CDF-Texas Staff

Luisa Saenz
Rio Grande Valley Director

Luisa Saenz, Director of the CDF Rio Grande Valley office has more than thirty years experience in community organizing, advocacy, project planning, grant writing and resource development. Among her most successful community service endeavors are the insure-a-kid children’s health insurance outreach program involving seven school districts and 110,000 students in Hidalgo County.

With the goal of helping low-income families claim their share of $56 million in Earned Income Tax Credit and other federal tax benefits, Ms. Saenz serves as co-chair of the 28 member Family Asset Building Task Force.

In 1995 Ms. Saenz founded the Coalition for Valley Families, a 100+ member service organization spanning four counties. Ms. Saenz held senior management positions with the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation where she was selected as one of the top ten state employees.

She has extensive government and non-profit accounting experience and a versatile business background including import-export company ownership, parenting and early child development training, and child-care business planning and management.