Our Team
Partners and Team
Help Me Grow San Mateo County is a collaborative system led by First 5 San Mateo County in partnership with community organizations AbilityPath and Stanford Children’s Health. Many other valued partners in the community are part of the Help Me Grow San Mateo County network and are vital to its success. Help Me Grow San Mateo County recognizes the tremendous value of all our partnerships, including those that provide funding. Together we are committed to achieving and maintaining a system that partners with parents to promote the full potential of all children birth through five.
Sonia Valenzuela Family Support Services Manager, AbilityPath
Trained in evidence-based family engagement methodologies, Sonia has been supporting families and providers for almost 18 years. She oversees care coordination for families served through Help Me Grow and helped to develop and launch the Call Center. She is passionate about serving parents and providers, and enjoys using her personal and professional experiences to bring communities together.
Martha Carcamo Health Care Provider & Community Outreach Manager
Martha Carcamo joined AbilityPath in December 2014 and oversees the supervision of the Help Me Grow Care Coordinators. She is bilingual in Spanish and brings over 15 years of experience working directly with children birth through five, and their families. Prior to joining Help Me Grow, Martha worked in home and center base settings with the Institute for Human and Social Development in San Mateo County. She is passionate about serving her community and partnering with families so they can feel empowered to advocate on behalf of their child.
Danielle Chavez Bilingual Care Coordinator
Danielle Chavez joined AbilityPath in December 2021 as a Bilingual Care Coordinator. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and brings over 17 years of experience working directly with low-income families and children birth through five in San Mateo County. Prior to joining Help Me Grow, Danielle worked at Izzy, in San Mateo County as a Family Advocate and a Family Services Coordinator supervising Family Advocates. Danielle is passionate about serving, helping, and advocating for families in San Mateo County. Danielle enjoys cooking and watching movies and is especially proud of being a mother to her four fur-baby chihuahuas.
Daniela Bazan Bilingual Care Coordinator
Daniela Bazan is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and proud first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy. She is currently a Bilingual Care Coordinator with Help Me Grow serving San Mateo County, and supports families with children from birth to age five. As a mother to a young child and someone who studied early childhood development in college, Daniela brings both personal insight and academic knowledge to her role. Daniela is pleased to work at Help Me Grow which provides her opportunities to grow professionally, strengthen her community engagement, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of the families she supports. She is deeply committed to improving quality of life, passionate about advocacy, and dedicated to empowering families and fostering positive change in her community.
Emily Roberts, MSW, MPH Health and Development Specialist, First 5 San Mateo County
Emily brings nearly 20 years of experience in the child- and family-serving professions. With a passion for working with children and families, deepening community connections and promoting equity through increased access, Emily co-leads the Help Me Grow San Mateo County system. As a mother of two, Emily also knows firsthand the importance of having trusted professionals to turn to for advice and support.
Neel Patel, M.D. Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Pediatrics
Dr. Patel is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has previously served as the Co-Chair for the Northern California Section on Young Physicians. His professional interests include pediatric infectious diseases, developmental screening and early intervention, co-management with specialists, ambulatory safety/quality, and the patient experience. Dr. Patel is fluent in English, Spanish, Hindi and Gujarati. The patient and family experience is what ultimately drives his passion in health care.
Carol Elliott Director, Family Support Services, AbilityPath
Also an elected Trustee of the San Carlos School District, Carol has been in nonprofit management since 1991. In her role with AbilityPath, she oversees administration, operations, fiscal and strategic planning for three programs including Help Me Grow. Carol is passionate about building systems that support all children reaching their fullest potential.
Pahola Villalta Suazo Play and Learn Program Coordinator
Pahola joined AbilityPath October 2025 as a Play and Learn Program Coordinator and has spent 6 years supporting families and children with developmental delays and developmental disabilities in San Mateo County. Pahola worked as an Early Interventionist developing and implementing personalized intervention plans using play-based activities to build a child’s cognitive, social, physical, and emotional skills for children under 3, before stepping into her role as Service Coordinator for the Early Start Program. There she conducted developmental assessments measuring children’s overall development and progression meanwhile helping families navigate community relationships and resources. As a Play and Learn Program Coordinator, Pahola enjoys connecting with the community and providing guidance and words of encouragement to families who attend our sessions. Pahola is a mother of two boys, enjoys coffee and long walks on the beach!