Staff
Barbara LeBlanc has worked at The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital since 1988, first as assistant director. She became director in August 2005. She is a licensed clinical social worker and has formerly worked for the State of Louisiana in the foster care system and as the director of social services at Children’s Hospital. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology and her master’s degree in social welfare from LSU. Barbara is the mother of three young adult children: twin boys and a daughter. Barbara teaches classes for parents of preschool and school-age children and coordinates Parenting Center programs in the community.
Debbie Regan joined the Parenting Center staff in the spring of 2006 as the assistant director. She has been a registered nurse since 1983 and international board certified lactation consultant since 1990. As a clinical nurse and nurse educator, she has worked with new mothers and babies for over 24 years. She teaches the Growing Up Class for adolescent girls, CPR, Breastfeeding & Working and other classes for families with children. She facilitates the weekly Snuggles and Struggles Support Group for new parents and Breastfeeding Support Group. In addition, she provides breastfeeding support for Children’s Hospital and nursing mothers in the community. She is a member of the Greater New Orleans Breastfeeding Awareness Coalition and president of the Louisiana Lactation Consultant Association. Debbie is the mother of one daughter and three sons.
Fern Halford, L.C.S.W., graduated from Tulane University School of Social Work in 1981, and has been in private practice for 24 years. She has been part of The Parenting Center staff for over 10 years. She has three adult children, two granddaughters, and one grandson. Fern teaches classes for parents of middle-schoolers and teens as well as those living in stepfamilies and is a certified educator of infant message.
Jenni Watts Evans has been involved in early childhood education and development from many angles. Beginning in the classroom as a preschool teacher, Jenni moved into advocacy work and adult education as a parent counselor at Child Care Resources of Agenda For Children where she helped parents find quality child care and trained teachers of young children. Jenni has also served on the Board of the Greater New Orleans Association for the Education of Young Children and was on the Anti-Bias Education Leadership Project team. Jenni joined the staff at The Parenting Center in 2002 and has two daughters. Jenni shares in staffing The Metairie Center a few days a week and teaches activity, child development, and discipline classes for parents of young children.
Lisa Phillips, MSW, GSW has been a Parent Educator at The Parenting Center since 2001. She received her BA from Occidental College and her MSW from Tulane University. Before joining the Parenting Center staff, Lisa worked as a school social worker. She has two children, a daughter and a son. Lisa teaches discipline classes for parents of preschool children, shares in staffing the Metairie Center, and teaches the Busy Babies.
Support Staff:
Beth Bailar joined the Parenting Center in 2001. She ensures the smooth operation of our classes, coordinates Parenting Center activities and community events, and oversees all aspects of membership. Her experiences as a teacher and in the business community have proved invaluable in organizing and facilitating many aspects of The Parenting Center’s programming.