Charmaine Braziel-Brent, MSW, is known for her fierce advocacy and passion for fighting for our most vulnerable populations. In 2019, Charmaine joined Empowered Aging after spending over 15 years working within Georgia’s Child Welfare Agency in various capacities serving abused, at-risk children and families. She also held a leadership position as a Continuous Quality Improvement Specialist, where she played an integral role in training, coaching, mentoring, and advocating on all levels of the agency.
In her first role with Empowered Aging, as Lead Regional Supervisor for our Long-Term Care Ombudsman program in Alameda County – the 7th largest county in California – Charmaine quickly demonstrated her operational strengths in managing day-to-day activities while taking the lead in executing stronger facility oversight and investigational skills to combat abuse and neglect within the county’s long-term care facilities.
In 2021, just shy of three years with Empowered Aging, Charmaine was promoted to Ombudsman Program Coordinator for Alameda County, charged with overall program development and management and the supervision of program staff and volunteers. In 2023, Charmaine was promoted once again to Director of Programs and Services. In this role, she oversees the coordination and administration of all aspects of the Empowered Aging programs, including planning, organizing, staffing, leading program activities, tracking data, and managing program evaluation efforts, among other leadership and team management responsibilities.
“I am very passionate about advocating for the rights of vulnerable individuals and those deemed voiceless. All older adults and adults with disability matter. They are a vital part of our society and deserve the dignity, respect, and quality of life they deem fit for their individual needs as they age.”
Charmaine received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Orleans in Counseling Services and a master’s degree from Clark Atlanta University in Clinical Social Work. Outside of the role of an Ombudsman, Charmaine enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new places within Northern California.
