Please join us in welcoming Isamar, Deanna, and Cassandra to the Social Model Recovery Systems team! They each bring their own strengths and experiences that will significantly contribute to our work and the care we provide. We’re glad to have them on board!
Isamar Moreno, MSW
Primary Counselor
River Community Wellness
Isamar Moreno is a Los Angeles native and a recent Master of Social Work graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She chose to pursue her graduate studies in Illinois to broaden her perspective and engage with communities beyond her hometown.
During her time at the university, Isamar completed her MSW internship at the Counseling Center, where she supported individuals facing mental health challenges through a range of services. As a member of the Latino Student Outreach Team, she also provided culturally responsive consultations, outreach, and community support.
Prior to earning her MSW, Isamar gained experience interning as an Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) counselor, where she worked closely with individuals in recovery. This role deepened her commitment to helping others achieve wellness and reinforced her passion for resident and participant-centered, compassionate care.
With a strong dedication to serving underserved communities and promoting personal growth, Isamar is excited to bring her experience and energy to Social Model Recovery Systems. She hopes to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of those navigating their recovery journeys.
Outside of her professional work, Isamar values the importance of self-care and community. She is an active member of a supportive and vibrant rugby community that empowers one another both on and off the field.
Deanna Jimenez, RADT
Primary Aide
Bimini
Deanna is excited to join the team at Bimini in Los Angeles, California. Her journey into the field of recovery is deeply personal and rooted in lived experience. After completing a 12-step program in Pasadena, Deanna laid the foundation for a new way of life, one centered around growth, healing, and service to others.
With the guidance of a sponsor and an active presence in the recovery community, Deanna continues to strengthen her sobriety through daily commitment. She regularly attends AA meetings, and also works as a detox technician, where she facilitates support groups for individuals in early recovery. Her professional and personal experiences give her a unique ability to connect with others on a meaningful level.
Coming from a family impacted by addiction, Deanna understands the challenges that come with breaking generational cycles. Today, she uses her journey as a source of strength and motivation to help others find their own paths to recovery. She is currently pursuing her certification as a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselor through CCAPP and looks forward to continuing her growth in the field.
Deanna enjoys spending quality time with her family and finds joy in life’s simple pleasures, including beach days, Chinese food, chili fries, ice cream, and learning new things. She is passionate about being a positive example for others and is proud to be part of a team that supports recovery and transformation.
Cassandra Brito, RADT
Primary Counselor
Mid Valley Outpatient
Cassandra Brito is an East Los Angeles native whose personal journey through recovery has shaped her commitment to helping others find hope and healing. Faced with the reality of losing everything that mattered most to her, she made the courageous decision to seek help and begin a new path forward, one rooted in accountability, resilience, and purpose.
Her recovery journey was not without challenges. It required rebuilding trust, confronting years of trauma, and consistently showing up for herself and her children. With the support of a structured rehab program and a strong recovery network, Cassandra has remained clean for nearly four years. Her strength and dedication have become the foundation her family relies on, and her children are now her greatest motivation.
Inspired by her own transformation, Cassandra felt a strong calling to support others. She began working with the organization that once helped her, first serving as a Social Services Care Coordinator, where she assisted residents and participants with appointments and facilitated group sessions as needed. With the encouragement of a former coworker from that organization, now also a colleague at Social Model Recovery Systems, Cassandra began pursuing a career in counseling.
Currently continuing her education and training in the field, Cassandra brings a wealth of lived experience and empathy to her work. She believes that her personal history allows her to connect in a unique and meaningful way, meeting them with compassion, honesty, and genuine understanding.
Outside of work, Cassandra enjoys spending time with her children, often visiting parks and pools on her days off. For her, this work is more than just a career, it represents purpose, healing, and the opportunity to help others break free from the cycles of addiction and rebuild their lives.
