Board of Directors

Region I

Rob Gregory, President

Rob is married with four adult children and one precious granddaughter. He is a proud owner of a Keeshond (pet!). A  graduate of the University of Idaho (BA), Rob then attended graduate school at Eastern Washington University, where he received his MSW. He retired after 33 years with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, serving 13 years as a Program Manager for Children and Family Services. He enjoys the outdoors, fishing, hunting, golf, and travel.

Email Rob:

Marilyn Delgado

Marilyn Delgado has three children ages 5, 10 and 13 years old.  Being a mom has been and continues to be her greatest achievement and challenge.  It is where her life’s lessons are best taught and learned.  Marilyn has her undergraduate degree form the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her Masters of Social Work degree from Eastern Washington University.  She has been affiliated with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare since 1997.  Marilyn has worked in a psychiatric residential facility, was a school social worker for the Community Resources for Families program and later was coordinator for the program in Reg 1, served as a child protection investigator and currently holds the position of Regional Program Specialist for Children’s Mental Health program.  Marilyn serves on several Boards and community coalitions as a Department and community representative.  Marilyn also works with the Hispanic community with the Latino Outreach Project, a community based organization that promotes outreach efforts to the Latino community of North Idaho.  Marilyn recently joined Boise State University adjunct faculty, teaching graduate level courses for the Social Work Department.  Marilyn enjoys music, dancing, and enjoying the beauty of North Idaho while boating, camping, hiking and running. 

Email Marilyn: mdelgado@idahofederation.org

2007 Board Retreat

Region II

Christina Lymberopoulos

I have a wonderful teenage son who has been diagnosed with Bi-Polar and Asperger’s. His struggles have been many and his sense of humor has served us well. He is my hero and my inspiration. In advocating for him, I found that knowledge is the best tool.

I serve as Vice-chair of the State Mental Health Planning Council and as a Parent Representative from Region II. I’ve been a member of the Children’s Subcommittee since being appointed to the Planning Council and served as a member of the Executive Committee during 2003 and 2004. Since 2005 I’ve also chaired the Children’s Subcommittee. On the local level, I am the Vice-Chair for the Clearwater County Children’s Mental Health Council. I represent parents of SED children on the JCC – Lewiston Advisory Board. I have been a Parent Speaker on several occasions in an effort to help educate the public about Children’s Mental Health. I’ve been a Volunteer Firefighter and First Responder since 2001.

I enjoy camping, cookouts, singing, spending time with family and dancing. I believe that life is short and you should forgive quickly, hug slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that makes you smile.

Email Christina:

Kathie Garrett

Kathie Garrett has a life time of experience and advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.  Kathie started working in the California State Hospital system in 1963.  Of that time she said, “The only way I could survive was to focus on how I could make things better for people living in these institutions and how to get them back into our communities.”

In 1982, Kathie and her family moved to South Carolina where Kathie finished her degree in Political Science at Clemson University.  Next they moved to Oregon were Kathie completed a Masters in Public Administration from Portland State University.

The Garrett’s moved to Idaho in 1991 and they were more that ready to put down roots.  Kathie immediately got involved pursuing her passion for politics and advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities and their families.

Kathie served as an Idaho State Representative from 2002 through 2006.  She served as Vice Chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee and served on the Health Care Task Force, the Mental Health Subcommittee, and the Mental Health Transformation Work Group.

Kathie currently works as a Legislative Advisor for several health care and disabilities groups.  Kathie serves a Co-Chair of the Governor’s Council on Suicide Prevention.  She is also a member of the State Planning Council on Mental Health, a Board member of NAMI-Idaho and the Family Medicine Residency.

Kathie has taken leadership to establish Partners in Crisis, a group of individuals and organizations who are interested in improving Idaho’s mental health and substance abuse system and impacting public policy.

Kathie is married to Vern Garrett who is co-owner of Assent Behavioral Health specializing in substance abuse treatment especially for those with co-occurring mental health disorders.

Kathie and Vern have two grown children and are proud grandparents of two with another one on the way.

Email Kathie: kgarrett@idahofederation.org

Region III

Jodi Schilling, Secretary

Jodi has her BA degree in Education and is an experienced teacher.  She has personal first-hand experience understanding multi-cultural, socio-economic and minority populations' unique needs.

She is the mother of four children, two of whom have mental health disorders.  She feels a strong pull to participate in efforts to promote better understanding, programs, supports and legislation for children affected by SED.

Art, scrapbooking and family activities keep Jodi busy in her spare time.

Email Jodi:  mom2zjkc@yahoo.com

Region IV

D'Anna Smith

As the parent of a son with multiple mental health diagnoses and developmental disbilities, D'Anna educated herself on how to become an advocate for her child.  She was an integral member of a group that formed a family advocacy faction.  She describes herself as "tenacious" with no qualms about taking on an issue about which she feels passionate.

She brings diverse experience and problem solving skills to the Federation.  She serves as an emergency medical technician in her small community of Idaho City, and has many related certifications.  She is also a volunteer resource parent with IPUL.

Email D'Anna:  drsmith9714@aol.com

Region V

Angela Hicks

Angela Hicks is the parent of two sons. Her personal challenges in parenting special needs children led her to become an advocate for others facing challenges across the State of Idaho.

Her involvements include: Board President-Idaho Federation of Families, Idaho State Planning Council Region Five Parent Representative, Local Evaluation Specialist-Building on Each Others Strengths Cooperative Agreement, Regional Council Parent Representative, Region Five Mental Health Advisory Board Parent Representative, and serving as NAMI Wood River Valley Vice President and the NAMI Idaho Board of Directors.

Email Angela:

Region VI

Vacant

Region VII

Fred Kirn

Hi, my name is Fred Kirn and I am the dinosaur on the Board of Directors, not because I'm old, but because I am the last original member and held the distinction of being the Board's first President. I am the father of two young ladies, Amy and Gabrielle, and the spouse of Mary for the last 29 years. Gabrielle, a child with BiPolar and severe anxiety disorders, challenged my education and experience in the mental health field for most of her adolescence and young adulthood. Even with advanced degrees in counseling and 24 years of experience in the field, it was impossible to be your child's therapist and father at the same time, so enter the Federation, with its parent support, training in IDEA and education.

I am the Region VII Field Program Manager for Children and Family Services (CFS), and oversee public child welfare and child mental health. Previously I was the Chief of Children's Mental Health, supervising foster care and adoptions, and was a practicing child therapist. I have a Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of Idaho and a B.S. in Psychology from Washington State University.

I am patriotic, being born in Washington D.C. on George Washington's birthday, in the Garfield Memorial Hospital. I enjoy golf, or as some say, am a fanatic about the sport. I do maintain a 10 handicap, which isn't bad for a guy who didn't take it up until his mid-40s. I love the outdoors and do a lot of hiking and backpacking in Idaho, Arizona and Utah. I am an Apple Mac lover and believe everyone should be one too. I have an artistic side, painting and drawing, and photographing the great outdoors, from Yellowstone to Arizona's Superstition Mountains to the beaches of southern California.

Email Fred:

Board Nominations

We are looking for people who support the Idaho Federation of Families, are family friendly, are accessible and open to dialogue with all members of the Federation, are assertive and willing to get involved, and are committed to improving services for families who have children with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. If you are unsure of your membership status, contact us.

Board Member Application