DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

With over 15 years of experience in North Carolina’s nonprofit and marketing sectors, Cassie is passionate about building partnerships that make a real difference. From securing grant funding and managing multi-million-dollar portfolios to partnering with local businesses and Fortune 100 companies, she specializes in turning big-picture missions into clear cases for investment that connect community impact with brand growth.

On the weekend, Cassie can be found walking to the farmers market or exploring local restaurants and events with her husband and toddler—and she is perpetually trying to find an actual hobby (suggestions welcome!).

OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

DIRECTOR OF DATA SYSTEMS

Andrew leads the Data Systems Team which supports FCI’s centralized database..  He brings a decade of experience in Salesforce administration, leading global cross-functional teams, and developing customer relationship management systems and initiatives. Andrew holds a degree in Psychology and a degree in Music from UNC-Chapel Hill.

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Colette Parrish is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in finance, human resources, and operations management. She earned an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, where she honed her skills in finance, strategy, and operations management. As the Chief Internal Operations Officer, Colette oversees the Finance, Human Resources, Informational Technology, Data Systems, Marketing, Reporting, Communications, Business Development, and Legal teams. She collaborates on the development and execution of strategic plans, manages cross-functional initiatives, and works to optimize processes, reduce costs, and drive results, all while maintaining a focus on the needs of employees and stakeholders.

NURSE SPECIALIST

Eva is a RN with over 14 years of experience. She has a BS in Nursing from Eastern Carolina University. When not working Eva enjoys making memories with her loved ones and believes life is about celebrating the little things, which become valuable. Eva enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and her dog. She gives back to her community through volunteering. She enjoys working with kids and volunteers at the local YMCA and boys and girls club.

ADVANCED IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALIST

Cara has worked serving diverse population groups, emphasizing improving outcomes for children and families. She recently worked with the Durham Co Department of Public Health supporting the implementation and evaluation of Bull City Strong, an Office of Minority Health grant-funded program to improve health literacy. Previously, she served as a program manager preparing youth to transition out of foster care with system-wide program development, and equity-centered public health programming. Cara is Doula-certified and has a master’s in public health from UNC-CH. Cara loves hiking, farmers markets, and live music.

NURSE SPECIALIST

Brittani is a RN who has focused her nursing career on maternal-child health. She has experience working in the hospital as a nurse in Mother-Baby. She has spent the past 5 years working in the community providing case management to high-risk pregnant women. She has extensive experience supporting mothers and families to achieve optimum health and care during pregnancy and postpartum period.

COMMUNITY ALIGNMENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Emily Rose joined FCI in June 2023, after completing her Masters in Political Science at UNC Chapel Hill. Prior to moving to North Carolina, Emily Rose has a background in community engagement and strategic partnerships through her work with several nonprofit organizations in Memphis, Tennessee. In her current role as an Implementation Specialist, she supports communities in implementing the Family Connects model, fostering connections and promoting maternal and child health. She facilitates FCI’s Community Alignment Advisory Board (CAAB), which provide a space for community partners to share challenges and workshop solutions around community alignment.

CO-DIRECTOR OF NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION

Rain Helms comes to Family Connects International from a public and mental health background and brings experience working with communities to implement evidence-based treatments. Rain spent the beginning of his career working in residential care settings getting firsthand experience with health advocacy, Medicaid and Medicare policy, and disability supports. After going back for his MSW, he worked for the Center for Child and Family Health in Durham as a program manager and improvement advisor for the Problematic Sexual Behavior – Cognitive Behavioral TherapyTM program. He is a double Tar Heel, having completed both his undergraduate degree and MSW at UNC-Chapel Hill. 

CO-DIRECTOR OF NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION

Daniella Greenhood is delighted to apply her more than ten years of public health experience to support community partners in advancing FCI’s mission. During her time at the American Heart Association, Daniella secured funding to promote cardiovascular health in partnership with foundations, local field teams and community partners across the Mid-Atlantic region. Daniella also led the SNAP-Ed program at UNC Chapel Hill’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, leading nutrition access and equity projects in rural communities across North Carolina.

Daniella began her public health journey as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Prevention Service Fellow, which included training at the CDC, the NC Division of Public Health and UNC. Daniella lives in the woods of Chapel Hill with her husband and two kids.

CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

Originally from the west coast of Scotland but now living in Florida, Alain has worked in the field of Maternal Child Health Home for over 20 years. Alain is a Specialist Community Public Health nurse. Since coming to the USA, Alain has continued his passion for home visiting as part of a National Home Visiting program where he supported the nursing implementation and replication of the model over several states. Alain is fully invested in the Universal approach to home visiting and is very excited to join the FCI Family.

When not working, Alain enjoys time with his 2 Cavachon dogs; Dolly and Buster and laying in his hammock in the Florida sunshine..but not June-August!)

Kierra Cherry Hairston is an experienced Child Development Specialist and dedicated advocate for families, deeply committed to fostering healthy growth and development in children. With a strong educational foundation—holding a Master of Arts in Teaching with Birth-Kindergarten Licensure from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro—Kierra has cultivated expertise in project management, community resource development, and early childhood education.

Her experience spans roles focused on supporting families, collaborating with medical providers to implement trauma-informed practices, and fostering academic excellence and equity in the classroom.

