Nancy Birnbaum
President and CEO

Bob Baker
Vice President, Development and Communications

Dr. Carol Crill Russell
Vice President, Research and Development

Dr. Chaya Kulkarni
Vice President, Professional Education

Susan Yeates Heath
Vice President, Finance

Carol Crill Russell, MSW, Ph.D.
Dr. Carol Crill Russell is Vice President of Research and Programs at Invest in Kids. She has spent over 35 years working in government, non-profit and community settings as a researcher, policymaker, strategist, author and administrator. Dr. Russell oversees the strategic planning and quality assurance for all research, education and training programs at the Foundation. Dr. Russell has a B.A. in Psychology from Manchester College, a Master of Science in Sociology from Indiana University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D., also from the University of Michigan.

Chaya Kulkarni, M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Chaya Kulkarni is Vice President of Professional Education at Invest in Kids. Dr. Kulkarni leads the development and implementation of curricula to support professionals working with others who influence the lives of children from birth to age five. She also provides content for the Get Set for Life campaign, with a monthly column in Canadian Living and Coup de pouce magazines. After receiving her B.A.A. from Ryerson University in 1987, Dr. Kulkarni attained her Masters and Doctorate in Education from the University of Toronto.

Nadia Hall, M.Ed., Dip. C.S.
Nadia Hall is the Training Specialist at Invest in Kids. She provides front-line instruction to health care and social services professionals on how to influence the healthy emotional, social and intellectual development of young children. Ms. Hall has received a Bachelor of Arts from Queens College in New York City, a Master of Arts in Russian Language and Literature, a Diploma of Child Study in Infant Specialization, an Ontario Teacher’s Certificate as a Primary Specialist and a Master of Education from the University of Toronto.

Liane Comeau, B.Ps.
Liane Comeau is the Manager of Research and Programs at Invest in Kids. She administers Invest in Kids' relationship with the Growing Together projects across the country; monitors and updats the Parent Help Line message libraries, manages the assessment of books, videos, websites and other educational materials for the Invest in Kids’ Awards Program on our website; and oversees the content of all our materials which appear in French. Ms. Comeau has a Bachelor of Psychology from the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick, and is in the final process of obtaining a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with a major in Language Development from McGill University in Montréal, Québec.

Freda Martin, MD, FRCP (C), Director, Hincks-Dellcrest Institute
Dr. Freda Martin is the Director of the Hincks-Dellcrest Institute, Associate Professor Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Founding Member and Elected Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (England), and a Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists (Canada). She has worked with distinction for over 30 years in children's mental health and over her career has been the Chairman, Department of Children and Parents, Tavistock Clinic, London, England; Chief of Service, Child and Family Study Centre, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto; and Executive Director of the Hincks Centre for Children's Mental Health, Toronto.

Jane Fitzgerald, MSW, Executive Dir., Family and Children’s Services, Province of Nova Scotia
Jane Fitzgerald is the Executive Director, Family and Children's Services, Department of Community Services, Province of Nova Scotia. Ms. Fitzgerald holds key volunteer positions, including national Advisor to the Lawson Foundation TLC³ Project and National Board Member of the Child Welfare League of Canada.

Yvon Gauthier, MD, Dept. of Psychiatry, L’Hôpital Sainte-Justine; President, World Assoc. of Infant Mental Health
Dr. Yvon Gauthier is a Full Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, the current President of the World Association of Infant Mental Health and the Invitational Professor on perinatology to training sessions for psychiatrists, psychologists and pediatricians organized by Montpellier CHU. Dr. Gauthier is also a consultant to the Program Santé-Enfance-Jeunesse and a consultant to Grandir Ensemble, a replication of the Growing Together program.

Daniel P. Keating, Ph.D., Professor of Human Development and Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute of Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Dr. Daniel P. Keating is Professor of Human Development and Applied Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. He is also a Royal Bank Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and Director of its Program in Human Development. Dr. Keating has written extensively on human development and education, particularly on intellectual and social development across the life-span, on the developmental sources of human diversity and on the prospects for human development in a learning society.

Sarah Landy, Ph.D., C. Psych, Head, Infant and Child Training, Hincks-Dellcrest Institute
Dr. Sarah Landy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and in the Department of Psychology at York University. Dr. Landy is also a registered Supervisor in the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy. Dr. Landy is the creator and former Director of the "Growing Together" model of prevention and early intervention in St. Jamestown, which received the 1995 Peter Drucker Award for Non-Profit Sector Innovation.

