Board and Staff

BOARD OFFICERS

Debra Dowds
President

Audrey Moore
President Elect

Karen Wendland Dix
Secretary

Apryl Lynn
Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERS

Alfreda Mathis
Board Member

Torhonda Lee, Ph.D.
Board Member

Glenn Robertson
Board Member

Trishay Burton
Board Member

Shacafrica Simmons
Board Member

Cheron Davis
Board Member

Jenifer Zephyr
Board Member

Betsy Wood
Board Member

Dr. Monica Hayes
Board Member

Megan E. Deichen Hansen, MSW, PhD
Board Member

Chesha James
Board Member

Nikita M. Graham
Board Member

OUR STAFF

Chris Szorcsik

Chris Szorcsik is the Executive Director for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. She accepted the position in July of 2019 and is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Coalition, staff, programs, sustainability, and execution of its mission. Chris has worked with the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition for 3 years and has more than 15 years of experience in operations.

Before becoming the Executive Director, Chris served as the Director of Operations. She was responsible for overseeing the daily operations for the Coalition including accounting, human resources, and office administration.

She grew up in the Midwest and recently moved to Tallahassee with her husband, Joe, and children, Tyler and Alyssa. In her free time she enjoys exploring Florida, reading, cooking and crafting.

Email: Chris@CapitalAreaHealthyStart.org

Phone: (850) 488-0288, ext. 101

Chris Szorcsik
Executive Director

Christine DeFreze

Christine DeFreze is the Operations and Communications Director for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. She began working for the Coalition in September 2019 and is responsible for all Accounting aspects as well as keeping the community informed of upcoming Coalition events and services through social media and the Coalition’s website.

Prior to joining CAHSC, Christine worked with another not-for-profit organization for 6 years. She has 25 years of experience in the Accounting field and is happy to continue her work for this purpose-driven organization.

Christine moved from the Tampa Bay Area to the North Florida Area in 2005 with her two young children, who are now grown. In her time away from work she enjoys fishing, boating, running and spending time with her family.

Email: Christine@CapitalAreaHealthyStart.org

Phone: (850) 488-0288 ext. 107

Christine DeFreze
Operations and Communications Director

Sandra (“Sandy”) Glazer, MSW, LCSW

Sandra (“Sandy”) Glazer, MSW, LCSW, is the Administrative Director for the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. She has over 25 years of experience in community and public health, working the last 10 years in Maternal and Child Health. She has worked directly with pregnant women and families of infants and children providing health education, parenting education, breastfeeding education, mental health counseling, and care coordination. While she was a supervisor for Healthy Start program service providers, she was responsible for QA and QI there, staff training, client services, and designed training and curriculum aimed at reducing infant mortality and increasing positive parenting.

Sandy most recently has worked as a Consultant with the Infant, Maternal, and Reproductive Health section of the Florida Department of Health where she was involved in policy and programming design and implementation for programs with the goal of positive pregnancy outcomes. She is certified as a parenting educator, a childbirth educator, a tobacco treatment specialist, a lactation counselor, and a CPR/BLS instructor.

Sandy is an FSU graduate, and has lived in Tallahassee for 20 years. She is the proud mother of two wonderful adult children, Jasmine and Kody. Sandy states she is “Very excited be here at the Coalition, continuing in the important area of maternal and child health with goals of reducing infant mortality. Working in this field is my passion!”

Email: sandy@CapitalAreaHealthyStart.org

Phone: 850.488.0288 ext 110

Sandra Glazer, MSW, LCSW
Administrative Director

Olivia Alford

Olivia Alford is the Administrative Assistant for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. She began working for the Coalition in November of 2020 and is responsible for assisting management with high-level projects, office tasks, and data extraction.

Prior to joining the Coalition Olivia worked as an Executive Assistant managing multiple businesses under one company. She is also currently the Content Coordinator and writer for a national publishing company.

Olivia is originally from Southeast Missouri and moved to Tallahassee with her two boys in 2017. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring new adventures, reading, and writing.

