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Blanca Barrera began her career in early childhood education as a preschool teacher aide with Mountain View Headstart, and worked her way up to lead teacher at El Rancho Verde Child Development Center in San Jose, CA. She is fluent in Spanish and is experienced in working with diverse communities. Blanca Barrera joined the SNACK team in 2009 as a health educator specializing in child passenger safety. She is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and instructor. She coordinates and acts as the lead instructor for the four-day long CPST courses for the SNACK program. She also teaches parent education courses in English and Spanish and assists parents and car givers learn how to properly install their child restraints. Previous to this, Blanca served as a fire and life safety education specialist for the Mesa Fire Department for five years, serving parents in the community with water safety, car seat safety, helmet safety, home and fire safety, with tools and education. Blanca is a proud mother of three.
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Adrienne Decker Delgado is a social worker who has worked in the Phoenix area for 24 years. She has worked with single parents, people in crisis, children in elementary schools, and several volunteer programs in Latin America. Her special interest is in linking community services to low income persons, including Spanish speakers and the immigrant population. Adrienne joined the SNACK Program in 2010 and assists people in locating resources that will improve health, education, and welfare.
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Mónica Falcón was born and raised in Independence, Oregon. Mónica graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Oregon University. She moved to Arizona in the August 2002. Prior to working for the Office of Health Promotion and Education she was the Co-Coordinator of the Mesa Fire Department Connector Program and also a Bilingual Interviewer for Proyecto La Familia at Arizona State University's Prevention Research Center. She is a National Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician/Instructor that enjoys working with the community. Mónica is currently the Program Manager for the Injury Prevention Program with SNACK and promotes car seat safety throughout the valley.
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Kamilah Johnson, MBA was born and raised near Chicago, Illinois where she earned a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from Dominican University. She also holds an undergraduate degree in sociology and human services from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois. Her early experience with children developed when she worked with the supplemental food and nutrition program Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as well as Head Start programs within the City of Chicago. During her dietetic internship, Kamilah headed a legislative initiative to place a dietitian in every school (HR 6324: Dietitians in Schools Act of 2010). Kamilah moved to Phoenix and joined the SNACK program in December of 2011 with the mission to provide child care centers with practical solutions to improve the nutritional health and wellbeing of all children.
Contact Kamilah at 602-506-9335 or kamilahjohnson@mail.maricopa.gov
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Sergio Osbaldo Perez has over 10 years of extensive community organizing experience in the south side of Chicago. He joined the County in 2008 and has worked with WIC and Office of Vital Registration. He joined the SNACK team in April and assists with data analysis and numerous other activities. He is fluent in Spanish and has extensive experience working with diverse communities. Sergio has lived in the valley for over three years with his wife and is an art enthusiast and avid sports fan.
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Jasmine Sanchez was born and raised in Arizona. Jasmine graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the Arizona State University and received her Master’s in Business from the University of Phoenix. Prior to working with the Office of Health Promotion and Education Jasmine was a Director of a childcare facility and has several years of experience working with childcare facilities, where she has trained staff in multiple areas and gained an in-depth knowledge of government programs and regulations. Jasmine is now a health educator for the SNACK program in the North West Region. She is a certified Child Passenger Safety Trainer and is very involved with working with the community. She also serves as a member of the First Things First South Phoenix Regional Council.
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Gordon South has worked to strengthen communities throughout Arizona since he moved to the Valley in 2005. He is skilled in engaging communities to develop healthy and sustainable places to live from the ground up. He has led multiple Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) projects in South Phoenix where he lives - this has involved working to develop an extensive community gardening network, where families come together to lead healthy and sustainable living activities. Gordon has worked across health systems to decrease health disparities in multiple roles with Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa Department of Public Health. He earned his Masters in Health Sector Management and Policy at ASU and recently completed a State-wide assessment of integrated physical and mental health services. Gordon’s primary joy in life is spending time with family - traveling to Peru and Colorado to visit in-laws, or dancing and singing with his wife, 4 year old daughter, and year old son.
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Polly Turpin was born and raised in Iowa and has been in the Health Education field for 29 years, beginning with teaching junior high physical education classes for 10 years, working as a Health Educator for Maricopa County Department of Public Health for 15 years, Injury Free Coordinator for St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and currently as a SNACK (Safety, Nutrition, Activity and Care for Kids) Educator for Maricopa County Department of Public Health. She has a B.A. Degree in Physical Education from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and a M.A. in Physical Education from San Diego State University in San Diego, California. Her interests have always focused on physical activities, sports, teaching, and the outdoors and she believes that the key to life is having fun while being active.
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Tina Wegner, RD is a registered dietitian who joined the SNACK team in September of 2011. Tina is very excited to champion healthy behavior changes for child care center teachers, parents, and children! She has extensive experience with nutrition education and training from her 18 years of WIC employment; most recently as the nutrition education and training coordinator. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Tina has been in Arizona since 1992. She received her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio after receiving her associate’s degree in nutrition from Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA. Tina has been a registered dietitian since 1990. In their spare time, Tina and her husband enjoy outdoor activities such as traveling, golf and camping. Tina also volunteers at the Maricopa County Animal Shelter training new volunteers, educating the public on responsible pet ownership, and helping homeless animals find permanent homes.
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Reginald Williams was born and raised in Winslow, Arizona. Reggie graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences, with an emphasis in Community Education, and minor in Biology from Northern Arizona University. Reggie is duel-granted and works for both the Kids and Infants Seated Safely (KISS) program and the SNACK Program. Reggie is a certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor and trains childcare staff to become child passenger safety technicians. He works alongside both teams to promote the use of car seats in children aged zero to five years, educate community members on how to install car seats, and how to promote child restraints to parents until their child can properly use a seat belt.
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