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Michael Huesca

Michael Huesca

Parent Leader, Safe Babies

Michael Huesca is a Parent Leader for Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE.

Michael Huesca is a proud son, partner, and father whose leadership is deeply rooted in his Mexican Indigenous culture and values. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer for Paternal Opportunities Programs & Services (POPS), an organization whose mission is to champion the critical role of fathers/positive male role models by providing access to resources, education, and community support. While aiming to eliminate barriers, honor culture, promote healthy family dynamics, advocate father-inclusive policies and inspire fathers to strengthen their relationships with their children and families. Michael has made significant contributions to child welfare reform, as a dedicated national parent leader with the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance for nearly a decade. He is an executive member of the national child welfare reform initiative “Thriving Families Safer Children” and a panelist for the California State Citizen Review Panel. In 2021, he led the historic recovery of tribal land, “Mataguay,” during his two­ year term as Tribal Administrator for the federally recognized Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel.
Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the national “Parents as Teachers” and is the Vice chair of the ICWA Law Center Board of Directors.

Michael is a nationally recognized subject matter expert in the areas of child welfare, father and family engagement, domestic violence, and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). A visionary and strategic thinker, he excels in leveraging partnerships across community, public, private, executive, judicial, and legislative sectors. His work champions the inclusion of individuals with lived experience as critical to transforming harmful systems into ones that foster family well-being and achieve positive outcomes for children, youth, and families nationwide.