Who We Are

Mission Statement


To enable adults with intellectual disabilities to live full, rich, safe lives while meaningfully participating in the community.

Our founder, Dr. Carmen Miller Michael, and a group of caring and passionate leaders in our community, including Milton Levy, Buddy Rosenthal, and Herbert Shore, envisioned a caring and one-of-a-kind environment servicing those in our community with intellectual disabilities. Their dedication set the stage for CHAI to become the successful community provider it is today.

After several years of surveys, cost analyses, and feasibility studies, the concept for Community Homes for Adults, was approved by the Social Planning Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas and quickly endorsed by its Board of Directors.

Since its inception in 1983, CHAI continues to fulfill its mission of supporting those in need by providing a place to live, life skills education, day habilitation, job training and support, opportunities for social inclusion, multiple healthcare options, and a team of tireless advocates that makes certain every resident and client is treated with respect and compassion.

We have been fortunate over the years to expand our services and purchased homes, create the Wolens Program Services and our Day Habilitation program due to the generosity of donors who understand the importance of CHAI as a force for good in the community. They recognize the principles upon which CHAI was founded and how society improves when those principles are put into practice. There is still room for improvement in our community, and we at CHAI believe our work has only just begun. We look forward to many more years of making a difference and touching lives in profoundly positive ways.

Our Founder


carmen miller michaelDr. Carmen Miller Michael

A graduate of SMU and Professor Emeritus at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Carmen Miller Michael was a longtime community mental health advocate in the Dallas area. Her work in the field of clinical psychology provided services that did not previously exist for those with intellectual disabilities.

CHAI opened its doors in 1983 in accordance with Dr. Michael’s vision and with the dedication of passionate community leaders like Milton Levy, Buddy Rosenthal, and Herbert Shore. Dr. Michael also founded the Dallas Epilepsy Association and the Dallas Mental Health Society. The Dallas Historical Society once honored her for excellence in community service, and since 1998 an award in her name has been given to a select number of students for their scholarship, citizenship, and clinical skills.

Although Dr. Michael passed away in 2013, her legacy of fostering change within the community and providing expert care lives on in every venture CHAI undertakes and every life it touches.

Annual Report


The Annual Report gives a snapshot of what CHAI did this year in programs and how we did financially. Please click below to see the most recent Annual Report.

View our Annual Report

Faces of CHAI


Our Staff


Lisa Brodsky

Chief Executive Officer


Reporting to the Board of Directors, Lisa is responsible for creating, communicating, and implementing CHAI’s vision, mission, and overall direction.  Lisa loves to walk her two Boston Terriers, Lucie and Dezi and also loves working in the yard.  No information regarding the consequences of having two dogs causes her to  work in the yard.

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Craig Becker

Director of Finance


Reporting to the CEO, this position is responsible for the finance and accounting operations   including, internal and external audits, accounting, Human Resources and payroll administration.  The Director of Finance takes a leadership role in financial condition analysis, budget management, and financial reporting. When Craig is not playing with numbers, you can see him cheering on his Green-Bay Packers sans cheese head.

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Patsy Goodman

Director of Development


Patsy is responsible for implementing a comprehensive development plan that includes an annual fundraising campaign, communications and marketing, special events, and donor relations as well as grant proposals and planned giving.

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Candace Carroll-Johnson

Director of Programs and Services


Candace is responsible for the oversight of the entire program and services team. She is accountable for all the residents, clients and staff and the actual day to day operations of our homes. In addition, she is responsible for our Day Habilitation Program and our Wolens Program (community outreach).

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Erica Williams

HCS Manager


Erica manages the direct care staff and supervises the Levy 1 and 2, Yale, Miller 1 and 2, Toub and Bauer homes, part of the home and community-based services program.  This position creates staff schedules, leads annual planning meetings and is responsible for the safety and well-being of clients.

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Tyrone Richmond

Case Manager


Tyrone is responsible for ensuring the continuity of services and supports through the implementation of service planning and coordination meetings as well as ensuring compliance with state guidelines to adhere to Medicaid, Probate and Social Security requirements for all persons receiving Home and Community-Based Medicaid waiver services.

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Trenesha Johnson

Quality Assurance Specialist


Trenesha assures all programs and services including assisted living,  HCS and TxHML are in compliance with all regulations.  She is also responsible for all staff training and maintains our commitment to excellence by evaluating and  monitoring the quality of our programs and services.

