Ursula Anderson

Ursula Anderson is Executive Director for the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal and Public Communications from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Armed with a solid understanding of communicative dynamics, Ursula served as a “Representative” of the Louisiana Department of Justice, where she operated as a vital link between the Louisiana Attorney General and the constituents, ensuring that their voices were heard and their concerns addressed. She identified outreach opportunities and aided with organizing community events to provide essential resources and education to the populace. Engaged with stakeholders at all levels of government, she vigilantly monitored developments and issues to safeguard the well- being and security of citizens. She conducted presentations on critical issues to include domestic violence and human/ child and trafficking.

Beyond her role as a Representative, Ursula Anderson served as a legislative liaison for over a decade, researching mandates and advocating for policies grounded in principles of faith and education. In 2015, Ursula took her dedication to public service a step further by running as a candidate for City- Parish Council and was named, 2015’s Most Influential Individuals”, The Independent Magazine. Ursula ‘s civil organizations includes Concerned Women of America and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary. 

Jolie V. Williamson

Jolie V. Williamson is a seasoned educator with over 14 years of experience in public education. With a B.A. in Political Science and an M.S. in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, Jolie brings a strong academic background to her roles. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her excellence, including winning the NSDA Louisiana District New Coach of the Year in 2023 and being nominated for LEF Teacher of the Year for seven consecutive years. 

Jolie's passion for education extends beyond the classroom. Her commitment to civic engagement is evident through her participation in programs like the LA Center for Law & Civic Education and her role as a Social Studies presenter for district and state-level professional development. 

As an educator and Head Speech/Debate Coach at Lafayette High School, Jolie has demonstrated her leadership abilities and dedication to student success. Her involvement in programs like the 'We the People' Council Project showcases her ability to engage students in critical thinking and civic responsibility. 

Outside of education, Jolie is an active member of her community, volunteering, participating in martial arts, and exploring the rich history and culture of Louisiana. With her diverse skill set, passion for education, and commitment to community engagement, Jolie V. Williamson is passionate and ready to serve as the Director of Children's Programs and Executive Director of the Louisiana Children's Cabinet, guiding the state's efforts to support and uplift its youngest and most vulnerable citizens. 

 

Shanna Beber

Shanna Beberis the Executive Director of Literacy at the Louisiana Department of Education where she leads the literacy team in the development of the state’s comprehensive literacy strategy. Over the past 20 years as an educator, she has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, district curriculum coordinator, literacy coordinator and Executive Master Teacher. Shanna has not only a deep passion for literacy but also for coaching teachers and leaders.This passion has led to the development of the Department’s literacy vision to have improved student literacy outcomes through high-quality instruction and interactions by an effective teacher supported by leaders and families. She prides herself on the progress Louisiana has made in such a short amount of time and is honored to lead the state’s literacy improvement work as they strive to provide every child with what they need to become skilled readers.

 

Connie Bellone

 

Amanda Brunson

 

Judge Ree Casey-Jones

Judge Ree J. Casey-Jones is the Chief Judge at the Caddo Parish Juvenile Court in Shreveport. She presides over the Family Preservation Drug Courts, Child Support, Adoptions, Juvenile delinquency matters, and the newly implemented STAR Court which is a court for youth who are victims of human trafficking. She frequently travels throughout the country visiting other courts and spends several hours learning new and innovative ways to provide fair access to justice to citizens in Caddo Parish.

She was recently selected by the office of Governor John Bel Edwards to serve on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund and the Louisiana Children’s Cabinet. She was also selected by Chief Justice John Weimer of the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as Chair of the Court Improvement Program?in conjunction with the Pelican Center of Louisiana and a committee for the Louisiana Supreme Court Board of Ethics. 

She’s a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., The Links, Incorporated and as well several professional organizations.

She is married to Dr. Darwin Jones and is the mother to Dawson Casey Jones.

