Building Community
NACC State Coordinators
NACC State Coordinators support and connect a growing network of child welfare attorneys. NACC has 40 State Coordinators and adds more each year. This is a critical time to build community and support local practitioners and NACC is grateful for this volunteer network.
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Alabama
Stephen “Steve” Schofield, JD
Attorney at Law
Retired
Term 2024-2026
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Alaska
Samantha “Reux” Stearns, JD
Assistant Public Advocate
Alaska Office of Public Advocacy
Term 2024-2026
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Arizona
Rachel Metelits, JD
Legal Advocate
Term 2025-2027
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Arkansas
Chrishuana Taggart, JD
Attorney ad Litem
Administrative Office of the Courts
Term 2024-2026
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California
Dean Conklin, JD, CWLS
Resource and Training Attorney
Children’s Law Center of California
Term 2024-2026
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Colorado
Sheri Danz, JD, CWLS
Deputy Director
Office of the Child’s Representative
Term 2025-2027
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Delaware
Stephanie Reid, JD, CWLS
Attorney at Law
Private Practice
Term 2024-2026
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District of Columbia
Emily Petrino, JD
DC Attorney General’s Office
Term 2025-2027
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Florida
Taylor Sartor, JD
Staff Attorney
Bay Area Legal Services (Founder, FosterPower)
Term 2024-2026
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Georgia
Emma Hetherington, JD, CWLS
Director, CEASE Clinic
University of Georgia Law School
Term 2024-2026
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Idaho
Jessalyn Hopkin, JD
Juvenile Deputy Public Defender
Bannock County Public Defender’s Office
Term 2024-2026
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Illinois
Kathryn Gordon, JD, CWLS
Director
Office of the Guardian ad Litem
Term 2025-2027
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Indiana
Rachel Vilensky, JD, CWLS
Director, Direct Representation Program
Child Advocates, Inc.
Term 2024-2026
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Louisiana
Kirby Casciato, JD, CWLS
Managing Attorney
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Term 2025-2027
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Maine
Taylor Kilgore, JD
Attorney and Owner
Kilgore Law, PLLC
Term 2024-2026
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Maryland
Richard A. Perry, JD
Senior CINA Attorney
Maryland Legal Aid Bureau
Term 2023-2025
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Michigan
Esther F. Flowers, JD
Managing Attorney
Rose Legal Services, Juvenile Law Group
Term 2023-2025
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Mississippi
Jennifer Morgan, JD, CWLS
Parent Defense Program Manager
Office of the State Public Defender
Term 2024-2026
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Missouri
Katie Wiehl, JD, CWLS
Director of Legal Services
Jackson County CASA
Term 2024-2026
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Montana
Sarah Chase Rosario, JD, CWLS
Attorney at Law
Sarah Chase Rosario, Esq.
Term 2024-2026
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Nevada
Angela Cook, JD
Team Chief, Children’s Attorneys Project
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
Term 2024-2026
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New Hampshire
Lisa Wolford, JD
Executive Director
Children’s Law Center of New Hampshire
Term 2023-2025
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New Jersey
Daniel Adamek, JD
Law Guardian
Term 2025-2027
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New Mexico
Beth A. Gillia, JD, MA
Executive Director
New Mexico Office of Family Representation and Advocacy
Term 2023-2025
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Ohio
Jennifer Reed, JD
Senior Staff Attorney
Ohio Department of Children and Youth
Term 2024-2026
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Oklahoma
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Oregon
Cathy Ouellette, JD, CWLS
Attorney at Law
Cathy Ouellette, Attorney at Law
Term 2023-2025
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Pennsylvania
Nesta N. Johnson, JD
Family Law Staff Attorney
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Term 2023-2025
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South Carolina
Michelle Pappas, JD
Attorney General’s Office
Term 2025-2027
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Tennessee
Stacie Odeneal, JD, CWLS
Attorney and Owner
The Odeneal Firm
Term 2024-2026
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Texas
Crystal Leff-Piñon, JD
Director of Family Protection Representation
Texas Indigent Defense Commission
Term 2024-2026
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Utah
Dianne Balmain, JD, CWLS
Assistant Attorney General
Utah Attorney General’s Office
Term 2024-2026
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Vermont
Matthew Bernstein, JD
Child, Youth, and Family Advocate
Vermont Office of the Child, Youth, and Family Advocate
Term 2024-2026
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Virginia
Valerie L’Herrou, JD
Staff Attorney for Family Law and Child Welfare
Virginia Poverty Law Center
Term 2024-2026
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Washington
Bailey Zydek, JD
Children’s Representation Program Manager
Office of Civil Legal Aid
Term 2024-2026
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West Virginia
Cathy Bond Wallace, JD
Executive Director
ChildLaw Services, Inc.
Term 2024-2026
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Wisconsin
Adam Zaiger, JD
Staff Attorney
Kids Matter Inc.
Term 2024-2026
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Wyoming
Tamara Candelaria, JD
Guardian ad Litem
Term 2025-2027
Become a State Coordinator
State Coordinators help lead outreach efforts and provide localized support to growing networks of practitioners in their respective states. They serve as a liaison between NACC and child welfare practitioners, courts, organizations, and law schools and help grow the NACC community.