Child Advocates of Fort Bend is staffed by a highly-qualified team of 35 professionals including clinicians, social workers, advocacy specialists, licensed therapists/mental health experts, and forensic experts specially trained to implement trauma-focused, evidence-based practices. Our team of marketing, development, public relations specialists, and trainers strive to raise awareness and funding in the community about child abuse. Our team has a combined 143 years at Child Advocates of Fort Bend and over 380 years of professional experience in the field of child development, child abuse identification and treatment, advocacy, education, development and management. Our professionals have obtained degrees in psychology, child development, early childhood education, criminal justice, social work and management, with 50% earning one or more Masters Degrees. As lifetime learners, the staff participates and presents at industry conferences and workshops every year to remain current in the latest modalities.
Administration
Ruthanne Mefford
Chief Executive Officer
B.A., Psychology; M.B.A.
P: 281-344-5103
E: rmefford@cafb.org
Catherine Zapalak, CAP
Executive Assistant
P: 281-344-5171
E: czapalak@cafb.org
Jane O’Dell
Finance and Administration Director
P: 281-344-5101
E: jodell@cafb.org
Angela Lewis
Accounting & Administrative Assistant
B.A., Finance
P: 281-344-5150
E: alewis@cafb.org
Irene Wisner
Administrative & Outreach Coordinator
P: 281-344-5171
E: iwisner@cafb.org
CASA
Metoyer Martin
Program Director – CASA
B.A., Criminal Justice; M.A., Sociology; MSW
P: 281-344-5122
E: mellis@cafb.org
Carrie Fix
Courtesy CASA
B.S., Elementary Education; M.A., Curriculum & Instruction
P: 713-854-8910
E: cfix@cafb.org
Leroy Hodge
WINGS Volunteer Supervisor
B.S., Sociology; M.A., Theological Studies
P: 281-344-5126
E: lhodge@cafb.org
Karen Jordin
Program Assistant
B.S., Business Administration
P: 281-344-5258
E: kjordin@cafb.org
Renee Lukefahr
Volunteer Supervisor
A.A.
P: 281-344-5146
E: rlukefahr@cafb.org
April Shaver
N.E.S.T. Team Lead
B.S., Human Development and Family Studies
P: 281-344-5201
E: ashaver@cafb.org
Carol Thesing
Infant and Toddler Team Lead
B.S., Criminal Justice
P: 281-344-5124
E: cthesing@cafb.org
Aly Tomasello
WINGS Team Leader
B.A., Public Relations
P: 281-344-5174
E: atomasello@cafb.org
Jackie Townsend
Collaborative Family Engagement Coach
M.Ed., Special Education
P: 281-923-9196
E: jtownsend@cafb.org
Krystal Vann
Program Development Coordinator
B.S., Human Development and Family Studies
P: 281-344-5130
E: khughes@cafb.org
CAC
Fiona Remko, LCSW-S
Program Director, Children’s Advocacy Center
B.A., Psychology; MSW
P: 281-344-5112
E: fremko@cafb.org
Amna Ahmed
Children’s Services Coordinator
B.A. Liberal Studies; B.S. Psychology; MSW
P: 281-344-5264
E: aahmed@cafb.org
Stephanie Bernadac
Forensic Interviewer
B.S. Psychology, M.A., Criminology
P: 281-344-5118
E: sbernadac@cafb.org
Meghan Brennan, LMSW
Therapist
B.S., Social Work; MSW
P: 281-344-5120
E: mbrennan@cafb.org
Lindsey Castellanos
Forensic Interviewer
B.A., Psychology
P: 281-344-5142
E: lcastellanos@cafb.org
Fran Clark
Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator
B.S., Psychology
P: 281-344-5261
E: fclark@cafb.org
Carolina Coronel, LMSW
Bilingual Services Coordinator
B.A., Psychology, MSW
P: 281-344-5263
E: ccoronel@cafb.org
Ana Dlouhy, LCSW
Registered Play Therapist/Bilingual Therapist
B.B.S, Psychology; MSW
P: 281-344-5167
E: adlouhy@cafb.org
Joe Driver
Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator
B.S., Criminal Justice; M.S., Criminal Justice Administration
P: 281-344-5232
E: jdriver@cafb.org
Julieta Edmond, LPC
Bilingual Therapist
B.A., Criminal Justice; M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling
P: 281-344-5262
E: jedmond@cafb.org
Lianna Estrada
Data Specialist
B.S., Fitness & Human Performance – Exercise Science
P: 281-344-5234
E: lestrada@cafb.org
Kristy Gutierrez
Forensic Interviewer
B.S., Criminal Justice; M.S., Administration of Justice and Security
P: 281-344-5134
E: kgutierrez@cafb.org
Jessica Hernandez, LPC, LMFT – Associate
Therapist
M.A., Family Therapy
P: 281-344-5159
E: jhernandez@cafb.org
Melissa Johnson
Program Assistant
B.S., Elementary Education
P: 281-344-5168
E: mjohnson@cafb.org
Renee Johnson
Criminal Court Advocate
B.S., Social Work
P: 281-344-5132
E: rjohnson@cafb.org
Ophelia Mok, LCSW
Children’s Services Coordinator
B.A., Social Work; MSW
P: 281-344-5116
E: omok@cafb.org
Purva Patel, LPC, LMFT
Associate Therapist
B.A., Journalism; B.A., Business Administration; M.A., Family Therapy
P: 281-344-5164
E: ppatel@cafb.org
Heather Rashid, LMSW
Forensic Interviewer/Children’s Services Coordinator
B.A., Psychology; MSW
P: 281-344-5138
E: hrashid@cafb.org
Lauren Salas, LPC – Intern
Intake Specialist/Therapist
B.A., Psychology; M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling
P: 281-344-5157
E: lsalas@cafb.org
Esperanza Velasquez, LMSW
Bilingual Children’s Service Coordinator
B.A., Sociology; MSW
P: 281-344-5256
E: evelasquez@cafb.org
Development and Marketing
Anne Bulan
Communications Specialist
B.A., English; M.F.A.
P: 281-344-5110
E: abulan@cafb.org
Jessica Jubin
Development Officer
B.S., Journalism
P: 281-344-5136
E: jjubin@cafb.org
Dana Mersiovsky
Development Officer
B.A., General Studies
P: 281-344-5106
E: dmersiovsky@cafb.org
Lisa Moore
Development Officer
B.A., Journalism
P: 281-344-5108
E: lmoore@cafb.org
Amanda Wisian
Grant Writer
P: 281-344-5174
E: awisian@cafb.org
Volunteer Recruitment and Training
Casey Davis
Volunteer Services Team Leader
B.A., Business Administration
P: 281-344-5172
E: cdavis@cafb.org
Lauren Jordin
Volunteer Recruiter
B.S., Early Childhood Education; M.ED, Educational Leadership
P: 281-344-5259
E: ljordin@cafb.org