Email: olivia@capitalareahealthystart.org

Phone: (850) 488-0288. Ext 100

Olivia Alford
Administrative Assistant

Danielle Brown

Danielle Brown joined the team in 2016 as the MomCare Advisor. She is now serving Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition as the Intake and Outreach Coordinator. Originally, from Dania Beach, Florida, Danielle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Thomas University and a Masters In Social Work from Florida State University. Danielle has always had a passion to help children and families. Her experience includes 7 years with Florida Department of Health in Immunizations and ending her time there working with School Health. In her spare time she really enjoys the beach, movies and especially Cruising.

Email: Danielle@CapitalAreaHealthyStart.org

Phone: 850.488.0288 ext 109

Danielle W. Brown , MSW
Outreach & Intake Coordinator

Jasmine Thornton

Jasmine Thornton joined the team in January 2021 as the FIMR Program Coordinator & Outreach Specialist. She works with the community and providers to address the infant mortality rate and to connect families to services that will help them to have an optimal pregnancy outcome.

Jasmine is from Jacksonville, FL and she came to Tallahassee, FL where she attended Florida State University and earned a degree in Family and Child Sciences. Jasmine has experience working in child welfare, college campus ministry, and leading the women’s ministry at her church. In her free time, she enjoys making art, reading, being in nature, dancing, singing, and listening to music.

Email: Jasmine@CapitalAreaHealthyStart.org

Phone: 850-488-0288 ext. 102

Jasmine Thornton
FIMR Program Coordinator & Outreach Specialist

Vanessa Wynn

Vanessa Wynn is the Intake Specialist for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. She grew up in Marianna, Florida and knew at a young age that children and social work was her calling. She holds and Elementary Education A.A. degree and a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree from Florida State University. Vanessa has over 6 years of experience working closely with children and is extremely excited about this opportunity to work with pregnant woman, offering support and changing the lives of the people she encounters.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, traveling, making new memories, and continuing God’s will.

Vanessa Wynn, BSW
Intake Specialist

Faye Gardner

Faye Gardner joined the team in January 2016 as the FIMR Program Coordinator and Intake Specialist having worked in child welfare for almost 25 years. Faye spent over 15 years with the Child Protection Team providing specialized services to abused and neglected children and their families. She worked in abuse prevention for over 5 years with Brehon Family Services, providing in-home services to at-risk families in three rural counties in Northwest Florida, and was the director of a subsidized childcare on the south side of Tallahassee for over 2 years.

Faye moved to Tallahassee in 1976 to attend Florida State University where she received a degree in Child Development. With the exception of her years with Brehon, when she returned to the area she grew up in to provide needed services, she has made Tallahassee her home.

She lives with her two rescue dogs, Chica and Alexa. Faye enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, and Florida State football, and of course, snuggling with her “babies.”

Email: Faye@CapitalAreaHealthyStart.org

Phone: 850.488.0288 ext 104

Faye Gardner
Intake Specialist

CARE COORDINATORS

Ludy Willis

Bio to come

Ludy Willis
Program Supervisor – Leon

Brooke Harville

Coming soon.

Brooke Harville
Program Assistant Supervisor – Leon

Kerry-Ann L. Rapheal

Kerry-Ann L. Rapheal BS, ICCE, CLC, is the Program Manager/ Volunteer Coordinator for the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition’s Sister Friend Tallahassee Birthing Project. In her current role, she is responsible for implementing, coordinating, and day-to-day management of the birthing project. She has over ten years of facilitation and management experience.

Kerry-Ann has recently worked as the Co-Chair of the Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition and currently serves as a Board Member of the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition. She also functions in a management role for Florida’s Department of Children and Families, where she oversees workforce development initiatives designed to aid in the protection of the most vulnerable members of our community. She is a certified childbirth education and certified lactation counselor and delights in teaching the families of our surrounding areas.

Kerry-Ann is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College and has lived in Tallahassee for seven years. She is a wife to Benjamin and mother to Nicholas, Jaakan, and Mary. Kerry-Ann states, “I’m called to serve,” and looks forward to partnering with Capital Area Healthy Start and the community in meeting our maternal health and child health goals.

Email: Kerry-ann@capitalareahealthystart.org

Kerry-Ann L. Rapheal

Program Manager/Volunteer Coordinator

Clarissa Wilson

Bio to come.

