WHY THE NEED

Our clients come from multiple socio-economic levels and cultures. Many are from broken homes that lack parental/family structure with generational alcoholism, drug addiction, psychological, physical, and/or sexual abuse.  As a result, a high percentage of our clients are living a life of addiction themselves.

HOW WE ARE FUNDED

While Grace Center for Maternal and Women’s Health employs paid staff, it relies heavily on volunteers to serve its clients in the community.  The following sources of funding are utilized to fund the operations and outreach for our Center:

• Donations from the public through several fund-raising activities
• Donations from businesses in the Community
• Donations from area churches
• Grants

To learn more about our organization and the services we provide, click on our Case for Support.

Joann Manole

Joann serves as the Center’s Executive Director.

She brings with her over 30 years of clinical and management experience in both the not-for-profit and corporate health care industry.

Joann has been involved with the development of organizations from the ground up. She has served on the steering committee for a variety of nonprofit organizations including the United Hospital Fund, Yonkers Elder Friendly Initiative, Westchester Center for Creative Aging and the Bergen County Caregivers Coalition.

Joann is a seasoned speaker presenting on various health care topics and therapeutic modalities to community organizations and at professional conferences.

Cheryl L. Kokkinos, C.N.M

Cheryl serves as the Medical Director for the Center.

Cheryl Kokkinos, APRN, CNM is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who specializes as a Certified Nurse Midwife.  She received her BSN from Salisbury University and then worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Nanticoke Hospital in Seaford, Delaware.   Later, she was the Clinic Manager of Nanticoke Maternity Center where pregnant women were cared for by Nurse Midwives.  Her goal from the time she entered nursing school was to be a Nurse Midwife.  Cheryl attended Frontier University in Hyden, Kentucky and realized her dream of becoming a Nurse Midwife.  Following graduation and after passing her certification, she began working in her new role as a Nurse Midwife at Nanticoke Maternity Center. The maternity center served women who were uninsured or were insured by the state.   There were many obstacles to overcome during their care, but the challenges were met with positive attitudes and genuine caring from the support and medical staff.  After the maternity center closed, Cheryl continued to work with similar clients at LaRed Health Center in Georgetown, Delaware and then with Delaware Public Health.  Ms. Kokkinos has a passion for helping women and children to achieve and maintain healthy families and relationships.  That is the reason she came to the Grace Center for Maternal and Women’s Health as a volunteer several years ago.  She loved the personal care which each client received from the staff and how they went above and beyond to help each client achieve their goals.  When clients come to the Center, they feel supported and loved.  This is truly a unique place for those who seek and for those who give services.

Jackie Failla, R.N., S.R.A.S

Jackie is a registered nurse who oversees the Nursing Care Plan program for each client who seeks services at the Center.  She is responsible for the daily operations of the medical clinic at the Center and reports to the medical director, Cheryl L. Kokkinos, C.N.M.

She is instrumental as a leader for both the Women Supporting Women and the Young Moms of the Lower Shore support groups sponsored by the Grace Center Maternal and Women’s Health.

In addition to her experience as a nurse, Jackie has a degree in Addictions Counseling.  This provides her additional tools to assist clients and/or their children who are struggling with addictions.  Jackie too is certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist.

Jackie resides in Whaleyville, Maryland with her husband, Geoff.  They have seven children and six grandchildren.

Bobbie Hauck, R.N.

Bobbi retired to Bethany Beach, Delaware in 2014.  She worked 45 years as a Maternal Newborn Specialist in a hospital setting as well as in the Corporate sector.  Through an outreach mission at her church, she became acquainted with the Center.

Shortly after she came on board as a volunteer in 2015, she transitioned to a permanent staff member.  It took not time at all for her to recognize the enormous need within the three lower counties of the Eastern Shore.  “There were no facilities available to meet the multi-faceted problems facing young women who may not only be pregnant, but are also confronted with generational issues such as alcoholism, drug addictions, physical and/or psychological trauma or simply being financially disadvantaged.  I approach them by meeting them where they are and offering a program tailored to their individual needs.  Through prenatal teaching, parenting classes, psychological counseling and helping them achieve we are setting themselves up for success to improve their lives and those of their children”.

Bobbi currently lives in Bethany Beach, Delaware with her husband, Bill. They have four grown children and one granddaughter.