Nancy Allen-Scannell

Executive Director

Nancy joined MSPCC in 2006 and most recently served as the Director of External Affairs. She has spent almost two decades developing and strategically implementing the agency’s child mental health and child welfare policy and legislative initiatives. A highly respected and team focused leader, Allen-Scannell has worked collaboratively with legislators, key policy makers, youth, families, and a wide range of stakeholders to advance improvements in policy, practice, and resources for children and families. She has also spearheaded coalition efforts, including most recently the work of the Children’s Mental Health Campaign on the Mental Health ABC Act: Addressing Barriers to Care. Before joining MSPCC, she was the Director of Government Affairs at Jane Doe, Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. She has served on numerous state- and community-level commissions and boards.

Development

Melanie S. Lima

Director of Development

Melanie joined MSPCC in 2015. As Director of Development, she leads a team of 5 fundraising professionals in activities that generate more than $2 million annually from individual, corporate, foundation and government funding sources. Melanie works closely with MSPCC’s Executive Director, Board of Advisors, and Board committees to strategically plan and implement fundraising, communications and public relations initiatives to sustain and grow MSPCC’s programmatic impact and footprint across the Commonwealth. Melanie has more than 30 years of development experience holding key leadership positions for non-profit organizations in Massachusetts, Vermont and California including Italian Home for Children and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and has a B.S. in communications from Emerson College.

Julie Sheflin

Assistant Director of Development

Julie joined MSPCC in 2016 and currently serves at the Assistant Director of Development. In her role, she cultivates, solicits and stewards a portfolio of current and new agency corporate donors and prospects as well as co-leads major gift efforts. Additionally, she is responsible for the planning, managing and implementation of all agency events. Prior to joining MSPCC, she was the Director of Events & Visibility at Italian Home for Children where she was co-founder of the Emerging Leaders Society young professional board. She currently serves on the Young Professional Council of Room to Grow Boston and has a B.S. in communications with minors in management and public relations from Bridgewater State University.

Megan Hempstead, MPH

Director of Foundation Relations

Megan joined MSPCC in 2015 and serves as the Director of Foundation Relations. In this role, she builds and manages the agency’s partnerships with private foundations. Megan writes grant proposals and reports to support programs and services and coordinates applications for funding through state agencies, including the Department of Children and Families, Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health, and the Department of Early Education and Care. Megan received a B.A. in public and community health from the University of Maryland and a Master in Public Health degree with a concentration in health communication from Tufts University School of Medicine. Prior to MSPCC, Megan was a Program Coordinator in Boston University’s Department of Family Medicine, managing research projects related to maternal and infant health.

Sasha Martin

Foundation Relations Associate

Sasha joined MSPCC in 2023 as the Foundation Relations Associate. In this role, Sasha coordinates with agency staff to write and edit foundation grant proposals to fund various programs and advocacy work of MSPCC, The NAN Project, and other programs of Eliot Community Human Services. Sasha received a Bachelor’s in Social Work at Florida State University and a Master’s in Social Work at Boston College. Prior to MSPCC, Sasha interned with a capacity-building nonprofit in collaboration with the strategy and operations team to work on a range of projects and special initiatives.

Claire McMahon

Development Associate

Claire joined MSPCC in 2023 and currently serves as the Development Associate. In her role, she is responsible for managing critical development tasks and duties including data management, donor acknowledgments, mailing production, and special events support. Prior to joining MSPCC, she received her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Communication from Saint Anselm College. Claire interned for the college’s Annual Giving office and served as the co-chair to assist in leading fundraising efforts.

 

Policy & Advocacy

Courtney Chelo

Director of Government Relations

Courtney has been with MSPCC since 2014. In their role, they coordinate the work of the Children’s Mental Health Campaign. Prior to joining the MSPCC, they served as a Policy Coordinator at Health Care For All, where they worked to expand access to quality, affordable oral health care and coverage for vulnerable populations. They are a member of the Massachusetts Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Youth, where she serves as the government relations committee chair. They are a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in environmental and resource economics.

Aditi Subramaniam,

Director, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Policy

Aditi Subramaniam, joined MSPCC in 2019 and is leading statewide infant and early childhood mental health workforce development efforts and a partnership between MSPCC and the MA Association for Infant Mental Health (MassAIMH), focused on enhancing, diversifying, and supporting the infant and early childhood mental health workforce to improve access to services for children age birth – 6 and their families. She is endorsed as an Infant and Early Childhood Mentor-Clinical and is a Licensed Psychotherapist and dance therapist specializing in Infant, Parent and Early Childhood mental health with more than twenty years of experience, in India and Boston.

Her experience includes clinical work, serving as faculty and trainer, and engaging in systems to build capacity in infant and early childhood mental health. She served as a board member of MassAIMH and holds an M.A in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University and an M.A in Clinical Psychology from University of Delhi, India. The principles and practices of social justice and equity are embedded in her everyday lens and work.

Sara Yablon-Smith

Program Manager, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Sara Yablon-Smith serves as the Program Manager for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health supporting the statewide partnership between MSPCC and MassAIMH focused on enhancing, diversifying and strengthening the Infant and Early Childhood workforce. Sara joined MSPCC in 2024 with over 15 years of experience supporting young children, families and caregivers in home visiting, parent support, maternal child health and as an Early Childhood Mental Health consultant. She holds a BA in English and Jewish Studies from Dartmouth College and an MA in Child Development from Tufts University.

 

Kimberley Asare

Endorsement Coordinator

Kimberley joined MSPCC in 2023 and currently serves as an Endorsement Coordinator. In her role, Kim works together with the MA Association for Infant Mental Health (MassAIMH) Board and MSPCC IECMH staff on supporting the statewide infant and early childhood workforce development efforts including the implementation of MassAIMH Endorsement. Kimberley received her B.S. degree in Public Health with a minor in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Prior to her role here, she provided acute and restorative care as a medical assistant for families and children in the Worcester area. Kim also serves as a member of the MSPCC Young Professional board!

Aastha Patel

Policy & Programs Coordinator

Aastha joined MSPCC in 2025 as the Policy & Programs Associate. In her role, she is responsible for special initiatives project management, including development and implementation of legislative and administrative advocacy strategies. Aastha received a Master in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology/Biostatistics and Maternal and Child Health from Boston University School of Public Health. Prior to joining MSPCC, she interned at a nonprofit in their data development department.

 

Communications

Caroline Holland

Associate Director of Communications

Caroline joined MSPCC in 2024 as the Associate Director of Communications. In her role, she leads the agency’s communication strategy and works with colleagues across the organization to elevate MSPCC’s important work to key stakeholders and the general public. She has previously held communications roles at regional and national organizations including MENTOR, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and The Steppingstone Foundation. She serves on the Young Professionals Leadership Committee of the Women’s Lunch Place and holds a B.A. from Colby College.

Annelise Perry

Multimedia Design & Social Media Associate

Annelise joined MSPCC in 2025 as the Multimedia Design & Social Media Associate. In her role, she is responsible for creating and managing visual content across digital platforms to support MSPCC’s brand and communication goals. Annelise received her Bachelor’s in History from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining MSPCC, Annelise has worked in design and education for various museums and arts non-profit organizations.