Greg Sesek, Ex-Officio
Executive Director, Maryland Commission on Caregiving
Deputy Executive Director for Adult Services
Social Services Administration
MD Department of Human Services
Greg.Sesek@maryland.gov

Yetunde Olobatuyi, Respite Program Administrator
Office of Adult Services
Maryland Department of Human Services-SSA
Yetunde.olobatuyi2@maryland.gov

Yetunde Olobatuyi, DHS – serves as the Respite Program Administrator with the Maryland Department of Human Services, where she specializes in Adult Services and respite care. With over 15 years of public service, she oversees respite programs across all 24 local Departments of Social Services jurisdictions statewide and manages funding allocation to support effective, sustainable service delivery. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and has prior experience as a case manager for veterans and as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a hospital setting. Her caregiving journey began in 2010 while supporting a close loved one, strengthening her commitment to advocacy and comprehensive care—an outlook further shaped by her early CNA experience, which she describes as “rewarding and fulfilling.”

Trina Townsend, Policy Analyst
Kinship Navigation Program Administrator
Protection, Preservation and Prevention Services
Maryland Department of Human Services-SSA
trina.townsend2@maryland.gov

Trina S. Townsend, DHS – serves as a Kinship Navigation Program Specialist with the Maryland Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration, bringing 18 years of service to the State of Maryland. She holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation and Counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and developed her passion for supporting caregivers and families during her undergraduate work as a Family Advocate and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program worker. Prior to joining the central office in 2021, she worked in Worcester County’s foster care unit as a Resource Home worker and Placement Coordinator. Trina also brings lived experience as a kinship caregiver, having cared for her niece and nephew during a time of family transition, which informs her commitment to raising awareness, connecting families to resources, and ensuring kinship caregivers experience more of the blessing and less of the burden of care.

Mary Anne Kane-Breschi, Director of Family Supports
Developmental Disabilities Administration
Maryland Department of Health
mary.kane-breschi@maryland.gov

Mary Anne Kane Breschi, MDH – is a parent and caregiver of a young woman with developmental disabilities and has dedicated more than 27 years to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities—and the families and caregivers who support them—across the lifespan. She serves as Division Chief of Lifespan Support and Services at the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), where she also facilitates the Maryland Community of Practice for Supporting Families and leads implementation of the Charting the LifeCourse Framework. A Commissioner on the Maryland Commission on Caregiving and a certified Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador, her work focuses on advancing person-centered, family- and caregiver-friendly policies, programs, and resources that promote inclusion and quality of life. Her previous roles include Support Broker, Service Coordinator, and Co-founder and Executive Director of the Maggie’s Light Foundation, and she was recognized with the Maryland Respite Care Coalition’s Respite Advocacy Award for her leadership in expanding respite support for families.

Isabella Guyott, Legislative Liaison
Developmental Disabilities Administration
Maryland Department of Health
isabella.guyott@maryland.gov

Isabella (Bella) Guyott, MDH – joined the Maryland Department of Health’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) in July 2025 and serves as the agency’s Legislative Liaison. Prior to her state service, she spent eight years in federal government roles with the National Archives and Records Administration, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Government Accountability Office, as well as experience in state and local government and three years as a teacher. She holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from Millsaps College. Bella brings experience across multiple aspects of caregiving, including supporting congressional work on the pandemic childcare crisis and contributing to GAO reports on caregiving issues such as nursing homes, and she is committed to applying this broad perspective to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers in Maryland.

Vacant,
Maryland Department of Health

Jennifer Eastman, Director of Community Living Policy
Maryland Department of Disabilities
jennifer.eastman@maryland.gov
jennifer.eastman@maryland.gov

Jennifer Eastman, DOD Representative is the Director of Community Living Policy and Programs at the Maryland Department of Disabilities. She has represented the Department on the Commission since 2014 and previously served as its Chair for two terms. Jennifer’s commitment to caregiving is reflected in her efforts to develop and disseminate the 2024 statewide caregiver survey and to lead the Maryland team for a learning collaborative organized by the National Academy for State Health Policy. Her work at the Department focuses on improving community safety for people with disabilities and ensuring they have the right supports to remain independent.

Kathy Wehr, Caregiver Support Program Manager (representing AAAs)
Howard County Office on Aging and Independence
kwehr@howardcountymd.gov

Kathy Wehr, CDP, CADDCT, AAA Representative has served as the Caregiver and Dementia Care Support Program Manager for the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence since 2016, where she oversees the National Family Caregiver Support Services Grant to assist caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions, dementia, and grandparents raising grandchildren through respite and supplemental services. She holds a B.S. in Gerontology and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and trainer, with a focus on supporting caregivers across the lifespan through education, support groups, dementia training, outreach, and individualized guidance. Kathy also facilitates support groups and serves as a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association, provides dementia care training to staff and community providers, and is an active member of the Maryland Commission on Caregiving, the Coalition of Geriatric Services board, and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee, advocating for accessible, person-centered caregiver support.

