AFS Staff in Action: Veronica Rodrigues
Veronica Rodrigues became the Quality Management Director for Alternative Family Services (AFS) in May 2025. Get to know Veronica and her work at AFS.
Learn more about Veronica and the important work she does here at AFS.
What are your main responsibilities at AFS?
I am the Director for our Quality Management department; I make sure that our mental health programs are following county, state, and federal regulations. I also help develop our mental health programs, and support our staff with continual improvements to our protocols and procedures.
What led you to work in this field?
I began working with children as a pre-school teacher many, many years ago, which led me to working in mental health. Since I was a teenager, I have been interested in learning about child development and psychology.
Why did you choose to work at AFS?
I knew clinicians that worked at AFS and spoke highly about the organization. One of them referred me to TGP as a support counselor, and the rest is history.
I first chose to work at AFS because I wanted to support our community in a meaningful way. The work could be intimidating at first, but the team was incredibly supportive of each other. Coming to work has always been a joy and I am grateful to work for an organization that has high standards, whose values are a direct reflection of the care and dedication that staff for our clients and families.
What are the three best things about your job?
Working at AFS has fulfilled my dream of working in mental health and helping the community. I have had enormous satisfaction in helping build programs, along with developing problem-solving skills.
What are the three toughest things about your job?
Convincing people we’re not out there to get them (I’m joking)! The work we do in QM is very technical, sometimes the reports we run don’t give us all the necessary information and that can be frustrating. “Chasing” people who work at the county can also be challenging. The toughest part is trying to solve an issue before it snowballs into a bigger problem that can affect different areas of a program.
What is an interesting fact about you that others wouldn’t expect?
Some people already know this about me, but I am a huge archeology nerd. When I spend time in Portugal (I grew up there), I always take time to learn about the history and pre-history of the town where I grew up. I read peer-reviewed journals about the findings and then go look for them myself.
What’s one piece of advice you would provide to someone just starting out in a similar role?
Develop your attention to detail, be patient with yourself and others, and learn excel.
