Have questions about infants or toddlers in your care? Need additional resources or help in a specific area?  You’ve come to the right place! Our partners are standing by to provide free professional feedback.  Click on a partner link below to ask a new  question, or to read past responses from our Experts.

SCPITC will forward your questions anonymously and responses will be emailed back to you from SCPITC.

Answers appropriate for all audiences will be posted to the website.

[su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our Registered and Licensed Dietitian” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our Registered and Licensed Dietitian

Lucie Maguire Kramer, MS, RDN

Registered and Licensed Dietitian

Lucie is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist serving as Program Coordinator for the Medical University of South Carolina Boeing Center for Children’s Wellness since August, 2012. After leaving her previous career as a Civil Engineer, Lucie obtained her Master’s of Science in Nutrition from Clemson University in 2011. She then completed her dietetic residency at MUSC. Lucie’s main role is to implement, modify and expand initiatives that improve nutrition and physical activity for children.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here for Recent Nutrition Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our Lactation Consultant” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our Lactation Consultant

Teneka Hughey, M.S., CLC, IBCLC

Lactation Consultant

Teneka Hughey is the Lactation Consultant for the Midlands Public Health Region. Teneka’s career began her with SC DHEC in 2008, where she served as a nutritionist for the WIC progam. Teneka has 15 years worth of experience in the field of public health and is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC).

Teneka earned a Masters Degree in Nutritional Science from South Carolina State University in 2005, and a Bachelors Degree in Public Health/Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina in 2001. She enjoys working with children and families in the public health and nutrition, and participating in initiatives to expand public knowledge, importance, and normalcy of breastfeeding.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here for Recent Lactation Consultant Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist

Michelle Martin, ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist

ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist

Michele Martin is a PITC certified mentor/trainer. She has more than 30 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings, including working as Director of an early childhood school readiness initiative, Director of a Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R), and 15 years’ experience working with Head Start centers. Michele is a Master Certified Trainer and Level 2 Certified Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) with the SC Center for Child Care Career Development, and is also a SC-licensed, ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She earned a B.A. degree from Columbia College and a M.S. degree from the University of Alabama. From 2011-2016 Michele served as an SCPITC Infant/Toddler Specialist working with child care programs in the Midlands area.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here for Recent Speech-Language Pathologist Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our Board-Certified Pediatrician” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our Board-Certified Pediatrician

Deborah Greenhouse, M.D., FAAP

Board-Certified Pediatrician

Dr. Deborah Greenhouse has been a practicing pediatrician at Palmetto Pediatric Clinic in Columbia, SC since 1992. She received her undergraduate degree from Clemson University. In 1989 she earned her medical degree from Emory University and completed her pediatrics residency at Richland Memorial Hospital in 1992. She has also been a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine since 1992.

Dr. Greenhouse serves as the president of the S.C. Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She also sits on the S.C. Medical Association Obesity Task Force and the S.C. DHEC Immunization Advisory Council. She is a member and past chairperson of the Richland 2 School District Medical Advisory Committee.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here for Recent Board-Certified Pediatrician Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our ABC Program Expert” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our ABC Program Expert

Cathy Kovacs

ABC Program Expert

Cathy Kovacs has worked with children and families as a professional in early childhood education for more than 25 years. She began in child care as an owner and director of her own program, before serving as a teacher and director in an Early Head Start program. Cathy is now a Program Manager for ABC Quality, a program of SC Department of Social Services in the Division of Early Care and Education. ABC Quality is the state rating and improvement system that helps South Carolina parents find high quality child care.

Cathy is enrolled in a Master’s degree program in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina and is on track to complete the program by May 2017. In 2014 she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Services with emphasis in Early Care and Education from Columbia College.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here Now for Recent ABC Program Expert Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our SCDSS Child Care Licensing Expert” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our SCDSS Child Care Licensing Expert

Charlene Caldwell

SCDSS Child Care Licensing Expert

Charlene Caldwell has been working with children and families in South Carolina since 1993. She began her career working in a child care center, first as an afterschool teacher and eventually became director of a childcare center. She has been part of childcare licensing at SCDSS since 2008 and has been a Program Manager in the Central Office for two years.

