Family Support Services - Meet the Team
Toni | Family Connects Program Lead
Toni was raised in Portland, OR and moved to Bend in 2004. She made a career change after her first child was born, going back to school for nursing after 10 years working as an Occupational Therapy assistant, and earned a BSN from Oregon Health Sciences University in 2002.. Her passion is community health and has experience working as a Public Health Nurse with Maternal child health. She is most proud of getting her IBCLC certification in 2011. Her greatest joy is working in maternal child health and helping new moms gain the confidence in becoming a new parent and caring for their baby. Parenting is hard and all moms need support, she is happy to be able to be part of that relationship.
Toni has 3 awesome children who she is very proud of. She has experienced the highs and lows of parenting from toddlers to teenagers to young adult, giving her much empathy for the parenting journey. When she is not at work she loves spending time with her family, 2 dogs and Ragdoll cat, reading, baking, and enjoying Central Oregon’s beautiful hiking trails, camping and kayaking.
Erin | Regional Perinatal Care Coordinator
Erin has worked with pregnant and postpartum individuals and their families at Deschutes County Health Services (DCHS) since 2000. Erin started her career at Deschutes County Health Services right after graduating from Pacific Lutheran University with a BS degree in Health and Fitness management and Psychology. Erin has enjoyed her time working in various programs at Health Services, spending most of her years supporting the Oregon MothersCare program and working as Nutrition Educator for the WIC program. Erin is currently the Regional Coordinator for the Perinatal Care Continuum project for Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook County. Erin is very passionate about helping individuals and families feel supported during this very special time in their lives.
When Erin is not working she loves spending time with her husband and two daughters. You can find them out rafting on the river together, playing on the soccer field, skiing down the mountain and hiking with their dog Poppy Pearl. When Erin can squeeze in some time by herself, she loves going for a long run, taking an intense exercise class, or just curling up to read a good book. Erin also enjoys finding time to have coffee with her girlfriends, to enjoy and good laugh and support one another on this life journey.
Erica | Perinatal Care Coordinator
Erica is a native Oregonian and has worked at Deschutes County for ten years. Erica received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon where she studied Prevention. Erica is passionate about serving the community and especially the prenatal population. Erica is bilingual in both English and Spanish. Erica started working for Deschutes County in 2010 and was on the WIC team until she transitioned to Perinatal Care Coordination. Erica works closely with the WIC, Maternal Mental Health and Public Health Nurses. In the community, she collaborates with local partners and Prenatal Providers; she has been embedded at St Charles Center for Women’s Health since 2016 to help coordinate resources and support for pregnant and postpartum women and their families.
When not working Erica is busy with her husband and three sons. She enjoys kayaking, fishing, gardening, and exploring Central Oregon with her family.
Theresa | Perinatal Care Coordinator
Theresa was born and raised in Florida. She has a BS in Nutrition from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA. She worked for the WIC program in Pensacola, FL and stood up the WIC Overseas clinic at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan in 2001. She moved to Bend, OR in 2004 and started working for the WIC office in Deschutes County. In 2015, she became a Health Educator with the School Base Health Centers and in 2016 became a Perinatal Care Coordinator for Deschutes County.
Theresa is married and has lived in several different states and in Japan with her husband and two daughters. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family. Her favorite activities include hiking, hanging out at the beach and spending time outdoors without the mosquitoes and bugs.
Megan | Family Support Services Nurse
Megan earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from University of Portland and has been working as a pediatric nurse since 2010. She began her career at Seattle Children’s Hospital on the Cardiac and Transplant unit before shifting her focus to community health in 2016. Megan loves supporting and encouraging families as they work to meet their healthcare goals.
Megan is originally from Bend and knows the community well. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in the outdoors hiking, kayaking, camping, horseback riding, and skiing. She also loves to travel, bake, and spend time with her family and dog.
Michele | Family Support Services Nurse
Michele was born in Germany, raised in Colorado and has lived in big cities, small towns, out of the country and on a 42 foot boat. Over her life she’s worked for non-profits fundraising, as an elementary school teacher and for the last decade as a nurse. She has a Masters in Elementary Education and Bachelors in Nursing. She is bilingual speaking English and Spanish. Michele started out working in a teaching hospital in Charleston, SC, as a Neonatal Nurse working with infants who came into the world experiencing challenges and helping parents learn to care for and still enjoy their new baby, even with all the extra challenges. She enjoys using her teaching background and Lactation Certification to help parents in Central Oregon navigate the joys and challenges of their unique parent-child relationship.
When she’s not at work, Michele spends time with her family, cooking healthy meals or preferably going out to eat. She loves being in nature either camping or skiing or noticing flowers or birds on a neighborhood walk. She has two teen boys and a husband she has convinced to join her regularly in the bowling alley, and a mom who enjoys tagging along to watch and cheer. Most of all, Michele enjoys finding the good in situations and people and working to help others see the same.
