling, film festivals, concerts, and doing a jigsaw puzzles.
Membership
Membership is open to anyone in the Twin Cities who works with Latinx children, adults, and/or families in a clinical, educational, medical, or social service role. The Consortium currently has about 260 members from a variety of mental health and social service agencies, schools, hospitals, medical clinics, county human service teams, and private therapy practices in Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, and Dakota counties. In 2020, the group started charging membership fees, after the organization was formalized and the website developed.
