Staff
Deborah Robinson, Executive Director
Infant Death Specialist for NISSA, Deborah is uniquely qualified as a national expert on infant death scene investigations. Recognized for her state and national contributions, Deobrah began participating in 2004 on a Center for Disease Control working group developing national investigation guidelines on sudden and unexplained infant death. The eventual result was the SUIDI (Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation) reporting form. Deborah assisted in the development of training curricula and materials for use with the SUIDI reporting form, and currently promotes its use through appropriate state and local organizations. She also participated in the first national training academy for Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths and continues to provide training and assistance to this group.
Deborah's participation on task forces in Washington State include work in the following areas: standardization of infant death scene investigation guidelines, revision of training curricula for first responders, advocacy for the continuation of Child Death Review in King County, expert child death review testimony for cases in King and other counties, and staff support for SIDS research efforts at the University of Washington.
Deborah is a long-term SIDS Foundation of Washington volunteer and Board member, and was on staff for over 18 years as the infant death investigation specialist and Interim Executive Director. As a member of her local Child Death Review teams she also serves in a national capacity as a project specialist. A former deputy sheriff, and honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, Deborah is coursed in the Basic and Master's level of Medicolegal Death Investigations.
Liz Montgomery, Eastern Washington Branch Office Coordinator
Jessica Christensen, Office Manager
Jessica grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah. She attended Brigham Young University where she received a BA in Political Science in August 2009. For a few weeks during the summer of 2009 Jessica had the opportunity to go to Guatemala and work on several different humanitarian projects. She moved to Seattle with her husband Richard who is pursuing his Master's Degree at University of Washington. In her spare time she enjoys reading, watching movies, spending time with her husband, and watching and playing sports. She is a sports fanatic!
Arlene Thomas, King County Support Group Facilitator
Arlene is a Marriage and Family Therapist and a SIDS mom, who lost her son Micah in November of 2004. As a way to honor Micah’s life, she began working with the NISSA-SIDS Alliance as a part of the auction committee, later as a board member, and most recently as the facilitator of the Seattle area Support Group. Arlene has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Northwest University and a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University. She also has a private practice in Marriage and Family Therapy, located in Redmond, with a special focus on grief and loss. In 2006 and 2008, Arlene and her husband were thrilled to welcome their daughters Macey and Madeline into their family.
Andrea Berndt, Spokane Support Group Facilitator
Andrea is a stay-at-home mom, active in her community as a volunteer. She lost her daughter, Ashley Rose, in 1989. To help heal the loss of her daughter she has volunteered with several SIDS organizations over the years in Oregon, North Carolina, and Washington. For the past 13 years Andrea has been volunteering with the Northwest Infant Survival & SIDS Alliance (formerly SIDS Foundation of Washington) by speaking at high schools and other groups that request a speaker on SIDS. She is also a peer companion and serves as facilitator of the NISSA parent support group that meets in Spokane. Educating and supporting SIDS parents and helping with NISSA's special events is how Andrea honors Ashley Rose's memory, even while she waits and hopes for an end to SIDS. Andrea enjoys time with her husband, David, and children Stephanie, Victoria, and Tristen.
Deborah Robinson, Executive Director
Infant Death Specialist for NISSA, Deborah is uniquely qualified as a national expert on infant death scene investigations. Recognized for her state and national contributions, Deobrah began participating in 2004 on a Center for Disease Control working group developing national investigation guidelines on sudden and unexplained infant death. The eventual result was the SUIDI (Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation) reporting form. Deborah assisted in the development of training curricula and materials for use with the SUIDI reporting form, and currently promotes its use through appropriate state and local organizations. She also participated in the first national training academy for Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths and continues to provide training and assistance to this group.Deborah's participation on task forces in Washington State include work in the following areas: standardization of infant death scene investigation guidelines, revision of training curricula for first responders, advocacy for the continuation of Child Death Review in King County, expert child death review testimony for cases in King and other counties, and staff support for SIDS research efforts at the University of Washington.
Deborah is a long-term SIDS Foundation of Washington volunteer and Board member, and was on staff for over 18 years as the infant death investigation specialist and Interim Executive Director. As a member of her local Child Death Review teams she also serves in a national capacity as a project specialist. A former deputy sheriff, and honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, Deborah is coursed in the Basic and Master's level of Medicolegal Death Investigations.
Liz Montgomery, Eastern Washington Branch Office Coordinator
Jessica Christensen, Office Manager
Jessica grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah. She attended Brigham Young University where she received a BA in Political Science in August 2009. For a few weeks during the summer of 2009 Jessica had the opportunity to go to Guatemala and work on several different humanitarian projects. She moved to Seattle with her husband Richard who is pursuing his Master's Degree at University of Washington. In her spare time she enjoys reading, watching movies, spending time with her husband, and watching and playing sports. She is a sports fanatic!
Arlene Thomas, King County Support Group Facilitator
Arlene is a Marriage and Family Therapist and a SIDS mom, who lost her son Micah in November of 2004. As a way to honor Micah’s life, she began working with the NISSA-SIDS Alliance as a part of the auction committee, later as a board member, and most recently as the facilitator of the Seattle area Support Group. Arlene has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Northwest University and a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University. She also has a private practice in Marriage and Family Therapy, located in Redmond, with a special focus on grief and loss. In 2006 and 2008, Arlene and her husband were thrilled to welcome their daughters Macey and Madeline into their family.Andrea Berndt, Spokane Support Group Facilitator
Andrea is a stay-at-home mom, active in her community as a volunteer. She lost her daughter, Ashley Rose, in 1989. To help heal the loss of her daughter she has volunteered with several SIDS organizations over the years in Oregon, North Carolina, and Washington. For the past 13 years Andrea has been volunteering with the Northwest Infant Survival & SIDS Alliance (formerly SIDS Foundation of Washington) by speaking at high schools and other groups that request a speaker on SIDS. She is also a peer companion and serves as facilitator of the NISSA parent support group that meets in Spokane. Educating and supporting SIDS parents and helping with NISSA's special events is how Andrea honors Ashley Rose's memory, even while she waits and hopes for an end to SIDS. Andrea enjoys time with her husband, David, and children Stephanie, Victoria, and Tristen.
