Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter, DSW

Speaker Information

Dr. Kendra Flores-Carter is a Published Author, California Baptist University, Professor of Social Work, and a Researcher in the social and behavioral sciences field specifically women’s and child health. Dr. Flores-Carter is currently the Co-Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Social Innovation (CESI) where she directs the research initiatives for the center within Division of Social Work. An advocate for social justice and change, she has dedicated her career to bring educational awareness to disparities/equity concerns in healthcare experiences and various other psychosocial factors impacting marginalized women and children. A former Medical Social Worker for over 10 years Dr. Flores-Carter worked to provide services to children suffering from Trauma related to Child Abuse/Neglect and women experiencing significant life crisis such as Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Abuse Complications, Incarceration, Homelessness & Mental Illness. Dr. Flores-Carter holds a BA in Psychology from California State University, Dominguez Hills, an MSW from California State University, Long Beach as well as a Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dr. Flores-Carter served as the past and founding President of Postpartum Support International-California Chapter. Additionally, she served six years as the Co-Chair of the Inland Empire Maternal Mental Health Collaborative. Currently, Dr. Kendra serves on the San Bernardino County Maternal Health Network leadership team and led the county wide data collection efforts for the 2021 consumer survey and will be leading the efforts again in 2024. She is currently a member of the City of Fontana Police Chief Roundtable Advisory Board where she chairs the mental health committee. Dr. Kendra played an essential role in the development of the City of Fontana Police Department Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) and the implementation of a fulltime social worker and social work internship program. Dr. Flores-Carter is the founder of the Janet Don’t Cry Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing education, support, and resources on mental health globally.

Dr. Flores-Carter currently is a member of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Institutional Review Board. Her current research interests include examining health equity, social determinants of health factors, adverse trauma, and reproductive health disparities that impacts health outcomes for women, children, and their families. Additional interests include exploring Minority women’s attitudes towards seeking mental health services and the use of Christian mindfulness meditation for the reduction of anxiety & depression symptoms. Dr. Flores-Carter research has been published in journals and books. Her current research includes being one of the pioneering members of the NAEBOR clinic in Rialto California. A pilot clinic created to help improve maternal health outcomes for Black women.

Dr. Flores-Carter is recognized both locally, nationally, and internationally as an expert educator in women’s and child health. Dr. Flores-Carter has presented her research at various scientific conferences, served on health expert panels, and facilitated workshops on mental health & wellness, child abuse prevention, enhancing maternal mental health care in hospitals, cultural humility, justice, equity, diversity & inclusion. Dr. Flores-Carter is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Omega Delta Omega Chapter in San Bernardino County where she formerly Chaired the Women’s Health and Wellness Committee. She’s currently an active member of the San Bernardino NAACP chapter. Dr. Flores-Carter was newly appointed as co-chair of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) African Americans and the African Diaspora Track, effective January 2024 to December 2026.