Lorraine Hargrave
Founder/CEO
Lorraine was a teen mother, foster youth who became homeless after aging out of care.
While in foster care she graduated from high school. When she exited from foster care as
a homeless youth she continued her education and graduated from college with an Associate degree in
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
As an adult she
became a 911 operator, foster parent, daycare provider and she formed a non-profit named Children
In Need of Hugs in June 2000.
She was nominated and
received the Jefferson Award by CBS 5 in 2005 for her dedication to community service, she was also
nominated and awarded the Child Abuse Prevention Council Multicultural Award in 2008 for her dedication to youth in Solano County. Today she continues to advocate for disadvantaged youth.
Cornelia Spencer, MS
Program Director
Cornelia was a teen mother who is now the Program Director
for Children In Needs of Hugs, she is a Counselor and an Author.
She works with youth ages six and up, individuals, families and groups.
Her specialties includes teen mothers, women with depression, domestic violence,
divorce and separations,adolescents with conduct problems, communication issues,
rape trauma, sexual abuse and victims of violent crimes.
She is
the author of a book titled "Surviving Broken Promises" which can be purchased
via:
OUR CASE MANGERS
Kelly
Hi my name is Kelly Dixon and I am a part-time evening case
manager and I feel very privileged to be able to work with these young ladies. I truly enjoy providing
assistance and encouragement to help these ladies become productive members of society and
responsible mothers. I love working with the youth! I work with them in several different
capacities. I am a state certified substance abuse counselor in which I provide counseling for adolescents
that have substance abuse issues or anger problems, that is my daytime job. I also work with the youth
in my church. I am a youth leader and have been serving in that capacity for 7 years. I chose to work with
the youth because I didn’t feel that as a youth I received the encouragement and guidance that would have helped me
make some better choices in my life. I love the jobs that I do and appreciate the opportunity that CINOH
provides for these young mothers. Maria
Hello, my name is Maria Freagoza. I have been working in the Human Services
field for about 6 years, providing supportive and referral services to the elderly population and survivors of sexual assault
and/or domestic violence. I am very excited to be pursuing my interest and passion in
the Human Services field, with a primary focus and desire to assist pregnant and/or parenting young mothers in becoming self-sufficient
while sustaining a healthy well-being. I am truly honored, proud and ecstatic to be a part of the CINOH family.
Sharon -I started
working in this field in 1992. I was first introduced as a Group Home Counselor to young men in the Juvenile System.
I continued with my college education and later went into the Mental Health field. I started working with level 4H adults
and later went into a level 14 facility with youth between the ages of 10-18. After that task was completed, I went
for the field that has always been a passion to me. By stepping out on faith, I'm now working with Young Teen Mothers
and their Babies. While I'm employed here at CINOH, I plan to give back more than 110%. I plan to show these teen mothers
that you can accomplish any thing in life, a college education, and a great career and that having a baby at a young age and
out of wed-lock does not hold you back.
SelenaHi, my name is Selena
LeBlanc and I come to CINOH with a wealth of personal life experience being that I too was a teen mother. I had my first child during my freshman year in high school and obtained my high
school diploma and graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. After high school, I went to Foothill
College and committed my energies to issues of economic and social justice which included
living in France and traveling to Germany, Belgium,
Italy, Sicily, Prague, Hungary,
Switzerland, Austria and Canada. I eventually transferred
to UC Davis and researched in Trinidad and Tobago on culture, performance and society, under
the direction of professor John Steward. I graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelors degree in Sociology
with an emphasis in law and society. I minored in communications. My previous work has allowed me to develop more comprehensively on how socio-demographic,
economic factors and communication influence the lives of oppressed populations and eventually affect their psychological
well being. This led me to attend St. Mary’s college for a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I owe
many of my accomplishment to having wonderful mentors with well balanced families and successful careers. I know that sometimes
a little guidance and a helping hand can come in handy when being a teen mother, which is why I dedicate my time and energy
as a Case Manager assisting clients at CINOH
