Deana Cerniglia was born and raised by a teen mother.  Through her trials of abandonment and dysfunction, God has given her a passion to help others break generational cycles that can continually be passed down and become worse through each generation.  With a degree in Psychology and her Masters in Special Education, Cerniglia taught emotionally disturbed, inner-city high school students where her passion for educating and showing people ‘a better way’, began. 

Cerniglia left the public school system behind and launched a nonprofit called The Open Door, Breaking Family Cycles, for young, single mothers who made the choice for life. After running the program over 10 years, she decided to utilize the life skill curriculum she designed for her participants and design a 40 week curriculum for individuals, parents, the incarcerated, chemically dependent and teen parents alike. Having her certification in REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy) and utilizing God’s laws, she teaches budgeting, parenting, goal setting, social and emotional stability, marriage and much more to help prevent fatherlessness, poverty, addiction and domestic violence, all while focusing on the 6 areas of life.  

Through her walk as a Bible study leader and serving on mission’s boards, Deana has branched off, starting Breaking Cycles, LLC.  As God would have it, this is the full circle journey.  She now has the privilege of helping others break the very generational cycles that came through her own family.  Cerniglia realizes the importance of knowing God’s Word in order to break generational cycles and is driven to help those who are searching for a ‘better way’.   

Now, with her memoir, The Open Door and her 40 Week Curriculum, she is able to reach outside of her community and share how God helps heal the past and usher in stability, peace and hope.