Leadership
Valerie Harkins
Executive Director
Valerie has worked in the Maternity Housing and Pregnancy Help ministry since 2006 and joined the Heartbeat Team as Executive Director of the Maternity Housing Coalition in 2021. A social worker by training, Valerie specializes in Anti-Violence Public Education and Attachment Theory. She has experience with operating pregnancy centers and maternity homes as well as designing supportive programs for single mothers across the city for the duration of raising their children. Valerie has a passion for empowering children through education and women through opportunity. Her heart's desire is to see women know and love Jesus as King.
Advisory Council
MHC council members lend their experience and insight to advise the well-being of maternity housing programs across the country via the Advisory Council. The Maternity Housing Coalition is a pillar of Heartbeat International to support the needs of maternity homes in various stages of development ranging from start-ups to well-established homes. The MHC seeks to have a diverse representation from the many staffing models, programs, catholic & evangelical faith backgrounds, and sizes of maternity homes across the country.
Lourdes Delgado
National Executive Director, Vida y Familia Nacional A.C. (VIFAC)
Wife and mother of two children.
Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy with a specialization in Educational Institution
Management, a Master’s degree in Family Sciences, and is certified in Cooperative
Learning. She also completed studies in Bioethics at the University of the “Sacro
Cuore” in Rome, Italy, and holds Diplomas in Logotherapy and Family Counseling in
Mexico.Since 1993, she has been working in support of life and family. Served as National and
Latin American Director of the Women’s Help Centers (CAM) for 22 years, contributing
to the opening of offices throughout Latin America. At the same time, has
complemented her work as an instructor and speaker in various forums related to the
defense of life and family. Contributed a chapter to the book “El debate por la vida”
(The Debate for Life). Also served as General Director of Centro Escolar Paseo and as
Institutional Development Coordinator at the IRMA Institute.She is currently the National Executive Director of Vida y Familia Nacional A.C.
(VIFAC), an organization that supports women in vulnerable situations during
pregnancy, offering them alternatives for their own development and that of their child.
Emilie Oxley
Founder and Executive Director, Refuge Host Homes
Emilie has spent the last 15 years working with vulnerable and impoverished children and families in her roles as Head Start Teacher, Foster Caregiver, and Children's Ministry Leader. Now in her role as Founder and Executive Director of Refuge Host Homes she is following her God-given passion to see the Greater Akron, Ohio, community providing more holistic support for pregnant moms. Refuge Host Homes was birthed out of the desire to connect vulnerable pregnant women with Host families and wrap circles of support around them so they are no longer alone in their motherhood journey. Emilie and her husband, Michael and three children live in Ohio and are eager to continue the work God has for them in Greater Akron, supporting Moms and Babies.
Faith Cintron
Residential Program Manager, Aid for Women
Dolli Neikirk
Executive Director, Lifehouse Maternity Home
Debbie Capen
Peggy Kerwin
Steve Smith
Cofounder, St. Raymond Society
Maureen Nwoye
Founder and Executive Director, Mary's Choice Richmond Virginia
Gina Tomes
Founder and Executive Director, Guiding Grace
Marcina Sims
Counselor, Hannah's Home Ohio
Marcina Sims is originally from Warren, Ohio. She has a preteen son named Braydon. She has a Bachelor's Degree from Kent State University, a Master of Business Administration Degree from Tiffin University, a Grief Recovery Certification and a Certificate of completion in Biblical Counseling. She has experience working with the Department of Children & Family Services where she investigated allegations of child abuse and neglect and the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts office where she processed bond payments, court fees and fines and processed arraignment and indictment filings. She also has previous experience as a client advocate at a mobile pregnancy center, where she was able to speak directly with clients on parenting options and help guide them through making real life changing and difficult decisions. She has been serving at Hannah's Home for 6 years as a caseworker/counselor. As a caseworker, she has the opportunity to help women process and manage different emotions, identify and establish healthy boundaries in all relationships, understand who they are in Christ, learn to live in community and give them tools to help make healthy life choices. Her mission in life is to help women break generational cycles by setting an example and empowering them to make redemptive choices.