Clarissa Wilson
Care Coordinator – Leon

CaShanda Coleman

Coming soon.

CaShanda Coleman
Care Coordinator-Leon

Darian Appleton

Darian Appleton
Care Coordinator – Leon

Erika Jefferson

Erika Jefferson
Care Coordinator – Leon

Mary Westbrook

Coming soon.

Mary Westbrook
Program Supervisor – Wakulla

Amelia Morse

Coming soon.

Amelia Morse
Care Coordinator – Wakulla

Grace Keith

Coming soon.

Board and Staff

Debra Dowds President

Audrey Moore President Elect

Karen Wendland Dix Secretary

Apryl Lynn Treasurer

Alfreda Mathis Board Member

Torhonda Lee, Ph.D. Board Member

Glenn Robertson Board Member

Trishay Burton Board Member

Shacafrica Simmons Board Member

Cheron Davis Board Member

Jenifer Zephyr Board Member

Betsy Wood Board Member

Dr. Monica Hayes Board Member

Megan E. Deichen Hansen, MSW, PhD Board Member

Chesha James Board Member

Nikita M. Graham Board Member

Chris Szorcsik

Chris Szorcsik Executive Director

Christine DeFreze

Christine DeFreze Operations and Communications Director

Sandra (“Sandy”) Glazer, MSW, LCSW

Sandra Glazer, MSW, LCSW Administrative Director

Olivia Alford

Olivia Alford Administrative Assistant

Danielle Brown

Danielle W. Brown , MSW Outreach & Intake Coordinator

Jasmine Thornton

Jasmine Thornton FIMR Program Coordinator & Outreach Specialist

Vanessa Wynn

Vanessa Wynn, BSW Intake Specialist

Faye Gardner

Faye Gardner Intake Specialist

Ludy Willis

Ludy Willis Program Supervisor – Leon

Brooke Harville

Brooke Harville Program Assistant Supervisor – Leon

Kerry-Ann L. Rapheal

Kerry-Ann L. Rapheal

Program Manager/Volunteer Coordinator

Clarissa Wilson

Clarissa Wilson Care Coordinator – Leon

CaShanda Coleman

CaShanda Coleman Care Coordinator-Leon

Darian Appleton

Darian Appleton Care Coordinator – Leon

Erika Jefferson

Erika Jefferson Care Coordinator – Leon

Mary Westbrook

Mary Westbrook Program Supervisor – Wakulla

Amelia Morse

Amelia Morse Care Coordinator – Wakulla

Grace Keith

Grace Keith Health Educator – Wakulla

Debra Dowds
President

Audrey Moore
President Elect

Karen Wendland Dix
Secretary

Apryl Lynn
Treasurer

Alfreda Mathis
Board Member

Torhonda Lee, Ph.D.
Board Member

Glenn Robertson
Board Member

Trishay Burton
Board Member

Shacafrica Simmons
Board Member

Cheron Davis
Board Member

Jenifer Zephyr
Board Member

Betsy Wood
Board Member

Dr. Monica Hayes
Board Member

Megan E. Deichen Hansen, MSW, PhD
Board Member

Chesha James
Board Member

Nikita M. Graham
Board Member

Chris Szorcsik
Executive Director

Christine DeFreze
Operations and Communications Director

Sandra Glazer, MSW, LCSW
Administrative Director

Olivia Alford
Administrative Assistant

Danielle W. Brown , MSW
Outreach & Intake Coordinator

Jasmine Thornton
FIMR Program Coordinator & Outreach Specialist

Vanessa Wynn, BSW
Intake Specialist

Faye Gardner
Intake Specialist

Ludy Willis
Program Supervisor – Leon

Brooke Harville
Program Assistant Supervisor – Leon

Clarissa Wilson
Care Coordinator – Leon

CaShanda Coleman
Care Coordinator-Leon

Darian Appleton
Care Coordinator – Leon

Erika Jefferson
Care Coordinator – Leon

Mary Westbrook
Program Supervisor – Wakulla

Amelia Morse
Care Coordinator – Wakulla

Grace Keith
Health Educator – Wakulla