About Us
Building Hope, Connections, and Stronger Communities
For 30 years, First in Families of NC has helped individuals and families across North Carolina meet their self-defined needs and build brighter futures. Whether it’s assisting with transportation, providing assistive technology, or creating lifelong community networks, our mission is to empower families to thrive.
Three Decades of Community Impact
A Journey of Growth Across North Carolina
1995
Inspired by a parent-led movement in Asheville, First in Families launches to meet critical family needs.
2010s
Programs grow to include mental health and substance use support alongside developmental disabilities.
Who We Serve
Focused Support for Families Across North Carolina
We support individuals of all ages across all 100 North Carolina counties who are facing serious life challenges. Our programs are designed for people who are living at home and navigating the realities of traumatic brain injury (TBI), intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD), substance use disorder (SUD), or severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI).
To qualify for support through First in Families, an individual must:
- Live in a non-licensed setting (at home, with family, or independently)
- Experience one or more of the following: TBI, I/DD, SUD, or SPMI
- Have a family income after taxes that falls below 300% of the federal poverty level
We believe that income level or zip code should never be a barrier to practical, compassionate help. That’s why we work to reach every corner of the state with services that are flexible, accessible, and rooted in dignity.
Meet the Team Behind Our Mission
Dedicated Leaders with Local Roots
FIFNC Staff
FIFNC Board
Corporate Office Staff
Executive Director
Kathryn Bunn
919-251-8368 extension 110
Business & Finance Director
LeeTonya Miller
919-251-8368 extension 105
Quality & Operations Director
Deborah Wallace
919-251-8368 extension 109
Deputy Director
Debby Wells
919-251-8368 extension 106
Business Manager & Lifetime Connections Director
Beth Hutson
919-251-8368 extension 103
Communications & Public Engagement Director
Tiera Noel
919-251-8368 extension 116
FIFNC Staff
The following is contact information for FIFNC staff in the Durham office.
For other local chapter staff, visit the Local FIF Chapters page to find contact information for your county's local First In Families chapter.
General Questions:
Phone: 919-251-8368
Fax: 919-400-4846
info@fifnc.org
Current Board Members
Meet some of our board members.
Peggy Balak, Chair, has worked in the disability field for 45+ years in both the public and private sector prior to her retirement in 2021. During her career, she worked with all disability populations with a focus on advocacy, program planning and evaluation and policy development. She lives in Raleigh
Duncan Munn, Vice-Chair is retired from Early Intervention and is still active in early childhood learning and development. He lives in Raleigh.
Katie Ledford, Secretary/Treasurer, is an Audit Manager at Blackmon & Sloop, CPA's, P.A. She specializes in audits of nonprofit organizations, in addition to working with clients in the construction and education industries.
Keiron Dyck,, is a self-advocate, who is passionate about advocating for others with disabilities and feels that being on the First In Families board is a great way to do that!
Tim Ferreira, is the Director of Quality and Compliance at the Autism Society of North Carolina, Inc. and a graduate of the Advancing Strong Leadership in I/DD program through the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities.
Niasha Fray, MA, MSPH is a proud native of Raleigh, North Carolina. Her pride, joy, and primary motivator is her daughter who has Down Syndrome. She is currently Program Director at the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs on the Research and Advancement Unit. It is her honor to serve on the Board of First in Families of North Carolina to be a voice for parents, health equity, and social change.
Lynn Hegedus, PhD has worked in the disability field for 20 plus years in public education, Department of Defense programming, and the private sector, but her focus has always been and will be supporting individuals with varying needs. She is currently the Recreation Supervisor for the Town of Mooresville Parks and Recreation department and oversees inclusive and therapeutic programming. She resides in Mt. Ulla, NC.
Toni James-Manus, has worked for over 40 years in the field of developmental disabilities and advocacy. Toni has also consulted with and provided training to public and private organizations, including parent and consumer advocacy groups. As a certified special education and reading teacher, she taught elementary, middle, high school, and community college students with learning and/or behavioral challenges.
Jean B. Mankowski, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. She is on faculty at UNC's Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and is the Director of Training for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NC LEND) training grant.
Matthew Schwab, is a 25 year-old North Carolina native who recently realized a life-long dream of living on his own, in an apartment with his younger brother. He is also a self-advocate and public speaker. Matthew is passionate about raising awareness about Down syndrome and the entire IDD community.
Jason Tuell is an MSW Student Social Worker at UNC Law Clinic. He lives in Carrboro.
First In Families of North Carolina is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of at least fifty percent people with developmental disabilities or their family members
Become a Board Member
If you are interested in learning more about membership on the Board of FIFNC, print and complete our board membership application. Postal mail the completed application to the address provided.