Charlene assists in regulation, policy and procedure development. She sits on many health and safety coalitions and boards to ensure the children of South Carolina have a safe childcare environment. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Winthrop University and a Masters of Management from University of Phoenix. Charlene is committed to the well-being and safety of all South Carolina children.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here Now for Recent Child Care Licensing Expert Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our Licensed Physical Therapist” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our Licensed Physical Therapist

Stephanie Delk

Licensed Physical Therapist

Stephanie Delk is a Licensed Physical Therapist who resides in Virginia and is employed at Child Development Resources, a nationally recognized Early Intervention agency that provides services for children from birth to three years of age who have disabilities or delays in their development.

Stephanie holds a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Evansville, and a Masters Degree in Human Movement Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She has over 19 years of experience in the field and has practiced in a wide variety of settings including pediatric hospitals, outpatient centers, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, school systems, and early intervention programs.  She especially enjoys working with children and families in their homes and natural environments.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here Now for Recent Physical Therapist Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our Beginnings SC Hearing Specialist” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our Beginnings SC Hearing Specialist

Beginnings SC is a non-profit inspiring hope for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing through empowerment, education, and engagement. Our mission is to provide emotional, informational, and technical support to parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, deaf parents with hearing children, and professionals serving those families. With over 30+ years of combined expertise in the hearing loss field, in both education and counseling, Beginnings SC is the leading voice in raising awareness of the prevalence of hearing loss and its impact in South Carolina.

Cara Senterfeit

Executive Director

Cara Senterfeit is a National Board Certified Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has taught students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing for 20 years in a variety of educational settings, as well as serving as an administrator at the district level for a Midlands’ D/HOH program.

Mary Reaves

Director of Programs

Mary Reaves worked for 10 years providing individual and family therapy, serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and adults with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. She has extensive training in deafness, Deaf culture, counseling issues with deaf/hard of hearing, hearing loss and its impact on family systems.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here for Recent Ask Our Beginnings SC Hearing Specialist Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our Dentist” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our Dentist

Dr. Raymond Lala

Director of the Division of Oral Health, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)

Dr. Raymond Lala is the Director of the Division of Oral Health at the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). He has been in this current position since 2014. Dr. Lala also served SC DHEC from 2000 to 2004 as state dental director for HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau. In 2014, Dr. Lala retired from a distinguished career in the US Public Health Service, for which he held several senior leadership positions, including:
• Deputy Director, Division of Health Professions Support, Indian Health Service HQ
• Chief Dental Officer, National Health Service Corps
• Director of the Division of Scholar and Clinician Support in HRSA
• Dental Officer, Division of Medicine and Dentistry in the Health Professions Bureau

Originally from Louisiana, Dr. Lala managed a successful dental practice in New Orleans for 15 years before joining the US Public Health Service. He is a graduate of the University of New Orleans and received his D.D.S. from the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here for Recent Dentist Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler] [su_accordion] [su_spoiler title=”Ask Our Chief Fire Marshal” style=”fancy”]

Ask Our Chief Fire Marshal

Frank Maples

Chief Fire Marshal

Frank Maples is Chief Fire Marshal for the S.C. Department of Social Services. His responsibilities include conducting fire and health safety inspections of child care facilities across South Carolina. He supervises a staff of 6 fire marshals.

Frank studied business administration at North Greenville Junior College. He began his firefighting career in 1984 with the City of Columbia Fire Department. He has served as fire marshal, inspector and investigator. Active in many professional organizations, he is past president of the South Carolina Fire Marshals Association.

Submit Your Question Now
Click Here Now for Recent Chief Fire Marshal Questions & Answers
[/su_spoiler]