Family
Support Network at the Carolina Institute
Staff
Directory |
Irene Nathan Zipper, MSW, PhD
Director
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-6395
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Irene
Nathan Zipper is Director of the Family Support Network at the Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities. She is also Secretary of Parent-to-Parent
USA, Clinical Professor in the School of Social Work, and a fellow with
the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She
is involved in teaching, training, and research in the area of family
support, with a particular focus on families whose children are at risk
or have disabilities, and on the integration of services. She has worked
with children and families in a variety of settings, including Head
Start, public schools, public and private mental health agencies, and
residential treatment settings.
Dick Clark
IT
Consultant
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-794-8524
fax 919-966-2916
Email
More info coming soon!
Laura Curtis, MAT, MEd
Education & Outreach
Coordinator
Family Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-0334
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Laura
coordinates the Educational and Outreach activities of Family Support
Network including the NC Early
Intervention Mentor Program, Early
Connections, University-based Educational Programs, and Public Awareness/Publicity
activities. Laura has a MAT in Education from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MEd in Special Education from North Carolina
Central University. She taught a high school class for students with
autism for 5 years and has been with Family Support Network since September
1999.
Lorraine Dorsett
Receptionist/Office Assistant
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-2841
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Lorraine is responsible for all incoming calls
to the Family Support Network and the Central Directory of Resouces.
She provides clerical support for all staff members. Lorraine joined
Family Support Network in October 2006 through a University of North
Carolina Internship Program. She has been employed with the University
of North Carolina at Chapel HIl for fifteen years.
Eliza DuBose, MPH
Resource Specialist
Central
Directory of Resources
Family Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-2841
919-966-0332
800-852-0042
fax 919-966-2916
Email
In
coordination with the CDR team, Eliza contributes to the daily operations
and ongoing development of the Central
Directory of Resources. Eliza was raised in Chapel Hill, and returned
to complete the Master’s program in Health Behavior/Health Education
at the UNC School of Public Health. She is a Certified Child Care Consultant,
and worked for ten years coordinating health and special needs services
in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. She has been with Family
Support Network since February 2006, and is the parent of a child with
Sensory Integration needs.
Fern Gardner
Resource Specialist
Central
Directory of Resources
Family Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-2841
919-966-9293
800-852-0042
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Fern (Fernanda) answers and responds to both English
and Spanish calls to the Central Directory
of Resources (CDR) by assessing needs and providing information
and support. She updates the CDR by researching, coding, and entering
data; and promotes the CDR by staffing the exhibit at conferences and
workshops. In addition, she develops promotional materials in Spanish.
Fern has her NC Continuing Teacher's License in Cross-Categorical Special
Education and Elementary Education. She has taught special, regular
and ESL classes in both the United States and Mexico. She has been with
Family Support Network since November 1999.
Anne Gildea, MEd
Family Support Specialist
Family Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-2841
fax 919-966-2916
Email
As Family
Support Specialist, Anne provides ongoing support to local family support
programs. Anne has a Master of Science in Special Education and has
taught at the elementary, secondary and university level. Anne is a
former local family support program coordinator and is the parent of
three children, one of whom was born with multiple disabilities and
is now deceased.
Joann Haggerty, MPH, MSW
Research & Evaluation
Coordinator
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-2841
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Joann
serves as Research and Evaluation Coordinator coordinating research
efforts, developing evaluation methods and providing analysis of process
and outcomes of Family Support Network projects. Joann has a Masters
in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from UNC and a Masters
in Social Work from the University of Maryland. Her prior professional
activities include providing research and data analysis as well as clinical
social work and family therapy. In her most recent position, Joann served
as Research and Data Director at the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute
developing and promoting web and print resource materials on indicators
of well-being for North Carolina children. She has also been a clinical
social worker with children and adolescents with special needs and their
families at UNC Hospital in the Hemophilia and Infectious Disease Clinics,
at Umstead State Hospital and at Prospect Hill Community Health Clinic.
Joann has two daughters and one granddaughter. She has enjoyed being
with Family Support Network since September 2005.
