Nahla Kayali -Founder & Executive Director

Nahla Kayali founded Access California Services in 1998 to address the needs and concerns of the undeserved Arab-American and Muslim-American communities.

Read more about Nahla's Dream and Vision

Yassir Fazaga - MFTI - Director of Counseling and Support Services

Yassir provides cultural sensitivity trainings, community mental health education, acculturation and parenting workshops, and crisis intervention for the community. Yassir also provides counseling sessions for youth, adults, family, and groups.  Yassir collaborates with other service providers and Islamic centers in Southern California to provide culturally competent awareness and domestic violence prevention.  Yassir is fluent in Arabic, and Tigrinya.

Ameera Basmadji- M.A - Funds and Research Coordinator

Ameera is responsible for researching, writing, and submitting all grants as well completing program reporting. Ameera also works with the management team to ensure proper implementation of programs in accordance with funder requirements, and completes all required invoicing. Ameera has previous experience in grant writing and immigrant and refugee resettlement work. Ameera is fluent in Arabic.

Mayada Abdullah, M.A, MFTI – Programs Director

Mayada oversees the overall implementation, reporting, and evaluation of all mental health and social services programs provided at Access California Services. Mayada provides therapy sessions in Arabic to individuals and families and co-facilitates community education and trainings. Mayada is fluent in Arabic.

Rida Hamida – Programs Director/Social Worker

Rida assists with the implementation of mental health and social services programs provided at Access California Services. Rida is also responsible for all community outreach and engagement activities. Rida works as a community liaison with government agencies and provides cultural sensitivity trainings for service providers, with an emphasis in cross cultural awareness, child welfare, mental health, development and direct practice with organizations, communities, and public settings.  Rida collaborates with Islamic centers in domestic violence and child abuse prevention and intervention education. Rida is fluent in Arabic and Spanish.

Nedda Elhaija – Case Management Supervisor

Nedda is responsible for supervising all case managers and implementing efficient and effective client service delivery and quality control. Nedda ensures clients are appropriately linked to services. Nedda also conducts weekly culturally sensitive and language appropriate employment orientation workshops for recently arrived refugees and immigrants. Nedda is fluent in Arabic and Spanish.

Khalil Abboud – Program Coordinator

Khalil works with our Program Directors and Case Management Supervisor on program implementation and client service delivery. Khalil also conducts home visits for our clients, provides transportation assistance via the Access California Services’ van, and outreaches to different employers and companies to secure employment opportunities for our clients. Khalil also conducts ESL classes in South Orange County. Khalil is fluent in Arabic.

Annahita Mahdavi - Case Manager

Annahita provides case management services for refugees through direct services, referrals and/or enrollment in community and government assistance programs such as housing, access to health coverage, advocacy, and information and referrals. Annahita works directly with individuals and families to assess, and monitor progress and ensure their goals are met.  Annahita is fluent in Farsi.

Ilham Fitwi - Case Manager

Ilham provides case management services through direct services, referrals and/or enrollment in community and government assistance programs such as housing, access to health coverage, advocacy, and information and referrals. Ilham is also a Medical Services Initiative (MSI) certified worker. Ilham works directly with individuals and families to assess, and monitor progress and ensure their goals are met.  Ilham is fluent in Arabic and Tigrinya.

Hala Jawad – Case Manager/ Certified Applicant Assistant

Hala provides case management services through direct services, referrals and/or enrollment in community and government assistance programs such as housing, access to health coverage, advocacy, and information and referrals. Hala works directly with individuals and families to assess, and monitor progress and ensure their goals are met.  Hala is also our substitute English-as-a-Second Language teacher. Hala is fluent in Arabic and German.

Najah Haroun, Ph.D - Case Manager

Najah provides case management services through direct services, referrals and/or enrollment in community and government assistance programs such as housing, access to health coverage, advocacy, and information and referrals. Najah also enrolls clients in educational programs and assists with all student financial aid applications. Najah works directly with individuals and families to assess, and monitor progress and ensure their goals are met. Najah is fluent in Arabic and German.

Maryam Rasouli, MFTI – Employment Counselor/Case Manager

Maryam provides employment services that are designed to help our unemployed and/or underemployed clients find jobs. Maryam assists with resume and cover letter writing, job placements, and re-certification. Maryam also provides overall case management services including housing, access to health coverage, advocacy, and information and referrals. Maryam works directly with individuals and families to assess, and monitor progress and ensure their goals are met. Maryam is fluent in Farsi.

Aliaa Ghanem – Administrative Assistant

Aliaa provides general administrative and clerical support and manages the front desk reception. Aliaa is the first person clients make contact with and is responsible for greeting clients and directing them to the appropriate staff members. Aliaa is also responsible for scheduling all appointments as well as completes all data entry. Aliaa is fluent in Arabic.

Mahjabeen Basravi –Administrative Assistant/Emergency Financial Assistance Coordinator

Mahjabeen provides administrative and accounting support for the office. Mahjabeen ensures office policies and procedures are practiced, maintains office equipment, ensures protection of all filing systems and maintains and replenishes inventory. In addition, when the Emergency Financial Assistance Program is available, Mahjabeen assists eligible clients with rental, utilities, food, and transportation assistance. Mahjabeen is fluent in Urdu.

Zina Zaidan – Immigration & Citizenship Coordinator

Zina assists clients with their immigration cases such as petitioning for immediate relatives, naturalization and citizenship, work permits, adjustment of status, and other related needs. In addition, provides citizenship training workshops that teach clients about the citizenship process and prepare them for the citizenship test. Zina also provides translation and interpretation services.  Zina is fluent in Arabic.

Shereen Othman – English as a Second Language Instructor

In collaboration with North Orange County College District, Shereen provides English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes to limited and/or non-English proficient individuals that teaches students how to speak, write, and read in English and how to comprehend spoken English. Shereen follows an accredited curriculum that teaches English within the realm of life skills and the workplace. Shereen is fluent in Arabic.

Gloria Chavez – Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Representative

In collaboration with the Orange County Health Care Agency, Gloria provides information and enrolls eligible clients in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program once per week.

Samar Labanieh – Mental Health Paraprofessional Consumer Training Program Instructor

In partnership with Pacific Clinics and Mental Health Services Act, Samar is one of two instructors for the Mental Health Paraprofessional Consumer Training Program that trains students on behavioral health care and mental illnesses, and prepares them for a rewarding career in mental health services. Samar teaches this course in Arabic.

Naima Zaza – Mental Health Paraprofessional Consumer Training Program Instructor

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