Board of Directors

Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health (RIAIMH) Board members volunteer their time and expertise to support infant mental health education, Endorsement®, advocacy, and clinical research. The Board of Directors provides leadership, vision, stewardship and legal oversight in its governance of RIAIMH. The Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring that RIAIMH has a measurable impact on the betterment of our community in accordance with our mission, that we respond to changing community needs, and that we have the resources necessary to achieve our desired impact. The Board serves as principal fiduciary and wise steward of RIAIMH resources, creates guiding goals and policies, maintains the highest ethical standards, and models our organizational values.

Danita Roberts is currently Training and TA Specialist for Healthy Families America (HFA) and is formerly the Program Manager/ Supervisor for Meeting Street’s HFA Program located in Providence, RI. Danita graduated from Wheelock College with a degree in Human Development and a concentration in Child Life. Originally thinking that she wanted to work to promote development and attachment within a hospital setting, Danita began working at a specialized medical daycare with dreams of eventually becoming a certified Child Life Specialist. This changed, however, after taking a job at the New England Center for Children, where she gained formal knowledge in ABA and an informal understanding of people’s behavior. Ultimately, it was her work with families in their homes, during her time in Early Intervention, that has brought her to love the idea of promoting Infant Mental Health through the fostering of attachment and bonding between parents and their children. As a Program Manager in the Healthy Families America Program, Danita now has had the opportunity to help support the family visiting staff to continue this good work.

Cristina Massey is the Program Manager of the Healthy Families America program at Meeting Street. Cristina has been supporting children and families through her work in Early Childhood at Meeting Street for 20 years. After obtaining her degree in Psychology from Providence College, Cristina began her work in Early Intervention supporting primarily Spanish-speaking families in the urban core; something she was passionate about after having had personal experience with the work that EI does. After transitioning into Healthy Families, she expanded upon her journey of directly supporting families with attachment and bonding in a home-based capacity to develop these skills in other family visiting staff.

Margaret Greene-Bromell- Margaret started working for Rhode Island Parent Information Network as an Early Intervention Parent Consultant (home visitor). Margaret presently serves as the Early Childhood Program Manager at Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN). Margaret is a Peer Professional and started her journey in learning about Early Intervention and Child Development after being blessed with a child with different abilities. Having a child graduate from Early Intervention into Special Education changed Margaret’s direction in life. During her child’s Early Intervention years, she decided to leave her former place of employment to stay home full-time to better support her child, work on strengthening her advocacy skills and gain a better understanding of Special Education Regulations. Margaret enjoys building relationships with families as well as providing supervision to her staff of RIPIN Early Intervention Parent Consultants. Margaret’s favorite mantra is “If I can help just one person then my living will not be in vain.” Margaret is also a Certified Community Health Worker, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), and has earned Endorsement® as an Infant Family Associate.

Kelly Warmuth - Board Secretary

Kelly Warmuth, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Providence College and the principal investigator of the Family & Development Lab. As a developmental psychopathologist, her research focuses on how various family interactions—such as interparental conflict, parenting, and the parent-child attachment relationship—influence the development of psychopathology in children. At Providence College, Dr. Warmuth teaches courses about child and adolescent development, psychological disorders in children and adolescents, and developmental themes and psychopathology in children's literature. When not teaching the next generation of future parents and infant mental health providers, she enjoys spending time with her family, voraciously reading, and working to improve equity inclusivity in STEM fields.

Alan Harlam is an executive coach with a practice focusing on social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and purposeful leadership.  Since 2007, he has supported dozens of entrepreneurs through all stages of their startup journey, with a special focus on ventures designed to address social problems. At Brown, Alan was a senior member of Brown’s Swearer Center leadership, where he drove innovations in higher education around engaged scholarship and community-based innovation. Today, his coaching supports social impact and community leaders with the support they need to maximize their impact. Alan loves spending time with his family, his friends, and visiting awe-inspiring places in nature.

Stephen Buka, ScD, MSc, MA is Professor and Founding Chair of Brown University’s Department of Epidemiology. He has also served as Director of Brown’s Center for the Study of Human Development and Center for Population Health & Clinical Epidemiology. With training in epidemiology and developmental psychology, his research focuses on the causes and prevention of childhood psychiatric and cognitive disorders. He has directed major longitudinal studies examining the impact of birth complications, environmental hazards, and socioeconomic conditions on behavioral and intellectual development. He works regularly with local, state, and national agencies concerned with the health and welfare of children and families.

Lori Sousa - Board Member

Lori Sousa serves as the Director of Development and Marketing at Meeting Street, a nonprofit organization serving children prenatal through age 22 who have, or are at high risk for, developmental delays. Prior to Meeting Street, Lori served as the Vice President of Marketing and Development for New Hope, Inc., a domestic and sexual violence prevention nonprofit, upon returning to her native Massachusetts following Peace Corps service in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Before moving overseas, Lori served as the Director of Business Development for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, D.C. where she launched the national organization’s corporate partnership program, a role she also played at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Lori holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University – where she is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame – and a Master of Arts (Radio-Television-Film) from The University of Texas at Austin.

Laura Matthews is currently an Infant/Toddler teacher at the East Bay Community Action Program. She has been working with young children for 20 years. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. After graduating and working with children, she decided to go back to school and earn a second bachelor’s degree. This time it was in Early Childhood Education. She is a proud Alumni of the T.E.A.C.H. Program offered through Rhode Island College. Through professional development and a love of connection, Laura strives to be a better person, educator and supporter of children and caregivers every day. One child at a time is her motto. We can make a difference! Laura is also a proud endorsee of RIAIMH since 2020 as an Infant Family Associate.