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About Us
Staff
Keryn Bernard-Kriegl, Executive Director
Keryn comes to the New Hampshire Children’s Trust Fund after more than 20 years of working for children and families in New Hampshire. Most recently she was the program director at Families First Health and Support Center and a NHCTF partner in prevention. Keryn worked closely with the Trust Fund on several projects including the Smith Award for Excellence in Service to Families, Family Support Outcomes, Family Resource Center Certification, Parent Advocacy, Community Library Project, and Continuous Quality Improvement.
Keryn holds her MS in Family Studies from Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts and a Certificate in Supervisory Skills from the University of New Hampshire where she also received her BS in Leisure Management and Tourism Program Administration. Keryn served as a board member and President of Family Support NH a network of family support agencies that support prevention. Keryn has served on several other non-profit boards including New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network Steering Committee; Garrison Players Arts Center; and Out and About. Keryn has had many volunteer positions including steward, young church teacher and SPARKS youth group advisor, intergenerational dance committee DJ and house manager.
“I’m excited to get to work on the next developmental phase of the Trust Fund. In addition to supporting our partners in prevention and empowering parents through advocacy, I plan to work with the Board and community members to create environmental strategies and momentum for reducing the number of children affected by child abuse and neglect. In 2008 the NH Division for Children, Youth and Families received 7,000 reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Child Advocacy Centers interviewed about 1,500 children who were victims of severe physical or sexual abuse. I’m not talking about children overseas or from large cities in other states. These are our children. They live in our neighborhoods and go to school with our kids and attend church with our families. NH Children need our protection and their parents’ need our support. I hope you’ll join with me to strengthen families and keep our kids safe.”
Diane Hastings, Special Projects Director
Diane Hastings is responsible for resources for new initiatives, special events and edits the NHCTF e-newsletter. She comes from The Children’s Place and Parent Education Center (TCP) in Concord where she served in various leadership roles for over nine years, including two terms as board president and most recently as their Executive Director. Diane led during an exciting time of great change and growth, including purchasing TCP’s first permanent home. Diane brings skills in fund raising, grant writing, developing and strengthening collaborations, and in-depth knowledge of parenting programs to the NHCTF. A graduate of Leadership Greater Concord class of 2005, Diane is past chair of Concord Children’s Initiative, past treasurer of Family Support New Hampshire and currently serves on the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Business and Education Partnership Committee. Diane is a parish council member at St. Theresa Parish in Henniker as the chair of the Environmental Stewardship Committee, is a member of Greener Hopkinton, a committee of the Town of Hopkinton and is involved in moving NHCTF toward a more environmentally responsible organization. Diane has a Masters degree from Murray State University and lives in Contoocook with her daughter, two sons, and husband, George.
“I came to work in the nonprofit world of strengthening families not through my education, which is in the area of geosciences, but from my involvement as a parent at a family resource center. Discovering The Children’s Place and Parent Education Center (TCP) when my oldest child was a two month old infant was a godsend! I remember those feelings of isolation and inadequacy as a new parent, and the total immersion into the world of parenting where I felt like I was a stranger! Through TCP, my family made connections and lifelong friendships. I felt supported and strengthened as a parent and I was able to give back to the community as I became immersed in my new “neighborhood” of support. I firmly believe that family resource centers and family support programs should be a part of the fabric of every community. Universal access is key to strengthening all families.”
Julie Day, Parent Advocacy Director
Julie is responsible for the Families Are PRIMARY campaign which seeks to educate parents on local, state, and national issues. Families Are PRIMARY also focuses on educating parents about how, when, and where to vote with a large emphasis on WHY parents should vote. Julie was an active member of The Children’s Place and Parent Education Center in Concord for many years. She began as a consumer, with 3 small children, in need of help and support and later became a volunteer with the position of Vice President of Fundraising. Julie has also served as a parent representative on the Family Support New Hampshire Board of Directors. She has a Bachelors Degree in Human Services from Springfield College and lives in Bow with her husband, Andrew, and their three beautiful children.
"I am very excited about the work I am doing. I feel like anytime you can enhance someone’s life you have done something worthwhile. I feel the best way to help our children is to empower our parents. Some parents do not feel their voices or input are important. Let’s show them how they can be heard.”
Valerie Quinn, Administrative Assistant
Valerie Quinn is responsible for general office maintenance, managing the grantee cycle, data entry, analysis, and reporting, mailings, and meeting preparation. Valerie graduated from Stetson University with a BA degree in psychology and a minor in women and gender studies. Currently, she is working towards her PsyD in clinical psychology at Antioch, University in Keene, NH. Due to an extensive research based education, Valerie possesses a background involving knowledge of statistics and research, as well as the nonprofit realm of social services. Valerie is currently completing a practicum at the New Hampshire Hospital. Additionally, Valerie has interned at the Children’s Home Society in DeLand, Florida where she managed supervised visitations among family members in cooperation with the Florida Department of Children and Families. She has also worked at the Odyssey New Hampshire Family Center providing respite residential treatment to substance abusing pregnant and postpartum women.
“I believe in the inspirational words of Margaret Mead, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.’ If we as individuals work as a collaborative unit, then we can in fact work together to bring about positive change, support, and protection to our children and families.”