The ACTS2 Project offers free skills-building and support services to caregivers of loved ones with dementia. Our program of services includes:
The ACTS 2 faith-based, skills-building and support program includes seven major components:
The primary purpose of ACTS2’s problem-solving consultation services is to assist family members in implementing strategies to address caregiving and self-care challenges.
The objectives of ACTS2’s information and referral services is to assist caregivers and other concerned parties in identifying community-, regional- and state-based caregiving and self-care resources.
ACTS2 conducts dementia awareness training through social media and in-person presentations across Florida and the U.S.
The ACTS 2 Project is funded by grants from:
ACTS2 team members include core staff, regional recruiters. lay pastoral care facilitators and consultants. ACTS2 staff members are responsible for organizing the delivery of caregiver services and dementia awareness training. They also train and support lay pastoral care facilitators and supervise program evaluation activities. Consultants are primarily involved in evaluating the effectiveness and impact of ACTS2 services. Regional recruiters are responsible for organizing presentations and workshops in-person and through social media across Florida.
Lay pastoral care facilitators are faith workers from the African-American community who lead ACTS2 skills-building and support programs for dementia caregivers.
The ACTS2 Advisory Board consists of clergy, community leaders and family caregivers of older adults with dementia. Their role is to guide the development and implementation of caregiver services, assist in strategic planning, and support fundraising efforts.
Rob Glueckauf, Ph.D. is Director of the African-American Alzheimer’s Caregiver and Support 2 (ACTS 2) Project and Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine. He is also Research Director of the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Memory Disorder Clinic. Dr. Glueckauf obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology at Florida State University. Dr. Glueckauf’s primary interests lie in the development and evaluation of skills-building and support programs for family caregivers of older adults with dementia and spirituality and health. He is actively involved in his faith community and is a daily practitioner of prayer and meditation, a discipline which guides and positively influences all phases of his life.
Tomeka Norton-Brown is the Project Coordinator for the ACTS 2 Project in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine. Tomeka is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology. She has worked in the area of survey and research for the past 17 years. She has served as a caregiver for several family members with chronic conditions and has a passion for helping others.
Kay L. Allen, M.S.W., Ph.D is Research Associate for ACTS 2. Dr. Allen is a licensed marriage and family therapist who worked in a family practice setting counseling individuals, couples and families. As a former caregiver, she understands the importance and challenges of caregiving. Dr. Allen values faith-based, skills-building and support programs for caregivers and she serves as a partner to lay pastoral care facilitators in the program.
James Proctor, D. Min., M.S.W. Community Liaison for the ACTS 2 project, former ACTS facilitator and family caregiver. He is currently President of Ecumenical Vision Ministry, Inc. (Consulting Agency) and on the Board of Directors for DART (Direct Action Research and Training Organization), Miami, and an Itinerant Elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Xan Nowakowski, Ph.D., MPH is Assistant Professor in the Departments of Geriatrics and Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at FSU College of Medicine. Xan is a medical sociologist and program evaluator whose work centers on health equity and social justice for persons with chronic health conditions. Before transferring to FSU College of Medicine’s Orlando campus in 2016, their work focused on increasing access to comprehensive health services for African Americans and Black Caribbeans in Gadsden County. As a member of the ACTS 2 team, Dr. Nowakowski amplifies the voices of caregivers and facilitators using qualitative analysis of their one-on-one interviews. Xan’s passion for this work comes from a strong personal stake in how persons from underserved minority groups with chronic health problems can live to their full potential and support one another in the process.
Floyd B. Willis, M.D. obtained his medical degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine in 1986 after graduating from Yale College in 1982 with a B.S. degree in Biology. He completed the Mayo Clinic Family Practice Residency in 1989 and is licensed to practice in Georgia, Florida, and Arizona. In May of 2007, Dr. Willis was appointed as Chairman of the Department of Family Practice at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and served in this capacity until 2017. Dr. Willis has been honored to receive the Teacher of the Year Award for Full Time Faculty, Florida Academy of Family Physicians. His interests focus on the health and well-being of persons of minority origin, especially those with dementia and related conditions.