Marie-Claire Laurendeau, Ph.D., C. Psych, Head, Social and Ecology Unit, Montreal Public Health Dept.
Dr. Marie-Claire Laurendeau who over her career has specialized in prevention and health promotion, research and evaluation of infant, child and youth development, family support, prevention of violence, mental health and culturally appropriate services for families with children. She has also served on major government committees responsible for policy planning, both in the fields of mental and public health.

Carol Matusicky, Ph.D., Executive Director of the BC Council for Families
Dr. Carol Matusicky is the Executive Director of the BC Council for Families, a non-profit organization committed to increasing public knowledge and promoting public concern about the well-being of families. She is a member of the United Way of the Lower Mainland First Years First Council of Partners, the BC Health Minister's Advisory Committee on Injury Prevention, the FAS/FAE Provincial Advisory Committee, the Steering Committee of FIRST CALL, the BC Health Goals Advisory Group and the BC Medical Association: Child and Youth Advisory Committee.

J. Fraser Mustard, MD, FRCP (C), Ph.D., The Founders Network, Canadian Institute of Advanced Research
Dr. J. Fraser Mustard is the founding President and Bell Canada Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research, a network that studies complex problems in the sciences and social sciences and involves over 200 researchers in Canada, the United States, Europe, Israel and Japan. He works through the Founders' Network with the individuals who helped build the Institute. Dr. Mustard is also Chairman of the Board of PENCE, a board member of the Aga Khan University of Karachi and is Chairman of the Board of Ballard Power Systems.

The Honourable Landon Pearson, Senator, Government of Canada
The Honourable Senator Landon Pearson is a prominent advocate for children, Vice-Chair of the Centre for the study of Children at Risk at McMaster University and Advisor on Children's Rights to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. She regularly advises the Minister concerning children's issues in foreign policy and the impact of Canada's domestic policies on children as a result of our international commitments, notably the Convention on the rights of the Child.

Richard E. Tremblay, Ph.D., Titular Chair on Child Development at the Université de Montréal, and Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology
Dr. Richard E. Tremblay is the Titular Chair of Child Development at the University of Montreal, and Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology. He is the Director of the Research Unit on Psychosocial Maladjustment, a consortium of Laval and McGill universities and the University of Montreal. Dr. Tremblay is a Molson Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a member of the United States' National Research Council Panel on Juvenile Crime, the Department of Justice Study Group on Very Young Offenders and the National Consortium on Violence.

Professional Education Advisors

Institute for Home-Based Intervention with High Risk Families

Steering Committee

Elaine Frankel, Ed.D.
Ryerson Polytechnic University

Kathleen Gallagher-Ross, Ed.D.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and Community & Social Services

Nadia Hall, M.Ed., Dip. C.S.
Training Specialist
Invest In Kids Foundation

Chaya Kulkarni, M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Director of Programs and Training
Invest in Kids Foundation

Sarah Landy, Ph.D.
Hincks-Dellcrest Institute

Dia Mamatis, M.A.
University of Toronto

Irving Rootman, Ph.D.
University of Toronto

Susan Silver, B.A., M.S.W., Ph.D.
Ryerson Polytechnic University

Janice Waddell, R.N., Ph.D.
Ryerson Polytechnic University

BC – Curriculum for Family Home Visitors

Anne White, R.N., P.H.N., D.P.S.M.
Public Health Nursing Consultant
Child and Family Section
Ministry for Children and Families

Leslie Anderson
Child Protection Division
Ministry for Children and Families

Brenda Froese-Bartley, B.A.
Coordinator
Building Blocks Program
Terrace Child Development Centre

Diane Glassen, R.N., B.Sc.N.
Breastfeeding Counsellor
Public Health Nurse Coordinator Family Roots Program
Duncan Health Unit

Tina Holden, B.A.
Make Children First Initiative

Deborah Leach
Nutrition Consultant
Ministry for Children and Families

Anne Price
Coordinator
Building Blocks Program
FAS Prevention

Johanna Scholten, M.A.
Training Advisor
Staff Development Branch
Ministry for Children and Families

Judy White
Director
First Nations Urban Community Society

Dr. Malcolm Williamson
Sr. Dental Consultant
Ministry of Health

Ontario – Curriculum for Family Home Visitors

Sarah Landy, PhD., C.Psych (Chair)
Advisor Invest in Kids Foundation
Psychologist C.M. Hincks Dellcrest Treatment Centre

Dan Beale, B.A., MSc.
Manger
Early Intervention Services
Regional Municipality of York, Social Services Early Intervention Services

Joanne Cooper, M.H.Sc., B.N., R.N.
Healthy Babies Healthy Children Manager
Toronto Public Health

