Learn about our wonderful First Born® Program homevisiting staff!
Lisa Church is a full time home visitor with the First Born® Program. Lisa is approaching her 1st year anniversary with the program and has loved being a part of such a wonderful family friendly organization. Spending time with families while watching the babies grow and learn has been incredibly rewarding. Lisa has a degree in Community Health with a focus in family studies. She hopes to grow along side the families as they step into the next stage of life.
Mary Shea joined The United Way of Santa Fe County’s Santa Fe Children’s Project as a Home Visitor for their First Born® Program in September. She previously worked as a substitute teacher in their Pre-Kindergarten program. Mary graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Family Studies from the University of New Mexico. She is a member of The Santa Fe Community Foundation’s Future Santa Fe giving circle which gives her the opportunity to be actively involved in making a positive contribution to the Northern New Mexico area. Her commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters further enables her passion for helping youth within the community.
Tekla Johnson graduated from Carleton College in 1997 with a degree in Latin American Studies, and started working as a Home Visitor in Santa Fe in 2000. In addition to working as a home visitor, she has taught prenatal classes, worked as a doula (labor assistant), helped people apply for Social Security Disability and worked as an Early Interventionist with children with developmental delays. Ms. Johnson joined the United Way staff in 2006, and moved into a supervisory role in 2009, with the expansion of Baby University and implementation of the First Born® home visiting program.
Abby Bordner began working in Women’s Health at Planned Parenthood in Portland, Oregon. She’s worked in pediatric and ob/gyn offices as a medical assistant and health educator and in the past 10 years has focused on pregnancy and maternal/infant health and education. She works as a doula, childbirth educator, parenting educator and lactation consultant. She began working for First Born® in May of 2009 as the Postpartum Home Visitor to help women with breastfeeding, infant care and adjustment to parenting.
Chrissy Schmitt is a licensed mental health counselor and carries a Masters Degree in Art Therapy from Southwestern College. Her professional work has included therapeutic outdoor adventure, individual and family counseling, art therapy workshops for women and parents, and conflict resolution with adolescent girls from the Middle East.
Desiree Beltran is a Spanish/English bilingual Home Visitor for the First Born® Program since May 2009. Desiree has worked with families and children in the areas of education, immigrants rights, and reproductive rights in New Mexico, California, Idaho, and Mexico for the past 8 years. Before joining First Born, Desiree worked as a community organizer on campaigns to improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and to promote voting among Latino communities in Idaho. She has always dedicated her efforts towards helping immigrant families and local families access the services they need to give their kids the best chances for healthy and fulfilling lives.
Amanda Rivera de Garcia is a Spanish/English home visitor with the First Born® Program. She began working for this program in February 2009. Before coming to the First Born® Program, Amanda worked as a GED en Español instructor, coordinated English as a Second Language classes at workplaces across Santa Fe County, and helped the immigrant population have access to ESL classes in Santa Fe. Amanda has a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. Being part of the First Born® Family has been a rewarding experience.
First Born® Program accepting donations!!
The following is a list of items that can be used and shared with participating families. If you’d like to make a donation, please give clean and gently used items to your home visitor or contact Abby Bordner 670-5203. Thank you!
Baby gyms (play mats with toys hanging in archway)
Diapers (any size)
Books (board books, children’s books or resource books)
Breast pumps
Cash donations (www.uwsfc.org)
