Dr. Bider is a perinatal psychiatrist based at the University of Kansas Health System. She serves as the medical director for KCC. Dr. Bider attended medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency, with perinatal specialization, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Dr. Bider is passionate about expanding access to mental health services for this vulnerable patient population.

Caitlin Charbonneau is the social worker at Kansas Connecting Communities. She is located at The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, KS, where she is a part of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences team and provides social work/case management for the Outpatient Psychiatry & Psychology Clinic. Prior to her move to KC, Caitlin received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Kansas State University, which led her to become a social worker first at Ascension Via Christi Hospital, and then Stormont Vail Flint Hills Campus Primary Care. She has been a healthcare social worker for 7 years. Caitlin has her LBSW and is a PSI qualified perinatal mental health professional.

Dr. Chettiar is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at the University of Kansas Health System. She attended medical school at Creighton University and completed her OB/GYN residency at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She now serves as the Assistant Program Director for the OB/GYN residency program at The University of Kansas School of Medicine. She has a Perinatal Mental Health Certification and leads a Maternal Mental Health Clinic within her OB/GYN practice. Dr. Chettiar is passionate about her care for her pregnant and postpartum patients and serves on the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, in the hopes that through this and the improvement of perinatal mental health we can combat the tragic rise of maternal mortality.

Dr. Weber is a clinical health psychologist who specializes in perinatal mental health serving patients at University of Kansas Health System. She earned her doctoral degree from Idaho State University and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in perinatal mental health at the University of Iowa Health Care where she provided psychotherapy in the NICU, the Maternal Substance Use Disorder clinic, and outpatient clinic. She moved to the Kansas City area in 2023 to continue her specialty while embedded in the OB/GYN at KU. She works with women, men, and couples managing psychiatric distress related to the perinatal period, which may include grief and loss, infertility, reproductive trauma, PTSD, and antenatal/postpartum anxiety and mood disorders. She is excited to work with KCC on expanding access to therapeutic care across rural and urban communities.

Dr. Melissa Hoffman earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Kansas and is certified as a Perinatal Mental Health provider. Dr. Hoffman works as a reproductive Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner integrated into an OB-GYN clinic in Lawrence, Kansas. She also serves as a perinatal mental health content expert on grant-funded collaborative initiatives in Kansas. In 2007, she founded a perinatal peer support program in Lawrence. Dr. Hoffman is a founding board member for the Postpartum Support International of Kansas chapter and is the state lead for the Postpartum Support International Kansas coordinators, providing support to help-seekers across the state.

As the Vice President of Medical Integration at CKF Addiction Treatment, Michaela plays a pivotal role in advancing the integration of substance use disorder (SUD) care within healthcare settings. With a deep commitment to recognizing SUD as a treatable disease, she leads innovative efforts to bridge the gap between addiction treatment and traditional medical care, ensuring a holistic approach to patient wellness.

Michaela began her career in the addiction field working directly with patients in crisis, offering compassionate care and support during their most vulnerable moments. This hands-on experience has provided her with invaluable insights into the complexities of addiction and the urgent need for systemic change in how SUD is addressed within healthcare.

Amittia Parker, PhD, LMSW, MPA, IMH-E® Specialist is a researcher, trainer, and mama scholar. She is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University. She provides training and technical assistance for the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety. Her research, scholarship, and service focuses on advancing minority mental health and equity, particularly among families that are pregnant and parenting young children. Amittia has worked for 15 years as a mental health consultant across a variety of settings, including home-based services, childcare centers, school-based services, and health clinics. This practice experience inspires her research on Black maternal mental health, mental health in higher education, behavioral health services, and natural helping. She serves in leadership roles in local, state, and national venues focused on infant and early childhood mental health, Black communities, and Black social workers.

Taryn Zweygardt is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW) and Perinatal Mental Health-Certified (PMH-C) therapist with a passion for supporting individuals and couples navigating the various challenges that can occur throughout the perinatal period. As co-owner of Flourish Wellness Collective in Wichita, KS and Chair of the Kansas Chapter of Postpartum Support International, Taryn specializes in providing care for those facing fertility struggles, pregnancy or infant loss, perinatal mental health disorders, and challenges related to the transition to parenthood.In addition to her clinical work, Taryn provides clinical supervision and consultation to therapists, offering guidance and support as they develop their skills in the mental health field. She also provides training and presentations on Perinatal Mental Health related topics for professionals and organizations in an effort to increase knowledge and decrease stigma.

Patricia Carrillo is a Project Coordinator at the University of Kansas’s Center for Public Partnerships and Research (CPPR), working for over 5 years on the Kansas Connecting Communities (KCC) program. She serves as the subproject lead of KCC training activities, as well as supporting other CPPR initiatives in the perinatal and early childcare systems transformation sphere. She holds a Master’s in Anthropology from the University of Denver; her research focused on the intersections of infertility and assisted reproductive technologies. She is passionate about perinatal health and reproductive justice and is a trained postpartum doula.

Kelsee Fout is the Maternal and Child Behavioral Health Director in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Family Health. Kelsee currently serves as the Project Director Kansas’ psychiatric access programs: Kansas Connecting Communities and KSKidsMAP. Kelsee also supports the development, implementation, and coordination of programmatic activities within Title V Maternal and Child Health programs related to behavioral health. Kelsee was the recipient of the Association of MCH Programs’ 2020 Emerging MCH Professional Award for Region VII.

Jennifer is a Research Project Manager at the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research with 13 years of experience in healthcare, non-profit, and community mental health settings. She became a registered nurse in 2011 and primarily served individuals with special healthcare needs. In 2018 she earned a BA in Anthropology at Purdue University and shifted focus to holistic family and community wellbeing. As Program Manager for Kansas Connecting Communities, Jennifer leverages her expertise to transform systems and improve outcomes for perinatal individuals, children, and families through strategic partnerships and research-driven initiatives.

Ella Seibel holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Kansas, which she earned in 2013. After spending several years in San Franscisco and more than 15 years teaching, she transitioned into a new role as aResearch Project Coordinator at the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas. As a subproject lead for communications with the Kansas Connecting Communities (KCC) team, Ella plays a pivotal role in refining communication strategies and fostering strong community connections across the state. Her passion for education and research fuels her dedication to driving meaningful change, with a focus on improving outcomes for children, families, and communities.

Alexis Tibbits joined the KCC team in 2022 and serves as the subproject lead of the program’s Technical Assistance service. With a strong clinical background and a deep passion for perinatal mental health, Alexis is committed to enhancing the quality of care for birthing individuals and families. In this role, Alexis collaborates closely with clinics, hospitals, and healthcare providers to develop and refine effective workflows for screening, diagnosing, and treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Her work focuses on implementing evidence-based best practices, improving access to mental health resources, and ensuring that healthcare teams are well-equipped to support patients through the perinatal period.

Hui Zhao is a seasoned Associate Research Senior at KU Center for Public Partnership and Research, with over 15 years of expertise in program evaluation and research, focusing on data analysis and visualization to drive actionable insights. Her portfolio includes evaluating HRSA's MIECHV Program in Kansas, Santa Clara's First-Five initiative, and maternal health project in Sacramento. Dr. Zhao's diverse experience in education, public health, and child development enables her to make valuable contributions to advancing the well-being of vulnerable populations.