Deborah is in charge of coordinating support for the policy and program staff of the Alliance and also writes and edits the newsletter and other publications. She has worked at the Children's Alliance since it was initially formed in 1983 in a merger of two statewide groups of children's services providers and a coalition of citizen advocates for children.

Deborah was raised in Montana, attended schools in New York and has an MSW in Community Organization and Development from the University of Washington. She has experience in anti-hunger work, community organizing, and political campaigns.