Our Staff
Our treatment team is made up of highly experienced masters level therapists and social workers whose specialties include assessments, bonding and attachment, family relationships, addictions, parenting, healthy relationships, milieu work, individual therapy, infant mental health and therapeutic recreation.
We also work in partnership with leading consultant specialists locally to assist with each girl’s individual treatment plan.
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Jim Fitzgerald Ron Waterman Betty Hidalgo Elaine Gingery Jenny Schmitz Marcia Allen Sherri Ohs-Mosely Lisa Nelson Susan Bailey Anderson Jacki Frank Lesa Evers
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Executive Director - Barbara Burton Barbara was appointed Executive Director in July 2006. She holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration and over 12 years of experience in development, management and leadership in the non-profit sector as well as specialized certifications in Nonprofit Finance and Fundraising. Barbara’s passion for young women and their children has helped her create a vision for Florence Crittenton that is based on attachment, personal growth, achievement and independence. A Montana native, Barbara is a graduate of the University Of Montana School Of Business and North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Administration. Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, Barbara was a Financial Planner. |
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Case Manager – Aleece Berg Aleece Berg came to FCH in 2007 as an intern after graduating with her B.A. in Psychology from Carroll College. She went on to earn her MSW from the University of Montana in 2009 and now serves as a case manager and Licensed Addiction Counselor. When not working, Aleece enjoys spending time with family and friends in the great Montana outdoors. |
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Early Childhood Coordinator – Valerie Cundall Valerie became a member of the Florence Crittenton team for the second time in June of 2010 as the Early Childhood Coordinator. She has a long and diverse background of working with children and families in Montana, Seattle, and South Dakota over the course of the past 25 years. As Early Childhood Coordinator, she is part of Florence Crittenton’s continuing community outreach efforts. She facilitates the Early Childhood Coalition of the Greater Helena Area and serves as a local representative on the state’s Best Beginnings Advisory Council. She also works closely with the Parents as Teachers Home Visiting Program through the City-County Health Department, and collaborates with the early childhood component of Helena school district’s Montana Behavioral Initiative. In her spare time Valerie enjoys spending time with her daughter, gatherings with family and friends, and dabbling in interior design. |
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Laurie Bjorklund Dagel – Finance Director Laurie joined Florence Crittenton in 2008 as Finance Director. Prior to this, she worked over 25 years providing bookkeeping and accounting services in the non profit ,medical, and aviation industry. She has extensive experience of streamlining financial systems and is working to migrate all Florence Crittenton’s accounting processes to new technology making her department more efficient, reliable and able to provide information to all departments instantly. In her spare time Laurie enjoys time spent with family and friends traveling and staying on her houseboat on one of Montanas beautiful lakes. |
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Marketing Director - Elizabeth Flynn Elizabeth joined Florence Crittenton in March 2006 as Marketing Director. Her responsibilities are to market FCH’s programs and manage PR activity. Prior to that she lived in London and was Marketing Director for PTC, a global technology solutions provider. She has over 15 years experience in marketing including strategic planning, launching new products and helping start-up organizations rapidly grow. Elizabeth holds a degree in Marketing from the University of Kingston in London. |
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Development Coordinator - Kathleen Fuhrmann Kathleen is a Helena native, who just returned to her hometown after 27 years. She joined Florence Crittenton in 2010 as Development Coordinator. Previous to her position here she was the Office Manager for Montana Shakespeare in the Parks; a professional acting company and outreach program for Montana State University in Bozeman. She received her BA from MSU, majoring in Film & TV Production with a minor in Theatre Arts. She does professional voiceover and narration work for both corporate and commercial clients. Kathleen has over 20 years experience in the non-profit world, and enjoys the various facets of fundraising, volunteer programs, and database operations. |
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Program Development Coordinator – Kate Godinez, MSW Kate joined Florence Crittenton in July 2011. Her tasks include grant writing, foundation relations, and special projects. Kate graduated from Carroll College in 2007 with a major in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduating she moved to Guatemala, where she volunteered for 6 months teaching English. Kate has gained years of experience in the social services through positions at Larkin Street Youth Services of San Francisco, Intermountain Children’s Home of Helena, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, LifeLink Foster Care of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Hospital. Kate earned her MSW specializing in Leadership and Development in the Social Services and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy in May 2011 from Loyola University Chicago. |
