Our Mission
Empowering Families.
Building Brighter Futures.
What if we supported parents with the resources they needed to create safe environments and strengthen their confidence as caregivers, before adversity strikes?
We’ve all seen the heart-breaking headlines of children being mistreated, neglected and abused. These stories often highlight failures within the system, how individuals were ill-equipped to identify and help families in distress. But we often don’t consider a solution that starts much sooner: one focused on prevention.
We inspire a positive generational cycle empowering every child to reach their infinite potential.
American Society for the Positive Care of Children (American SPCC) was formed in 2011 as a first-of-its-kind 501 (c)(3) nonprofit dedicated solely to the prevention of child maltreatment and raising awareness of the lifelong impacts of adverse childhood experiences. By providing parents with the skills, tools, and educational resources that build their confidence and capacity as caregivers while strengthening family bonds, we work to create a brighter future for all.
We accomplish this through four main impact areas:
- Prevention & Education
- Empowerment
- Community
- Advocacy
American SPCC’s Parenting Resource Center
A library of reliable parenting tools and resources.
Each week, more than 15,000 people from across the globe turn to us for this support through our Parenting Resource Center— an online library of easily accessible, reliable and actionable parenting resources. Our team monitors and synthesizes the latest parenting research and trends to provide timely, relevant information caregivers can count on, all in one place.
Our impact is featured in media appearances across the U.S. and within partnerships that help deliver life-changing tools, such as The Happy Child App and The Brain Story.
Big changes always start small.
By providing adults with easily accessible, research-backed parenting support relevant to their lives, we can start a ripple of change that steadily grows, ultimately building happy childhoods and brighter futures for generations to come.
We believe that small steps — from individuals, families, leaders and organizations — will help us achieve these ambitious goals. Please join our movement today by following us on social media, sharing our resources with someone you love or consider supporting our work here.
Our Vision
Imagine a world where every parent is supported. Where the struggles of parenthood are recognized and the community rallies to meet their needs.
American SPCC is building this future.
After all, our children are our future. But in order for them to succeed, they need caregivers with the capacity and ability to support them. That’s why parenting resources, education and community building being offered by American SPCC are so vital.
Helping parents = helping children
It’s an approach medical professionals and top researchers have been calling for for decades. In fact, Dr. Robert Block, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says our failure to prevent persistent and avoidable negative childhood experiences “is the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today.”
We can’t wait to address this crisis any longer.
American SPCC is dedicated to being part of the solution by offering life-changing education and support to caregivers.
When caregivers are empowered with the knowledge that even small actions can have significant impacts on a child’s development, we can ultimately break the cycle of trauma before it’s passed down.
We also know the struggles of parenthood look different for every family. That’s why we offer support by meeting caregivers where they are at, without judgment or expectations. We recognize parenthood is difficult, especially when combined with hardships related to relationships, employment, mental health, physical health and more.
American SPCC is here to let parents know they are not alone, that positive changes for the entire family are within reach.
Is this an ambitious vision? Absolutely. But the good news? We’re already making significant progress. In 2021 alone, parenting resources in our easily accessible, always-free online Parenting Resource Center reached more than 700,000 people. And each month, our impact is growing.
This shows us we’re onto something special here. We’re offering resources and support caregivers, friends and family are looking for and need.
In 2022, we are bringing positive, life-changing impacts to even more families across the globe. Not only will we update our Parenting Resource Center with the latest research and knowledge to help caregivers succeed, we are also embarking on first-of-its-kind partnerships with organizations and individuals who are dedicated to sharing their unique knowledge and experience with parents, caregivers and child advocates through our Trusted Parenting Network.
But this growth requires the support of donors who understand that an investment in families is an investment in our future.
Please consider joining us as we help create brighter futures, one family at a time.
Learn more about our impact and how you can help HERE.
Our Team
Tiffany
Galvan
Board Chair
GENEVIEVE
RIVERA
Executive Director
Roderick
Chambers
Board Member
DR. ANN
MERTENS
Board Member
Dr. Jay
Harvey
Board Member
KATELYN
KIRK
Board Treasurer
Advisory Council
Matt
Larson
Dr. Cliff
Lewis
Varsha
Sharma
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
Thanks to these amazing people and organizations for their commitment to helping improve the way America treats its kids. As a community, they give the nation’s children a voice and each generation a brighter future.
