WHAT IS THE LATINO MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK OF RI?
The Latino Mental Health Network of RI is a vital community initiative founded in 2017 by two first-generation Latina professionals. It addresses the burnout experienced by Latinx colleagues, meets the rising demand for Latinx multilingual mental health providers in RI, tackles the exodus of Latinx mental health professionals from the field, and promotes greater representation in mental health graduate programs.
The mission of the Latino Mental Health Network of RI is to recruit and retain aspiring and current Latinx/ multilingual mental health providers by providing support and professional development.
WHO WE ARE
JENNIFER GAVIRIA, LICSW
Co-Founder
Jennifer Gaviria, LICSW, is a proud first-generation Latina raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Her passion for mental health began in her own community, where she witnessed many loved ones avoid seeking help due to stigma, miedo, or lack of access. That experience shaped her purpose: to make healing accessible, culturally responsive, and stigma-free.
Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s degree from Providence College and her Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. With over 15 years of experience across the social services field, she has served as a clinician, supervisor, educator, and now also as a career coach and consultant. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, she is committed to providing care and professional guidance in the language that feels most like home.
Jennifer is deeply passionate about health and mental health equity, Latinx empowerment, and supporting others in finding both healing and purpose. Whether in a therapy session or coaching conversation, she leads with warmth, authenticity, and comunidad.
En su tiempo libre, she enjoys hiking with her husband and daughter and exploring new restaurants across Rhode Island
SANDRA VICTORINO, LMHC
Co-founder
Sandra Victorino, LMHC, has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years in various capacities. She is a proud first-generation Latina professional, the daughter of immigrant migrant farmworker parents and granddaughter of a "bracero." She was born in Brawley, California, and lived across the United States, moving from the West Coast to the Midwest to follow the growing season. She attended approximately 10 different schools before graduating from high school. It was these experiences and the struggles she saw within her communities that led her to the field of mental/behavioral health.
She moved to Rhode Island in 2008 after completing her Master of Arts in Community Counseling from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas. She later earned her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Rhode Island College. She is committed to social equity and leverages her skills in Trauma-Informed Care, workforce development, and advocacy to create sustainable solutions for underserved populations. Taken together, she is an active community leader who brings strategic vision, practical expertise, and a passion for fostering positive change to address health disparities. When she is not involved with her work and boards, she enjoys powerlifting, drawing trees, experiencing live music, and spending time with her family and friends.