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Development Director – Carrie Krepps Carrie joined FCH in March of 2010 as the Director of Foundation Relations. She currently holds the position of Development Director. Prior to her time at FCH, Carrie was the Education Coordinator for the Montana Hospital Association. Her extensive experience in development work and project management includes time with the Helena Symphony, as well as the Assistant Director of Development and Director of Gameday Operations with the Montana State University Athletic Department in Bozeman. Carrie holds a Business Marketing degree and minor in Small Business from MSU-Bozeman. |
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Program Coordinator/Case Manager - Shannon Gongora Shannon Gongora joined Florence Crittenton in July 2007 as a Program Coordinator/Case Manager. Prior to this Shannon was employed as a Youth Employment Specialist working with at-risk juveniles involved in the justice system for 2 years. For an additional 2 years she worked in a school based therapeutic program with emotionally disturbed youth. She has owned and operated a small daycare. Most recently she was a case manager at Elkhorn Treatment Center, a treatment facility for women with meth addiction. Shannon received a BA from MSU-N in 2000. Her degree is in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Community Service and minoring in Native American Studies. |
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Corporate Giving Officer/IT Specialist, Alison Munson Alison joined Florence Crittenton in May 2006 and is currently in the position of Corporate Giving Officer and IT Specialist. She is responsible for managing relationships with our current corporate donors and introducing our mission and services to other local and statewide businesses. We also utilize her strengths in analytical and strategic thinking to help us with our client and donor reporting, and building systems to streamline processes at the home. In addition, she is in charge of maintaining our network and computers system. Alison currently sits on the Board for Women’s Leadership Network and is a member of Toastmasters. “Having been a teen mom I understand how much support these young moms need. I had a support system but our girls aren’t always so lucky.” |
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Bonding and Attachment Specialist, Maria Nyberg, LCSW Maria’s therapeutic focus is Bonding/attachment, Peri-natal Mood Disorders, and Equine therapy. Maria provides individual and group therapy as well as staff training, presentations and consults. The Bonding/Attachment work, includes use of video taping of mother-child interactions. Equine therapy has been particularly effective with individuals who are recovering from trauma as well as adolescents who benefit from experiential therapy. The effectiveness of the Circle of Security parenting classes both at Florence Crittenton and the community has been exciting. Maria received her BSW from U of MT and her MSW from Walla Walla College . She came to FC after running God's Love Family Transitional Center for 6 years. Before that she worked for 3.5 years in a child's psychiatric hospital as well as 8 years in acute hospital rehabilitation |
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Clinical Director - Pam Ponich-Hunthausen, MS, LCPC Pam oversees all programs at Florence Crittenton. Pam has a degree in Human Biology (emphasis in Neuropsychology) from Stanford University and a Masters degree in Counseling Education from San Diego State University . Pam has extensive management and clinical experience with at-risk youth and has worked with pregnant and parenting teen mothers at FC for the past 5 years. Pam's background also includes development of innovative programs to serve at-risk youth and families. She is proud and honored to see FC growing into a leading provider of bonding/attachment work and infant mental health assessment and treatment. |
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Volunteer Coordinator - Deb Williams Deb Williams joined the Florence Crittenton’s Development team in June 2011 as the Volunteer Coordinator. Previous to her current position, she was the Volunteer and Communications Coordinator for Helena Area Habitat for Humanity. Her favorite part her job is interacting with the volunteers and the mothers and babies. She finds it rewarding to work with families and children in need and looks forward to helping FC volunteers find the “right” opportunity for them to serve. Deb earned a degree in English Writing from Carroll College. She is the mother of four and grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren, loves hiking with her husband and two dogs in the fresh Montana air, gardening in Montana’s challenging climate, and attending music festivals around the region. |
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Treatment Manager-Mother Baby & Pathways to Success - Sarah Sarah is our Treatment Manger for our Mother Baby & Pathways to Success Programs. She has over 20 years experience in the adolescent mental health field including 11 years co-facilitation of adventure based therapy for a collaboration of Mental Health Organizations and the Project for Alternative Learning. She has a strong belief in a relationship based approach and enjoys working with adolescents and watching them blossom and realize their potential. Sarah is also a certified CPR/First Aid instructor and an inactive member of the Great Divide Ski Patrol. With her wealth of experience Sarah is a tremendous asset to our team. |
Photography donated by Janna Beecher