Graciela “Chela” Rios-Muñoz

Emeritus Director, Center of Excellence for Immigrant Child Health and Wellbeing

Chela Rios-Muñoz is one of the founders of the Center of Excellence for Immigrant Child Health and Wellbeing. She retired from Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland in the summer of 2020, having worked with children and families as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 30 years.  She was the Mental Health Team Leader in the Neonatal Follow Up Program, an intensive, multidisciplinary home visiting program for medically fragile infants in Alameda County.  She specialized in working with the immigrant community, and provided local and national training on the impact of migration on Latino Immigrant Families, developed a model of parent/professional group support for Latino immigrant mothers, created and facilitated professional growth and support groups, and published articles on working with immigrant families. Her leadership and passion for serving immigrant communities was key in the creation of the Center of Excellence for Immigrant Child Health and Wellbeing.