Degree Major Emphasis Institution Year
MSW Social Work California State University - San Bernardino 1996
BS Sociology UCLA 1994

Doctor of Social Work, California Baptist University (enrolled Fall 2022)

BEH 250: Reading and Writing in the Behavioral Sciences (Fall 2020)
BEH 383: Statistics & Research Methodology – Part I (Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022)
SWK 420 - Social Work Policy (Spring 2024)
SWK 410: Human Behavior and the Social Environment (Fall 2022, Fall 2023)
SWK 505: Social Work Practice II (Spring 2023, Spring 2024)
SWK 510: Human Behavior and the Social Environment (Fall 2020, Fall 2023)
SWK 521: Field Practicum Seminar (Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023)
SWK 541: Field Practicum Seminar II (Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024)
SWK 567: Advanced Generalist Practice - Organizations & Communities (Spring 2021, Spring 2022)
SWK 577: Program Evaluation (Fall 2021, Fall 2023)
SWK 581: Field Practicum Seminar Seminar II (Spring 2023)

Restorative Justice
Public Child Welfare
Foster Care
Family Treatment Courts
Collaborative Practice Models - Child Welfare, Substance Use Disorders, Courts
Adoption - International, Domestic, Private
Training & Technical Assistance
Grants and Financial Management
Faith Integration & Learning

Aftercare Fellowship - International Justice Mission, Cebu Philippines (2008-2009) - Designed a job-readiness model that focused on career goal development, psycho-social education, and soft skills training for successful employment and reintegration of survivors of commercial sex trafficking into community; this model was piloted and used to establish 10K Windows which is a non-government organization based in Metro Cebu City

California Baptist University:
Faith Integration Fellowship, Teaching and Learning Center (2022-2023)
Research Associate, Center for the Study of Human Behavior (2021 -2022)

Publications:

Mun, S., & Bermejo, R. (2023). Faith Integration and Learning in Classrooms . Journal of Faith in the Academic Profession, 2(1), 48–55.

Bermejo, R. and Bond, Yvette. 2022. A Call to Reimagine: The Role of Resource Parents in Family Recovery and Reunification. CW360° Supporting Collaborative Birth and Foster Parent Relationships. Advanced Studies in Child Welfare. 26-28.

Breitenbucher, P., Bermejo R., DeCerchio K., Duong L., Killian C., Young, N.K. 2018. Exploring Racial and Ethnic Disproportionalities and Disparities in Family Drug Courts: Findings from the Regional Partnership Grant Program. Journal of Advancing Justice. 1:35–61.

Amatetti, S., Breitenbucher, P., Bermejo, R., Killian, C., Hall, E., Rodi, M., Young, N.K. 2015. New Approaches for Working with Children and Families Involved in Family Treatment Drug Courts: Findings from the Children Affected by Methamphetamine Program. Child Welfare. 94(4):205–32.

Presentations:

November 9, 2023 (Pittsburgh, PA) - God's Grand Design to Meet the Grand Challenges of Social Work at the North American of Social Workers in Social Work Annual Conference

March 18, 2022 (Virtual) – Faith Integration in Classroom at Christian Association for Psychological Studies 2022 Conference

October 15, 2021 (Virtual) – Improving Equity and Inclusion for Families of Color in Community-Based Programs at National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter Conference

National Association for Drug Court Professionals Annual Training Conference
* May 26, 2020 (Virtual) - Supporting Healthy Attachments and Development for Children, Adolescents and their Parents
* July 15, 2019 (Washington, DC) - Fostering Hope and Healing - The Role of Resource Parents and Kinship Caregivers in Supporting Family Recovery and Reunification
* July 14, 2019 (Washington, DC) - Let's Talk This Out! Recovery and Reunification in Family Treatment Court
* May 31, 2018 (Houston, TX) - Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution? Ensuring Equity and Inclusion in Family Treatment Courts
* July 11, 2017 (Washington, DC) – Helping Dads Recover – Effective Strategies to Engage Fathers in Family Drug Courts
* June 3, 2016 (Anaheim, CA) – Matching Service to Need: Exploring What “High Risk/High Need” Means for Family Dependency Treatment Courts
* June 2, 2016 (Anaheim, CA) – The Parent-Child Relationship: The Unique Opportunities of Family Dependency Treatment Courts to Achieve Improved Outcomes
* May 29, 2014 (Anaheim, CA) - New Ways of Serving Children in Family Drug Courts Case Studies from the Children Affected by Methamphetamines Grant Program
* May 29, 2014 (Anaheim, CA) - From Silence to Trust - Serving Asian-American Families

