Foster Care Champions
Chair - Brigit VanGraafeiland, DNP, CPNP, CNE, FAAN
Brigit VanGraafeiland is an associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She has been a pediatric nurse practitioner for 30 years and a nursing educator for over 20 years in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. She has practiced extensively in both rural and urban primary care settings and currently practices at the Center for Addiction and Pregnancy in Eastern Baltimore. Dr. VanGraafeiland’s experience and expertise working with vulnerable and underserved populations give her a valuable perspective when teaching. Her scholarship focuses on improving outcomes for children in foster care, child maltreatment and screening for human trafficking. She is Chair of the NAPNAP Child Maltreatment Special Interest Group and the current director of the Helene Fuld Leadership Program for the advancement of patient safety.
Co-chair - Tracy Halasz, CPNP, PMHS
Tracy W. Halasz is a pediatric nurse practitioner and pediatric mental health specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. She has been a nurse practitioner for 14 years with experience in primary care with emphasis on care for children in foster care and behavioral/mental health, as well as experience in forensic medical evaluations for children suspected of child maltreatment. Tracy has been actively involved with the South Carolina Foster Care Advisory Committee and advocating for children in foster care in South Carolina. She has been an invited speaker on topics related to foster care, adolescent health and mental health. Tracy is the current president of the South Carolina Chapter of NAPNAP.
Champions:
Paula Barbel, PhD, CPNP-PC
Kelly Betts, EdD, APRN, CPNP-BC, CNE
Deborah Bretl, APNP
Nancy Cavanaugh, CPNP-PC
Gail Hornor, DNP, CPNP, SANE-P
Shenoa Jamieson, CRNP (CPNP-PC), SANE-A, SANE-P
Christina Quick, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC
Brittany Schnelle, MS, RN, CPNP-AC