About Dr. Eli Home Care Foundation
A tribute to a life of service. A promise to carry forward the legacy of Dr. Elias M. Ferrer through compassion, action, and community.
Dr. Elias M. Ferrer
Educator · Entrepreneur · Civic Leader · August 8, 1954 – April 8, 2021
Dr. Elias M. Ferrer
Founder
Born in the Philippines, Dr. Elias Ferrer — fondly known as Daktari, Mwalimu, and Doctor Eli — dedicated his life to educating caregivers and uplifting immigrant communities in the Pacific Northwest.
In 2004, he founded Caregiver For Hire USA in Los Angeles, a full-service recruitment and placement agency specializing in elderly care. By 2007, he expanded to Seattle alongside his brother Jose, opening a DSHS-licensed trade school — the only state in the U.S. requiring 75 hours of training before caregiver employment.
For the first seven years, Eli ran the school alone — instructor, receptionist, secretary, janitor. He never turned away a student who couldn't pay. By 2013, enrollment had grown to 60+ students per month.
In September 2018, Dr. Eli partnered with Joseluis Alvarado to launch Dr. Eli Homecare Training LLC in Tacoma, WA — the seed of what became this foundation. He passed on April 8, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. His legacy lives on in every family we serve.
Founder's Message
Joseluis Alvarado
Chairman & Co-Founder
This foundation was born from more than just a vision — it came from lived experience, from love, and from a deep need to make sure no one feels forgotten in their hardest moments.
Dr. Eli Homecare Foundation is a tribute — not only to those we serve, but to those we've lost. It's a promise to carry forward their legacy through action, through heart, and through a community of people who refuse to let others suffer in silence.
We're not just building programs — we're building lifelines. We're raising up caregivers, researchers, and everyday heroes who believe, like I do, that compassion is strength and service is power.
We are empowering individuals not just here at home but from all over the globe. This work is personal to me. It's sacred. It's for the mothers and fathers, the children and elders, the families torn by crisis and the professionals ready to help them heal.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. You are not just a visitor to this mission — you are a part of it.
With love and purpose, — Joseluis Alvarado
A Message of Commitment
Daniel Oginga Okal
President
It is with profound gratitude and unwavering commitment that I welcome you to the Dr. Eli Homecare Foundation. Our foundation was born from a vision to create a compassionate safety net for individuals and families facing crisis — whether from mental health challenges, dementia, or the need for high-quality homecare.
At the heart of our mission is a bold promise: to promote stabilization, health, and independence through expert care and human connection. We are developing a comprehensive care network that includes a 24/7 crisis care center, workforce development programs, research, homecare training, and eventually a nurturing residential care facility.
This work is grounded in our core values — Purity, Peace, Love, Happiness, and Knowledge — and driven by an unshakable belief in the dignity and potential of every individual we serve. We are preparing to employ over 200 healthcare professionals who share our dedication.
Your support — through engagement, advocacy, or contribution — is more vital than ever. Together, we can transform how our communities respond to crisis.
With gratitude, — Daniel Oginga Okal
Purity · Peace · Love · Happiness · Knowledge
These five values are the foundation of everything we do — from how we greet a walk-in client to how we design our programs.
Purity
Honest, transparent care delivered with integrity — free from bias, judgment, or hidden agendas.
Compassion
Meeting every person where they are, with patience and love, no matter the depth of their struggle.
Accountability
Holding ourselves and our community to high standards of care, transparency, and measurable outcomes.
The Three-Phase Care Model
Each phase builds on the last, creating a continuum of care that addresses immediate crisis, family systems, and long-term community wellness.
Adult Stabilization
The foundation of our model. When adults are in crisis, they need immediate, accessible support. Our 24/7 clinic ensures no one falls through the cracks between the ER and recovery.
Learn moreJuvenile & Family
Stabilizing the adult is only part of the equation. When parents are equipped and children are supported, families heal. Our juvenile clinic and parent education programs address the full family system.
Learn moreCommunity Wellness
Long-term wellness requires community. Our wellness center provides the skills, resources, and connections that sustain recovery and build resilience across generations.
Learn moreLeadership Team
A dedicated group of professionals united by a shared belief: that every person deserves compassionate, expert care.
Joseluis Alvarado
Chairman of the Board & Co-Founder
This foundation was born from lived experience, from love, and from a deep need to make sure no one feels forgotten in their hardest moments. We are building lifelines — not just programs.
Daniel Oginga Okal
President
Committed to building a compassionate safety net for individuals and families facing crisis — through a 24/7 care center, workforce development, research, and homecare training.
Program Director
Youth & Family Programs
Overseeing juvenile services, parent education curriculum, and community wellness programming that supports families from crisis through long-term recovery.
Community Outreach
Partnerships & Engagement
Building bridges between the foundation and the broader Tacoma community — connecting families to resources, partners, and advocates who share our mission.
Herbz Arinaitwe
IT Personnel
Designed and built the foundation's entire digital presence — from the website and patient-facing platforms to backend systems and data infrastructure — ensuring technology serves the mission with reliability and purpose.
Clinical Supervisor
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Providing clinical oversight across all mental health programs — ensuring evidence-based, trauma-informed care is delivered consistently to every adult, youth, and family we serve.
Community Liaison
Family & Community Services
Connecting families to wraparound services, navigating systems on their behalf, and building trust between the foundation and the communities of Tacoma we are honored to serve.
Herbz Arinaitwe — IT Personnel
Herbz Arinaitwe is the architect behind the foundation's entire digital presence. From designing and building this website to managing backend systems, data infrastructure, and patient-facing platforms, Herbz ensures that technology at Dr. Eli Home Care Foundation is reliable, secure, and purpose-driven. His work bridges the gap between the foundation's mission and the digital tools that make it accessible — empowering staff, volunteers, and the communities we serve to connect with care when they need it most.
Join Our Mission
Support mental health services in Tacoma through donation, volunteering, or partnership.