About
History
I am Ruth Tello-Di Leva, MS, BCBA, founder of Familias First. During the years that I served individuals with autism, and their families, I witnessed firsthand the families’ dedication and commitment to the services they received. These experiences touched me and fueled the passion to create Familias First, an agency whose mission is to ensure all families receive quality Applied Behavior Analysis services. Our office was initially located in the Mid-Cities area of Los Angeles. However, thanks to our high volume of satisfied clients, our practice grew. Familias First is now contracted by multiple Regional Centers, school districts (Non-Public Agency Behavior services), and major Health Insurances. Thank you for your interest in our services and welcome to our family!
Ruth is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received her Master of Science degree from California State University, Los Angeles in Counseling with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis. Ruth’s Bachelor of Arts degree is in Psychology. She obtained a certificate in Family Violence and Child Maltreatment.
Ruth is a frequent presenter at seminars and workshops sponsored by CALABA, ABA International, Fiesta Familiar, and Fiesta Educativa. Her work was incorporated in the Autism Parent Education Program (APEP). The APEP is used by Regional Centers to educate parents of children with autism on the various services they provide.
Mission Statement
Our mission at Familias First is to provide high quality evidence-based applied behavioral services to individuals with disabilities regardless of their culture or socio-economic background and to build a strong multicultural and inclusive workforce.
Meet our Executive Team
Ruth Tello-Di Leva, MS, BCBA is the Familias First founder and President. Ruth received her Master’s degree in Counseling, with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from California State University, Los Angeles. She is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Additionally, she earned certificates in the areas of Domestic Violence, and Child Neglect and Maltreatment. Before founding Familias First, Ruth provided ABA services to individuals diagnosed with autism, across the lifespan, as a direct service provider, a supervisor and subsequently a Behavior Program Director. These years ignited the passion that lead Ruth to found her own company. Ruth is also a co-founder of the Latino Association for Behavior Analysis (LABA), an organization dedicated to defining the best practices in the provision of ABA services to the Latino population. Ruth also co-authored the Autism Parent Education Program (APEP), a curriculum that is currently used by select Southern California Regional Centers to educate families about services available to individuals diagnosed with autism. Ruth has been a presenter at the Association for Behavior Analysis International, California Association for Behavior Analysis, and Fiesta Educativa, among other reputable organizations.
Alba Novoa is the Executive Clinical Director at Familias First, with over 20 years of expertise in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and a steadfast commitment to supporting multicultural families and individuals with special needs. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Alba uses data-driven strategies to design and implement impactful programs that foster meaningful, lasting changes in the lives of those she serves
Alba is passionate about developing comprehensive training programs that equip clinical teams across diverse roles to deliver exceptional, culturally responsive care. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has a unique ability to connect with families from various cultural backgrounds, tailoring interventions to align with their values, needs, and strengths. Her ability to bridge cultural gaps fosters trust, collaboration, and positive outcomes for the families she supports.
A lifelong learner, Alba is committed to staying at the forefront of advancements in ABA by continuously seeking new knowledge, evidence-based practices, and innovative methodologies. Her dedication to professional growth ensures that the services her team provides are of the highest quality and relevance.
Alba values the power of collaboration and recognizes the vital role caregivers and families play in achieving success for individuals with special needs. With a passion for advancing the field of behavioral sciences, she actively champions innovation, inclusivity, and empowerment, striving to make a meaningful impact on both the families she serves and the professionals she mentors.
Monica Gaytan is a licensed and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), parent trainer, and mentor. Driven by her passion to help people, she has been working to help a wide range of individuals who struggle with a variety of challenging behaviors and skill deficits since 2007. She prides herself in leading and continuing to develop a talented group of dedicated clinicians. As a Clinical Coordinator for Familias First, her goals include providing professional services tailored to each of our clients and their families by combining behavioral interventions with a comprehensive knowledge of best practices, capitalizing on her wealth of experience, and parent training and development. In addition to her primary job functions she has also been part of several projects and programs geared towards educating the underrepresented communities about services available to their children and families.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Sonia Cruz is the Clinical Coordinator for Assessment and Programming at Familias First, bringing over 20 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to her role. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master of Arts in Behavior Analysis Practice from Florida Institute of Technology. As a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Sonia possesses advanced expertise in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Throughout her career, Sonia has held various roles, including Direct Service Provider, Case Manager, and Program Manager, before stepping into her current position. Her extensive experience has allowed her to work with clients across a wide range of needs and functioning levels. Sonia is deeply committed to professional growth and lifelong learning. She prioritizes providing ongoing training and support to staff, ensuring the delivery of effective, ethical services and the achievement of meaningful client outcomes.
Our Therapists
We employ a diverse group of professionals. We are a multicultural and multilingual agency with 90% of staff being bilingual in English and Spanish. If you need services or translations in a specific language, please contact us. Our therapists must successfully complete an in-depth, 11-day training that covers major behavior analytic principles, and consulting skills to become effective parent trainers. To ensure client and staff safety, our therapists must pass the FBI and the DOJ background checks. They are also First Aid, CPR and CPI certified before serving clients. Our therapists have the opportunity to continue their education throughout their employment. Clinical supervision is provided to our therapists on a regular basis, by our Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA).
Join Our Team
Are you interested in a career that will help you grow and learn, while making a positive change in others’ lives? If so, come and join our team! We always are looking for individuals who are compassionate and dedicated to serving others.