Elias is president and chief executive officer of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, one of the nation’s leading child welfare and mental health agencies. He joined the AULA Board of Trustees in December of 2012.
He began working at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services in 1976 as unit director of its residential treatment program. Since then he has held positions in the organization including director, Community Services, and vice president, director, Clinical Services.
Elias helped to establish Collaborative adoption practice in California and has served on state and local task groups focusing on permanency issues affecting children in our community. He is currently involved in efforts to keep children at home and in their communities through community based programs that offer alternatives to out of home care.
Elias holds a BA in Psychology from Boston University, an MSW in Social Work from Adelphi University, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Cambridge Graduate School. Elias enjoys keeping his old MG running and traveling back east to the Berkshires to enjoy the New England countryside.