Kierra is also an active leader in her community, currently serving on the board of the Guilford County Partnership for Children and as a Guardian Ad Litem with the North Carolina Judicial Branch. She brings a wealth of skills in team collaboration, project planning, and data management, and is passionate about creating lasting, positive change for children and families.

Sunia Barak boasts over ten years of experience as a paralegal, specializing in contract law and property law. With a business law degree from Cornell University, Sunia uses her deep legal knowledge to help clients navigate complex legal matters. At FCI, she oversees the preparation, management, and compliance of various contracts and agreements, liaising with external parties and ensuring efficient contract execution, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Sunia is dedicated to streamlining processes and improving client satisfaction. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and exploring new destinations through travel.

FINANCE MANAGER

Bryan is a Navy veteran who has held management and leadership roles in multiple industries for over 15 years. For the last four years, he has been working as an accountant in the software industry. During that time, he completed his Master of Accounting degree from NC State University, and he earned his CPA license. He brings with him experience in financial reporting, data analytics, and problem solving. 
 
When he is not working, Bryan enjoys spending time with his wife Annie and their seven-year-old son Jackson and 15-month-old daughter Leona. He enjoys cooking, fishing, kayaking, camping, and sharing other hobbies with his son. It is his passion for family that motivates him to help FCI grow and succeed.

COMMITTEE MEMBER, FOUNDER

Dr. Karen O’Donnell is Associate Professor (retired), Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center and Director of Prevention and Global Initiatives at the Center for Child and Family Health (also retired). She is a Senior Research Fellow at Duke Global Health Initiative. She received her graduate training in special education (M.Ed.) and clinical psychology (Ph.D.) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed post-doctoral study in Early Childhood at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle.

She has been a Licensed Practicing Psychologist in North Carolina since 1988. Her expertise focuses on infant and early childhood and development, traumatic stress, parenting, maternal mental health and treatment, the effects of in utero cocaine and HIV exposure on early development, and child and family assessment. Dr. O’Donnell is the lead author on the PEPFAR funded Child Status Index (CSI), now used to assess orphans and other vulnerable children in over 16 resource poor countries; the CSI provided the model for the Family Support Matrix, used in the Family Connects program. She continues to be an active participant in the implementation of the universal short-term home visiting program for newborns and their families, Family Connects, and its national dissemination.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Dr. English completed her Ph.D. at the School of Social Work at the University of Washington. For the next 17 years, she was the Director of Research for the Children’s Administration of the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. In that capacity, she studied child protection and child welfare issues, including foster care and adoption. From 2004 to 2007, Dr. English was the Director of Research at the Child Welfare League of America; as well as Principal Investigator for the Adopt US Kids Initiative.

She was also Principal Investigator of the Seattle local site of LONGSCAN (Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect), which examined the causes and consequences of child maltreatment. Finally, from 2007 to 2017, Dr. English was a Senior Consultant at the Casey Family Program (CFP), where she worked with states across the country on systems change initiatives focusing on child protection and reduction of the number of children in foster care.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita and serves as a Senior Advisor at Openfields consulting firm. Waters was the Executive Vice President of the Institute for Child Success. A 2021 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow, his views have been published by several outlets, including the Investor’s Business Daily, The Hill, Newsweek, Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Charlotte Observer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Nonprofit Quarterly.

He was invited to speak at the White House’s first forum on social impact finance, the Aspen Forum on Children and Families, the Lego Idea Conference, Think Future, and the World Forum on Early Care and Education. He is a board member of the Felician Center and chairs the South Carolina Advisory Board for Nurse-Family Partnership. He has a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and a master’s degree in divinity from Duke University.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Deborah Daro, Senior Research Fellow Emeritus at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, has played a key role in the development and assessment of evidence-based home visitation programs, working with Federal administrators and Congressional leaders in crafting initial guidelines for the Federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV). Prior to joining Chapin Hall in January 1999, Dr. Daro contributed to the development of Healthy Families America (HFA), one of the largest evidence-based home visiting models in the country.

With over 40 years of experience in evaluating child abuse treatment and prevention programs, she is considered one of the leading national experts in crafting effective strategies to prevent child maltreatment, foster positive parent-child interactions, and support optimal child development. Most recently her research and writing have focused on strategies, such as Family Connects, that embed individualized, targeted prevention efforts within more universal efforts to alter normative standards and community context. Dr. Daro holds a Ph.D. in social welfare policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

COMMITTEE MEMBER, FOUNDER

Robert Murphy is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, Executive Director for the Center for Child & Family Health, and co-founder. Robert collaborates with the Duke University Research Team to publish findings.

DIRECTOR

Pilar Olivo guides the implementation of Family Connects Frederick County at Frederick Health Hospital, as principal of Adepta LLC. She previously led and supported cross-institutional workgroups to increase child and family resiliency at the Frederick County Division of Family Services. She is president of the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County, the local health improvement coalition for Frederick County Health Department and Frederick Health Hospital.  She has a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and has more than 25 years of leadership experience in women’s health policy and children’s issues.

DIRECTOR

Michele Benoit-Wilson is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist whose life’s work has been providing the full scope of women’s health care, including preventative care, high-risk obstetrics, and gynecologic surgery. Dr. Benoit-Wilson is a graduate of Brown University where she earned her B.A. in Biology and Afro-American Studies before completing her medical education there in 1999. She is serving her second term on the board of the Brown Medical Alumni Association. She trained at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and has since practiced in New Jersey, Central Pennsylvania and North Carolina, most recently with WakeMed Health.