Cindy Macias, LMFT, serves as a Vice President of Programs at First Place for Youth, bringing more than two decades or leadership and clinical experience in child welfare, foster care, and permanency services.  Throughout her career, Cindy has lead complex programs focused on foster care, adoption, and family permanency, with a strong emphasis on quality, sustainability and equity. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Cindy began her career providing direct therapeutic services before advancing into senior leadership roles overseeing multidisciplinary teams, program operations and strategic initiatives across Southern California.  She is deeply committed to strengthening systems that support youth and families, and is guided by core values of hope, compassion, and healing. Cindy holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal State Los Angeles.  Outside of her professional role, Cindy recharges outdoors in the sun, near the ocean, and values spending time with her children.