About the Center
Our Vision:
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All children will have the best possible start in life, nurtured within stable family relationships and thriving in healthy communities.
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Our Mission:
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Guided by the science and our passion, the trailblazing FSU Center optimizes the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting families of infants and toddlers by developing research-based curriculum and education, creating and operating model programs, and providing state and national policy leadership for systemic change.
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Our Values:
We integrate the science related to maternal health, early childhood development, attachment, neuroscience, trauma, and resilience in everything we do.
We are united by a passion to share the importance of optimizing every child’s first 1000 days of life.
We promote and treasure healthy relationships with each other, our partners in the field, and the families we serve.
We believe kindness matters because how we “are” is as important as what we “do.”
We cultivate excellence in our work, ensuring our resources and trainings are current, clear, engaging, and visually appealing.
We seek diversity in our team, including but not limited to race, age, gender, sexual orientation, faith, ability status, socio-economic status, academic disciplines, and life experiences, and believe this diversity enriches our work and reflects the professionals and families we serve.
Knowing that many young children and their families lack power, opportunities, and resources, we advocate for equity so that all can reach their fullest potential.
We strive for inclusion, listening to as many voices as possible in our decision making so staff, faculty, and those we serve enjoy a sense of belonging.
Our CPEIP Team
Faculty
Mimi Graham, Ed.D, Director
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Christine Chiricos, Ph.D., Associate in Research
Focus Area: Partners for a Healthy Baby
cchiricos@fsu.edu
Valerie Dallas, MSW, LCSW, Assistant in Research
Focus Area: Young Parents Project and Child Parent Psychotherapy
Scott Hoecherl, B.S., Assistant in Research
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Julie May McDougal, MSW, LCSW, Research Faculty I
Focus Area: Partners for a Healthy Baby
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Sandra Neidert, MSW, Research Faculty I,
Focus Area: Early Childhood Court and Trauma-Informed Care
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Mirine Richey, MPH, IBCLC, Research Faculty I,
Focus Area: Partners for a Healthy Baby, Breastfeeding Counselor Course, First 1000 Days Florida
Barbara White, MSW, M.Ed., Associate in Research,
Focus Area: Director, Young Parents Project
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Colleen Williams, MSW, LCSW,
Early Head Start Director,
Focus Area: Early Head Start
Administrative Staff
Shawn Coughlin, MS, Information Technology/Database Administrator
rcoughlin@fsu.edu
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Courtney Davis, BA, Accounting Representative
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Nathaniel Emmert-Keaton, MPA, CPCC, ACC Application Developer and Designer
nemmertkeaton@admin.fsu.edu
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Terry Graves, Accounting Specialist
terry.graves@fsu.edu
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Haley Llewellyn, BA, Administrative Specialist
hllewellyn@fsu.edu
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Sarah Mullane, BSN, Assistant Director, Media, Communication and Marketing
smullane@fsu.edu
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Kimrell Parrott, Network Administrator
kparrott@fsu.edu
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Bethany Thomas, BA, Training Specialist
bthomas4@fsu.edu
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Michael Virgin, Program Assistant
mwvirgin@fsu.edu
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Pamela Watson, BA, Grant Compliance Specialist
pwatson@fsu.edu
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Tara Wynn, MSW, Health & Human Services Specialist
tara.wynn@fsu.edu
Program Staff