New 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for LGBTQI+ Teens

Kimberly Loomer, Ph.D.
Augusta University Medical College of Georgia
Associate Dean for Learner Well-being, Associate Professor, Psychiatry & Health Behavior

Dr. Kimberly A. Vess joined Methodist University as the Senior Associate Dean of Student Experience of the College of Medicine and the Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine. She is passionate about students, community resilience, and diversity and inclusion as evidenced by her creation and implementation of courses in Cultural Competence and Health Disparities at two institutions. Vess, formerly a full professor in Psychiatry & Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia, and served as the Principal Investigator of an $800k grant for Resilient Communities and Resilient Teens. Vess has produced an abundance of scholarly activity, resulting in the publication of five textbooks, numerous book chapters, and peer-reviewed publications.Vess immerses herself in the community. She serves (or has served) on boards at the local, state, and national level. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ball State University, a master’s degree in counseling, as well as her doctoral degree in counseling and psychology from the University of Cincinnati. Subsequently, she earned a Management Development Certificate from Harvard University.

Caitlyn Brantley, MSW

Caitlyn is the Prevention Services Director at Child Enrichment Inc. With a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina, she brings extensive experience to her role, having started as an intern and joined as a full-time employee in 2016. Caitlyn specializes in conducting Forensic Interviews with children and teenagers, supervising interns, and spearheading Child Abuse Prevention initiatives at Child Enrichment Inc. Outside of work, she finds joy in nurturing her collection of indoor and outdoor plants, as well as traveling with her family.

Kari Viola-Brooke, LPC, CPCS

Kari Viola-Brooke serves as the Executive Director of Child Enrichment, where she embarked on her journey in August 2012. Child Enrichment encompasses the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Child Advocacy Center, and Prevent Child Abuse Council, serving nine counties in the Greater Augusta area. Kari holds licenses as a Professional Counselor and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor. She also contributes to ChildFirst Georgia as a faculty member, training interviewers statewide in forensic interview techniques. Outside her professional commitments, Kari enjoys participating in weekend 5K runs with her wife and tackling triathlons in her spare time.

Rebecca Best, BA Psych, MBA
Dorothy A. Hahn, MD Endowed Chair in Pediatrics
Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity
Division Chief, General Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine
Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University

Rebecca Best has been a cornerstone of Resilient Communities and Resilient Teens since the beginning, playing a crucial role in bringing the Resilient Communities vision to life. As a branding and marketing expert, she crafted the distinctive branding that has become synonymous with these initiatives. Her expertise in leveraging strategic marketing tools and executing innovative campaigns has helped our organization stand out and thrive.Before venturing into marketing consultancy, Rebecca was a Professor of Marketing, where she taught college students on effective marketing strategies and facilitated community projects to apply their learnings. Her professional journey includes serving as a sales and client manager for a multi-million-dollar branch of a North Carolina bank, a Director of Marketing & Business Development for a local CPA firm, and even kick started her own Marketing Agency before joining forces with Augusta owned and operated M3 Agency. With 25 years of experience, Rebecca is an ambitious and proactive leader known for her keen business acumen and ability to collaborate with key stakeholders to promote an organization’s successes and brand integrity.

EDUCATION

Augusta University Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Augusta University Masters in Business Administration

Melissa Bemiller, Ph.D.
Augusta University
Department of Social Sciences
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology

Originally from South Bend, Indiana, Melissa moved to Orlando, FL, where she attended the University of Central Florida. After graduating with her Ph.D., she accepted her first position as an Assistant Professor at Lakeland College in Wisconsin. Next, she moved to Tennessee, where she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis Lambuth Campus, before moving to Augusta University.She is currently an Assistant Professor at Augusta University in the Department of Social Sciences. Her subject matter expertise is in violent crime, specifically preventing and reacting to childhood victimization. In addition, she has spent 12 years researching childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, lethality, injury prevention, and reactionary measures, including building resiliency and trauma-informed care.She is thrilled to be in a position that allows her to integrate her passion for research, desire to help her community, and love for teaching. She is grateful for the networking opportunities in the Augusta region and connecting with so many people in the area who have the same drive that she does to make the community safer and healthier for children.She is married to an amazing partner who is supportive of the challenges that come with her position. Together, they have two fourteen-year-old rescue cats, Whizzer and Snowflake. In their spare time, they enjoy being outdoors. One of Melissa’s favorite things is to explore new areas and wineries. Her husband loves to fish on the lake, but she enjoys reading while on the boat. They also enjoy hiking and working together on upcycling furniture, remodeling activities, and gardening projects.

EDUCATION

University of Central Florida: Orlando, Florida BS, 2008, Criminal Justice

University of Central Florida: Orlando, Florida MA, 2010, Applied Sociology

University of Central Florida: Orlando, Florida Ph.D., 2013, Sociology, Area of Concentration: Crime/Deviance, Area of Specialization: Childhood Victimization

April L. Hartman, MD, FAAP
Dorothy A. Hahn, MD Endowed Chair in Pediatrics
Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity
Division Chief, General Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine
Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University

Dr. April Hartman is a dedicated general pediatrician specializing in behavioral health, serving Georgia’s children for over 20 years. As Division Chief of General Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, she enhances pediatric healthcare statewide. Dr. Hartman is also Vice Chair for Advocacy and an Associate Professor, showcasing her commitment to medical education and community service. Her leadership roles include Chief of Pediatrics in Donalsonville, Medical Director and later Chief Medical Officer for Piedmont Columbus Regional Medical Group, and Medical Director for Ambulatory Pediatric Services at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. She serves on several boards focused on child welfare and family support, including Child Enrichment, Inc., Georgia Family Connection Partnership, and Harrisburg Family Medicine. As Chair of the Medicaid Taskforce for the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, she received the AAP Excellence in Leadership and Advocacy Award in 2022. Dr. Hartman recently completed the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Fellowship from Drexel University, furthering her leadership in pediatric care. A passionate educator and mentor, she exemplifies servant leadership, advocating for the health and well-being of children throughout Georgia.

EDUCATION

Pacific Union College, Angwin, CA 1990, B.S. Psychology

Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 1998, MD

Medicine Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 2001

Pediatrics University of MA, 2019

Primary Care Behavioral Health Certification Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 2023,

Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Fellowship

Julie K. Miller, MPA
Georgia Family Connection Partnership
Regional Manager
East Central Georgia – Region 7

Originally from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Julie relocated to Georgia and lived in several cities before settling with her family in Dearing. Julie started her career in college as a clerk on the city desk at The Atlanta Journal. When she graduated, she was promoted to reporter, something no other person had accomplished at that time. Her passion for helping communities learn, grow and implement meaningful change for children and families led her to a Master’s degree in Public Administration and her current role as Regional Manager with Georgia Family Connection Partnership. She is a certified facilitator for Bridges Out of Poverty and the Strengthening Families Programs. In addition, she is an Equity Facilitator for GaFCP in her organization’s Race, Equity, and Inclusion work. Finally, as a grant writer, she has brought in more than $10 million for the communities she serves. Julie also serves on the Board of Directors for Hope House. Her favorite motivational quote is, “Nevertheless, she persisted.” She believes perseverance and persistence toward a goal will get you where you want to go and make the change you want to see. She enjoys playing with her grandchildren

EDUCATION

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Associate Degree, Fine Arts

Georgia State University, Bachelor’s Degree, Journalism

Augusta University, Master’s Degree in Public Administration