MISSION STATEMENT

PALS was founded as a corporation in January 2001 with the purpose of providing exceptional vocational opportunities for adults.  We serve as a specialized work program vendored to provide community and on-site services for adults needing job skills to work.   While there are many program options available, only PALS combines a highly skilled management and direct services team focusing intently together to deliver vocational rehabilitation, working training skills and job placement for the community.  We find work opportunities for our people, regardless of the "severe reputations," secondary Mental Health Diagnoses or even physical limitations.  The fulfillment of our clients' aspirations is our aspiration!

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Otieno J. Okatch, MA

Serves as the President & Chief  Executive Officer (CEO) of PALS, Inc.  He has over 20 years of experience in the field of Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Okatch attended and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara for his undergraduate education.  He possesses a Master of Arts degree from UCLA, and a second Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psyschology from Pepperdine University.  Mr. Okatch has served as Therapist for adolescents in foster care settings and as a behavior consultant; he has managed residential and adult day programs, and he has directed PALS since it's founding.   Mr. Okatch has extensive experience conducting functional assessments, formulating behavior support plans and protocols, and providing behavior modification training for parents, and for staff in a variety of work settings.

Christina E. Buth-Okatch, BA

Ms. Buth-Okatch serves as the Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PALS, Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the California State University at Long Beach (CSULB).  Christina has over 9 years of experiences in providing services for adults and children with Developmental Disabilities in academic, residental, work-site settings.   In the past, Ms. Buth-Okatch participated in research projects with local government agencies to identify students with  low academic performance in public schools.  She implemented and monitored new learning strategies to improve students academic performances.  Also, Ms. Buth-Okatch has insight in developing effective bussiness model and organazation structures for any work environment.  She had over 15 plus years in managing small enterprise (i.e., donut shop, food market, fast food chain) to goverment agencies. She has a wide-range knowledge from implementing successful teaching strategies to managing a business.  Ms. Buth-Okatch brings a wealth of knowledge to PALS, Inc. Furthermore,  Ms. Buth is a certified trainer in Emergency Intervention Procedures" from the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), completed her Adult Residental Adminstrator Certification Program and she is a Certified Trainer in First Aid & CPR.

Tony Olmos

Tony serves as the Program Director for PALS Downey behavior management day program and he brings to PALS over a decade of experience as a Manager, a Director and an Administrator in the field of Developmental Disabilities.  He has worked in residential and in day program settings and has a broad array of of accomplishments which many clients can attest to.  PALS Downey is a community-based program focusing on work-related opportunities for our clients.  PALS Downey serves the central Los Angeles County region and surrounding communities.

Gloria Gallegos

Ms. Gallegos serves as the Program Director for PALS Eindelijk El Monte, the top rated work program in the San Gabriel/Pomona Valley.  Ms. Gallegos has over 12 years experience in the field of Developmental Disabilities; she is a Certified Trainer in Emergency Intervention Procedures from the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), and she is a Certified Trainer in First Aid & CPR.

Perla Botello, BA

Perla Botello is Program Director for PALS Endeavours and PALS Endeavours Annex-which are both licensed, site-based behavior management day programs.  Ms. Botello has a background in clinical settings, specifically psychiatric hospital environments.  She brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to her position. Perla Botello  holds  a Bachelor of Arts degree from the California State University, Irvine (CSUI). Ms. Botello has over 5 years experiences working to help youths and adults to development vocational skills starting from direct care work, and teaching with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), and leadership positions with PALS.

PALS clients participate in a host of work-related activities ranging from food-service to maintenance and clean-up duties to gift shop sorting and organizing.