Jade | Family Support Services Nurse
Jade graduated from George Fox University with her BS in Nursing. She moved to Bend soon after and has worked with Deschutes County Health Services since 2013. Jade speaks Spanish and loves supporting growth and wellness by coming alongside parents in their journeys of raising their families.
Jade enjoys spending time with her family and loves the community and beauty of Central Oregon. She and her husband love being outdoors and being parents. She also enjoys playing guitar, painting, yoga, and learning new recipes to cook.
Jade se graduó de la Universidad George Fox con su licenciatura en enfermería. Se mudó a Bend poco después y ha trabajado con los Servicios de Salud del Condado de Deschutes desde 2013. Jade habla español y le encanta apoyar el crecimiento y el bienestar al acompañar a los padres en sus viajes para criar a sus familias. Jade disfruta pasar tiempo con su familia y ama la comunidad y la belleza del centro de Oregon. A ella y a su esposo les encanta estar al aire libre y ser padres. También le gusta tocar la guitarra, pintar, hacer yoga y aprender nuevas recetas para cocinar.
Tennille | Family Support Services Nurse
Tennille earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Linfield College and has been working as pediatric nurse since 2002. She spent the first half of her career as a pediatric nurse within the hospital setting. In 2011 she began her practice in community health where she worked as a school nurse and in pediatric home health. She currently works for Deschutes County Nurse Family Support helping clients in the Babies First program.
Tennille and her husband have two teenage daughters. When she isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her family camping and exploring central Oregon.
Holly | Family Support Services Nurse
Holly is a native Oregonian, having lived the first half of her life on the coast. She has a BA in Liberal Studies from Oregon State University, as well as a BS in Nursing from Western Governors University. For the first part of her working career, she was a paralegal for attorneys, specializing in criminal defense. In 2014, she graduated from nursing school and began her nursing career at St Charles Medical Center. Additionally, she has also worked as a school nurse and a hospice case manager. She currently works for Deschutes County Nurse Family Support and helps clients in the Babies First and CaCoon programs.
She and her husband have two busy boys, and when they are not chasing them around or trying to wear them out, Holly enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, baking and taking naps.
Kylie | Family Support Services Nurse
Kylie graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health, but shortly after attended Drexel University to pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She left her home state of Pennsylvania after completing her program and moved to Washington to start their career as a cardiac critical care nurse. Kylie moved to Bend in 2023 to begin her journey in public health and has been loving being able to support the families of Deschutes County through the Family Connects program.
Outside of work, Kylie enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, camping, snowboarding, and trying to find the best coffee shop in town.
Katherine | Family Support Services Nurse
Kat grew up in a bicultural family in Tucson Arizona. After spending over ten years living in Lake Tahoe and working as a nanny, she returned to Arizona to pursue a degree/career in nursing. She completed a Masters Entry for the Profession of Nursing program, at the University of Arizona, where she earned an MSN. She moved to Bend in 2012 and later started her nursing career working in a residential care facility. After having twin boys she decided to pursue a nursing career in public health, which was her ideal job. She worked for the Crook County Health Department for over three years as a public health nurse. It was a hard decision to leave, but she is grateful she was able to spend time with her twin boys before they started school. She is very happy to be back working as a public health nurse helping support families. She believes every family deserves to have access to resources and services. When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her family and dog, being outdoors, traveling and cooking.
Julia | Family Support Services Nurse
Julia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Western Governors University. She has a passion for public health with experience in psychiatric and corrections focused nursing. She has also worked in Utilization Management and is a Certified Case Manager. She is an active board member for Full Access of the High Desert.
While raising a family with her husband, Julia worked as a graphic designer and a CNA for a number of years. She then decided to pursue a career in nursing. Empowering families and encouraging parents to be their child’s best advocate is an essential part of the work Julia finds fulfilling. Having lived most of her life in the PNW, she enjoys music, arts & crafts, baking, camping, hiking, spending time with her friends, family and pets, as well as watching a good comedy.
Ellen | Family Support Services Nurse
Ellen's passion for nursing began after attaining her bachelor's degree from Sonoma State University. She embarked on her career as a labor and delivery nurse, supporting families through the incredible journey of childbirth and early postpartum days – an experience she found deeply rewarding. In 2013, Ellen relocated to Bend. She brings valuable experience in home visiting for chronically ill children. Her expertise as a certified case manager further enhances her ability to provide comprehensive care to her patients.
When not dedicating her time to her family and three children, Ellen finds solace in the great outdoors. She particularly enjoys hiking, tending to her garden, and caring for her many critters at home.
