Youth Development Specialist III, Sacramento City Unified School District

Andrea Nava has worked with adolescents and families in education, social work, and juvenile justice settings for more than 15 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, in 2006 and began her career as a Human Services Specialist for the Department of Human Assistance in Sacramento. Her work supporting families facing barriers to employment inspired her to earn a master’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento in 2009.

Andrea later joined the Sacramento City Unified School District Foster Youth Services Department, supporting foster youth in educational settings and assisting with their transition out of the foster care system. In 2010, she earned her Pupil Personnel Services Credential in Social Work from San Francisco State University and went on to work in a Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment program, providing mental health, case management, and resource services to youth on probation and their families. Her work in these areas led her to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2017.

Andrea currently serves as a Youth Development Support Services Specialist III with Sacramento City Unified School District, where she supports after-school programming and collaborates with more than 40 community-based organizations to provide enrichment opportunities across 70 school sites. Her work is grounded in social justice, youth empowerment, and elevating student voice through advocacy and systemic change.