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Fredia Jackson

Residential Supervisor for Yale, Levy 1 and Levy 2


Fredia functions as the Residential Supervisor of the Yale home and staff as well as Levy 1 and Levy 2 homes and staff.

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Michelle Bearden

Residential Supervisor of Miller 1 and Miller 2


Michelle functions as the Residential Supervisor of the Miller 1 and Miller 2 homes and staff.

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Brandy Taylor

Residential Supervisor of Toub and Bauer


Brandy functions as the Residential Supervisor of the Toub and Bauer homes and staff.

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LaTerria Houston

Residential Supervisor of Todd 1 and Todd 2


LaTerria functions as the Residential Supervisor of the Todd 1 and Todd 2 homes and staff.

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Anita Thomas

Accounting Associate


Anita is responsible for CHAI's accounts payables. She completes payments and control expenses by receiving, processing, verifying and reconciling invoices.

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Brian Kaner

Development Associate


Brian is responsible for supporting the work of the development department. This includes, but is not limited to, tasks for annual campaign, special events and marketing. Brian is also responsible for the design, implementation and ongoing management of a  comprehensive program that encourages engagement of individual volunteers as well as community partners.

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Bettina Turner

Junior Accountant


Bettina is responsible for CHAI’s accounts receivable. She generates client and state invoices; ensures payments are recorded and reconciled; and assists in month end closing.

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Monica Mitchell

Office Manager & HR Generalist


Monica is responsible for administrative duties to the CEO and Director of Finance, Development and Programs. She also serves as our HR Generalist and Office Manager handling the improvement of office procedures, operations, and scheduling.

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Doug Ayozie

Life Skills Trainer


Doug works with the Wolens Program Services team to support individuals with intellectual disabilities to achieve independent living goals that are personally rewarding. He assists these individuals to attain a higher level of independence through life skills training in their home or in the community.

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Yonvoshkia Brown

Medical Transport Specialist


Yonvoskhia is responsible for ensuring that the CHAI residents are provided with a high level of care by planning logistics of transportation of medication and to medical appointments.

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Pamela Long

Registered Nurse/Certified Case Manager


Pamela is part of the nursing staff responsible for managing the individualized client care by promoting and restoring client’s health through the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to CHAI residents, clients and families; and supervising assigned staff members.

Carol Deleon

LVN


Carol is part of the nursing staff responsible for managing the individualized client care by promoting and restoring client’s health through the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to CHAI residents, clients and families; and supervising assigned staff members.

Megan Hinds

Registered Nurse


Megan is part of the nursing staff responsible for managing the individualized client care by promoting and restoring client’s health through the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to CHAI residents, clients and families; and supervising assigned staff members.

Officers of the Board

Ricki Shapiro
President

Adrian Allen
Vice President

Todd Estes
Vice President

Ethan Prescott
Vice President

Linda Swartz
Vice President/Secretary

Julie Morlend
Immediate Past President

Executive Committee Members at Large

Amy Foxman
Sandy Kaman
Josh Kaufman
Judy Kogutt

Board Members

Brian Bertcher
Clay Colen
Kevin Cooper
Jason Friedman
Rachel Grodin
Brooke Hinson
Seth Kaplan, MD
Shauna Milstein
Serena Ritch
Beverly Rossel
Jason Sandler
Daniel Tobin
Drew Vine

CHAEF Board of Trustees

(Community Homes for Adults Endowment Foundation)
Barry Steinhart- President
Evan Stone - Vice President
Marcy Helfand - Secretary
Stuart Morse
David Romick
Rick Rosenberg
Ben Weinstein

Past Presidents

Susan Bates, Ph.D
Elise Donosky
Sanford (Tex) Fagadau, Ph.D*
Barbara Glazer
Milton J. (Bill) Greene*
Barbara Gutow
Marcy Helfand
Florence Kramer
Milton P. Levy, Jr.*
Jim Liston
Carmen Miller Michael, Ph.D.*
David Millheiser
Cheryl Moore*
Julie Morlend
Stuart A. Morse
David Romick
John Rosenberg
Larry Schoenbrun
Herbert Shore, Ed.D.*
Michael Todres
Allen Udisky

Honorary Lifetime Members

Milton P. Levy, Jr.*
Carmen Miller Michael, Ph.D.*
Mrs. Henry S. Miller, Sr.*
H.S. (Buddy) Rosenthal*
Herbert Shore, Ed.D.*

*of Blessed Memory

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