Jennifer C. : All Programs

Jen holds a BA in Education, is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a Practicing Doula (Doulas of North America) and a Fellow of the American College of Childbirth Educators. She is a Lamaze International Program Director with Giving Birth Lamaze Childbirth Educator Training Program (USA).   She has trained with USDA –WIC in lactation support and RTS in supporting through perinatal loss. She is the founder of Elizabeth Project International (www.elizabethproject.net) and has been active in developing Lamaze Childbirth Education and other maternal support programs internationally since 1999. She currently works with Atrium Health Floyd leading their childbirth and lactation education programs.

 
Tim C.:  Nacham Bereavement Counselor Certificate Program

Tim holds a Bachelors degree in Music; Master of Arts in Anthropology /Ethnomusicology; Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling; is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC).  He has trained with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in Critical Incident Stress Management as well as with Gunderson Lutheran Health Services, Resolve Through Sharing: Bereavement Training for Perinatal Loss. He has a special interest in trauma healing and recovery, and has extensive training and experience working with NGO’s in crisis response, staff care, training, counseling, consulting and capacity building for staff care/member care. He has spent most of his life in East Africa but is currently in private practice in the USA. Tim and Jennifer have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren.

Rena G. : Labor Support Specialist, Giving Birth Lamaze Educator Program

Rena is a science teacher, a facilitator, and an international public health specialist with over 12 years’ experience in Africa working on reproductive health and HIV-related issues for vulnerable children and women. Rena has a Master of Public Health from Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (2000). She obtained her doula certification through DONA International in 2010 and became a Lamaze International Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) in 2011. Rena strives to empower women to have safe and healthy birth journeys in Maryland, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. 

Laura E.: Breastfeeding Counselor, NICU Advanced Training, Giving Birth Lamaze Childbirth Educator

Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nicholls State University in 1991. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a member of ILCA. She earned her LCCE in 2024. She has practiced as an RN in Women and Children’s services for over 25 years. Her experience includes Labor and Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, routine Newborn Nursery, Post Partum/Mother and Baby Wards. She has been in women’s homes prenatal as a nurse home visitor to improve prenatal outcomes and early child hood development (Nurse-Family Partnership). For over 12 years she has been teaching breastfeeding classes for hospitals and health/ WIC departments.  She has facilitated breastfeeding support groups. She is a guest speaker in the local schools for nursing. She gives breastfeeding presentations to new Family Practice Residents at Floyd Medical Center each year.

Verda M.:  Breastfeeding Counselor , Lactation Educator 

Verda Murphy is a Certified Birth Doula with Doula’s of North America (DONA) and a (CLC) Certified Lactation Consultant.. She has worked in Lactation for 12 years, beginning in the public health sector. While with the Virginia Department of Health, she became a certified Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and a certified trainer through the Loving Support through Peer Counseling program. She has developed and taught Lactation courses to maternal child health professionals as well as expectant and breastfeeding women in her community. She is a successful business owner, providing evidence based prenatal education including childbirth education, lactation courses, she also provides birth doula support and postpartum follow-up care including but not limited to lactation support and doula care.

Verda is a Board Member of Elizabeth Protect International. She facilitates the Breastfeeding Counselor and Lactation Educator Certificate trainings in the US and internationally. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with women who desire to become a part of the maternal child health sector and has a passion to help expectant families. Verda currently lives in Virginia, USA.

 
Gorrety :  Breastfeeding Counselor, Lactation Educator

Gorrety holds a Diploma in Community Health Nursing from the Kenya Medical Training College, a Mentor with the FACES-ASPIRE Mentoring Initiative Program (KEMRI in Collaboration with University of California San Francisco), a Lamaze Trained Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Support Counselor and Educator. She is a Co- Director at SafeCare Services. She Trained with Elizabeth Project International an affiliate of Lamaze International; Nacham Bereavement Support Counselor. She has been active in community Service in offering Maternal and early parenting support, Childbirth Classes, Breastfeeding talks and telephone support.

Gorrety has 4 Children (3 Biological and 1 adopted niece)

Joyce W.: Nacham

Joyce is a Certified Grief Educator, Perinatal Loss Counselor, Life and Grief Coach, Lactation Educator, and Maternal Mental Health Advocate. She is married and has one son. She is the Kenya Chapter Leader of The Tears Foundation of Kenya. She serves as lead trainer, support group facilitator, trains Peer Champions, and offers workshops in the community.

Joyce came to EPI from the corporate sector, training as a Breastfeeding Counselor and Lactation Educator. She found her unique space in grief support while attending the Nacham Bereavement Counselor Training. Her passion, vision and skills are impacting countless families.