Child Welfare League of America Conference
* April 12, 2019 (Washington, DC) - Rethinking Family Recovery: Lessons from the Prevention and Family Recovery Program
* April 11, 2019 (Washington, DC) - Partnering to Keep Kids Home: What Family Treatment Courts Need to Know and What they Can Do to Serve Children In-Home with their Families
* August 3, 2016 (Anaheim, CA) - Ask the Experts - Children’s Services and Parenting Interventions for Families Affected by Substance Use and Child Welfare in Drug Courts

Annual Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Enhancement Training
* August 29, 2018 (Albuquerque, NM) - Strengthening the Parent-Child Relationship in the Context of a Family Healing to Wellness Court
* August 29, 2018 (Albuquerque, NM) - Family Matters – Transitioning Towards a Family-Centered Approach in All Healing to Wellness Courts
* September 9, 2014 (Albuquerque, NM) - Guess What? You’re a Family Court Too (If You’re Clients Have Children): Practice Considerations When Working with Families in Drug Court
* September 9, 2014 (Albuquerque, NM) - National Perspectives – Family Drug Courts

The Supreme Court of Ohio Specialty Dockets Annual Conference
* October 11, 2018 (Columbus, OH) - Engagement and Early Recovery - Putting Knowledge into Practice: Simulated Family Treatment Team and Status Review Hearing
* October 11, 2018 (Columbus, OH) - Supporting the Parent Child Relationship - Putting Knowledge into Practice: Simulated Family Treatment Team and Status Review Hearing
* October 11, 2018 (Columbus, OH) - Assessing Readiness for Reunification - Putting Knowledge into Practice: Simulated Family Treatment Team and Status Review Hearing
* October 12, 2018 (Columbus, OH) - Checklist to Change: Readiness to Reality
* Rethinking Phases and Progress in Your Family Drug Court
* October 12, 2018 (Columbus, OH) - Ready Set Go - 5 Key Planning Decisions as You Successfully Launch Your Family Recovery Court
* October 12, 2018 (Columbus, OH) - Family Matters- Transitioning Towards a Family-Centered Approach in All Drug Courts

California Association of Collaborative Courts Conference
* October 28, 2019 (Sacramento, CA) - Family Matters - Transitioning to a Family-Centered Approach in All Treatment Courts
* October 28-29, 2019 (Sacramento, CA) - Moving Beyond Guidance: A Walk-through of the National Family Treatment Court Best Practice Standards (Parts 1-2)
* October 29, 2019 (Sacramento, CA) - The Top 5 Challenges in Responding to Participant Behavior in Family Treatment (Dependency Drug) Courts (and How to Solve Them)

California Courts – The Judicial Branch of California: Beyond the Bench Conference
* December 3, 2015 (Anaheim, CA) - Research Outcomes from Dependency Drug Courts Across the U.S. International Conference – Innovations on Family Engagement
* November 20, 2019 (San Diego, CA) - Recovery Support Specialists as an Engagement Strategy for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders and Child Welfare Involvement San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment
* January 29, 2019 (San Diego, CA) - A Collaborative Approach to the Treatment of Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid Use Disorders
* January 28, 2019 (San Diego, CA) - Recovery Support Specialists as an Engagement Strategy for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders and Child Welfare Involvement

Other Presentations:
* March 15, 2014 (Concordia University, Irvine, CA) - Keynote Talk: International Justice Mission
* March 18, 2012 (Living Way Church, Los Angeles, CA) - Sermon: Justice: Worship that Matters
* February 18, 2012 (Slavery No More - Justice Matters Conference at Calvary Chapel, Murrieta, CA): Panel Discussion: Everyday Abolitionists Forum
* February 15, 2012 (Chapman University Law School, Orange CA) - Human Trafficking Awareness Panel

Aldersgate UMC 168
Mariners Church

My Refuge House - Board of Directors (2010 - 2013; 2014 - 2018; 2023 - present)
Elevating Equity Collective (2023 - present)
Mariners Church Foster Care and Adoption Ministry Trainer and Educator (2016 - 2017)
The Abiding Motel Church Lay Pastor (2012 - 2016)
Waldorf School of Orange County Board of Trustees (2012 - 2015)
International Justice Mission Justice Advocate (2010 - 2015)

Family - Wife and four kids (Grace, Honor, Courage, Hope)
Glamping
Japan travel
St. Louis Cardinal Baseball
UCLA Sports
Leather journals
Henri Nouwen books
Parker Palmer books
Paulo Freire - Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Oswald Chambers - My Utmost For His Highest
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Cost of Discipleship
Colossians 1 Jesus

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24

The relationship is the change agent.

The moment commitment is absolute, Providence moves. - John Anster

If the structure does not permit dialogue the structure must be changed - Paulo Freire