Executive Board of Directors

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  Since 1999, Dr. Diane Lew has supported students with disabilities as a general education teacher, a special education teacher, a district-level special education program coordinator, and a school principal. Through her background and experience, she has gained a thorough knowledge of K-12 standards and curriculum; assessment and data analysis; effective classroom management strategies and positive behavior support strategies; development of individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 accommodations plans; design, management, and revision of behavior support plans; design, procedures and legal aspects of special education; and conflict resolution strategies. Dr. Lew is currently certified through Think:Kids and has a solid goal of incorporating CPS into behavior plans.

Dr. Lew possesses a Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a Level II Education Specialist Instruction Specialist Credential with Autism Authorization, and an Administrative Services Credential. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, she has also earned a master’s degree in educational administration and doctoral degree in educational leadership.  

For more than 20 years, Steve has served the greater Orange County area in multiple roles dedicated to helping families thrive.

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, Steve helps parents and children collaborate and connect through his private practice, In Touch Individual and Family Therapy, located on the property of the Heart for Kids Coaching, Training & Therapy Center (H4K) in Tustin. He is also an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Vanguard University, where he teaches courses such as Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Behavior Modification, Counseling Theories, and Psychology of the Family.

An Ordained Minister, Steve helps Christian parents integrate theology with evidence-based parenting practices to raise emotionally intelligent, connected children. He is also the Founder of In Touch Parenting, which offers seminars that help parents calm the chaos, build confidence, and manage challenging behaviors effectively.

Steve is Certified in Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS), an evidence-based approach rooted in neuroscience and proven to improve parent-child relationships, reduce conflict, and foster skill development in children. He is now training to become a CPS Trainer through Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Steve partners with HBCC to deliver CPS training for parents and professionals, supporting families with compassionate, skill-based solutions. Outside of work, he enjoys surfing, mountain biking, and spending time with his wife and two sons in South Orange County.

 Ingrid brings over 40 years of experience as an early childhood educator, mentor, and child advocate to the HBCC Advisory Board. For 25 years, she taught preschool at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, where she also served as a California Early Childhood Mentor Teacher, supporting student teachers in their practicum experience. She was a Validator for NAEYC’s (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation process, evaluating early childhood programs across Orange County. In 2015, she was named one of 25 Outstanding Teachers of the Year in Orange County.

Ingrid later became the Preschool Director at St. Margaret’s, establishing their Outdoor Classroom—named in her honor upon her retirement in 2016. She continues to serve on the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese Commission on Schools, consulting and participating on accreditation teams. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Drama, a master’s in Human Development with an Early Childhood Specialization, and a GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) Certificate, along with extensive professional development in special needs, diversity, sensory integration, and positive guidance.

A self-described “busy bee” as a child, Ingrid became the teacher who celebrated individuality—seeking to understand rather than punish behavior. As an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Saddleback College, she helped parents and teachers do the same. Married since 1969 to her college sweetheart, and mother to two gifted sons with learning differences, Ingrid brings both personal and professional insight. Meeting Debra Ann Afarian and learning about Collaborative Problem Solving® felt like naming her life’s work.

We are thrilled to have John Manion join HBCC’s Advisory Board and that he has decided to join our executive team!

John is an Executive Vice President at NAI Capital, and also the Founder and President of The OC Owner User Group. He provides comprehensive commercial real estate services to entrepreneurs that own the buildings they occupy, and to independent investors that hold commercial investment properties.  

John’s talents were critical to HBCC’s acquisition of the Heart 4 Kids Coaching, Training & Therapy Center (H4K) building in historic Old Town Tustin. The building, donated to HBCC in 2016, is on a quaint tree-lined Main Street that is what we now call home.

Prior to assisting with the real estate transaction, John had forged a relationship with the Center’s service providers by receiving coaching to improve his son’s quality of life after his son was diagnosed with ADHD. John’s passion is to help HBCC further it’s mission and vision by fundraising for programs, required capital for maintaining operations and special projects. 

 Renal is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals with diverse neurotypes across a range of clinical settings. She is CPS (Collaborative Problem Solving®) trained and brings a neurodiversity-affirming lens to both her clinical work and parent support.

Renal is also the proud mom of a neurodivergent son, whose journey deeply shaped her understanding of advocacy, regulation, and compassionate parenting. With both professional expertise and lived experience, Renal supports families in navigating a neurotypical world while honoring neurodivergent strengths—helping parents feel informed, empowered, and less alone.

 Dr. Hibbard has over 10 years of experience practicing a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques, customized to meet the specific needs of clients including cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, Collaborative Problem Solving, acceptance and commitment therapy as well as cognitive, subjective, and academic assessment. 

Dr Jolee's work has ranged in clients of all ages and diagnoses including bipolar and related disorders, depression, anxiety, autism, and trauma. She is passionate about supporting neurodivergent and high potential individuals and their caregivers/families. 

Beyond her work as a practicing therapist, she published a workbook and actively facilitate workshops for parents and caregivers called the Language of Advocacy

   Amazon.com: Language of Advocacy: Speak for Your Child with Confidence: Advocating for a Neurodivergent Child eBook : Hibbard, Jolee, Chilcutt, Alexa, Cole, Julie: Kindle Store  

which focuses on teaching parents and caregivers how to speak up for their children with mental health concerns. 

Dr Jolee is also the co-author of a case study assessing effective treatment modalities for treatment of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

It’s important to her to be involved in my community which is why she serves on the board at Helping the Behaviorally Challenging Child (HBCC) here in Orange County as well as facilitates a group at NAMI for families of individuals with mental illness. 

Dr Jolee Hibbard's master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology were earned from Pepperdine University and Azusa Pacific University. She trained in Youth Intensive Outpatient programs and University of California at Irvine Medical Center Child and Adolescent Outpatient Program; an APA-accredited internship at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Psychiatry Department; and my post-doctoral fellowship with Healthpointe Medical Clinics.