 

Kathy Coleman

Kathy is a native of Baton Rouge and was raised by her grandparents before moving to Natchitoches, La in 1977. She has been married to her husband, Bubba, for 42 years and has 5 children (including an adopted granddaughter) 20 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She attended NSU and ULM for Accounting and Psychology. She became a Notary in 1986. She ran the family Company, Coatings Manufacturers, Inc. from 1982-1990; held a position for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in Monroe for several years after her mother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. She also has been active with Girl Scouts, becoming a Girl Scout leader and doing fundraisers. Kathy retired in 1991 and dedicated herself to caring for her family and volunteering. 

Kathy is a on the Board of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana (GRGICL), a 501c(3) Organization and currently she serves on the Board of directors as Pesident /CEO and runs the day-to-day operations. She has held this position for over 12 years and is dedicated to the mission of the Organization. She serves as President-Elect on the Board of Inter Civic Council of Greater Baton Rouge, the Governor’s Advisory Board for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and the Advisory Board for the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

She currently is on the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board, appointed by the Governor, as well as a past Board Member for the EBR Council on Aging, a board member for Cajun Clickers Computer Club, a member of Generations Grandfamilies voices and Generations United Advisory Council, a national organization. She is dedicated to the community and the children. In addition to attending their church, she enjoys dedicating her time to help all she can, including rehabilitating baby squirrels! 

 

Dr. Amy Dickson

Dr. Amy Dickson is a Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at Louisiana State University’s Medical School in New Orleans where she has been on faculty in the Department of Psychiatry since 1999. At LSUHSC Dr. Dickson is the Director of the LSUHSC Infant Team which treats children under the age of 6 years in the foster care system in several parishes in Louisiana. This program supports two child court teams in the state and Dr. Dickson consults to local child protection offices. Dr. Dickson co-directs the Harris Infant Mental Health training program with Dr. Joy Osofsky, a year-long intensive training program teaching clinicians infant mental health. She is a Child-Parent Psychotherapy trainer and is part of several learning collaboratives teaching other mental health professionals about infant mental health and Early Childhood Court. Dr. Dickson is part of a multidisciplinary team bringing the Early Childhood Supports and Services program back to Louisiana which will support all families with young children throughout the state.

Dr. Dickson is the Child Coordinator of LSUHSC’s APPIC-approved psychology predoctoral internship program, she teaches medical students, social work trainees, psychology trainees, and child psychiatry residents, and she is the Deputy Director of the Psychology Section at the medical school. Dr. Dickson treats a wide variety of adults and children, though she specializes in trauma work and infant mental health and trains locally and nationally in these areas. 

 

Gina Eubanks

 

Teresa Falgoust

 

Julie Foster Hagan

Julie Foster Hagan has served as the Assistant Secretary for the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities in the Louisiana Department of Health since July of 2018. Julie has worked for OCDD for more than 25 years in several leadership roles, including Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administrator of North Lake Supports and Services Center and Program Manager of the statewide OCDD Resource Centers.? She was a recognized honoree by the Louisiana Chapter of AAIDD for the 2000 – 2023 Louisiana Historic Recognition Project as a person who has helped to transform the intellectual / developmental disabilities filed in Louisiana. Julie has served as a Member-At-Large on the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities since 2022, and she has been a member of the NASDDDS National Policy Workgroup since 2019. Julie was appointed as a Voting Member to the National Advisory Council for Individuals with Disabilities in Disasters in 2022. Her drive is to foster quality improvements in the intellectual / developmental disabilities service delivery system that will help people to have more independent and meaningful lives in the community.

Julie obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education degree in the field of Speech/Language Pathology and a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. She is married to Darren and she has one son, four stepchildren, and five grandchildren.

 

 

Annette Fruge’

Annette Fruge’ is the Director of Family and Community Support for Families Helping Families of Acadiana (FHFOA). FHFOA is one of ten centers throughout Louisiana that provides services to individuals with disabilities and their families. She has eight years of work experience within the nonprofit sector, social services, mental health/behavioral health, suicide education and disability related issues.

