Directories FSN at the Carolina Institute Staff Local Program Coordinators Advisory Board

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.

 

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.

 

Joann Haggerty, MSPH, 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.

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.

Click here for information about local FSN affiliates

Brenda Boberg Family Support Network of Eastern NC, Inc. Contact Information

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.

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.

Julie Davis Family Support Network of Region A Contact Information

Vickie Dieter Family Support Network/HOPE Contact Information

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.

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.

Christine Garton Family Support Network of the Sandhills Contact Information

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.

Kaaren Hayes Family Support Network of the High Country/Parent to Parent Contact Information

Beth Hutson Family Support Network of North Central Carolina Contact Information
Andi Ives Family Support Network of Central Carolina (formerly FSN of Greater Greensboro) Contact Information

Teresa LeRiche Family Support Network of the Crystal Coast Contact Information

Jill Martin Family Support Network of the Foothills Contact Information

Nancy Micca Family Support Network of Central Carolina (formerly FSN of Greater Greensboro) Contact Information

René Morrison Family Support Network of Wake County Contact Information

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.

Advisory Board Directory

Gary Bowen, PhD, ACSW

Dina Castro, PhD

Ron Cranford

Marian Earls, MD

Andi Ives

Gretchen L. McCoy

Greg Olley, PhD

David Sloop

Donald J. Stedman, PhD

Steve Sumerel

Kathleen Veness-Meehan, MD