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Thanks for joining us! Founded in December of 2017 Hand in Hand Family Resource Center (a 501c3 non-profit) is dedicated to guide, empower, support and educate the caregivers and communities of individuals with health concerns and disabilities in order to increase inclusion and diversity in society. We are committed to serving the communities of Columbia, Montour and Lower Luzerne Counties .
There is a place in the world for everyone, despite the way they communicate, the way they walk or get around, the supports they use and the idiosyncrasies they have. What do we all have in common? We are all human and we all have an innate need to belong.
We need to think outside the box, we need to presume competence and we need to see the person.
There is a way, because there is a will.
There is an ability in each one of us.
We need to embrace this as a community.
Hand in Hand Family Resource Center is ready to provide the resources, education, helping hands…WHATEVER THE NEED…to make this happen.
Thank you for coming and we hope you will visit often.
This is a place to learn. This is a place to find support. This is the place where everyone belongs.
There is one grand lie: that we are limited. The only limits we have are the limits we believe. —Wayne Dyer
Board of Directors
After graduating from Berwick Area School District, Jennifer enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a member of the Navy Fleet bands in Naples, Italy and Seattle, Washington. Receiving an honorable discharge she drove back to Pennsylvania in her Blue, Pop-Top, Volkswagon Camper Van. She attended York College of Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor’s in Music Education. She taught private saxophone, clarinet and piano lessons to over 58 children and adults in the York area. Feeling the need to be with family she moved home and took the position of Director of Music at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Mountain Top. Jennifer and her husband became the parents of a beautiful little baby girl who at 6 months was diagnosed with a seizure disorder. At this point Jennifer left music to stay with her daughter. This new life situation led Jennifer to another career route where she became an Inclusion Consultant and an Employment Specialist with Include Me a program of The Arc of Pennsylvania. Eventually Jennifer founded Hand in Hand Family Resource Center with her good friend, Jen Hipps. Currently Jennifer is a Family Evaluation Specialist for Pa MENTOR, a PA Family Network Advisor with Vision for Equality, Inc., and the Organist at Grace Lutheran Church in Berwick. She is married to her incredibly supportive husband and has two absolutely beautiful, wonderful children Chase and Rheanon who make everyday a fabulous day and if not for them would not have this wonderful life. They also have a Golden Retriever Henry, 2 cows, several chickens, one guinea fowl and bees!
Jennifer Kepner-Billig, President and Founder
jenniferb@handinhandpa.org
Toni-Ann Yates, Vice-President, Fundraising and PR Chair
toni-anny@handinhandpa.org
Toni-Ann graduated from Bloomsburg University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Bachelor of Arts in Theater. After 5 years in public education, and serving for a short time as the Education Director at The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, she moved into the restaurant and events industry. She currently owns Craft Catering and teaches Yoga at Bloom Health and Fitness. Most importantly, she is the wife of Jamie, a music enthusiast and Mathematics Teacher, at Bloomsburg High School, and mom to James, 12 and David, 10. James loves books, baseball, his iPad, and animals. He was diagnosed in 2010 with a rare chromosome disorder, Partial Trisomy 10Q, and in 2013 with Autism. David loves Legos, soccer, reading, our dog Scout and playing video games. As a family we love hiking, kayaking, and camping!
Toni-Ann’s passion for this non-profit goes beyond the role it plays in helping James, but into the value a group like this holds for the entire community. Everyone’s lives are touched by people with special needs and the amazing people who serve them.
Christa has been working as an occupational therapist since 1993. The majority of her expereicne is in Pediatrics, specifcally school and clinic based practice. In 2007 she became the co/owner of Kidswork Therapy Services. She enjoys working in the public school setting, supervising her staff and working with district personnel to provide the best possible school experience for their students. She enjoys being able to support the community, specifically when it comes to children with different abilities, and she is honored to be a part of Hand in Hand.
She lives in Catawissa PA with her husband Jeff, daughter Reese and 2 dogs, Marely and Jax. She has a son Tyler, who lives in Indianna, and recently married his wife, Rachel. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and being active in her church. She very much enjoys her yearly missions trips to Guatemala.
Christa Brophy, Secretary
Denise has a background in Special Education and taught homebound instruction for medically fragile students in the Berwick School District for 14 years. She is a certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor and taught at EOS Therapeutic Riding Center for 27 years until recently retiring. She currently teaches cycling and adaptive fitness for the Bloomsburg YMCA. She has a passion for being part of the non-profit community and being part of the lives of individuals with special needs. She is married to a great guy named Gary and is a mom to two amazing kids and four adorable grandchildren.
Denise Treven, Director of Educational Programming
Paula has worked in childcare/early childhood education for over 20 years in various positions. Currently she is a Behavioral Health Technician for Childrens Service Center where she works with children in the school, home and community settings. She has been married to her husband JC for 10 wonderful years and they have an energetic 6 year old son named John. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, golfing and camping.
Paula Crisman, Community Programs Chair
Dr. Weibel is the Director of the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum. She is also an instructor for the Museum. The Museum acquired Dr. Weibel’s services in 2013 in an effort to increase the impact and effectiveness of STEM programming at the Museum. Dr. Weibel, a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry, has over 20 years of experience in scientific research and education. Before moving to the Bloomsburg Area, Dr. Weibel was a research scientist in the Lipid Research Group at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for 13 years. She has authored numerous papers, presented findings at international scientific meetings, holds a patent for scientific method, and has taught elementary to graduate-level science classes. Dr. Weibel specialized in analytical machinery and method development in her research.
Dr. Ginny Weibel, Board Member
Emily Corbin, Director I AM Safe!
IAMSafe@handinhandpa.org
Emily works for Geisinger Medical Center as a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Research Department. She is currently attending Misericordia University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She lives in Bloomsburg with her wonderful husband Cody and two adorable fur children Mable and Oliver. She has a passion for people. After the tragic loss of her sister Erica in 2020 she was invited to share her story at an I Am Safe meeting and found the place she belongs and the best way to honor her sister’s memory. Her purpose in life is make the world a better and safer place for all of us. She enjoys crafting, reality TV, boating and spending time with all the amazing people she has met being a part of Hand in Hand.
Laura Karchner, Board Member
Laura Karchner will turn 25 on September 24 when in her own words she " hits the 1/4 century mark.” She loves her job at the Children's Museum in Bloomsburg where she works as a Camps Assistant and Museum Attendant. She enjoys working with preschool age children. Laura is a friend to everyone and loves to try new things and be active in just about everything. She is very caring and thoughtful to her friends. Laura does not like ice cream but will not turn down cake or cookies. Laura lives at home with her parents and younger brother, Levi. Her older brother Logan lives right down the road with his fiance, Ashley and his daughter Kira. Laura is excited to be a bridesmaid in her brothers wedding in September. Kira and Laura are best buddies and Laura watches her on Tuesdays during the summer.
Kimberly Schickley, Co-Director I AM Safe!