SFI Workgroups
Building Resiliency
This workgroup advises and supports the initiative to help build the capacity of early childhood centers in SFI Learning Networks and across the state to effectively address mental health issues in children and adults, to mitigate the impact of trauma on young children, and to promote children’s social and emotional well-being.
Its chairs are the co-chairs of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership’s Early Childhood Committee and one of its main roles is to integrate the building resiliency efforts of Strengthening Families Illinois, DCFS, and the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership. The Building Resiliency Workgroup has been the initiative’s primary research and development group having made recommendations on adding the 6th Protective Factor on Healthy Parent Child Relationships and supporting the development of the Understanding Trauma and Children’s Exposure to Violence curriculum.
Co-Chairs:
Karen Freel, Ounce of Prevention Fund
Gaylord Gieseke, Voices for Illinois Children
Members:
Mary Bergen, Caregiver Connections
Adjoa Denise Blalock, Illinois Department of Human Services
Sharonda Brown, Illinois State Board of Education
Tina Copeland, University of Illinois Chicago Child and Family Development Center
Courtney Clarke, Children’s Home + Aid
Reshma Desai, Illinois Violence Prevention Authority
Jennifer Gabrenya, Family Shelter Service
Jamie Germain, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Laura Hansen, Illinois Action for Children
Roselyn Harris, Illinois Department of Human Services
Margarita Hernandez, Pillars
Mark Holzberg, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Peggy Jones, Caregiver Connections
Susan Kaplan, Illinois Association for Infant Mental health
Teresa Kelly, Children’s Home + Aid
Casandra Kisiel, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Ashleigh Kirk, Voices for Illinois Children
Brenda Koester, University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign
Kimberly Mann, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Dawn Melchiorre, Voices for Illinois Children
John Roope, Chaddock Child and Family Center / Caregiver Connections
Margie Perzynski, Midwest Learning Center for Family Support, Family Focus, Inc.
Barbara Shaw, Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership
Cynthia Stringfellow, Midwest Learning Center for Family Support, Family Focus, Inc.
Anne Studzinski, Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition
Marlita White, Chicago Safe Start Initiative / Department of Public Health
Monico Whittington-Eskridge, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
SFI Staff:
Kathy Goetz Wolf, Project Director
Lina Cramer, Sr. Consultant
Letechia Holmes, Parent Engagement Manager
Celina Orozco, Bilingual Lead Trainer
Guy Schingoethe, Assistant Project Director
Evaluation
This workgroup is charged with developing and evaluation framework and tools for both the initiative overall and the SFI Learning Networks with the goal of documenting the impact of the Strengthening Families approach on childcare centers, child welfare agency staff, and families.
Chair:
Katrina Brewsaugh, Kids Hope United
Members:
Angela Barber, AB Elevation / Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Foster Parent Advisory Council
Bonnie Becker, Kids Hope United
Debbie Bretag, Illinois Center for Violence Prevention
Karen Budd, DePaul University, Department of Psychology
Stephen Budde, Juvenile Protective Association
Karen Freel, Ounce of Prevention Fund
Tammy Fuller, University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign
Mark Holzberg, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Joanne Kelly, Illinois Department of Human Services
Kim Kerbat, Illinois Action for Children
Xochitl Martirosyan, Illinois Department of Human Services
Kareen Nunnally, Kids Hope United
Ancilla Parducci, University of Illinois Extension
Susan Purdie, Children’s Home + Aid
Michelle Rosenberg, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Al Zwilling, University of Illinois Extension
SFI Staff:
Kathy Goetz Wolf, Project Director
Jamilah Jor’dan, Sr. Consultant
Lina Cramer, Sr. Consultant
Christine McGrath, Sr. Consultant
Guy Schingoethe, Assistant Project Director
Professional Development and Training Workgroup
The Professional Development Workgroup advises and supports the initiative in developing high quality professional development topics that support the implementation of Strengthening Families and ensuring that SFI training opportunities are integrated and available through the professional development systems in place throughout Illinois that reach SFI’s primary audiences (early childhood professionals, child welfare staff, and parents). The group initially identified training topics that would support implementation in early childhood settings and have been a resource as training was developed through the Midwest Learning Center for Family Support. They were also integral in developing a quality assurance system for SFI training in Illinois. Click here for more information on SFI training.
Co-Chairs:
Monique Draper, Illinois Action for Children
Beth Knight, Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)
Members:
Kathleen Cleary, Child Care Nurse Consultant
Gail Conway, Chicago Metro Association for The Education of Young Children
Patti Faughn, University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign
Lisa Fisher, StarNet
Sylvester Harris, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Kay Henderson, Illinois State Board of Education
Margarita Hernandez, Pillars
Carisa Hurley, Children’s Home + Aid
Leslie Janes, Carole Robertson Center For Learning
Joanne Kelly, Illinois Department of Human Services
Jan Maruna, Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)
Denise McCaffrey, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois
Brian Michalski, Illinois Resource CenterI, Early Childhood Professional Development
The Center: Resources for Teaching and Learning
Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, Illinois Head Start Association
Gail Nelson, Carole Robertson Center for Learning
Margie Perzynski, Midwest learning Center for Family Support
John Roope, Caregiver Connections
Cynthia Stringfellow, Midwest Learning Center for Family Support, Family Focus, Inc.
Joyce Weiner, Ounce of Prevention Fund
SFI Staff:
Kathy Goetz Wolf, Project Director
Jamilah R. Jor’dan, Sr. Consultant
Lina Cramer, Sr. Consultant
Guy Schingoethe, Assistant Project Director