Dr. Liza Arellano's Story

Dr. Liza Arellano, DSW, LCSW, is a proud Moreno Valley District 2 resident, wife, mother, educator, and lifelong advocate for children and families. She became a Moreno Valley Parks, Community Services, and Trails Commissioner after wanting to become more civically engaged, after experiencing alarm and distress with the current presidential administration and the concerning impact of their policies on the community. 

​

As a Mexican-American, and first-generation college graduate, she embodies the values of faith, hard work, and perseverance that define the Moreno Valley community. Having grown up in poverty and gang-ridden neighborhoods, raised by a single parent and the youngest of six siblings, she learned early on the importance of a supportive community. Her journey, from becoming the first in her family to earn both a master’s and doctoral degree to dedicating her life to improving systems that serve vulnerable children, reflects her deep belief in opportunity, equity, and service. 

​

Dr. Arellano has built a career grounded in compassion, accountability, and community. She currently serves as the Director of the Master of Social Work Program and Assistant Professor at a local university, where she leads efforts to prepare future social workers through rigorous education, mentorship, and faith-integrated practice. Before entering higher education, she worked extensively in public child welfare with the County of San Bernardino, gaining hands-on experience investigating child abuse and neglect, managing foster care placement programs, supervising specialized units, and leading multidisciplinary teams focused on child safety and family support.

​

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Dr. Arellano managed the delivery of mental health services for foster youth in San Bernardino County. Her leadership extended statewide through her participation in California Department of Social Services workgroups aimed at strengthening child welfare training, prevention, and accountability. Her research continues to focus on improving outcomes for youth in foster care, expanding diversity in social work education, and enhancing professional training for social workers to strengthen families and communities.

​

Dr. Arellano and her husband have made Moreno Valley their home for many years, where they are raising their two sons. Deeply rooted in faith and service, she volunteers in her church’s children’s ministry and serves on local and statewide foster care committees. Her life and work reflect a steadfast commitment to helping others, building community, and ensuring that every child and family has the opportunity to thrive.