Consortium Staff

Christina F. Fluet, MPH, CI, CT
Executive Director
Massachusetts Consortium for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Chris has over 20 years of experience working with adults and children
with special health care needs, and brings a range of experience in
research and practice to the work of the Consortium. Most recently, she served as Project Director at the Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she worked extensively with large employers to improve workplace supports for families of children with special needs. Additional research areas included the use of pediatric specialized therapies, the impact of a child's condition on the family, clinical experiences of parents of deaf children, and effects of cultural and linguistic competencies on pediatric outcomes for underserved populations. Chris also has extensive experience working with Title VII/Part B Independent Living Centers and state agencies serving people with disabilities. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is fluent in American Sign Language, holding dual national certification in ASL transliteration and interpretation from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Susan Gilbert Epstein, MSW
Senior Policy Advisor
Co-founder and former Director of the Consortium, Susan brings more than 25 years of experience in statewide planning, program evaluation, needs assessment, and community-based advocacy to our work on behalf of children and families. She is also the Executive Director of New England SERVE, an independent research and planning organization with a focus on children with special health care needs.

Linda C. Freeman, MS
Director of Family Initiatives
Linda creates opportunities for meaningful partnerships with families in all Consortium projects. Her 21 years of experience parenting and advocating for a son with special health care needs, together with a background in management consulting and health care, guides her work in program planning, materials development, and strategic thinking to improve systems of care.

Alexa S. Halberg
Administrator
Alexa serves as Administrator of the Consortium, overseeing and managing all office operations and contracts administration. She brings an array of technical, organizational and creative graphic design skills to her work, along with a background in special education and a commitment to family-centered care.

Laurie Tellis
Communications Manager
Wordsmith and webmistress, Laurie manages print and online communications projects for the Consortium. Her eclectic professional background combines writing and editing, marketing communications, language teaching, curriculum design and web site development. Laurie earned most of an MA (all-but-thesis) in writing and publishing from Emerson College.