Board of Directors

Since 2013, Ms. Layman has focused on developing the infrastructure, resources, and impact of the Center for Child Counseling. Under her leadership, the organization has grown significantly in the past six years, now serving over 4,000 of the most vulnerable children in Palm Beach County. She has created a collaborative service delivery model, including partnerships with over thirty other nonprofits with a range of expertise.

Renée has cultivated relationships with an array of private donors, businesses, and funders, resulting in programs supported by Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Quantum Foundation, Town of Palm Beach United Way, Palm Beach County, Farris Foundation, the Florida Blue Foundation, and many others. She spearheaded development of Lead the Fight, in collaboration with Leadership Palm Beach County, bringing together over 120 business leaders in Palm Beach County for the past two years to discuss the ‘Economic Impact of Early Adversity’ as part of the Center for Child Counseling’s Fighting ACEs Initiative, which was launched in 2015 with Quantum Foundation support.

In her various leadership roles, Ms. Layman has been a passionate advocate for child and family mental health, bringing innovative programs and high-quality services for some of the most pressing issues facing children in Palm Beach County, with a focus on increasing access for low-income and minority populations. Ms. Layman is a flexible and adaptive leader with strong leadership and organizational skills, working with leaders throughout the county to improve health outcomes for children and families. Most recently, in collaboration with leaders in the child welfare system, she developed the Childhood Trauma Response Program, to ensure immediate assessment and therapeutic care for children ages birth to 5 entering the foster care system. Under her leadership, Center for Child Counseling launched a community-wide Fighting ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Initiative, bringing awareness on the health and economic impact of early adversity throughout the South Florida region, including links to suicide rates, intergenerational abuse, and the opioid epidemic.

Ms. Layman has extensive clinical training, including evidence-based interventions such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and Filial Therapy. Under her leadership, Center for Child Counseling’s Institute for Clinical Training provides community-wide training for over 3,000 people each year, focusing on ensuring that effective, trauma-informed practices are used for the most vulnerable children and families. Her leadership style has resulted in a learning organization defined by warmth, flexibility, opportunity for growth, and low turnover of staff.

In recognition of her work, Renée was recognized as Palm Beach County’s Nonprofit Executive of the Year (October 2017) and received Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Women of Excellence: Health & Wellness Award in 2011. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health, working with leaders statewide to improve the system of care for babies and young children. Renée also serves on the School District of Palm Beach County’s ESE and SHAC Mental Health Advisory Committees and is the Board President of the Nonprofit Chamber of Palm Beach County. She is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County’s Class of 2010 and Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone Class XXXVI.

Renée earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She lives with her family in Palm Beach Gardens.