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.
Melissa T. Merrick, PhD
President and CEO
Sue Anderson
Executive Assistant to President & CEO
Juanita Arnold
Healthy Families America State Systems Development Specialist
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
Alina Birenyte
Controller
John F. Bona
Staff Accountant
Bailey Brewer
Operations Coordinator
Kelly Christopher
Chief Development Officer
Cathy Coleman Smith
Event Manager
Shayna W. Cooper
Training & TA Specialist
Kathryn Cortright
Senior Director of Research
Kelly Crane
State Policy Specialist
Gelasia Croom
Chief Communications Officer
Irmes Dagba-Craven
Senior Communications Manager
Shameka Erby
Healthy Families America Operations Coordinator
Amy Faugas
Healthy Families America Deputy Director
Kerrie Green
Healthy Families America Learning Management Director
Karen Guskin
Managing Director of Healthy Families America Research
Claire E. Helpingstine
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Jennifer Jones
Chief Strategy Officer
Tomeaka Jupiter
Training and Technical Assistance Team Lead
Bart Klika
Chief Research Officer
Cristina Massey
Training & TA Specialist
Leah McCallister
Healthy Families America Training & TA Specialist
Lara Melnik
Giving Officer
Yomaira Molina
Healthy Families America Operations Coordinator
Catherine Murphy
Research Manager
Anita Odom
Chief Operations Officer for Chapters
Kit Patterson
Healthy Families America Senior Director of Training & TA
Christi Peeples
HFA Project Manager
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
Elizabeth Solhtalab
Chief Public Policy and Government Relations Officer
Kathy C. Spencer
HFA Instructional Designer
Kathleen Strader
Healthy Families America National Director
Kiersten L. Sutton
Special Projects Manager
Eric Thibodeau
Research Scientist
Lynn Tiede
Healthy Families America Public Policy Deputy
Kerrie Trebonsky
Chief Financial Officer
Karly Zucker
Chapter Network Coordinator
Our Board of Directors
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
Melissa T. Merrick, PhD
President and CEO
Bruce Perry, MD, PhD
Co-Vice Chair
Matt Walch
Board Chair
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
- Spencer Halpin
- Andrè Rice, President Muller & Monroe Asset Management, LLC
- 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