Patricia Morris, Consumer
Founder, Hands of Hope, Inc.
patricia.morris3@verizon.net

Theresa Robertson, Consumer
Founder, The Caregiver CEO
theresa@thecaregiverceo.com

Theresa Robertson, Consumer Advocate is a family caregiver, entrepreneur, and advocate who spent 25 years caring for her husband while raising a family and running a business, experiences that inspired her to view caregiving as a leadership role. She is the founder of The Caregiver CEO, a movement that helps family caregivers shift from survival mode to strategic leadership by providing education, resources, and tools to build resilience, set boundaries, and lead care with confidence. With over 17 years of business experience, Theresa combines professional expertise with lived experience to support caregivers in recognizing their skills and advocating effectively. She serves on the Maryland Commission on Caregiving, is a member of the National Family Caregiving Champion Collaborative, and contributes to statewide and national efforts to improve support for family caregivers.

Shari Bailey, Family Caregiver
Founder, Laila’s Gift
Info@lailaisgift.com

Shari Bailey, Family Caregiver is the Founder and CEO of Laila’s Gift, a nonprofit inspired by her twin daughters and dedicated to supporting families and caregivers, particularly those of children with special needs. With over 25 years of global leadership experience in healthcare manufacturing, she combines professional expertise with lived experience to advocate for inclusive resources, community programs, and caregiver-focused initiatives, including Mind Shape, a mental wellness program. Appointed to the Maryland Commission on Caregiving in 2026, Shari chairs the subcommittee on respite care and family support, and has championed the LEAD Act and the designation of Maryland Family Caregiver Day. She holds a B.S. in Business Management, an M.S. in Medical Device Quality Management, and certifications including PMP and Six Sigma Black Belt, yet credits her most profound learning to her experience as a mother and caregiver.

Dawnita Brown, Family Caregiver
Founder & Selfful Caregiver, Hey Caregiver
dawnita@heycaregiver.com

Dawnita Brown, Family Caregiver, is the Founder of The Binti Circle, a support network for Black daughters caring for aging and/or ailing parents. She is also the Founder and CEO of Hey Caregiver!®, an apparel and lifestyle brand for caregivers and those who support them. Her caregiving journey began with her mother and later expanded to include caring for both of her parents. That experience continues to inform her advocacy and leadership in support of family caregivers. Dawnita is an inaugural Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin Social Impact Fellow (CLLCTIVLY × University of Pennsylvania), serves on the Memory and Aging Community Advisory Board (MACAB) and the CMS Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model Technical Expert Panel, and is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, she carries her lifelong commitment to service into every space she leads. In her spare time, she finds joy in family and friends, travel, and tending to her outdoor oasis.

Vacant,
Family Caregiver

An’Dria Chavis, Director of Marketing and Admissions
Largo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
achavis@largohc.com@maryland.gov

Julia Abate, Respite Administrator
The Arc of Montgomery County
julia.abate@thearcmoco.org

Julia (Julz) Abate, Respite Provider has served as Respite Administrator at The Arc Montgomery County since 2006, coordinating respite care services for children and adults with disabilities and frail seniors across Montgomery County. With nearly two decades of experience, she has developed strong relationships with families and built a diverse network of home health agencies, respite facilities, adult day programs, and therapeutic providers to meet families’ cultural, linguistic, and geographic needs. A connector and collaborator, Julz works closely with community organizations to enhance access to resources and support systems. She also serves on the Maryland Commission on Caregiving and local committees focused on age-friendly and dementia-friendly initiatives, bringing firsthand experience as a direct care professional to her advocacy.

Vacant,
Respite Provider

Delegate Jamila Woods, Member of the House of Delegates
District 26, Prince Georges County
Jamila.Woods@house.maryland.gov

Delegate Jamila J. Woods, House of Delegates Representative – has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since January 2023, representing District 26 in Prince George’s County. She sits on the Health and Government Operations Committee, contributing to the Health Occupations and Long-Term Care and Insurance and Pharmaceuticals subcommittees. Delegate Woods also serves on the Maryland Commission on Health Equity and the Rare Disease Advisory Council. Within the legislature, she is Secretary of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and a member of both the Women Legislators of Maryland and the Latino Caucus. In addition to her legislative roles, she serves as the State Director for National Women in Government and is a member of the Emerging Leaders Program, representing the State of Maryland. Her legislative work reflects a deep commitment to health equity, community uplift, and social justice.

Vacant,
Senator
Senate