Friends National Resource Center

Description

FRIENDS has established a Parent Advisory Council to provide useful overall program direction and guidance to the activities of the Resource Center. Committee members share their experience and expertise in child abuse prevention and family strengthening through their active participation in FRIENDS workgroups and the annual Grantee’s meeting, development/review of FRIENDS written materials, and by providing resource center staff with consultation and advice. Members of the team include: Sam Bowman Nancy Connolly Eliza Cooper Brenda J. Hardy Art Hernandez Dawn Patzer Sam Bowman is a resource coordinator at the Children's Center of Surry. She is funded by a Smart Start project to help families with children with special needs and families transitioning from neonatal intensive care units back to their home communities. The mother of three boys, her youngest son, Christopher, 19, was born prematurely with multiple medical issues. Since that time, she has served on local coordinating councils, consortium, school advisory boards, hospital advisory boards at Duke University and Wake Forest University Medical Centers, the North Carolina Family Resource Coalition Board, the North Carolina Partnerships for Inclusion Advisory Board, The North Carolina Pediatric Prescribed Child Care Board, the North Carolina Early Intervention Advisory Board, Chairperson of the North Carolina Family Council for Children with Special Health Care Needs, The Governor's Commission on Children with Special Health Care Needs, and is currently the state contact person for Family Voices. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences including the National Smart Start Conference, North Carolina Parent Leadership Training, parent trainer for Family Empowerment Training, the North Carolina Prevent Child Abuse Conference, the Trans-Atlantic Consortium, the Family Support America National Conference, and the International Parent to Parent Conference. Nancy Connolly has worn many hats within Parents Helping Parents of Massachusetts, including being a support group participant, a parent leader, a facilitator, a trainer, and board president. Currently as the Program Director, she is responsible for 30 parent support groups across the state. She trains facilitators and parent leaders to lead groups and grow within the organization’s governance. She has a Master’s degree in family support and parenting education from Wheelock College. Nancy is the Chairperson of the national Parents as Leader’s Committee for Circle of Parents. She has been a parent’s voice at the table for many years. Brenda Hardy is the mother of 2 beautiful daughters Grace Hardy (27) and Edwina Hardy (17) years old and 4 grands Bryon Jabari (9) Brishonda Jade, (4), Brionna Joy (2) and the newest addition Ms DonJanae JoyAnne Hardy (4 months old). She has previous experience with leadership skills through the U.S. Army (PLDC) Primary Leadership Development School located in Camp Casey, Korea, (BNOCA) Basic Non-Commission Officer Academy located in Tucson, Arizona. She served in the United States Army 11

Products & services

Similar companies nearby