Spotlight on the Staff: Lalen Has and Liza Magana
Lalen Has and Liza Magana have been encouraging each other, and encouraging families as home visitors, for over a decade.
Now at St. Mary Medical Center’s Families in Good Health in Long Beach, the two first met in 2014 during Parent Survey training for the Healthy Families America (HFA) home visiting model. Each at a different agency back then, they were both working to pilot an HFA program in L.A. County. Over the years, their paths continued to cross, and their friendship grew alongside their shared passion for supporting families.
Lalen, a former preschool teacher, has always loved interacting with little ones. “My passion has always been working with children,” she says, “and now I get to do that while also working with the whole family.”
Liza’s journey as a Family Support Specialist began during a transitional time in her life. A friend recognized her passion for helping and supporting families and encouraged her to explore an opportunity in home visiting. What began as a new professional direction quickly turned into a meaningful and rewarding career.
Having worked eight years as a Family Support Specialist, Liza is now approaching her second anniversary as Program Supervisor. She is glad to still be supporting families by lifting up her team, creating safe and supportive spaces, and being fully present for those she works with.
As Liza shares, “As a supervisor, I get to support my staff while they support the families and babies we serve. It’s a beautiful example of the parallel process — supporting those who support others!”
Lalen often encouraged Liza to join Families in Good Health, planting the seed for what would eventually become a full-circle moment. Twelve years after their first meeting, they now find themselves working together.
Watch their original 2022 video and their new video below to hear Liza and Lalen share their journeys, reflect on their friendship, and celebrate how far they have come together.
Find a Home Visiting Program in L.A. County
- Do you know someone in L.A. County who is pregnant or who recently had a baby? They can find a free in-home support program at eDirectory.HomeVisitingLA.org.
- See a list of hospitals that offer the Welcome Baby program.
See other Spotlight on the Staff posts »