We are champions for all children, promoting programs and resources informed by science that enable kids, families, and entire communities to thrive—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Our dedicated team works hard every day to prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens. Collectively, we create, interpret, and distribute innovative research on new and existing child abuse prevention solutions and develop a wide range of valuable tools for parents and caregivers. We also advocate for meaningful change at the national, state, and local levels and raise awareness of supportive programs that help children and families in communities across the country. Learn more about us below:
Mission
To prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children
Vision
We envision a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.
History
Go to the Our History page to learn more about our founder, Donna J. Stone, and her legacy, which has continued for nearly 50 years.
Our Team
In addition to learning more about our talented and dedicated team below, you can meet our Healthy Families America team members by visiting this page.
Dr. Melissa T. Merrick, PhD
President and CEO
Jennifer Jones, MSW
Chief Strategy Officer
Kathleen Strader, MSW, IMH-E®
National Director, Healthy Families America and Chief Program Officer, PCA America
Kerrie Trebonsky
Chief Financial Officer
Elizabeth Solhtalab
Chief Public Policy and Government Relations Officer
Dr. Bart Klika, PhD
Chief Research Officer
Kelly Christopher
Chief Development Officer
Gelasia Croom, MSPR
Chief Communications Officer
Anita Odom
Chief Operations Officer for Chapters
Amy Faugas
Healthy Families America Deputy Director
Karen Guskin
Managing Director of Healthy Families America Research
Juanita Arnold
Healthy Families America State Systems Development Specialist
Kathryn Harding
Senior Director of Research
Kit Patterson
Healthy Families America Senior Director of Training & TA
Kerrie Green
Healthy Families America Learning Management Director
Lynn Tiede
Healthy Families America Public Policy Deputy
Kelly Crane
State Policy Specialist
Irmes Dagba-Craven
Senior Communications Manager
Kiersten L. Sutton
Special Projects Manager
Lara Melnik
Giving Officer
Catherine Hope Coleman
Event Manager
Alina Birenyte
Controller
Catherine Murphy
Research Manager
Christi Peeples
HFA Project Manager
Yomaira Molina
Healthy Families America Operations Coordinator
Christa Austin
Healthy Families America Training & TA Specialist
Jennifer Baxter
Healthy Families America Data & Site Development Specialist
Andy Berkhout
Quality Improvement Data Analyst
Danah C. Bialoruski
Development Associate
Shameka Erby
Healthy Families America Operations Coordinator
Bailey Brewer
Operations Coordinator
Claire E. Helpingstine
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Tomeaka Jupiter
Training and Technical Assistance Team Lead
Cristina Massey
Training & TA Specialist
Leah McCallister
Healthy Families America Training & TA Specialist
Sue Pence
Finance Consultant
Lenny Rivota
Healthy Families America Training & TA Specialist
Danita Roberts
Healthy Families America Training & TA Specialist
Diana Sanchez
Healthy Families America Site Development Specialist
Laura Shoaf
Healthy Families America Master Trainer
Karly Zucker
Chapter Network Coordinator
Gretchen Brogdon
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Sarai Perez
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Abigail Riviera
Project Coordinator - Grants
Kathy C. Spencer
HFA Instructional Designer
Jade Angulo
Data Innovations Specialist
Eric Thibodeau
Research Scientist
Shayna W. Cooper
Training & TA Specialist
Our Board of Directors
Kathy Dang
VP Operations and Health Plans at Spring Health
Victoria Dudley
Treasurer
Maura Somers Dughi
Lifetime Member
SuEllen Fried
Lifetime Member
Bob Mayo
Co-Vice Chair
James Mercy, PhD
CDC Liaison to the Prevent Child Abuse America Board of Directors
Dr. Melissa T. Merrick, PhD
President and CEO
Bruce Perry, MD, PhD
Co-Vice Chair
Susan Stockton
Board Chair and National President of Kappa Delta
Matt Walch
Board Chair
Dr. Marilyn Zimmerman
Co-Principal Investigator and Sr. Director of Policy and Programs at the National Native Children’s Trauma Center (NNCTC)
Leadership Council
- Rev. Darrell Armstrong, Pastor (President/CEO), Shiloh Baptist Church
- Dr. Deborah Daro, Senior Research Fellow, Chapin Hall at University of Chicago
- Anne Cohn Donnelly, Adjunct Lecturer in Executive Education at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; former President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America
- Thomas (TJ) Fox, SVP of Industrial IoT and Automotive for Verizon Business
- Alexandra Dickson Gray, Documentary Filmmaker
- Spencer Halpin
-
Diann Newman, Vice Dean, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, FIU
- Andrè Rice, President Muller & Monroe Asset Management, LLC
- Michael Ritter, Senior Business Advisor, Accenture
- Andrea Robertson, Immediate Past Chair, Prevent Child Abuse America Board of Directors; Group Executive, MasterCard Worldwide (retired)
- Robert D. Rotondi, CTP, Managing Director; Head of Business Management and Transformation, Global Liquidity & Cash Management, HSBC US
- Michael Wozniak, President/CEO, Wozniak Industries