Sandra Hall
IT Manager
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-0325
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Sandy
coordinates efforts extending IT services to the local programs that
include customized databases for each local program integrated with
the CDR database at the University Office. She serves as the database designer
and programmer. She received her BS in Mathematical Sciences (Computer
Science option) with a second major in Philosophy from the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in August of 2001. She has been with
Family Support Network since November of 2001.
Barbara Leach
Family Support Specialist
OneStop for Strengthening Families Project
Family Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-0396
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Barbara
is the Coordinator of the OneStop
for Strengthening Families
Project.
She has over 15 years of experience advocating for children with serious
emotional/behavioral disorders and/or mental illnesses and their families.
She has made numerous presentations at state and national conferences
on working with families as partners and family perspective. She has
conducted workshops for families and service providers across the state
on family-centered practice. Barbara serves on numerous boards and committees
that promote systems change. She is the parent of a daughter who experienced
serious emotional challenges as a child.
Karen Le Clair
Family Support Specialist
Supporting
Families Project
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-0330
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Karen administers and coordinates the Supporting Families
Project for Family Support Network. She has a BFA in Fine Arts from
John F. Kennedy University in California. Karen is the creator of the
"Bears for the Kids" program at the Cleft
Palate Foundation. She has been with Family Support since August
1996.
Tamara Norris, MSSW, MPA
Information & Referral
Coordinator
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-0328
800-852-0042
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Tamara Norris
is the Information and Referral Coordinator for Family Support Network,
overseeing the Central Directory of
Resources and other activities relating to the informational needs
of families and service providers. Tamara has been in Chapel Hill since
1992, working in family and children's services program development
and administration with The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
School of Social Work and local not-for-profit agencies. In these roles
she contributed to statewide child welfare reform efforts through her
work with the “Families for Kids” initiative, and to the development
of services for Latino families and children in Orange County. Tamara
has Master of Science of Social Work and Master of Public Administration
degrees from Columbia University. She joined Family Support Network
in September 2005.
Sally Clark Sloop, MUA, CAS
Statewide Family Support
Coordinator
Family Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-0323
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Sally serves as Statewide Family Support Coordinator
and provides ongoing support to Family Support Network affiliated local
programs by helping to assess and facilitate training needs. Her role
is to help foster communication and information sharing with the programs
and the University Office. She is the CDSA liaison for the local programs
and coordinates efforts to support newly developing or expanding programs.
Sally has worked as an inclusion specialist for Partnerships for Inclusion
at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, and previously at
Family Support Network from 1995-1999. She returns from North Carolina’s
Smart Start program where she was the Family Support Program Coordinator.
Sally has been teaching at North Carolina Central University and Meredith
College. Sally has a BS in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College
and graduate degrees from Boston University and Harvard Graduate School
of Education. She has 25 years of teaching experience and enjoys training
and team-building opportunities. Sally and her husband David have parented
five children. Their youngest was diagnosed with autism at age 2 ½
and is now on the threshold of becoming an independent young adult.
Bonnie Wilson
Business Officer
Family
Support Network
Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB#
7340
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7340
919-966-8144
fax 919-966-2916
Email
Bonnie is FSN
Coordinator and Business Manager for Family Support Network. She
is responsible for day-to-day fiscal matters, and is involved in all
aspects of contract and grant administration. She is also the department's
Human Resources facilitator, and a resource to FSN local affiliated
programs. Bonnie joined Family Support Network in September 2006.
| Local
Program Coordinator Directory |
Click
here for information about local FSN affiliates
Roxann
Colwell
Family Support Network of Western NC
Contact
Information
Roxann
serves as the Director of the Family Support Network of Western
North Carolina and the Family Resource Center at Mission Children's
Hospital. She has been an active parent participant in the field
of developmental disabilities for over 20 years. She is a trained
community mediator, has worked as the Executive Director for
The Arc of Buncombe Co. and as a consultant to the Developmental
Disabilities Section of DHHS. Roxann has a Bachelors of Science
in Zoology from the University of Florida and a Masters in Social
Work from UNC-Chapel Hill. She is the mother of two adult children
and her young adult daughter has Down Syndrome. She has been
with FSN/WNC since it's inception in 1996.
