Our Staff
Jim Horan
Executive Director
 Jim has served as Executive Director of CAHS since 2001. CAHS has refocused its advocacy, research, and outreach under the umbrella of "family economic success" during Jim's tenure, while continuing its long-time commitment to improving early care and education, health, and access to nutrition and other basic needs. Through Jim's leadership, CAHS has bolstered its advocacy efforts at the State Capitol and increasingly in Washington, built strong coalitions among advocates and providers, and fostered best practices that move low-income children and families toward economic self-sufficiency.
Before coming to CAHS, Jim was Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Assistant to the mayor, and lobbyist for the City of New Haven. After receiving Juris Doctor and Master of Planning degrees from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, he worked as an attorney at Robinson & Cole in Hartford and as the Associate Director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition.
Liz Dupont-Diehl
 Policy Director
Liz Dupont-Diehl joined CAHS in 2011 as Policy Director. Liz has worked at a number of non-profits, including most recently Career Resources Inc. of Bridgeport, where she was Vice President of Development and one of the founders and co-chair of the Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative. At Career Resources she helped coordinate the community’s response to the needs of people returning to the community after prison and expand programming to better serve former offenders. Liz has also been Executive Director of the Citizens’ Research and Education Network, Research and Information Coordinator for the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, and Planning Analyst and Director of Public Relations for the Community Renewal Team. She works with the Sheff Movement to support quality, integrated education, and was a journalist for seven years and Communications Director for Ned Lamont’s 2006 US Senate Campaign. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Eastern Connecticut State University.
Gloria Beltran
 Outreach Advocate
Gloria has been as CAHS since 2006 and works as the Outreach Advocate for Fairfield County, including both SNAP(Food Stamps) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program outreach. Prior to CAHS, Gloria worked as the Match Support Specialist at Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College, and is soon to graduate from Albertus Magnus with a master’s degree in Leadership.
Brian Berry
 Business Manager
Brian came to CAHS in 2009 as Business Manager. He oversees the day-to-day business, financial, and accounting operations of CAHS. Brian has 10 years of experience in the nonprofit field, including working at Bethphage (now MOSAIC) and MARC: Community Resources. Brian has his associate’s degree in Accounting from Middlesex Community College.
Jude Carroll
Connecticut Kids Count Project Director
 Since 2003 Jude has been directing the Connecticut Kids Count Project, collecting data from a number of sources to create policy publications that explain the implications of social, economic, educational, and health-related conditions for all Connecticut children. She is also the author of CAHS’ publications for the Working Poor Families Project. Jude also worked at CAHS from 1989 to 1997 as the Child Care and Early Education Division Director. Jude has a bachelor’s degree from Assumption College and a master’s degree in Anthropology/Social Change from the University of Connecticut.
Ellen Carter
 Program Director
Ellen began working at CAHS in 2005. As the Financial Education programs Coordinator, she operates the Connecticut Money School. Ellen oversees the statewide activities of CMS and provides expertise on asset-building programs. Prior to joining CAHS, she was active in community and coalition building in Worchester, bringing together neighborhood groups and city government. She has her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Urban Studies from the College of the Holy Cross.
Sarah Chasse
 New England Consortium Coordinator
Sarah began working as an intern at CAHS in 2009. She now coordinates the New England Consortium, a six-state child and family poverty reduction initiative. In this role, Sarah has helped develop and build regional support for a federal policy agenda. Before joining CAHS, Sarah facilitated a foster youth advocacy group at Casey Family Services, and worked as a suicide and crisis counselor at Wheeler Clinic. She earned her BSW from Southern Connecticut State University, and her MSW in Policy Practice from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.
Nera Clemente
 Outreach Advocate
Nera began at CAHS in 2008, and works as an Outreach Advocate for SNAP (Food Stamps) and coordinates the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in Waterbury and Danbury. Nera has a comprehensive background in working with communities as a Parent Educator/Liaison and substitute teacher with the City of Waterbury, and as a teacher in New York City with the Welfare to Work program. She has an associate’s degree in Elementary Education from Bronx Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lehman College.
Jillian Gilchrest
 Early Care and Education Analyst
Jillian joined CAHS in 2011 as the new Early Care & Education Policy Analyst. Prior to CAHS, Jillian worked as a Child Advocate at a Sexual Assault Crisis Center and as the Committee Clerk to the State’s Appropriations Committee and Legislative Aide for then-Committee co-chair, Denise Merrill. Jillian received a Masters degree in Social Work with a focus in Policy Practice from the University of Connecticut in 2008 and most recently worked as the Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut. She is active in a number of organizations, including the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women’s Young Women’s Leadership Program, the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Park Street Playhouse in West Hartford. Jillian is excited to be a part of the CAHS team and to be working on ECE issues in the state of Connecticut.
