Meet The Team
Maria Mahtani
Executive Director - NY and NJ - Fair Lawn
Maria earned her master’s degree from Nyack College and has over 20 years’ experience working with youth and families, both in church youth ministry and in the non-profit sector as a case manager and psychotherapist. She served on the local Bethany board for four years before taking the role of director. She is passionate about child welfare and is grateful to work with a dedicated team to fulfill the vision of Bethany to keep children safe, loved, and connected through family. Maria and her husband are proud parents of a teenage boy from South Africa.
Jessica Prickett
Refugee Immigrant Services (RIS) Program Director - Albany
Jessica, a licensed independent clinical social worker, has worked with Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) programs for over a decade and provides training development for federal child welfare programs. She’s passionate about mental health access for underserved communities, engaging the local church, organizational management, and supporting staff. She has a bachelor’s from Gordon College and master’s from Rutgers University with an emphasis in international social work. She loves hiking and going to the beach with her husband and three children.
Angel Baez Jr.
UAC HS/PRS Case Manager - Albany
Angel has worked closely with the migrant population both in shelter systems and post-release services. He has helped numerous families with reunification while providing psychoeducation on trauma, loss, anxiety, and emotions. He has a master’s in clinical social work and a bachelor’s in care coordination from Hunter College. Prior to becoming a social worker, Angel was an operations manager on Wall Street for 24+ years. He knows God set him on his life journey to where he is today, helping others help themselves.
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Cinthia Gil
PRS Home Study and Case Manager - Albany
Cinthia has worked in community service for more than 20 years, which included providing support to children and their families in mental health services and community support. The past nine years she’s worked as a case manager providing post release and home study services. She has a B.A. in speech pathology and audiology from Lehman College, a B.A. in social psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, and a master’s in teaching from the University of Southern California. She lives in New York with her husband and three children.
Jeremy Mateo
UAC HS/PRS Case Manager - Albany
Jeremy’s passion for assisting undocumented children was influenced by his mother, who served as a transitional foster parent during his high school years. This experience led him to begin pursuing a degree in community psychology. Jeremy is passionate about his faith and committed to helping others find their identity in God. He is actively involved in his local church, working with youth and young adults, and continues to inspire many. He continues his studies and lives with his wife and their dog.
Natasha Escoto
UAC HS/PRS Case Manager - Fair Lawn
Natasha is passionate about seeing children grow and learn about their potential. She has a bachelor’s in psychology and enjoys working with the Office of Refugee Resettlement to support the growing community of unaccompanied children as they adapt to new environments and lifestyles. Natasha, a born-again Christian, grew up serving as a dance ministry worshipper, and from a young age, worked with children in her local church’s dance ministry and in her community as an after-school tutor.
Teresita (Katrina) Rubino
UAC Case Manager - Fair Lawn
Katrina has been working with the immigrant and refugee population at Bethany for almost a decade. She received her bachelor’s in family and child studies from Montclair State University. Katrina feels blessed to support the families Bethany serves.
Thais Flores
UAC HS/PRS Case Manager - Albany
At a young age, Thais felt a divine calling to create a safe haven where children and families could find refuge and support. After graduating with a BSW, she pursued a career in social work and psychology to equip herself with the tools needed to make a meaningful impact. Drawing on her background in social work as well as her deep-rooted Christian faith, Thais serves at Bethany with immense joy, eager to serve the refuge population.
