Adiba is the Site Supervisor for the Health and Well-Being Program. She started working with Lao Family in 2018 as a multilingual Victim Advocate. Adiba was encouraged to assist in other programs, such as the R&P program, where she helped new refugees settle and get accustomed to the United States. Her peers and supervisors quickly recognized her dedication and passion for helping others. She enjoys helping families of diverse backgrounds regardless of their country of origin. As the Health and Well-Being Site Supervisor, Adiba’s goals are to normalize mental health and eradicate the stigma people have of it. Adiba’s passion for her job stems from her background and experiences growing up in the United States as an immigrant family.

Adiba and her brothers were raised by their father as a single-parent family when they arrived in the States in 1996 from Afghanistan. When her family first came, there was no service or organization to help their family integrate into America. As the only daughter of an immigrant family, Adiba still fought hard to establish herself in the family. Adiba’s perseverance led her to California State University Sacramento, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science. Growing up in an Eastern culture that did not necessarily believe in the normality of mental health, Adiba wanted to increase the awareness and acceptance of mental health. Being a mother of two has motivated Adiba to promote mental health more than ever so that her children may never have to go through the silent illness that she and others have had. Adiba loves working at Lao Family because of our direct services and the difference we can make to individuals and families.