NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Deirdre Sherman

Deirdre Sherman is a Program Manager with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), NYS Children and Family Trust Fund, and serves on NYSPEP’s Executive Committee. Her work at OCFS includes support, technical assistance, and oversight for programs funded through the Trust Fund, including Family Resource Centers, home visiting and parent education programs, and elder abuse prevention programs. She also provides support for the Safe Babies New York, a statewide initiative which provides education on abusive head trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome) and safe sleeping practices to parents of newborns at all 134 maternity hospitals across the state.

Prior to OCFS, Deirdre worked at Occupations, Inc.*, a non-profit human service agency in Orange County, NY. She began her 15 year term with the agency as a home visitor in the agency's family development program, an intensive home visitation program providing parenting education, coaching, and skill building for families under family court supervision. Deirdre then worked as a school-based caseworker and went on to become a casework supervisor. She supervised a Healthy Families New York site in Orange County for several years.

Deirdre holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Rochester. She is passionate about strengthening families by building protective factors at the family and community level to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Deirdre enjoys time with family including her husband of more than thirty years, her three children, and one grandchild. Deirdre also volunteers to assist with activities and events to support a homeless shelter in Middletown, NY. In her spare time, she enjoys walking with dogs, bird-watching, and reading.

 *now known as Access: Supports for Living

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Tim Hathaway

Tim Hathaway, former Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota, joins Prevent Child Abuse New York as its new Executive Director and fiscal agent for NYSPEP. Tim also serves as Co-chair for the NYSPEP Executive Committee.

Tim brings 28 years of experience with children and families and has a strong commitment to the work of supporting parents as they create healthy environments for their children. He is passionate about eliminating racial disparities, driving best practice standards for Child Abuse Prevention, excellence in non-profit administration and advancing place-based, partner-driven solutions.

Prior to Prevent Child Abuse, Tim spent almost 20 years with Head Start programs in a variety of capacities including Parent and Child Centers, Early Head Start, Head Start and the federal Technical Assistance Network.  Early in his career, Tim managed and directed early care and learning programs for the YMCA and faith-based communities.  Tim believes in the value of professional development and has been a trainer and consultant to early childhood professionals for 25 years.

Tim believes NYSPEP is well-positioned to drive leading-edge prevention work for families in New York.

Tim states, "As a network of professionals working to expand the field, we have the potential to reach thousands of families and community members.  This reach is critical to normalizing parenting approaches that build resiliency in children. In a sea of voices, NYSPEP provides leadership based on evidence, experience and systematic solution finding."