Johanna Hernandez

Johanna Hernandez joined Esperanza July 2024 as a Case Manager. Johanna is passionate about immigration rights, immigration advocacy, social justice and mental health. Johanna graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelors in Sociology. She is currently working towards her Master’s in Counseling Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy with a certification in Latinx Mental Health. From a young age, Johanna was inspired by the journey of her immigrant parents that migrated from El Salvador. Johanna grew up seeing how the complexity of immigration impacted her family and the challenges it comes with navigating an unknown system. As a child she recalls having to translate legal documents to which she did not comprehend at the time. Johanna used this core memory as an inspiration to work to help underserved immigrants by providing comprehension from a micro and macro sociological perspective. In 2021, Johanna worked as a reunification case manager for Office Of Refugee Resettlements (ORR) to which she reunified unaccompanied minors who were separated from their families at the border. This experience was the reassurance she needed to know she was fulfilling her passion. Additionally, she has worked as a wraparound facilitator and child and family specialist with children and adolescents who are impacted by Department of Children and Family Services. Johanna has a background with social services, case management, ORR, disabilities and severe mental health disorders. She continues to fulfill her passion by giving back to the community. In her personal life, Johanna loves to spend time in nature, with her spouse, family and friends. She has a dedication to spending quality time with her ducks Honey and Sunshine and her three birds: Pikachu, Rocky and Flower.