While at FHFOA she has worked numerous contracts, including but not limited to LaCAN, EarlySteps, OCDD/Acadiana Area Human Services District, and assisted with Special Education services. Annette has personal experience of advocating on the legislative level and being the voice for her daughter with a disability. This has made her knowledgeable of parental rights, laws and community resources.

She has served on various boards of directors including, St. Landry Abilities, City of Opelousas Mayor’s Task Force Commission, Dads & Kids, Together We Are, P.A.R.E.N.T.S., and St. Landry Parish Federal Credit Union. 

Annette has served on the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board since 2017 as a Parent Representative. She now currently represents Families Helping Families of Acadiana. 

 

Sarah Hinshaw-Fusulier, Ph.D

 

Ronald Johnson

 

Tonya Joiner

 

Tara LeBlanc

 

Vi Eve Martin-Kohrs

Vi Eve Martin-Kohrs, is Chair of the J-Board. She is retired from the Calcasieu Parish Office of Juvenile Justice Services, where, for 35 years she served in a variety of field and administrative positions. She serves on the JDAI State Collaboration, and recently completed a five-year term as a member of OJJDP’s Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, representing the southern region. She is the owner and manager of a consulting company, advising on a variety of different fields and opportunities.

 

Krystle Mitchell

Krystle Mitchellis the Executive Director of the Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy Centers. In this role, Krystle is responsible for managing the daily operations and programming of LACAC. She works to empower CACs across Louisiana to serve victims and families better, increase access to quality training, develop statewide resources, and provide support for CACs to achieve and maintain national accreditation standards. 
 
Krystle attended Alcorn State University (ASU) and has over a decade of experience working with children and families. While in the non-profit sector at the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence and the South Mississippi Children's Advocacy Center (SMCAC), she held various roles, starting as a Child and Family Advocate, supporting families who experienced trauma and abuse. She advanced to become the MDT Facilitator and, finally, the Director. Krystle oversaw the day-to-day operations, worked with staff to meet the needs of individuals served by the center, and played a key role in building relationships with the public and community leaders. She also promoted and delivered education and awareness initiatives focusing on essential programming related to abuse, violence, and human trafficking for the community. 

Krystle, a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is dedicated to living out the values of the LACAC organization and helping others fight interpersonal violence by walking every day in her God-given purpose. 

 

 

Chenier Reynolds Montz

Chenier Reynolds Montz is the Senior Vice President of School Health and Strategic Media for Access Health Louisiana. She is responsible for overseeing the operations of 41 school-based health centers in 12 Louisiana parishes, as well as the marketing and development at Access Health Louisiana. Access Health Louisiana is a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the state. Mrs. Reynolds-Montz serves as the President of the Louisiana School Based Health Alliance for 2022-2024,and will continue to serve on its Board of Directors from 2024-on. She is a PhD candidate at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia studying ways to improve enrollment in school-based health center services among underserved populations. She has a Master’s in Business Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Management, as well as a Master’s of Science in Marketing & Communication from Loyola University in New Orleans. She was awarded an Executive Certificate in Communications by Liberty University. In 2023, she was awarded a G.R.I.T. Award from the National School-Based Health Alliance for her work in expanding and sustaining school-based health centers in Louisiana. Chenier is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Fellow of the Nancy Marsiglia Institute for Justice, an alum of the Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans, Sigma Kappa Sorority and Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, as well as a member of Junior League New Orleans. Mrs. Reynolds-Montz was recognized by two National University Honor Societies – Beta Gamma Sigma and Alpha Sigma Pi - for ranking in the top tier of graduate students throughout both master’s programs and her current PhD program. 

Chenier is married with two children and actively involved in both her children’s schools. She loves volunteering in her church parish’s summer vacation Bible School program and helping to support programs which help children in her community. 

 

Amanda Moody

Amanda Moody serves as the Executive Director of the Louisiana CASA Association, where she brings a unique blend of experience in child welfare advocacy and organizational management to her role. With a background in organizational management and a Master's degree in Business Administration, Amanda's leadership is characterized by strategic vision and effective operational oversight. Over the past three years, Amanda has spearheaded initiatives that have significantly impacted the lives of children in the state's judicial system, including achieving 100% statewide coverage with the launch of the 18th Judicial District Court program, a comprehensive DATA and Continuous Quality Improvement Initiative, and a robust Diversity, Equity and Inclusion project.

