Ann Dillenbeck
Family Resource Coordinator
I joined Parent to Parent in May 2001 as a Family Resource Coordinator for the Family, Infant and Toddler Project. Together, my husband and I parent two daughters, Ellen (age 8) and Claire (age 5). My mother also lives with us in the woods in Hinesburg. My professional experience comes from working with children with autism, including children with disabilities in general education classrooms, and teaching teachers and childcare providers about child development and new curriculum ideas. I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay; my home visits to children and families there, some of whom were quite isolated, are still vivid in my mind! I am grateful for the many resources and valuable connections we can make with other parents, neighbors, and agencies here in VT. My personal experience comes from witnessing my brother's diagnosis and treatment for bipolar disorder. Our family's struggle to remain united in our support for him contributes to my vision of families as the durable thread and central choice-makers in children's lives. The best part of my current work is the opportunity to recognize and encourage families in this role right from the start!

Diane DeBella
Program Director, Family Faculty Institute
I am the mother of five year old twins, who were born prematurely at 33 weeks.  As a very unprepared mother who knew nothing about prematurity and its consequences, and the decisions I would face while my children were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, I was overwhelmed.  My personal experience is what attracted me to Parent to Parent, and my professional experience as a teacher made the Family Faculty Institute even more appealing to me.  Families of children with special health needs are the experts in regard to their children's needs; training families to teach family-centered care to students and health care professionals allows me to combine my personal and professional experience in a very rewarding way.

Janet Hancock
Family Support Coordinator
Burlington is exactly what I wanted, a small, friendly city near mountains and a lake, so I moved here from New Hampshire in August 2001.  I have four sons, all of whom are finishing or recently finished school in various parts of the country. I have been an Adult Educator, owner and teacher of a pre-school, and an elementary school teacher for seven years.  I graduated from Colby College (BA) and Mississippi State University (M.Ed.), and earned teacher certification from the Upper Valley Teacher Institute in Lebanon, New Hampshire. 
I have had the privilege of working at Parent to Parent of Vermont since February 2002.  The team approach in a child's education has been of utmost importance to me as a teacher, a mother of a child with special needs, and a community member.  Finding a child's strengths and problem-solving around the challenges is successfully accomplished if we all work cooperatively in a family-centered model. All my jobs and experiences seem to culminate here in helping parents make connections with other parents and resources to support and nurture our children.  I also work at a local bookstore, which provides the opportunity to help families in the Children's, Childcare and Education sections.

Julie Arel
Director of Family Support
Although I have only been a staff member at Parent to Parent since November 2001, I already feel like a member of the family.  I came to Parent to Parent from the American Cancer Society where I was the Coordinator of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont.  My adult life has been spent working in public health and human services fields which led to graduate school at Boston University where I got my Masters in Public Health and Masters in Social Work.  I've lived in Vermont on-and-off since 1989 and have recently bought a home with my husband.  To unwind after a weekÕs work, we hike, ski (telemark, downhill and cross-country), kayak and read voraciously.  I am thrilled to have joined Parent to Parent at such an exciting time and feel fortunate to work with the dedicated staff and Supporting Parents in our mutual effort to be of service to the families of Vermont.

Rachel DiGiammarino
Director of Development & Public Relations
I was born and raised in Bangor, Maine, attended college and graduate school in Vermont and Massachusetts, and now call Huntington, Vermont my home.  My prior work experiences in public school education, fundraising, marketing, and project management, are all coming into play since I joined the team of Parent to Parent in March 2002.  The mission of the organization, as well as my colleagues' personal and professional accomplishments make Parent to Parent a wonderful place to work.  We hope to carry our vision of family support and family-centered care to more families and professionals through proactive and consistent media efforts, fundraising events, and educational outreach.  In my free time my husband and I enjoy exploring the outdoors by hiking, snow shoeing, mountain biking, camping and canoeing.

Ric Corso
Executive Assistant
I moved to Burlington after living in California for over 20 years. While in California, I worked at the University of California in the School of Nursing and at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, in both administrative and tech support roles. I chose Vermont primarily to get away from the "big city," in search of a better quality of life, which I'm happy to say I've found. I'm originally from Syracuse, New York, the only child of my parents, whom I visit frequently. I joined Parent to Parent in November 2001, first as Executive Assistant to Nancy DiVenere and Fran Campbell. My role in the organization has since been increased to include in-house tech support duties, and I've relished every minute of both roles. In the past, I've enjoyed hang gliding, bicycling, cooking, crafts, and the endless pursuit of maintaining and increasing my computer expertise. 

Clare Plunkett
Family Support/Family Faculty Program Assistant
I lived in Boston for twelve years before moving to Vermont in August 1991.  I worked ten years for an international development company.  I also volunteered for Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program (CHAMP) in So. Hero.  The program teaches children with disabilities how to ride horseback. This was a great learning experience for me and I loved working with the kids.  I started working at Parent to Parent in January 2002.  I am very happy to be part of this organization and excited about the work we do.   ©