Sherry Kitchens, Ed.S., LMFT
Director
Sherry Kitchens became the President/CEO of the Child Advocacy Center in June of 2005. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Emory University in 1992 and her M.Ed./Ed.S from the University of Florida in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1996. She became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 1999. Sherry began her work in the child abuse prevention and intervention field in Atlanta while working with the Georgia Council on Child Abuse in the Home Visitor Program, a precursor to Healthy Start and Healthy Families. From 1996 until 2005, Sherry worked with the Corner Drug Store, Inc. in the Family Action Program and the Drug Free Communities Support Program first as a Counselor/Case Manager and then as a Regional Coordinator. With a positive attitude, history of successful community relationships and passion for helping children, at the Child Advocacy Center, she hopes to continue her efforts of bringing partners together to create the safety and community support children need to grow and flourish in our community.

Pat Berryman-Dages, MHS
Forensic Interviewer
Pat Berryman-Dages joined the Gainesville Child Advocacy Center team in February, 2006. She received her B.S. in Office Administration/Education from Auburn University in 1988. While at Auburn she was a member and captain of the nationally ranked Auburn Lady Tigers Basketball Team. She taught and coached basketball, soccer, and lacrosse in Maryland for several years after graduating from Auburn. She relocated to Florida in 1996 and became a Case Manager for the Early Delinquency and Intervention & Prevention Program at Daniel Memorial in Jacksonville. In 1998 she relocated to Gainesville and worked for the University of Florida as a Counselor and Research Project Coordinator for the Telehealth and Healthcare Communications Center. In 2003 she received her MHS from the University of Florida in Rehabilitation Counseling. She then went on to work as a Case Coordinator for the Guardian ad Litem Program advocating for the best interests of children who have been neglected and/or abused. She hopes to continue serving children to the fullest by preventing further neglect/abuse as a Forensic Interviewer at the Child Advocacy Center here in Gainesville, Florida.

Corinne Edwards, Ed.S., LMHC
Lead Therapist
Corinne began working at the Child Advocacy Center in September 2006. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida in 1998 and her M.Ed./Ed.S. in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida in 2001. She became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in 2006. Her work with children began in 2000 as a Counselor/Case Manager at the Family Action Program through the Corner Drug Store. From 2002 to 2003, she provided individual, group, and family therapy to female adolescents in a juvenile commitment facility. From 2003 to 2005 she was a counselor with the Drug Free Communities Support Program working with children and their families. For a year she also worked as a counselor for the 21 st Century Program at the Corner Drug Store, providing therapy to elementary school children. From 2005 to 2006, prior to coming to the Child Advocacy Center, she was a Case Coordinator for the Child Protection Team at the University of Florida. In her current position, she hopes to assist in expanding the Center's therapy program and further the Center's efforts of using creative means to assist children in their healing process.

Kelly Harknett
Program Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
Kelly Harknett began working at the Center in October 2006.She brings a variety of professional backgrounds from Business, Construction to foster care. Her ability to apply all aspects of learning career enable her to provide a vast strength to the center. Her compassion for all children and the need to help lead her to the center. She is involved in all areas of the center and the community. She grew up here locally in Alachua and is glad to be giving back to the community that gave so much. Her and her family actively participate in community organizations such as Mebane Band Boosters and Junior Fire Fighter Academy as well as community events provided by the center. She hopes to provide a strong positive foundation for the center to stand through out the constant changes of our community in effort to help every child that comes to the center.

Adrian Weeks
Family Advocate
Adrian attended and played football at Auburn University and Indiana State University, and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and a minor in Journalism. With a strong interest in helping people, Adrian served as the Minority Mentor and Coordinator at Indiana State, as well as the Assistant Director of a YMCA. Originally from Lake Butler , FL, he has long been involved in our local community, and now serves as the Assistant Pastor of his church. Adrian began working with the Child Advocacy Center in September 2006 as the Family Advocate, and continues his work helping the community and its members.

Mary McCue
Therapist

Maida Hoit
Child Victim Advocate
Maida Hoit graduated from Pestalozzi Froebel Teachers College with a B.E. degree in 1951 and taught in LaGrange, Illinois school system for five years. During that same period she took special courses at Normal Teacher's College to establish the first EMH program in that school district. While raising three children, she was able to do various other volunteer activities, all involving children. In 1960, she was recognized as Woman of the Year for establishing a project that convinced the Indiana State Legislative to pass a law providing free school lunch for needy children. Maida became a Guardian ad Litem in Broward County in 1987 dealing with child victims of sexual abuse in the court system, until moving to Gainesville in 1996 where she continued the same role with the local Guardian Program. Eventually she was asked to join the 8th Circuit State Attorney's office as a "child" victim advocate, and is now combining that role with the CAC.

Louisa Powell
Assistant Case Manager
Louisa Powell began working at the Center as an intern in May of 2007. Following her summer internship, she joined the Child Advocacy Center team in September of 2007. Louisa looks forward to earning her Bachelor’s degree in English and minors in Family Youth and Communities and Non-Profit Organizations from the University of Florida pending her imminent graduation in 2008. Louisa grew up in the great city of Saint Petersburg, Florida where she began volunteering at the age of 9. Over the course of 13 years, she has volunteered with local organizations and programs such as CASA (Shelter for abused women), Meals on Wheels, Boy Scouts of America, Congregations United for Community Action, Color Me Human, Neighbor to Neighbor, Boys and Girls Club, Young Women’s Christian Association, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Teen Court and University of Florida’s Disability Resource Center. In 2004, Louisa Powell was honored with the City of St. Petersburg’s Student Citizen of the Month Award and Scholarship for her unwavering commitment to youth and her community.

Lauren Odell Ed.S.
Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern
Assistant Case Manager
Lauren joined the CAC team in late November 2007. She earned her bachelors in psychology and master's degrees in counselor education and marriage and family therapy from the University of Florida. Lauren is looking forward to becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the near future. She has an extensive history working with at risk youth and their families in Alachua, Levy, and Gilchrist Counties. She has training and certification in Multisystemic Therapy and recently worked with the Henry and Rilla White Foundation with repeat juvenile law offenders and their families to reduce recidivism rates and empower families to make positive changes in order to remain out of the juvenile justice system. From November 2003 to April 2006 Lauren worked at Lincoln Middle School with the Corner Drug Store's Family Action Program providing individual, group, and family therapy to high risk youth and their families. She was honored with the Esprit De Corps Award for Excellence in Service to youth and families in the community in October 2004. Additionally, Lauren interned with Pace Center for Girls and the Alachua County Crisis Center. For several years she also volunteered with Peaceful Paths Domestic Violence Network in the role of co-facilitator of adult support groups. Lauren has a unique background growing up in Saudi Arabia and attending International schools which brings another element of diversity to the CAC team.