Ashley Salemi Tarvis, LCSW | Caring for Cowboys & Cowgirls Foundation™

Co-Founder & Founding Board Member | Caring for Cowboys & Cowgirls Foundation™

Director of Operations, Eagala | Certified Eagala Mental Health Professional

Biography

Ashley Salemi Tarvis is a licensed clinical social worker, nonprofit leader, and equine-assisted professional with experience spanning behavioral health, community development, nonprofit operations, and equine-assisted services.

Throughout her career, Ashley has worked at the intersection of people, organizations, and communities, helping mission-driven organizations build the systems and partnerships needed to translate their purpose into meaningful community impact. Her background encompasses nonprofit executive leadership, strategic planning, supportive housing development, collaborative community initiatives, and systems-level work supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Today, as Director of Operations for Eagala and a Certified Eagala Mental Health Professional, Ashley brings that same systems-oriented perspective to the equine-assisted services field, supporting an international professional community while maintaining a direct connection to the practice and transformative impact of equine-assisted work.

As a founding board member of Caring for Cowboys & Cowgirls, Ashley brings together her expertise in nonprofit leadership, clinical social work, community development, and equine-assisted practice. She is deeply committed to establishing strong community partnerships, expanding access to mental health services for rural and ranching families, and creating organizational structures that allow CFCC’s subsidized programs to grow responsibly and sustainably across North America.

“Access to care only matters if the care itself is sound. When we combine high ethical standards with genuine cultural understanding of rural and western life, asking for support becomes a form of strength.”

— Ashley Salemi Tarvis, LCSW

Core Areas of Focus & Foundation Leadership

Clinical Ethics & Dual-Professional Standards: Upholding rigorous trauma-informed safety, equine welfare, and ethical benchmarks across all CFCC-subsidized Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) sessions, ensuring clients work with a credentialed mental health professional alongside a certified equine specialist.

Systems-Level Community Development: Structuring sustainable operational partnerships across rural health networks, rodeo associations, ranching hubs, and Indigenous communities.

Breaking Rural Access Barriers: Eliminating geographic and financial hurdles so cowboys, cowgirls, rural youth, and agricultural families can access culturally aligned care without stigma.

Practitioner Scholarships & Capacity: Expanding the rural mental health workforce through targeted practitioner training scholarships and professional mentorship.

Credentials & Connect

Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) • EAGALA Certified Mental Health Professional (MH)

Professional Profile: Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn

Direct Contact: 401-649-1632