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As we continue to take a look at the many heroes who stepped up during 2020, we need to recognize Erica Cerda, LICSW, LADC, RiverView Recovery Center (RRC), for her hard work in getting clients the help they need through new ways, including Zoom. For her extra efforts, the Rewards and Recognition QIT recently named Erica the Employee of the Month for May 2020.

Erica has been an addiction counselor at RRC for the past four years. She will soon take on the role of co-occurring disorder treatment counselor, which means she will treat people who have both substance use and mental health disorders. The Co-occurring Disorder Treatment Program is new at RRC and Erica said she is excited to pave the way and oversee the new program. She was also recently offered and accepted the Clinical Supervisor position for RRC. In this role, she will offer supervision to both addiction counselors and social workers.

Born in England, but raised in Grand Forks, Erica has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of North Dakota. She and her family live in Emerado, ND. Erica is married to Javier and is mom to daughter Juliana (17) and son Marco (7). She’s also “mom’’ to many other children as she and Javier are foster parents. In her free time, Erica enjoys camping, traveling, and working out at HudSun Wellness in Grand Forks where she does her workouts in a sauna, also known as HotWorx workouts.

Erica is thankful for the employee of the month recognition and her role at RRC. “I really enjoy working at RiverView Recovery. I’m passionate about my job.’’

The following is a portion of the nomination written in Erica’s honor by Curtis Hamre, director of RiverView Recovery Center: “We have moved from a very personal group and individual setting to a very impersonal, all Zoom setting for groups and individual sessions. Part of what we have lost is the ability to connect our patients with other resources in the area. Erica has taken it upon herself to find resources that are willing to participate on Zoom and bring their special knowledge to our patients...Erica shows the kind of leadership and initiative that is needed as we continue to look for ways to engage our patients in the treatment process and as we work through this pandemic.

“Erica has taken the initiative to seek specialized help to engage clients in the Zoom treatment experience while working from home and being concerned about her family members through the COVID-19 pandemic.’’