Wilfredo Soto is twenty one years old and is a senior at the University of Connecticut. He is expected to graduate with an Individualized Major in Child Development and Social Welfare Policy in 2011. Wilfredo plans to ascertain his Master’s in Public Health and Doctorate in Behavioral Health Sciences Social by 2016.
Wilfredo has worked in the field of Mental Health since 2005 as a Youth Coordinator to youth in high school for the Partnership for Kids (PARK) Project – a federally funded non-profit – based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. While with PARK, Wilfredo used his knowledge and experiences to help troubled and at risk youth change their attitudes socially and increase their academic proficiency scores at the middle and high school levels.
In 2007, Wilfredo used his expertise in mental and behavioral health related issues and began consulting part-time at the local, state and national levels. In 2009, he founded “Guiding Adolescents and Children at Risk,” or “GEAR Enterprise.” GEAR utilized Wiflredo’s expertise and degree in Child Development and Social Welfare Policy to collaborate on articles for publication with a variety of national organizations (see Curricula Vita).
Currently, Wilfredo is consulting as a contributing editor and council member for The Inspire USA Foundation and is a board member for the National Latino Behavioral Health Association. Wilfredo also works part-time as a "Program Assistant" in Easter Seals Goodwill Industries youth (K – 8th) and families’ initiative in New Haven, Connecticut. He is still currently working with Easter Seals Goodwill Industries.
Overall, Wilfredo has consulted, taken part in panel discussions, trainings, webinars, seminars, mentored hundreds, collaborated on four articles for national publication and has spoken in front of thousands of professionals at conferences across America on mental health related issues pertaining to child development and social welfare policies. Wilfredo has advocated and influenced policy at the local, state, and national levels. In addition, Wilfredo has received awards and honorable mentions at the local, state and national levels, too.