In addition to her leadership at Louisiana CASA, Amanda actively serves on various committees and boards dedicated to child welfare at both the local and state levels, including the Governor's Children's Cabinet Advisory Board, Governor's Human Trafficking Prevention Board, National CASA State Leadership Council, the Childrens Justice Act Taskforce, and various other child welfare committees. Amanda's dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable children, combined with her extensive management experience, makes her an exceptional advocate and leader in the field of child welfare. 

 

Courtney Myers

Courtney Myers is a native of Baton Rouge. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Centenary College of Louisiana where she was a member of the Division I tennis team. After graduating from Centenary, she obtained a Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center in 2012. Before accepting the position of Assistant Secretary of the Office of Juvenile Justice, Ms. Myers had been an Assistant District Attorney in East Baton Rouge Parish in the Juvenile Section since November 2013. In September 2018, she became the Section Chief of the Juvenile Division. 

Ms. Myers is a member of American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, and Baton Rouge Bar Association. She was a liaison for the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association, a member of the National District Attorney’s Association Juvenile Advisory Board, and a member of the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center Advisory Counsel. She is also a member of the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative State Collaborative, a member of the Joint Court Improvement Program/Child Advocacy Resource Effort Advisory Committee, and a member of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board. Ms. Myers has assisted in planning and has trained others in juvenile delinquency and child in need of care proceedings across Louisiana.

 

Susan East Nelson

Susan East Nelson is an attorney and the Executive Director of the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families —a statewide organization connecting child-serving organizations together to advocate for better outcomes for children. A recognized advocacy trainer, Ms. Nelson is part of the national Annie E. Casey Children’s Advocacy Leadership Network where she has worked to improve children’s policy since 2018. In Louisiana, she currently serves as member of the Geaux Far Initiative steering committee which is multi-million-dollar, multi-year initiative to improve outcomes for children in Louisiana. Since 2022, she has been instrumental in obtaining $27 Million in new funding for infant and early childhood mental health and establishing Louisiana’s Office of the Ombuds for Children to investigate and improve services related to children.

Ms. Nelson also serves as part of the Research Advisory Committee for the last four Louisiana ALICE Reports. Ms. Nelson is a cum laude graduate of Southern University Law Center and is currently licensed to practice in Louisiana, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. She also serves as an adjunct law professor who brings students into the policy advocacy space each year at the Louisiana capitol.

 

Dr. Katie Queen

Dr. Katie Queen is a pediatrician at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health rural clinic in Bogalusa, Louisiana and is the medical director of a pediatric multidisciplinary weight management clinic at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. She is board certified in pediatrics and obesity medicine, and is also passionate about mental health, rural health, and food insecurity. She is currently the secretary-treasurer of the LA-AAP and the Louisiana Obesity Society. She is passionate about advocacy, and is working with Louisiana Medicaid to improve coverage of obesity care for children in Louisiana. She is an active member of the LA-AAP legislative committee and leads the LA-AAP committee on obesity and nutrition.

Dr. Queen is also a clinician scientist, and is currently a junior investigator on the NIH funded ECHO ISPCTN (pediatric clinical trial network focusing on rural and underserved pediatric populations) and the medical principal investigator of a PCORI grant studying the optimal dose needed for obesity lifestyle counseling in a community setting. She serves as an AAP Faculty member for the Childhood Obesity in Rural Pediatric Care Project ECHO and the Louisiana provider to provider pediatric mental health consultation line. In her free time, she enjoys time outdoors, music, yoga, cooking, gardening, travel, and spending time with her husband and three daughters in Covington, Louisiana.

