Rocio Noemi Empowers Duenas

About Rocio Noemi Empowers Duenas

With over 20 years of experience, I have dedicated my career to advancing public health, wellness, and injury prevention by designing programs that strengthen child safety, family well-being, and professional resilience.As Community Programs Director at Pacific Safety Center, I lead innovative injury prevention initiatives across San Diego County, including the Keep ’Em Safe (KES) program and countywide child passenger safety efforts. As a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor (CPST-I), I have trained hundreds of professionals and built trusted partnerships with agencies serving families and vulnerable communities.My work also includes advancing professional education and systems collaboration through Rady Children’s Hospital, where I have supported continuing education initiatives, coordinated certification programs such as Options, and contributed to Psychiatry Grand Rounds focused on child and adolescent behavioral health.Over time, I recognized a deeper gap within the systems we work in: those who care for communities are often the least supported themselves.Today, my leadership extends into binational public health collaboration across the U.S.–Mexico border region. I currently serve as Vice Chair of the Office of Binational Border Health (OBBH) Advisory Group, where I collaborate with cross-sector partners to strengthen health equity, advance policy collaboration, and improve information sharing on emerging border health challenges.I am also a graduate of the Leaders Across Borders (LAB) 2025 Binational Leadership Diploma, where my team developed Project LUMINA, a binational initiative focused on improving coordinated, trauma-informed medical, psychological, and legal care for migrant women who are survivors of sexual violence.In addition, I contribute to statewide safety initiatives as an Action Lead for the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) Action OP.4, advancing child passenger safety education by reintroducing the 5-Step Test to improve booster seat awareness among professionals and families.These experiences inspired me to create the Radical Self-Care Framework, a trauma-informed and culturally rooted model that helps caregivers, professionals, and leaders reclaim clarity, balance, and purpose while continuing to serve their communities.My mission is to help people and systems care for communities without sacrificing the well-being of those doing the work.I believe we can build safer, healthier communities while honoring the people who dedicate their lives to serving them.

Experience

1. Community Programs Director

   Pacific Safety Center

   Nov 2009 — Present · San Diego, CA, US

   Directed the Keep ‘Em Safe (KES) program, enhancing community engagement in child passenger safety. • Instructed over 500 community partners through NHTSA certification training, elevating safety standards. • Contributed to national safety practices at the KIDZ IN MOTION International Conference, shaping industry guidelines.

Education

• Russian University of Humanities

  International Law and Legal Studies

  2005 — 2005

• National University

  Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Counseling Psychology

• Leaders Across Borders (LAB) Program

  Diplomado Líderes a Través de las Fronteras (Leaders Across Borders)

  2025

• Southwestern Community College District

  Associate of Arts (A.A.), Criminal Justice

  1997 — 2003

• San Diego State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Criminal Justice

  2004 — 2006