Debbie J. Rock

Executive Director and CEO

LIGHT Health & Wellness Comprehensive Services, Inc

Debbie Rock is the Founder and Executive Director and CEO of the LIGHT Health & Wellness Comprehensive Services, Inc. (LIGHT). In this role, she manages LIGHT’s eight comprehensive support services provided to children, youth and families whose lives have been impacted by health and societal issues such as HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. LIGHT started as a single day care program serving children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS and recognized as a national model for its services and innovation. Under Debbie’s leadership, it has grown into an organization with multiple services and a broad client base. Over the last 19 years, LIGHT has impacted approximately 20,000 clients through the provision of comprehensive programs, including counseling, support groups, health prevention, education and risk reduction services, etc.

As an advocate for children and families, Debbie was instrumental in developing legislation for the State of Maryland Kinship Care Program and assisting in the passing of other state legislation that created stand-by guardianship to protect parental rights. Debbie served as chair of the Greater Baltimore HIV/AIDS Planning Council and as a member of the President’s Council on HIV/AIDS under President George W. Bush. She has also served as a member of the Baltimore City Mayor’s Commission on HIV/AIDS, the Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership Board of Directors, the Mercy Medical Center Board of Directors, the Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Northwest Health Policy Advisory Board, the National HIV Prevention Policy Formulation & Education Workgroup, the Baltimore Rotary Club, and the Community Research Advisory Council. Debbie currently serves as the Chair of Morgan State University, School of Social Work Advisory Board. 　　　　

In all of her roles, Debbie has forged major collaborations on behalf of vulnerable populations with various organizations such as Baltimore Health Enterprise Zone, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Systems, and Morgan State University, as well as numerous community-based and AIDS service organizations. The business community has recognized Debbie’s various contributions to the Baltimore metropolitan area by naming her one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland, 2003/2012, Top 100 MBE, 2010/2012 and 2011 Top 5 Daily Record Health Care Heroes. Debbie holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Morgan State University. Among her many responsibilities, Debbie believes that her greatest role in life is to be a servant of God and to do the work that he has chosen her to do in urban families and communities.