Family Voices Announces Departure of Executive Director, Dr. Lynn Pedraza; Interim Leadership Team Appointed

Online, June 27, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Family Voices, the national nonprofit organization promoting family-centered health care for all children and youth with special health care needs or disabilities, announces the departure of its Executive Director, Dr. Lynn Pedraza, and the appointment of an interim leadership team for the organization.

"The Family Voices Board thanks Dr. Pedraza for her thoughtful and dedicated work as Executive Director and wishes her well in her future endeavors," says Board President, Molly Cole. "With more than 60 years of combined experience in the field, we are confident our interim team will provide the leadership, support and stability the organization needs during this transition."

Cristine Marchand will be joining Family Voices as Interim Executive Director and Lynda Honberg will take on the role as Interim Director of Strategic Partnerships, beginning officially in early August. In the meantime, the Board of Directors is lending its support to the staff, the national network of State Affiliate Organizations, and its partners. President, Molly Cole is acting as the key contact until the interim team is in place. The Board is pleased the organization will be represented in the next year by such a strong team of knowledgeable advocates for children with special health care needs and disabilities, and will take this opportunity to conduct a thorough evaluation of the organizational needs before appointing a permanent leader.

Cristine Marchand has over 30 years of successful experience in positions of leadership at both the public and private levels in public policy, disability rights advocacy, association management, and program development in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her experience includes advocacy at the state, local and national levels in Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Maryland and New Mexico. She served as Executive Director of The Arc of Maryland for 20 years. In addition to nonprofit association management for a statewide membership organization with local chapters, Cristine was actively engaged in state public policy, including lobbying at the state legislature on disability rights. Among the key public policy issues she advocated for were Waiting Lists, Transitioning Youth, Civil Rights, Health Care and Family Supports. She represented the statewide advocacy organization in class action litigation on behalf of persons residing in state institutions. Cristine holds an M.S. from Mankato State University in Minnesota and a B.A. from DePauw University in Indiana and is guardian for a man with multiple disabilities. Ms. Marchand will be based out of Family Voices' executive office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her primary responsibilities will include oversight of the general operations of Family Voices, including personnel, association management, and leadership to key board committees.

Lynda Honberg has over 35 years experience in the private and public health sectors and is recognized as an expert in improving access to care and financing of services for underserved populations including children with special health care needs, people with HIV/AIDS, and homeless individuals and families. Prior to retiring from the US Public Health Service in February 2013, Ms Honberg worked at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and administered several programs to improve the system of services for children and youth with special health care needs and was also responsible for the Division's strategic planning. In the private sector, Ms. Honberg was the Director of Operations and Planning for a Washington based health plan where she was responsible for strategic planning, provider relations and health center operations Her other experiences include developing an IPA for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of the National Capital Area and advising employers and unions on health benefit packages. Lynda has a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Bachelors in Health Education from State University of New York at Cortland. She is a parent of a young adult with special health care needs and has been an advocate for family involvement for years. Ms. Honberg will be based in the Washington, D.C. area and will be responsible for partner collaboration, identification of new funding opportunities and strategic planning.

About Family Voices
Family Voices aims to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. Through our national network, we provide families tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, and serve as a trusted resource on health care.

Contact:
Molly Cole, President, Family Voices Board
860-849-0686
mcole190@comcast.net

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