SAFEchild Staff

Executive Director

 

Cristin DeRonja, M.Ed, LPC, NCC

 

Cristin DeRonja, SAFEchild’s executive director since 2015, joined the organization in 2004 and has served many roles. She has worked with first-time moms as a mentor for SAFEchild’s Welcome Baby program, drawn upon her family systems training as a program facilitator for several SAFEchild parenting groups, including the Nurturing Program and PLUS, and presented the Funny Tummy Feelings program in schools to first graders. Cristin was instrumental in establishing the SAFEchild Advocacy Center in 2010 and achieving SAFEchild’s National Accreditation in 2017.

A Raleigh native, Cristin received her bachelor’s degree in education and psychology from Vanderbilt University and her master’s in education and counseling at NC State.

Development Director

 

Stephanie Davage, M.Div.

 

Stephanie Davage joined SAFEchild in 2016, putting her 15 years of fundraising experience to work as the organization’s Development Director. Stephanie has worked as development manager for C5 Georgia Youth Foundation; special event director for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; executive director for the Miracle League of the Triangle; and pastor of outreach at Grace Community Church in Raleigh.

Stephanie grew up in Texas where she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Sam Houston State University. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary.

Finance & Operations Director

 

Mary Poole, MA

 

Mary Poole joined SAFEchild in November 2022 with 20-plus years of experience in operations, financial and executive leadership. She was most recently executive director of operations for several Raleigh/Durham locations of a national gym. Mary previously spent 19 years at Artspace, and was the president and CEO from 2015 through 2020.

Mary received her bachelor’s in business administration from University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., and a Master of Art in arts administration from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Administrative and Operations Staff

Holly Cook Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Anna Jackson Annual and Capital Campaign Coordinator

Linda Raynor Grants Manager

Denine SchepperleyFinance and Human Resources Manager

Carrie Stopka Administrative Coordinator

Marjorie Terry Development Coordinator

Gretchen WaltersOperations and Resource Manager

Program Staff

Claudia Cortina-CzapPrevention Program and Volunteer Coordinator – more information here

Laura Goulian, LCSW – Intake Coordinator

Moms Supporting Moms

Krystal Grady Program Coordinator

MOVE

Tammy Guthrie Program Coordinator

MENS

Stacey Sullivan, LCSW – Program Coordinator

Crianza con Cariño

Gladys D’Estefano Program Coordinator

Evelyn Hernandez – Program Assistant

Funny Tummy Feelings

Elizabeth Clark Program Coordinator

Growing Resilience Movement

Brenda Beatty Community Outreach & Training Coordinator

SAFEchild Advocacy Center

Heather Williams, MD – SAFEchild Advocacy Center Director

Brenna Farley Program Manager

Anish Raj, MD – Medical Service Provider

Alex Flynn, CPNP – Medical Service Provider

Colleen Jones – Medical Coordinator

Claire Whitted – Child Abuse Evaluation Specialist

Angie Mullis – Child Abuse Evaluation Specialist

Sunisha Santos – Child Abuse Evaluation Specialist

Leah Wilson – Child and Family Advocate