All Our Kids: Early Childhood Network Coordinator / Health Educator

• Jan 2006 - Present

Community driven leader who engages stakeholders who represent a holistic and comprehensive set of services and supports focused on health, mental health, early learning and care, social services, parent supports, and basic needs. Experience with public health quality improvement.

AOK Tazewell-Peoria-Woodford (TPW) IRIS Systems & Data Manager

• Jul 2019 - Present

In FY20, the Tazewell AOK Network was awarded a AOK / University of Kansas Integrated Referral & Intake System (IRIS) pilot. IRIS is a web-based community referral system developed by the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research (KU-CPPR). IRIS is a communication tool to support best practices in social service referral and coordination among community partners. As community manager, my role has been to guide community partners through implementation as well as monitor and cultivate the IRIS community after launch. With my lead, we have grown our IRIS community from 14 to 30 organizations in just a little over a year. I continue to engage new organizations to expand our IRIS community.

Early Childhood Consultant

• Aug 2022 - Present

Early Childhood Education and Care short term grant focused on increasing access for children and families. Early Childhood Education and Care short term grant focused on increasing access for children and families.

Painting Creativity

• Dec 2021 - Present

I decided to take my love of art one step further. What started out as a hobby, a time to relax, be creative and lose myself in the colors has become my own business: pour painting. Acrylic pour painting is abstract art and vibrant colors of fluid painting. The process of pour painting is freeing and end results are beautiful. I decided to take my love of art one step further. What started out as a hobby, a time to relax, be creative and lose myself in the colors has become my own business: pour painting. Acrylic pour painting is abstract art and vibrant colors of fluid painting. The process of pour painting is freeing and end results are beautiful.

Community to Community Mentor

• Jul 2021 - Jun 2022

As part of the Community Systems Statewide Supports (CS3) project, Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), is designing and implementing a community-to-community (C2C) mentorship program. The purpose of the C2C Mentorship Program is to facilitate the building of knowledge and skills that are often unique to early childhood collaborations and community systems building. Mentors have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, as well as make a significant contribution to community systems development in Illinois

Certified Facilitator

• Nov 2013 - Jan 2022

Certified Facilitator

• Nov 2014 - Apr 2020

Consultant

• Apr 2010 - Jul 2010

Consultant through Strong Foundations on a new project called Collaboration and Systems Building. It was a state initiative providing Technical Assistance for communities throughout the State of IL on Building Collaborations. This was a short term grant program. Consultant through Strong Foundations on a new project called Collaboration and Systems Building. It was a state initiative providing Technical Assistance for communities throughout the State of IL on Building Collaborations. This was a short term grant program.

Family Service Specialist

• Aug 1996 - Jan 2006

Provided critical support and service coordination for children and families in Head Start classrooms. Ally closely with caregivers to understand their strengths, hopes, and needs; advocate for families’ well-being by connecting them to other community services as needed; enlist parent involvement in educational activities; support parents' economic stability; enhance the role of parents as the primary influence on their children's education and development. Provided critical support and service coordination for children and families in Head Start classrooms. Ally closely with caregivers to understand their strengths, hopes, and needs; advocate for families’ well-being by connecting them to other community services as needed; enlist parent involvement in educational activities; support parents' economic stability; enhance the role of parents as the primary influence on their children's education and development.