Tiffany Galvan
Board Chair
As the Board Chair, Tiffany is passionate about serving the mission of American SPCC to build and provide resources, education, and advocacy to parents, guardians, and teachers so that every child has the opportunity and access to a brighter future.
Tiffany is a veteran fundraising professional that brings over 12 years of Non-Profit, Communications, Fundraising, and Development experience to her clients. She works to empower Executives and Founders with the knowledge necessary to dismantle barriers that prevent organizational leaders from raising funds that will sustain and grow their missions.
As someone who has been on the ground in several organizations across multiple missions, Tiffany takes a holistic approach to fundraising. Tiffany works with each client to pinpoint a leader’s and organization’s struggles to help turn them into strengths.
Fundraising can be overwhelming. Tiffany works to empower Non-Profit Founders and Executives with proven strategies to effectively tell their story, share their mission, and raise money for their communities.
As a cornerstone to Tiffany’s mission, Tiffany believes that strong organizations build stronger communities. By building stronger and more sustainable communities, together we can create brighter futures for everyone.
Roderick Chambers
Board Member
Roderick Chambers serves as the New York State Department of Financial Services, Deputy Superintendent for the Cybersecurity Division Intelligence Unit. As a career security intelligence professional with more than 12 years of field experience, he has designed, implemented, and supported information security programs at organizations of all sizes in all industries worldwide. Roderick Chambers began his career in the federal government, specifically in the intelligence community, where he served in various roles as an intelligence operations professional and technical collections lead. Roderick highlights certifications and membership as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) granted by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, also known as (ISC)² and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) granted by ISACA.
Roderick is excited to join in the mission of American SPCC because now more than ever it’s imperative to support our families and youth as they transition through historic changes in health, family dynamics, and the way we communicate with each other. Roderick believes that to effectively transform generations for the better, it will require an all-hands-on-deck mentality to uplift and support our communities.
GENEVIEVE RIVERA
Executive Director
Genevieve believes that understanding, educating, and raising awareness of how adults play a role in child development is the first step in ending the epidemic of child adversity in America. Through in-depth volunteer work and nonprofit management, she’s witnessed firsthand how families and caregivers can build stronger bonds and break patterns of generational trauma when appropriate resources and support systems are in place.
Genevieve is committed to advancing American SPCC’s mission and empowering communities to see that change is possible and that we all have a role to play.
Genevieve is Brain Story certified and hold a degree in marketing and media communications. When not passionately leading the American SPCC team, Genevieve can be found in nature, hiking and exploring the mountain, practicing martial arts, or enhancing her knowledge through a great book or course. Her greatest joy is bonding with her young son in the simple moments that matter most.
DR. ANN MERTENS
Board Member
Ann Mertens, PhD, MS, is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Dr. Mertens also serves as Research Director of Cancer Survivorship at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at the Winship Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Ann’s passion about helping children has been a long time mission. As a graduate student she had an opportunity to work in pediatrics, and has committed to this mission ever since. She is a pediatric epidemiologist, and is currently working with survivors of pediatric cancer and their families to help them get back to a new normal after such as devastating diagnosis. She is also involved in other areas in pediatrics, expanding from working with children who are diagnosed with both acute and more chronic diseases.
Ann is excited to be a board member with American SPCC, and to help further their mission to improve the lives of children. She offers insights into some of the obstacles children may encounter, and how best to empower them and their families that will lead to a better future.
Tracy Kawa
Board Member
Tracy Kawa is a speaker, author, and entrepreneur. Author of The Seven Pillars of Reinvention: Finding Your Passion & Purpose, and developer of The Kawa Assessment, a psychometric and business DNA assessment tool, Tracy has spent twenty five years in the fields of personal & professional branding, and business & professional development. She is the founder of Kawa Community Partners & co-creator of Kawa Orthodontics, the largest solo-practitioner orthodontic practice in the world. Tracy has worked closely with parents, schools and children’s organizations on a multitude of projects. She has been featured on Inside the Minds of Leaders, and has worked with consultants to Fortune 500 companies.
From solopreneurs to small companies, Tracy has assessed hundreds of individuals, and uses tried and true techniques based on The Kawa Assessment to quickly evaluate and help people find their ideal careers, become top performers, and grow businesses, implementing creative personal and company branding & messaging and action steps. She believes in harnessing your God-given gifts and abilities to create success and winning teams!
