Meet Our Family Navigators
Amanda began working as a Family Navigator at the Creston Regional Center in November 2020. Amanda serves families of children with special health care needs through the Early ACCESS and Regional Autism Assistance programs. Amanda is the mother of three children, one with epilepsy and one with severe scoliosis requiring spinal fusion. She enjoys encouraging families throughout their journey and helping them face the challenges they encounter.
Kathy has worked as a Family Navigator since 2005 in the Bettendorf CHSC office. She provides Family Navigation for the Bettendorf CHSC center and the Regional Autism Program. Kathy and her husband are parents to four sons. Her youngest son suffered an Acquired Brain Injury in 2003 from Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis when he was 3 years of age. Kathy’s goal is to inspire and guide families on their journey into the ever-changing world of special needs with compassion and empathy.
Jessica is a Family Navigator in Storm Lake. She has two adopted children with special health care needs, a daughter with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, anxiety, and depression and a son with attention deficit disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. "Our children are so amazing in what they overcome each day," said Jessica. "Seeing parents also struggle each day with their children's disorders is what drive me in this work." Jessica has always had a passion for working with families and children and has experience working with Head Start and Early Head Start. She...
Tracy joined Child Health Specialty Clinics as a Family Navigator in January 2020. She serves families through the Community Circle of Care and Pediatric Integrated Health programs in Decorah. Tracy and her husband have three grown daughters. Their oldest has intellectual disabilities and special health care needs. Tracy is happy to support families and let them know they are not alone on their journey .
Suzanne has been with Child Health Specialty Clinics since 2009 and has worked at both Council Bluffs and Sioux City regional centers. She has a background in nursing and serves medically complex children and their families as an Early ACCESS Service Coordinator. She has experience working with families of culturally diverse backgrounds and assisting them in finding resources available for their needs.
Renee is a Family Navigator in Iowa City, serving families in Johnson, Linn, and neighboring counties. She works with families of children with autism and other diagnoses. Renee is the mother of a teenaged son with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and challenging behaviors. Her experience working with the systems that provide services to her son led her to this role. " When my son was diagnosed," said Renee, "there were very few services for autism and parents did not have much support. I hope to provide some of that support and information about services to families newer to autism. To maintain...
Allison started working at Child Health Specialty Clinics in Fort Dodge as a Family Navigator in February 2020, also serving as an Early ACCESS Service Coordinator. She previously worked as a para educator in the preschool setting. After graduating the Iowa Family Leadership Training Institute in 2019, Allison felt inspired to other support families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. Allison is married with 2 children, her oldest having autism. She also serves as the Co-Director of Facing Autism Inc., a local non-profit group. Allison enjoys using her personal experience to...
Jodi joined the Family Navigator network in 2019, and is presently serving families of children with special health care needs as an Early ACCESS Service Coordinator. She and her husband have four children, including a daughter who has Noonan Syndrome and a son who has congenital heart disease. Jodi spent several years as a stay-at-home-mom, prior to which she was employed as a social worker. She finds accompanying families on their own journeys a true honor and privilege.
Clementine began working as a Family Navigator in January of 2016. She is an alumni of the Iowa Family Leadership Training Institute. She parents two children with respective Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and major depression and anxiety. Clementine passionately works toward heightened social awareness of food and health, the primacy of neurodiversity, and the end of stigma regarding psychiatric needs.
Ann has been a Family Navigator for CHSC for seven years. Ann is married and the mother of 2 boys. Prior to the birth of her youngest son, she was an elementary educator. Ann’s son was born with a rare skin condition which requires extensive care, as he is medically fragile. Her son receives services through the Health and Disability Waiver. Ann enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, and traveling.