Jane Springer is Research Assistant for the ACTS 2 Project at the Florida State University College of Medicine. Jane previously served as a Tuberculosis Control Operations Management Consultant at the Florida Department of Health. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Florida State University. She is also a certified life and wellness coach and has a passion for promoting a healthy lifestyle and helping women of faith who are going through major life transitions.
Keithen Mathis, M.S.W. is Facilitator Consultant for the ACTS 2 Project and Teaching Professor at Florida State University College of Social Work. His primary areas of interest are social work practice with communities and organizations, diversity, equity, and social justice. Keithen serves as a deacon and vice-president of the Men of Action Auxiliary at his church. He has been a long-distance caregiver for his sister and is currently serving in this capacity for his brother-in-law. Keithen’s strong religious orientation and faith are the bedrock for him both personally and professionally.
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Hattie Mary Young, B.S., M.Ed., is Lay Pastoral Care Facilitator for the ACTS 2 Project. She received a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling from Florida A&M University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Tuskegee University. She is a retired state of Florida employee after 35 years of service. She has been an active member of the Sunday School Ministry for over 40 years and currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Sunday School Ministry. She has taught boys ages 12-15, the Singles/Single Parents classes and is a member of the Sanctuary Choir. Her caregiving experiences have included several generational family members.
Maple S Jones, B.A., is Lay Pastoral Care Facilitator with the ACTS 2 Project. Her professional career as a social worker began upon graduating from Edward Waters College with a degree in Sociology and Education. As a social worker/supervisor in the Child Abuse and Neglect Program, she assisted many individuals who needed protective services. Her entire career with the State of Florida spanned 45 years. Her faith experience mirrored her social work experiences, as she chaired her church’s Commission on Mission and Welfare where she visited the sick and shut-in members and determined their needs for services. Her participation in the ACTS 2 Project has been a most rewarding experience, as she has been able to share her love and knowledge with family members who give their all to care for their loved one with dementia.
Connie W. Corker, B.S., M.P.A., is Lay Pastoral Care Facilitator with the ACTS 2 Project. She received her degrees from Florida A&M and the University of North Florida, respectively. She is a retired state employee with over 35 years of service, mostly in the areas of Human Resources and Employee Relations at the University of North Florida. She is very active in her church and serves as a steward (spiritual leader), vice chair of the finance committee, class leader, and secretary of the Steward and Official Boards. She volunteers on a neighborhood accountability board that hears youth offenders' civil citation cases.
Jacqueline B. Edwards, B.A., is Lay Pastoral Care Facilitator with the ACTS 2 Project. She graduated from Florida A&M University and Florida State University. She is currently employed by the State of Florida as a program specialist with the Students Against Destructive Decisions program. Jackie is an active member of her church and serves in their religious education program and women’s ministry. Her favorite Bible verse is, “For God commended his love towards us, in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
Virginia Alexander, M.S.W., M.Ed., is Lay Pastoral Care Facilitator with the ACTS 2 project. She has both undergraduate and master degrees from Florida A&M University. She has been a teacher at Rickards High School for 14 years specializing in the field of exceptional student education. Virginia is very involved in her church and has a strong commitment to community service. She is current chairperson of Students Working Against Tobacco. Virginia and her five sisters shared caregiving responsibilities for their mother with dementia.
Loretta S. Coppock, M.S., is Lay Pastoral Care Facilitator with the ACTS 2 project. She is a retired educator and has an undergraduate degree from Bethune-Cookman University,and a masters degree from Florida A&M University. She also holds an Educational Specialist Degree from the University of South Florida. Mrs. Coppock is very active in her church where she serves as Chair Pro Tem of the Steward Board, Coordinator of the Class Leaders Council, and the Women’s Missionary Society. Mrs. Coppock was primary caregiver for her mother with dementia.
Jocelyn Hayden's love for serving and helping people led her to receive her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Work from Florida A&M University. Mrs. Hayden is currently Advisor/Counselor for the Florida A&M University School of Nursing. She served as project coordinator for ACTS 1, in which she was introduced to the beautiful world of care giving for loved ones with dementia. Mrs. Hayden currently is now a lay pastoral care facilitator for ACTS 2. Her life's mission is to "Love God, Love People, Love Life," which she strives to do every single day!
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