Dr. Jay Harvey
Board Member
Dr. Jay Harvey hails from NYC and all of his education and training were completed in the Big Apple. He graduated from SUNY-Binghamton with a BS in Biology in 1983 and received his MD degree from SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY in 1987. Dr. Harvey completed his pediatric residency and chief residency in 1991 at the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center in LI, NY. Immediately thereafter, he moved to the West Coast of Florida and has been a board certified Pediatrician in private practice since that time.
Dr. Harvey moved to South Florida in August 2017 and joined Cohen & Sheinker Pediatrics, PA as a full time Pediatrician. He was thrilled to become a member of this incredible team of pediatric physicians and dedicated staff, which comprise one of the fastest growing and highly regarded practices in Boca Raton and surrounding areas.
Dr. Harvey’s focus is on providing comprehensive and compassionate care in a family friendly environment. His greatest satisfaction is derived from educating and empowering parents and kids alike, so that they can live healthy and happy lives, both individually and collectively. As a board member, Dr. Harvey is excited to become a part of the American SPCC mission since the mission is so closely aligned to his life’s work. By empowering families and children within the American SPCC platform, Dr. Harvey hopes to continue to provide practical and educational resources so that both parents and children can create a brighter future for themselves.
Dr. Harvey is happily married and has 2 grown children. He is a lover of sports, music, movies, theatre, books and, for better or worse, food!
DR. TINA MCMECHEN
Board Member
Tina McMechen holds a Bachelors degree in psychology, a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, and an EdD in educational leadership. She has over 22 years experience in the field of education, with a background in teaching, student services, and educational sales. She is passionate about change management and believes leaders should view organizations from a systems (or holistic) perspective.
She is delighted to be a part of the American SPCC and hopes to be a good role model for her young three children for activism through education.
KATELYN KIRK
Board Treasurer
Katelyn Kirk graduated in June 2015 with her Masters in Sport and Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Psychology. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in General Psychology with additional work in Business and Anthropology. Katelyn continues to teach at Oregon State University as a faculty member in the Physical Activity Program in the School of Biological and Population Health Sciences.
Katelyn’s commitment to the disenfranchised youth is unwavering. She has worked with Portland’s Love INC in their annual Packed with Love Events reaching out to school children and their families, and continues to volunteer as a head coach each summer with Hoop Camp, a unified basketball camp for special needs athletes and all children ages 6 – 13. She also traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to be a counselor at Camp Jabberwocky, a one-month residential summer camp for mentally and/or physically disabled adults and teens. Katelyn is currently working with our Youth Advisory Board and the national expansion of ASPCC.
Matt Larson
The Human Improvement Project
Matt is a parenting/relationships researcher, technology entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He has been interviewed about the science of well-being on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, Sirius XM, Telemundo, public radio, and websites like Parentology.com and Mom.com. He spends most of his time on the Human Improvement Project but is also the chairman of two software companies.
Previously, he was the executive chairman of TapInfluence a venture-backed Social Media company. Prior to TapInfluence, he was the Founder and CEO of Confio Software. Confio was the fastest growing company in the database tools market. It was acquired in 2013 by Solarwinds (NYSE: SWI).
Previously, Mr. Larson helped found an oil and gas technology company. In the span of a year, the company grew from four employees to over two hundred employees while raising over $110 million in venture capital. In 2012, Mr. Larson was named an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist. Mr. Larson holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado where he graduated 1st in his class. He is a member of the Mensa Society. Mr. Larson has also worked with the U.S. Congress and the White House to fund over $300 million in new spending for child-related causes.
DR. CLIFF LEWIS
Dr. Cliff Lewis received his PhD in Physics with specialization in Chaos Theory and Nonlinear Dynamics from the University of California, San Diego in 2001. He held the position of Assistant Vice President at Science Applications International Corporation where he managed data-intensive technology programs for the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security in the areas of biotechnology, 3-D tomography, information science, and signal processing.
Dr. Lewis started Think Tank Analytics in 2011 and has effectively provided clients with successful product development in many different areas of data science, including Wearables and Personalized medicine, Predictive Financial Analytics, Fitness Analytics, Signal Processing for Biotechnology, and Data-Intensive Mobile App Development for smartphones. He has also co-authored numerous patents and publications in these data-centric areas.
Our Commitment
American SPCC is committed to providing life-changing resources to families across the globe. We know that by empowering parents, caregivers, educators and child advocates with research-backed tools, resources, knowledge, and positive parenting support, we can break generational trauma and build brighter futures.
Please consider supporting our work here: