ICRI-Headquarters Staff (US)

Ken Jaffe, M.A., J.D., President & Executive Director

KENNETH JAFFE, M.A., J.D., is the Executive Director of the International Child Resource Institute (ICRI), which he founded in 1981. ICRI is a non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of children and families throughout the world through technical assistance and consultation, resource dissemination, and the establishment of model projects. Mr. Jaffe oversees ICRI offices in the United States, Kenya, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Norway, Nepal and a network of ICRI Field Representatives in 52 countries. Mr. Jaffe received his child development training at the University of Uppsala in Sweden and his Master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he conducted comparative research in international child care and development practices. He earned a Juris Doctor degree in Law from John F. Kennedy University, where he studied juvenile justice and children's rights. He is the author of numerous articles on international early childhood education, child advocacy, managements and work and family policy issues. Mr. Jaffe served as Chair and member of the California Governor's Advisory Committee on Child Development for nine years. He has worked extensively with family child care issues and was a founding member of the International Family Child Care Association and the World Forum on Early Care and Education. He was the Vice-Chair of the California Commission to formulate a State Plan for Child Care Development. He has assisted in the improvement or establishment of more than 300 child care, child health and child abuse prevention programs worldwide. He has been a consultant to the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, D.C., and has recently advised the governments of Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Sweden and Ecuador on child and family issues. In addition, Mr. Jaffe has presented over 200 seminars to professionals and non-profit and corporate executives worldwide.

Erin O'Donohue, B.S., J.D., Associate Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer

Erin O'Donohue is the Associate Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the International Child Resource Institute, where she oversees daily operations for our global network of programs. Erin provides national and international training and consultation, and advocates for improved conditions for children and families around the world. Immediately prior to joining ICRI, Erin was employed as a Senior Staff Attorney at Legal Services for Children (LSC) in San Francisco, California. During her five years at LSC, Erin represented hundreds of child clients in cases involving child abuse and neglect, education, and immigration. Erin was the Founding Attorney and Director of LSC's Young Women's Empowerment Project, which provides legal and social services to adolescent females involved in the juvenile justice and foster care systems. Erin also served as Director of LSC's Guardianship Project, and has worked on a number of initiatives to improve services for children living in kinship care. Prior to joining ICRI, Erin spent over fifteen years working for a number of non-profit organizations that assist children and families in the United States and abroad. She has designed, implemented, managed, and refined projects that address a wide range of issues, from domestic violence to HIV/AIDS. Erin has particular expertise in the prevention of child abuse and exploitation, and in interventions for children who have endured trauma. She has also been recognized as an expert in the field of gender-specific programming, and is a passionate advocate for the rights of young women and girls. Erin holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University, and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School. She has also studied child development and early childhood education at the Yale Child Study Center.

Janet Massite, MBA, Finance Manager

Janet Massite is the Finance Manger at the International Child Resource Institute (ICRI). As Finance Manager of an international organization with more than 50 employees, Janet oversees the organization's $4 Million budget. She is also actively involved as a project support staff assisting various directors in different projects that relate to children, youth and women. Prior to working with ICRI, Janet assisted with the operations of a family business in Kenya and Mozambique, her home country. Janet has a great passion for working with issues that relate to the improvement of the lives of children and the empowerment of women in African societies. Ms Massite is the co-founder and advisor to Hupenu, a program that is geared to reduce the spread of HIV/ AIDs in young women of Zimbabwe. Ms Massite also co-founded of Future Impex, an import export organization that distributes second hand goods to developing nations. Ms Massite also served as a financial advisor to Eco Village, a non profit organization that is committed to creating awareness of the Environment to the youth and their community. Ms Massite currently sits on the board of Drawbridge, an arts program for homeless children. Ms Massite holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Golden Gate University.

Chou Nuon, Administrative Coordinator

Chou is the Administrative Coordinator for the International Child Resource Institute. She coordinates the administrative efforts on ICRI's consultations and international and domestic projects. Prior to joining ICRI, Chou was a development intern at Habitot Children's Museum in Berkeley where she assisted with various fundraising projects and activities. She also did volunteer work for the Child Family Health International organization, the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

Having benefited tremendously through her participation at Girls Incorporated of Alameda County during her adolescent years, she is currently on the Women of Taste Committee doing research and fundraising for Girls Incorporateds annual signature fundraiser event. Chou holds a BA in International Relations from the University of California, Davis.

Ellie Mashhour, Child Care Operations Manager

Ellie has been a Director of the ICRI Child Development Center since 1993 and now oversees four additional ICRI child care centers with a combined enrollment of about 160 infant toddler and preschool children. She has also provided consultation on numerous ICRI child care design and development projects including LucasFilm, Ltd., Amgen Puerto Rico and Thousand Oaks, the California State Assembly, Senate and Secretary of State Child Care Centers, The Children's Pre-School Center of Palo Alto and others. Ellie is an expert on child care facilities design, budget development, and licensing. Prior to her work with ICRI, she was director of the preschool and school aged child care program for the Alameda County YWCA.

Maria Silva, Director, Family Day Care Support Network