Janet Hanscom
 Manager, CT Money School
Janet joined CAHS in 2010 as a Volunteer Coordinator for the CT Money School and Outreach Advocate for SNAP (formerly Food Stamp Program). Prior to CAHS, Janet was the Director of Operations at Ronald McDonald House in New Haven for over 5 years where she was responsible for volunteer engagement, family advocacy, and day-to-day operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University in Management Information Systems.
Sheryl Horowitz
 Community Research Director
Sheryl came to CAHS in 2010 with the goal of implementing Results Based Accountability evaluation within the family of programs administered and operated by CAHS. Sheryl has a background in anthropology and has worked in community based organizations and non-profits doing research and evaluation on programs to improve the health and quality of life of low income and marginalized populations. Most recently, Sheryl has worked with the Institute for Medical Quality in California to assess an educational mandate to train physicians to communicate effectively with patients from diverse backgrounds. Sheryl received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has completed post-doctoral work at UC Berkeley in Demography and Stanford University in Population Ecology.
Shannon Houston
 Project Coordinator
Shannon joined CAHS in 2010. She coordinates the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program across the southwestern region of the state, and also facilitates the Bridgeport Family Economic Success Coalition, which focuses on promoting financial literacy, economic self-sufficiency, and asset building among Bridgeport area families through a comprehensive financial resource center. Prior to CAHS, Shannon coordinated communications, recruitment, and alumni relations for Public Allies Connecticut, an AmeriCorps program, and interned with The Consultation Center in New Haven, where she helped to manage a statewide youth-police relations initiative. Shannon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Writing from Ithaca College and an MSW focused in Community Organization from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.
Robin Hudson
 Executive Assistant
Robin has been with CAHS since 2008. She serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director. Previously, she worked in the corporate sector as an Account Executive for Mass Mutual Insurance Company. She currently serves as a Board Member for the Bridge Family Centers Inc., and as the leader of a Daisy Girl Scout Troop.
Marci Neufer
 Program Coordinator
Marci began at CAHS in 2010 as an intern. She now coordinates Bank On Connecticut, a collaboration of community based organizations and financial institutions across the state, working to connect unbanked individuals with financial education and low-cost bank accounts. In addition to her Bank On Connecticut work, Marci does over the phone screening and application assistance as an outreach advocate for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Prior to CAHS, Marci was a teacher in a before and after school program, and interned with Voices for America’s Children. Marci holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master’s in Urban Studies with a focus in Youth Leadership from Eastern University.
Aleja Rosario
 Outreach Advocate
Aleja came to CAHS in 2005, and works as the Outreach Advocate for the Greater Hartford, New Britain and Middletown area. She connects individuals, families, and seniors to SNAP (Food Stamp) and other services. Before working at CAHS, she coordinated a breast feeding program at the Hispanic Health Council for 13 years. Aleja is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Trinity College. She is currently working towards a master’s degree in Human Services from Central Connecticut State University.
Roger Senserrich
 EarnBenefits Project Coordinator
Roger has been with CAHS since 2008 as the Outreach Advocate for SNAP (food stamps) in the Greater New Haven region. He also coordinates the EarnBenefits project, a program dedicated to streamlining the process of applying for public benefits. Before CAHS, Roger worked as an advocate and organizer for 1000 Friends of Connecticut, and in public relations as an Account Manager at Bauza & Associates. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, and a master’s degree in Social Studies from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.
 Lois Taylor
Director of Development and Marketing
Lois came to CAHS in 2009, serving as Director of Development and Marketing. She is responsible for the organization’s fundraising, including special events, direct mail, grants, gifts, and marketing. Before coming to CAHS, Lois accumulated over 35 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in Rhode Island and Connecticut. She has a rich background encompassing all aspects of professional fundraising, and has coordinated events ranging from black-tie galas to golf tournaments to membership campaigns. Lois has an associate’s degree from Graham Junior College and attended the American Institute of Paralegal Studies.
Sharon Taylor
Outreach Advocate
 Sharon Taylor joined CAHS in 2011 and is the SNAP Outreach Advocate for the Greater New Haven region. Prior to joining CAHS, she attended Tufts University where she received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Community Health. She also received her Masters in Public Health from the Yale School of Public Health and is currently a member of the NAACP New Haven Chapter.
Calvin Ware
Information Technology Administrator
 Calvin Ware has been the Information Technology Administrator at CAHS since June 2010. He oversees the organization’s technology needs, including hardware and software maintenance, website, database development and maintenance, and staff training. Calvin previously was the IT Manager for AIDS Project Hartford and Information Specialist for the Hartford Board of Education. He is a graduate of Branford Hall Career Institute.
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