NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Christine Deyss

NYSPEP recognizes that great parents are made, not born. Similarly, skilled leaders are cultivated. Like parents, many effective leaders are guided while developing the skills, tools and resources that lead to success.  Whether you are seeking guidance or sharing experience, NYSPEP values your active participation in our collaborative partnership!  

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Christine Deyss

Christine "Chris" Deyss

Christine "Chris" Deyss helped found NYSPEP in 2006 and now co-chairs the Steering and Executive Committees. She has worked at Prevent Child Abuse New York since 1988, when she developed the statewide Parent Helpline (1-800-CHILDREN) and has been Executive Director since 2000*.

Prevent Child Abuse New York works with public and private partners to ensure the healthy development of New York’s children. With a primary focus on programs and policies that prevent a child from ever being abused or neglected, strengthening families and supporting parents is a critical aspect of this work.

Prior to coming to Prevent Child Abuse New York, Chris worked as a parent and family educator, a human relations and communications trainer, family worker in a day care center, and research associate on a permanency planning project.

She received an M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University, where she also worked at the Individual and Family Consultation Center and managed the development of a foster parent training project.

She is grateful to two women who were instrumental in setting the course of her life. Her mother taught, by example, the value of flying kites and reading with children, and that the opportunity to study and learn is an amazing gift. Her mentor at Penn State, Dr. Louise Guerney, taught her the basics of strength-based practice in working with parents long before that term was used.

Chris has been happily married longer than some of her colleagues have been alive and has three adult children and five grandchildren.

* UPDATE: Chris retired from Prevent Child Abuse New York in December, 2014 and received the Prevent Child Abuse New York Legacy Award in April, 2015.