Catherine Douglas, R.N., M.Sc.N.
Public Health Nurse Manager
Toronto Public Health, North Region

Pat Else, M.Sc.N.
Child Health Consultant
Population Health Service
Ministry of Health

Joanne Gilmore, B.Sc.N., M.Ed.
Project Manager
Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Ontario Office of Intergrated Services for Children

Rhona Wolpert, B.Sc. M.C.A.P.CT. (Project Coordinator)
Project Manager
Infant Mental Health
Promotion Project, Hospital for Sick Children

Nadia Hall M.A., Dip.C.S., M.ed.
Training Specialist
Invest In Kids Foundation

Linda Martin, M.A.
Family Visiting Coordinator
Better Beginnings Better Futures
South East Ottawa

Brenda Pickup, R.N., N.P.
Program Director
Babies Best Start

Carol Crill Russell, MSW, Ph.D
Vice President
Research & Programs
Invest in Kids Foundation

Janice Webb, ECE
Family Visitor Coordinator
Better Beginnings for Kingston Children

Alberta – Curriculum for Family Home Visitors

Shauna Seneca (Chair)
Co-Executive Director
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society

Yvonne Chui
Director
Multicultural Health Brokers

Diane Daley
Senior Manager
Prevention Strategies, Children Services
Government of Alberta

Toni LaChance
Outreach Coordinator
ECD
Red Deer College

Bev Maylan
Healthy Families Coordinator
Healthy Families – Grande Prairie

Linda McFalls
Casework Supervisor
Ma’Mowe Training Centre

Nova Scotia – Curriculum for Family Home Visitors

Hope Beanlands M.N., MPA., RN (Chair)
Growing Together Nova Scotia
Training Subcommittee
Public Health and Health Promotion Department of Health
Halifax, NS

Pam Briand, BN, RN
Growing Together Project Nurse

Halifax, NS

Bea Buckland, B.Sc (Health Education)
Prevention Coordinator
Department of Community Services
Sydney, NS

Cathy Chenhall, M.H.Sc., P.Dt.
Acting Coordinator
Public Health and Health Promotion
Department of Health
Halifax, NS

Peter Davison
Training Development Officer
Family Violence Prevention Initiative
Department of Community Services
Halifax, NS

Joanna LaTulippe-Rochon
Coordinator
Family Place Resource Centre
Sydney, NS

Madonna MacDonald, BScN, RN
Nursing Manger
Eastern Region
Public Health Services
Port Hawkesbury, NS

Terry O'Toole, RN
Mental Health Nurse
Saint Martha’s Regional Hospital
Antigonish, NS

Danuta Wojnar, BScN, Med, RN
Professional Development Consultant for Post Partum Services
MABLE, & Perinatal Centre
IWK Grace Health Centre
Halifax, NS

Denise Sommerfield, BScN, MSN, RN
Associate Professor of Maternal & Infant Health
Dalhousie School of Nursing
Halifax, NS

Manitoba – Curriculum for Family Home Visitors

Dale Brownlee (Baby First)
Policy and Program Consultant
Children and Youth Secretariat

Lisa Champagne
Manitoba Metis Federation

Dorothy Dudek (Early Start)
Policy and Program Consultant
Children and Youth Secretariat

Lyn Foley
Community Action Program for Children
Health Canada

Marjorie Gazan
Child and Family Support

Darlene Girard
Public Health Nurse
Children and Youth Secretariat

Joanne Metcalf
PEER Program
Frontier School Division

Holly Puckall/Maureen Barchyn
Family Centre of Winnipeg

Freda Robinson
Distance Education: Early Childhood Diploma Program
Red River Community College

Margo Thomas
Policy and Program Consultant
Children and Youth Secretariat

Stephanie Verhoeven
Public Health Nurse
Central Manitoba Regional Health Authority

Debbie Wolfson
Home Economist Association of Manitoba

Research Advisory Group

Dr. Susan Bradley (Co-Chair)
Senior Psychiatrist
Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Ray de V. Peters (Co-Chair)
Assoc. Professor
Department of Psychology
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario

Dr. Nancy Cohen
Director of Research
Hincks-Dellcrest Institute
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Jenny Jenkins
Assoc. Professor
Dept. of Human Development & Applied Psychology
University to Toronto
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Ellen Lipman
Assoc. Professor
Hamilton, Ontario

Dr. Sarah Landy
Director of Infant and Child Training
Hincks-Dellcrest Institute
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Harriet MacMillan
Assoc. Professor
Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences and Pediatrics
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario