María García-Toche is a Master of Social Work (MSW) candidate at the University of Washington, Tacoma campus. She currently works as a Co-occurring Disorder Counselor at Catholic Community Services, where she provides care coordination and both individualized and group therapy to Medicaid-eligible clients facing mental health and substance use challenges. Born and raised in Hood River, Oregon, María comes from a migrant, mixed-status family. Her lived experiences have influenced her passion for working in the behavioral health field and advocating for accessible, equitable services for Spanish-speaking communities. Outside of her professional work, María enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and her two cats.