|
MCC
Staff
Jetta Bernier, MA,
Executive Director
jetta@masskids.org
Benita Danzing,
Kids Count Coordinator
benita@masskids.org
Nassrine
Niemi-Farhoody, Director of Child Abuse Prevention
Projects
naz@masskids.org
David Morse,
Office Manager/Webmaster/Jack of all Trades
dmorse@masskids.org
Jetta
Bernier, MA, Executive Director
Jetta Bernier
has led Massachusetts Citizens for Children as its Executive
Director since 1984, providing leadership in the areas of
child welfare, child abuse prevention and family support.
In 1985 Jetta
conceived and oversaw production of the first statewide media
campaign for television on child sexual abuse prevention. The
campaign won international and state awards and was adopted in a
dozen states. In the late 80s, she provided the private sector
leadership behind development of the first State Plan on child
abuse prevention and co-authored Child Abuse and Neglect: A
Resource for Policymakers and Advocates that was acclaimed
as an invaluable prevention tool.
Under her
leadership, MCC secured in 1989 one of nine demonstration grants
through the federal National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect
to reduce child abuse and strengthen families in an inner-city,
racially diverse community. The $1 million dollar, five year
project - Dorchester CARES - became the model for over twenty
family support collaboratives across the state.
On the
legislative front, Jetta worked with prosecutors and the medical
community around passage of a child neglect law that now allows
egregious cases of child abuse to be prosecuted as a felony. She
organized a coalition that successfully repealed Massachusetts’
legal language that had allowed parents of faith-healing sects
to withhold medically necessary care for their seriously ill
children. Her early efforts in 1990 set in motion efforts that
resulted in passage of the state’s child death review system.
In 1996, Jetta
launched MCC’s Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) public education
campaign which evolved into the current SBS Prevention Center at
MCC. She developed the first accredited program for nurses on
SBS prevention which is being used to train maternity nurses and
nurse educators in several In-Hospital SBS Prevention Programs
in the state. She oversees production of “Kids Count” reports
that document the status of the state’s children on several
indicators of well being. Under her direction, MCC conducts
regular citizens polling, issues candidate questionnaires, and
educates the public through its comprehensive website, community
briefings, and e-mail newsletters.
Jetta oversaw a
two-year effort involving over 200 child advocates and
policymakers that culminated in the release in 2000 of the
nation’s first State Call to Action to End Child Abuse in
Massachusetts. It was hailed by the Boston Globe as “a
unique document, the first effort in any state to examine the
broad spectrum of issues that can result in abuse and neglect,
and them to offer a comprehensive, systemic approach aimed at
dramatically improving the treatment of children in
Massachusetts…. indications are that it will have considerable
influence, and possibly, frame the way in which the state deals
with abuse and neglect issues in the future. …”
From
1981-84, Jetta was senior staff at Prevent Child Abuse America
in Chicago, where she helped states across the country develop
prevention programs and policies. Prior to then, she was Program
Director of the Connecticut Child Welfare Association, where she
directed the statewide child abuse reporting and parental stress
line, provided technical assistance to communities seeking to
establish local child abuse prevention programs, and spearheaded
passage of key child protection legislation. She was a founder
and co-president of the National Parent Aide Association and has
served on numerous commissions, including the Governor’s Foster
Care Commission, the Special Commission on Violence Against
Children, and the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic
Violence. She currently chairs the Massachusetts Child Sexual
Abuse Prevention Partnership, a coalition of 26 state-level
public and private agencies working under a grant from the US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is also Co-Chair
of the Coalition to Reform Sex Abuse Laws, a grassroots
coalition that succeeded in 2006 in extending the state’s
criminal Statute of Limitations in cases of child sexual abuse.
In 1991, Jetta
was selected by the Boston Parents' Paper to receive its "Public
Friend of Children" Award. The National Association of Child
Advocates in 1997 awarded her the Florette Angel Child Advocate
Award for her 20 years of leadership and effective advocacy
on behalf of children. In 2000, she became the first recipient
of the “Woman of Achievement Award” presented by the Miss
Massachusetts Organization for her “exemplary zeal and devotion”
in the area of child abuse prevention. In 2002 the Boston
Celtics presented her with its “Heroes Among Us” Award honoring
"individuals who, through their unique commitment and
humanitarian spirit, have made exceptional and lasting
contributions” to our state. In May 2007 the Massachusetts
Dental Society honored her with the Allard Award in
recognition of her leadership to prevent child abuse in
Massachusetts.
Return
to top ^
Benita
Danzing
Benita Danzing provides consultation
for MCC’s Kids
Count Program. She is collaborating with the Kids Count Poverty
Reduction Working Group to develop a report on key poverty
data indicators and policy recommendations to reduce child
poverty in Massachusetts.
Benita is a social science research professional with
over 15 years of experience with broad knowledge of consumer
and applied social research in the areas of nutrition,
banking, consumer electronics, tourism, health care education
and transportation.
Most recently, Benita was a consultant at Early Childhood
Associates, where she evaluated family literacy and other
community based human service programs that serve low-income
or immigrant populations, including the Massachusetts Even
Start Family Literacy Program, Community Partnerships for
Children, and Pathways for Family Success. She also provided
programs with technical assistance and meeting facilitation,
including hands-on coaching on strengths, challenges, and
actions needed. Benita co-authored the Guide to Quality
in Family Literacy Programs, a tool for family literacy
programs to assess the quality of their child and adult
services, collaboration, recruitment, staffing and program
design.
Benita’s strengths reside in analyzing and shaping
data into client reports that provide information on outcomes,
improve program quality and enhance prospects for programs’ sustainability.
She looks forward to applying her collaborative and exploratory
style to help move forward MCC’s important advocacy
efforts on behalf of child poverty in Massachusetts.
Return
to top ^
Nassrine
(Naz) Niemi-Farhoody, MMHS, Director of Child
Abuse Prevention Projects
Naz directs the work of the Massachusetts Shaken Baby
Syndrome Prevention Center and the Massachusetts Child
Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership for MCC. She is a seasoned
professional with over 25 years of experience in the fields
of child abuse prevention, protection and treatment; youth
development; sexual assault and domestic violence.
Naz has been
the director of several community-based adolescent treatment
programs and the executive director of both a
rape crisis center and an organization providing services
for victims of domestic violence. She has worked in both
the private, non-profit and public sectors. Naz obtained
her Master’s Degree in Management of Human Services
from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management
at Brandeis University in 1991.
Prior to coming to MCC, Naz provided leadership for a
community coalition of parents and professionals representing
community-based family service agencies, child welfare
advocates and state agencies working to address issues
of child abuse prevention and protection in Central Massachusetts.
One of her primary responsibilities included coordinating
and supporting the work of the Central Massachusetts Shaken
Baby Syndrome Prevention Campaign. Naz was instrumental
in managing the legislative advocacy efforts of the Central
MA Campaign and the Statewide Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention
Advisory Committee which led to the passage of Chapter
356 of the Acts of 2006, An Act to Prevent Shaken Baby
Syndrome in Massachusetts.
Return
to top ^
David
Morse
Dave brings
a varied background in customer service to the task of keeping
the office running smoothly.
Return
to top ^
|