 

Cody Roi

 

Ernise Singleton

Dr. Ernise S. Singleton serves the Louisiana Department of Education as Assistant Superintendent of Career and College Readiness. She is committed to ensuring students across Louisiana have multiple pathways to reach their goals upon exiting the K-12 educational system.

Dr. Singleton has served as an educator in Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia. She has served in several capacities with the Louisiana Department of Education. Dr. Singleton has provided oversight with several innovative programs including online professional development, school turnaround efforts, Course Choice, and grants management. She has worked with Jump Start and revived various attendance related initiatives. Presently, her office is seeking to provide opportunities for students to participate in registered apprenticeships while earning their high school diploma. Her most recent role was as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Career and College Readiness.

Dr. Singleton is a native of Baton Rouge where she matriculated through East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of LouisianaMonroe, a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Instructional Technology from the University of Georgia. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated.

 

Libbie Sonnier, Ph. D

Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D., has served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children since 2019. Recognized for her tenacity and deep commitment to children, Dr. Sonnier has led teams in system-wide initiatives for the betterment of children, families, caregivers, and practitioners for over two decades. During her time at the Louisiana Policy Institute, she has helped secure and direct more than $1B for early care and education in Louisiana, including the state’s largest new early learning investments in a decade and a 20-year millage that creates one of the nation’s largest dedicated funds for infant and toddler care in New Orleans. She also helped conceive, launch, and co-chair the Steering Committee of Geaux Far Louisiana, a comprehensive effort that engages parents and early childhood health and education providers in leading the transformation of the state’s early childhood systems to better meet the needs of families. 

 

Stephanie Sterling

 

Karen Stubbs

Karen Stubbs joined the Louisiana Department of Health in 2013 and serves as the Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Office of Behavioral Health (OBH). As head of the state Office of Behavioral Health, Karen leads policy decisions addressing prevention and treatment of mental illness, substance use disorders, and addictive disorders. Her office acts as monitors and subject matter consultants for the children's Medicaid Coordinated System of Care program and the Medicaid Healthy Louisiana managed care plans, which manage behavioral health services as well as the states opioid response grants. 

 

Kahree Wahid

 

Angela Wiggins-Harris

Angela Wiggins Harris, LCSW-BACS, C-SSWS has practiced social work for over thirty years in varied social service positions. Currently, as a Clinical Strategy & Practice Lead on the Medicaid Equitable Population Health Management Clinical Team with Humana, Inc., she focuses on advancing program capabilities to support Behavioral Health (BH) and social health outcomes, while supporting the strategic framework for BH case management and BH models of care. Angela previously served as the Behavioral Health Children’s System Administrator for Humana’s Medicaid Louisiana Health Plan. Prior to joining Humana, Angela served as the Executive Director of the Office of Student Support & Attendance with NOLA Public Schools & the Recovery School District, where she led strategic planning, program design and administration, staff and financial management, and policy development and implementation. Angela’s social work career also includes owning and managing a private practice (ARW, Inc), mental health advocacy, and juvenile justice reform.

Angela currently serves on the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board, representing the National Association of Social Workers, Louisiana Chapter (NASW-LA). As a member of the Board of Directors with NASW-LA, she serves as the Executive Committee Member at Large and previously served as the Regional Chair for the New Orleans Region.

 

Gina Womack

Gina Womack, a Louisiana native and mother of 3 adult children, is the director and co-founder of Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children (FFLIC), a statewide membership-based organization dedicated to creating a better life for all of Louisiana's youth, especially those who are involved, or at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. She has worked on children’s issues for over 25 years, has trained hundreds of parents to be advocates for their children and develop leadership skills.

She is Vice-Chair of the Louisiana Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission, a member of the Louisiana Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board, the Louisiana’s Governor’s Advisory Council of the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Act, the Louisiana Advisory Council on Student Behavior and Discipline, a member of the New Orleans Children’s Youth and Planning Board (CYPB), a member of the Statewide Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, and a host of other statewide taskforce that focuses on Juvenile Justice. She is a lifetime member of the Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church where she sings in the church choir and is a member of the Women’s Missionary Union. 

 

Lenell Young