Watkins VITAL Care Program is a community-based Adult Day Program for young adults located in Southern California and vendored through Lanterman Regional Center. Our program is specifically designed for adults with a history of Autism, intellectual disabilities, or other disabilities. We have a ratio of one staff for every three Participants. With a Person-Centered Approach, our highly trained and compassionate staff utilizes Applied Behavior Analysis to teach vocational, leisure, and independent skills as well as encourage positive social skills. In general, the individual Participants in this program are non-verbal or have limited verbal abilities but may have various levels of communication skills, such as signing, limited vocal/verbal skills, use of picture communication, and/or augmentative communication devices programmed for basic communication needs. Watkins VITAL Care Program coordinates closely with parents, conservators, Regional Center Service Coordinators, and other service providers.
Our History
In 2016, a few parents came together and saw a need for their children, who had grown into young adults, to be learning and creating every single day. Together they started Watkins VITAL Care Program, an Adult Day Program that specializes in behavior management and independent skills. Since then, WVCP has continued to serve adults with disabilities using a Person-Centered Approach and the highly trained and compassionate staff utilize Applied Behavioral Analysis to teach vocational, leisure, and independent skills.
Our Staff
Mallory Giacopuzzi is the Program Administrator and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has over 14 years experience working with people with disabilities and in behavioral health. She is certified through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and has a Masters degree in Teaching with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. She is trained in Person-Centered Planning and supervises a caring staff trained in Applied Behavior Analysis and CPI.
Johnny Galindo, Program Manager, has over 20 years of experience working with people of all ages impacted by Autism and related disorders. He has his Associates of Arts degree in Graphic Design and enjoys incorporating art and design into daily activities and outings for Watkins VITAL Care Participants. Johnny is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and is skilled at implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) interventions while maintaining the values and standards of a Person-Centered approach.
All the staff at Watkins VITAL Care Program are committed to providing adults at WVCP with compassionate and individualized care and to implement positive behavior interventions to encourage independence and community involvement.
