We are educators and practitioners serving families

The team behind the NeuroRelational Framework

We’re on a mission to improve the assessment and treatment of adults, children, and families with complex diagnoses through data-driven, customized, and collaborative care.

The NRF Institute offers dynamic educational training to cross-sectored communities with at-risk infants, young children, adults, and families, based upon the use of the NeuroRelational Framework (NRF). In addition, we are pursuing scientific research that assesses the outcomes of the child, adult, families, providers, and communities using the NRF.

Our Leadership Team

Connie Lillas
Founder/Executive Director

The team behind the NeuroRelational Framework

Connie Lillas, RN, MFT, PhD, is the founder and executive director of the NeuroRelational Framework (NRF) Institute. She believes overwhelmed practitioners and stressed parents can get cohesive care that cultivates connection and joy.

Connie has a background in high-risk maternal-child nursing, family systems, and developmental psychoanalysis. She specializes in both treating and training within neurodiverse populations and early intervention settings, trauma histories and mental health clinics, child welfare systems, and medical settings.

When she’s not supporting practitioners and parents, you can find her walking her dogs with her husband, spending time with her family playing games, and being on or by the water.

Carole-Anne Hapchyn

Carole Anne Hapchyn, MD, FRCPC is an NRF Trainer and Mentor of practitioners across sectors of care in Alberta, Canada. She is an infant and early childhood psychiatrist who sees children and families at the ElmTree Clinic in Edmonton. Carole Anne is passionate about teaching and is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta.

When she is not at her computer or reading, she is dancing and exercising.

View Carole-Anne Hapchyn, MD, FRCPC Full Bio

Jennifer Hixson

Jennifer Hixson, PsyD, BCBA is a clinical and school psychologist, who also specializes in working with people with Autism and their families. Jennifer has implemented the NRF across the spectrum of settings from outpatient to acute hospitalizations and with ages birth to 99.

Currently, Jennifer applies NRF principles when conducting assessment for people with neurodiversity and those who have experienced trauma, substance abuse, and complex diagnoses.

In her free time, Jennifer likes to relax by any body of water, watch movies with her family, and work in the yard.

View Jennifer Hixson, PsyD, BCBA Full Bio

Betty Peralta

Betty Peralta, MIT, MS-MHC, IMH-E (III) is an NRF Trainer and Consultant for home visitors, early learning and K-12 educators, and parents around Washington. She trains/consults for the state’s Department of Child, Youth and Family, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Office of Public Defense, as well as King County’s Developmental Disabilities Administration.

Other specializations include infant and childhood mental health, K-12 special education, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

In her free time, Betty works on her Vashon Island farm, spends time with family and friends, and travels to learn about different cultures in the US and beyond.

View Betty Peralta, MIT, MS-MHC, IMH-E(III) Full Bio

Jessica Richards

Jessica Richards, MS, MSW, LCSW is an experienced NRF trainer who has provided over 100 NRF trainings and presentations including Zero to Three, WAIMH, and is the primary trainer for Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

Jessica specializes in neurodiverse populations, selective mutism, anxiety disorders, and child welfare.

When she’s not supporting practitioners and parents, you can find her running, playing board games, or spending time with her dog.

View Jessica Richards, MS, MSW, LCSW Full Bio

“The NRF looks beyond a behavioral approach and seeks to understand
the infant’s individual differences in processing their world—and then the framework teaches us how to support the challenges.”

– KRISTINE, MA, INFANT FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

NRF Early Adopter Communities

Bring the shared language to your community

When your local community implements the NeuroRelational Framework, then families have access to a cohesive approach. By joining the NRF communities, you gain competency in your field, increase your energy as you serve others, and families can better support their children.

The GRIT Program, Early Childhood Education
https://gritprogram.ca/

Alberta Health Services, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the David Schiff NICU at the Stollery Children’s Hospital

Children Autism Services Edmonton
https://childrensautism.ca

Kevin O’Brien, LMFT, LCSW, Children’s Hospital
KO’Brien@chw.org

Margo Camacho, MS LPC, private practice
margocamacho72@gmail.com

Contracts with:

Healthy Infant Court
Milwaukee United Community Center Head Start
Jefferson County WI Head Start
HIPPY International

Charisse Pilar, MSW
Assistant Regional Administrator
County of Los Angeles
Dept. of Children & Family Services
PILACH@dcfs.lacounty.gov

Laura Andrade, Ph.D.
Children’s Services Administrator III
Continuous Quality Improvement
Dept. of Children & Family Services
Andral@dcfs.lacounty.gov

Sara Rodas, LCSW, Allies for Every Child
srodas@alliesforeverychild.org

Leslie Ortiz, MSW, Clinical Therapist, ACSW, ECMHS, Outpatient at El Centro Del Pueblo
lortiz@ecdpla.org

Lauren Permenter, LCSW
Laurenpermenterlcsw@gmail.com

Key Contacts in Fresno:

Kristine Gose
Touchstone Family Development Center, Inc.
CA Endorsed Infant Family Mental Health
Specialist; CA Reflective Practice Facilitator II
kristinegose@gmail.com

Freda Kaprielian, M.A.
RPF Mentor
Director KC KIDS Early Childhood CenterFreda Kaprielian, M.A.
RPF Mentor
Director KC KIDS Early Childhood Center
kaprielian-f@kcusd.com

NRF Trainers for the State of Alaska:

Gail A. Trujillo, M.Sc., PhD (ABD)
gamt_ak@mail.com

Christy McMurren, LCSW, Infant Mental
Health Specialist IMH-E®
christym907@gmail.com

Key Contact in:
Anchorage, Kristin Nygren
knygren@picak.org

Fairbanks, Kristen Panamaroff
kristen.panamaroff@alaskacenter.org

Elisa Weichel
Administrative Director/Senior Staff
Attorney, Children’s Advocacy Institute
University of San Diego, School of Law

“The NRF looks at the whole person and considers the complexity involved, rather than band-aid solutions to the behavior we see on the surface.”

– SARAH, ASaP COACH (APPRECIATION, SCRUTINY, ACTION, AND PRACTICE COACH)

NRF as a Grant Recipient

The NRF has been honored to have trained multiple communities since training our first early adopter community in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2011. Local, state, and regional grants have been awarded to entities that have used their funds to purchase NRF training for their agencies. We particularly specialize in cross-training teams of practitioners from different disciplines at the same time. Here are a few samples of these agencies and teams. The “more info” link gives you data on the funding sources and their outcomes. We welcome any agency or entity to contact us if they want to consider using grant funding to promote medical, developmental, relational, and learning health using the NRF across the lifespan.