BOARD OFFICERS
Torhonda Lee, Ph.D.
Karen Wendland Dix
Secretary
BOARD MEMBERS
Alfreda Mathis
Board Member
Audrey Moore
Board Member
Glenn Robertson
Board Member
Debra Dowds
Board Member
Shacafrica Simmons
Board Member
April Lynn, MBA, Ph.D.
Board Member
Fran T. Close, Ph.D.
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
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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
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Christine DeFreze
Operations and Communications Director
Sandra (“Sandy”) Glazer, MSW, LCSW
Sandra (“Sandy”) Glazer, MSW, LCSW, is the Executive Director for the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. She has over 25 years 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
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Sandra Glazer, MSW, LCSW
Administrative Director
Anya Monroe
Anya Monroe joined CAHSC as the FIMR Program Coordinator and Outreach Specialist in August 2019. She has over 12 years of experience with public and community health, as well as 6 years in maternal health. Anya understands maternal and child health programs, home visiting programs, social service issues, community action programs, and experience with serving low-income communities.
She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration from Florida A&M University in 2004. During her matriculation, she enrolled in a Public Health class. The focus was the issue of infant mortality among African American women in the United States. Anya was so intrigued and realized that reducing the incidence of infant mortality was her calling. She began working in that field as a Prenatal Case Manager at a local community health center. She went on to graduate school and received her Masters’ of Public Health (MPH) specializing in Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2016.
Anya is an Army Brat but considers Miami, Florida, home. She is the proud mother of one son, who is currently enrolled at her Alma Mater. Anya enjoys traveling, shopping, good food, and pampering herself in her spare time. She is an avid animal lover and has 2 rescue cats. She hopes to bring more awareness and reduce infant mortality in her community.
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Anya Monroe, MPH
FIMR Program Coordinator & Outreach Specialist
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
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Danielle W. Brown , MSW
Outreach & Intake Coordinator
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.
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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
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Faye Gardner
Intake Specialist
CARE COORDINATORS
Kyra Adams, MSW
Kyra Adams, MSW is the Program Supervisor of the Leon County Healthy Start Program. She previously worked as the program manager at the Leon County Healthy Start before transitioning to Program Supervisor with the Coalition.
In 2007, while completing her bachelor’s degree in social work, Kyra interned with Healthy Start. There were no available positions once her internship ended, so she began working for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) as an Abuse Counselor. While working at DCF, Kyra returned to school to complete her master’s degree in social work at Florida State University.
She found her way back to Healthy Start and began working there summer 2012, one day before graduating with her MSW. Kyra worked as a Care Coordinator for two years before leaving to expand her experience in social work. However, her true passion and target population has always been women and children, so she returned to Healthy Start July 2015 and has been with the agency ever since.
She is the proud mom of two boys, Kyran and Carson, and in her spare time she enjoys quality self-care.
Email: Kyra@CapitalAreaHealthyStart.org
Phone: (850) 488-0288, ext 106
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Kyra Adams, MSW
Program Coordinator – Leon
Ludy Willis
Bio to come
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Ludy Willis
Care Coordinator – Leon
Paula Reiter
Bio to come.
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Paula Reiter
Care Coordinator – Leon
Tanika Whitfield
Bio to come.
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Mary Westbrook
Coming soon.
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Mary Westbrook
Program Supervisor
Care Coordinator – Wakulla
Amelia Morse
Coming soon.
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Amelia Morse
Care Coordinator – Wakulla
Grace Keith
Coming soon.
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