Murray-Fleck named new Healthy Beginnings director
This week, the Healthy Beginnings board of directors and the High Desert Education Service District announced that Diane Murray-Fleck has been selected as the next executive director for Healthy Beginnings.
Murray-Fleck will replace Holly Remer, who will retire on July 1 after serving as the agency’s executive director for 16 years.
Healthy Beginnings is both a non-profit organization and a program of High Desert ESD that provides free 12-point screenings to children birth through age 5. The program serves approximately 700 children annually in the communities of La Pine, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, Bend, Madras and Prineville.
Screenings focus on development (speech, motor and concepts), behavior, vision, hearing, health, dental, nutrition, kindergarten readiness and literacy. Along with screenings, Healthy Beginnings provides parent education, referral and follow-up, ensuring families are connected to the resources they need.
“We are excited to have Diane joining the Healthy Beginnings team and we look forward to her leadership and insights that will help us expand our reach,” said Healthy Beginnings board president Jennifer Moss Lewis.
Murray-Fleck is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 10 years of experience in the education and non-profit sectors. She has also been a private business owner, executive coach/trainer and national speaker. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from Potsdam College in New York and her Masters in Social Work from New York’s Syracuse University.
“In addition to bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the Healthy Beginnings program, Ms. Murray-Fleck also demonstrates extraordinary energy and passion for this cause to promote early childhood health and development in Central Oregon,” said HDESD Deputy Superintendent Paul Andrews who will serve as HDESD superintendent beginning July 1 .
Having served as chair of the Portland public school Stephenson Foundation, Murray-Fleck is also passionate about community building and fundraising.
“The mission of Healthy Beginnings is in complete alignment with who I am as a social worker, leadership coach, public speaker, parent and community member,” said Murray-Fleck.
Healthy Beginnings is a 21 Cares for Kids partner.
About Healthy Beginnings
Healthy Beginnings provides universal screening services for about 700 children per year in Central Oregon. Community screening clinics for all children ages 0 to 5 are rotated from January through December in the communities of La Pine, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, Bend, Madras and Prineville. Using evidence based screening tools and trained volunteer specialists, Healthy Beginnings provides screening in development (speech, motor and concepts), behavior, vision, hearing, health, dental, nutrition, kindergarten readiness and literacy. Along with screening, Healthy Beginnings provides parent education, referral and follow-up, ensuring families are connected to the resources they need. Healthy Beginnings also offers one-on-one screening services for children in homeless shelters and provides specialized screening services for preschools and child care centers. Funding sources including contributions, donations, fundraising efforts and United Way support. Healthy Beginnings is also a grantee under the Oregon Health Authority, providing insurance assistance and support for families and individuals needing to apply for health insurance.
About The High Desert Education Service District
The High Desert Education Service District is a regional support system that links school districts in Central Oregon to state and national education resources. Our programs help districts minimize duplication of services, preserve their local budgets and receive special programs that might otherwise be unavailable to them.