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Carol
Cranford
Family Support Network of Southern Piedmont
Contact
Information
Carol
serves as Program Coordinator of Family Support Network of Southern
Piedmont. She and her husband Ron are parents of two adult children
and her son has Angelman Syndrome, a genetic disorder. Carol
has completed training through the NC Family Resource Coalition
and is certified in Family Support. She has worked as program
coordinator of FSN-SP for a total of 5 years.
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Brenda
Dunford
Family Support Network of Northeastern NC
Contact
Information
Brenda
is the local program coordinator for Camden, Currituck, Chowan,
Perquimans, Pasquotank, Gates, and Hertford counties. Brenda
has eighteen years experience teaching expectional children
and is the mother of a child with special needs. She serves
as Professional Co-Chair of the Elizabeth City RICC. Brenda
conducts support groups for families of children with special
needs and provides parents with information dealing with specific
needs. She has
been with FSN-NE since it's inception in 2004.
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Sheryl
Ewing
Family Support Network of Southeastern NC, Inc.
Contant
Information
Sheryl
has been Executive Director with FSN Southeastern since 1999
and has over 25 years experience directing non-profit organizations
working with adults and children with special needs. Sheryl
holds a BFA from Bowling Green State University, graduate hours
in special education and public administration from Ohio State
University and Ohio University. She has earned a certificate
in Non-Profit Management from Duke University and completed
certification in School Mental Health. In 2000, she completed
training as a Mediator for North Carolina Early Intervention.
She began her career in developmental disabilities as a full
time tutor in Learning Disabilities and Behavioral Disorders.
Sheryl and her husband Mark have five children between them
(now all adults) and have fostered eight children. Sheryl had
a NICU experience with her first born child.
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Chris
Gentry
Family Support Network of Greater Forsyth
(formerly
Parents Together)
Contact Information
Chris
serves as the Director of Family Support Network of Greater
Forsyth. Chris has over 20 years experience serving families
of young children with a focus on quality early childhood experiences
and environments. She has worked in public and private school
settings, as well as with NC's Smart Start Initiative providing
technical assistance and training to child care providers and
parents. Her educational background includes a Bachelor degree
in Social Work from UNC-Greensboro, training in Pastoral Care
and Hospital Chaplaincy from Wake Forest University Baptist
Medical Center, and she recently completed the Duke University
Certificate Program for non-profit management. Chris has worked
as program coordinator of FSN-GF since 2004.
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Andi
Ives
Family Support Network of Central Carolina
(formerly FSN of Greater Greensboro)
Contact
Information
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Nancy
Micca
Family Support Network of Central Carolina
(formerly FSN of Greater Greensboro)
Contact
Information
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Sandra
Ringelstein
Family Support Network of Mecklenburg County
Contact
Information
Sandra
serves as the Director of the Family Support Network of Mecklenburg
County, Inc. Sandra is the parent of a young child
with special needs and has actively advocated for her child
since his birth. Since 2002, Sandra has been supporting families
of children with special needs through parent-to-parent support,
online communities and support groups. In June 2007 she
received the 2007 Citizen Volunteer Award from the North Carolina
Council of Community Programs. Sandra was recognized for
her volunteer work to improve services for North Carolinians
with mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse
needs. She has been with the Mecklenburg County program since
2006.
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Duncan
Munn, MEd, Chair
Lynn
W. Blanchard, MPH, PhD
Gary
Bowen, PhD, ACSW
Dina
Castro, PhD
Ron
Cranford
Marian
Earls, MD
Bernard
J. Hyman, MSSW, ACSW
Andi
Ives
Gretchen
L. McCoy
Greg
Olley, PhD
David
Sloop
Donald
J. Stedman, PhD
Steve
Sumerel
Kathleen
Veness-Meehan, MD
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