Cindy has more than 35 years of experience working in Georgia’s social welfare, youth homelessness, and mental health systems.

As former COO of CHRIS 180 in Atlanta, GA, Cindy has helped develop several new programs including the TransitionZ program at Summit Trail, a 44-unit supportive housing apartment complex for homeless and transition-age youth with a mental health diagnosis; the Drop-In Center for homeless youth and young adults; the Voices Against Violence curriculum; a trauma-informed care training model (Trauma STARs); an LGBTQ training program; and a trauma informed adoption services model for special needs youth in foster care. Additionally, Cindy helped develop the vision for the City of Atlanta AT Promise Centers, game-changing youth and community facilities; she also was instrumental in the expansion of behavioral health supports into metro Atlanta school districts.

Cindy is a published author with articles on subjects such as adolescent substance abuse and behavior management. She has led advocacy efforts in the modifications of state delivery systems and for LGBTQ youth in foster care helping to develop guidelines that enable LBGTQ youth to feel valued and accepted. In 2011, Cindy was awarded the Gayle Bayes Vision for Children award for her leadership in social services. In 2015, the CHRIS Counseling Center received the Tele-Health Facility of the Year award and in 2016 the Keeping Families Together program received the National Innovation and Excellence Program award from the National Center for Excellence and Innovations. In 2019, The Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority named Cindy one of its Healthcare Champions for her tireless work in the community.

Cindy earned her BA from DePauw University and her MA and Ed.S. from the University of Georgia. She is a mother of six adopted sons.

Read Cindy’s guest blog on mental health.