Carrie joined Florence Crittenton in March, 2010 as the Grants Officer.  She quickly fell in love with the work and the organization and moved to the Development Director in 2001, a position she kept for 8 years. Carrie accepted the role of Executive Director in July of 2019.

Prior to her time here, 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.

Throughout her tenure at Florence Crittenton Carrie has worked closely with budget management, fund and contract development, and advocacy on several levels for Florence Crittenton.  In her current role she leads the integrated Leadership team at Florence Crittenton and guides the organization’s mission through her work with the Board of Directors and staff. Over her 10 years, Carrie has gain extensive knowledge regarding the critical work of caring for families in an integrated family-centric treatment model.

Carrie holds a Business Marketing degree and minor in Small Business & Entrepreneurship from Montana State University-Bozeman.   She is passionate about ensuring every family has the opportunity to raise their children in a loving environment.  Raised by small business owner parents, she loves the “business side” of connecting this passion with partnerships across the state and strong business practices. Carrie is a Helena native and loves raising her two daughters, Ella and Sarah, with her husband, Fred Krepps, back in her hometown.

Allison Pettit brings over 30 years of experience in early childhood education to Florence Crittenton’s Child Enrichment Center. As a Floating Teacher at the center, she ensures all children receive the cognitive, physical, communicative, and social-emotional supports they need to further their growth and development. Recognizing families are essential to early childhood success, Allison strives to build connections and maintain open discourse with each family. She utilizes her bachelor’s degree and early childhood trainings to implement daily developmentally appropriate best practices in the CEC. Allison enjoys creating a fun, engaging, stimulating environment for the children and shares the best part of early childhood development, as well as her day, centers around play.

Amanda Steichen joined Florence Crittenton in June 2019 as a Parents as Teachers Home Visitor. She and her  family moved from Great Falls to Helena in 2008 and it didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the community. Amanda had three children soon after getting married and with her husband in the military often found herself being a single parent. Knowing the struggles of being a young mom and oftentimes doing it alone she

is excited to be able to help families in the community develop parenting skills and build strong bonds with their kids.

Amanda was able to stay home with her kids while they were young but as they grew older she knew she needed to do something for herself.  In 2014 she enrolled at Helena College after being out of school for 16 years. Not sure where her education would take her she quickly found an interest in Psychology and took every class that she could. When the University of Montana partnered with Helena College to offer an online Social Work degree she knew that was the path to take. Amanda graduated with her Bachelor’s in Social Work in May 2019. She plans to pursue her Master’s degree in Social work in 2021.

Amber joined the Florence Crittenton team in 2019 as a SafeCare Home Visitor. Upon graduating with her master’s degree in social work from Walla Walla University’s adjunct campus in Missoula, she transitioned to the role of Clinical Therapist with our residential programs in late 2020. Amber originally comes from Minnesota where she completed her undergraduate degree in social work with a minor in human relations. There she worked as and Case Manager for adults living with developmental disabilities until moving to Montana to complete a year of service with AmeriCorps and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

Amber is passionate about supporting families with the belief that every individual cultivates their unique perspective of this world through the lens of their upbringing. Creating a healthy world starts at the root of each individual- their childhood experiences.

Understanding the impacts of adverse childhood experiences on the life span has been an influential focus of Amber’s studies, she works to integrate this trauma- informed care as a foundation to build upon cognitive behavioral, solutions focused, strengths-based, and person-centered techniques. Amber strives to provide each client with an individualized therapeutic experience tailored to meet their needs in the safety of a judgment free environment where every client feels heard and accepted.

Bob joined Florence Crittenton in 2018 and serves as our Medical Director. Bob has practiced in Helena for over 23 years both in private practice and on a contract basis with other agencies.
Most recently Bob worked with AWARE, Inc. and prior to that he was a psychiatrist for the PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) at the Center for Mental Health.
Bob has extensive experience in both public and private psychiatry including inpatient, outpatient, consulting and addiction psychiatry. He has also held faculty appointments at the University of California, Davis and at the University of New Mexico. He holds a Bachelors degree in Music, a Masters in Computer Science and his Medical Doctorate from UNM.
In his spare time Bob enjoys music and sings in the Helena Symphony Chorale as well as taking occasional parts in Helena’s local Ballet Company. He is an avid private pilot and enjoys flying kids in the Young Eagles Program.
Bob is excited to draw on all the skills and experience he has accumulated during his career to help the young families at Florence Crittenton.

Brooke Hatten is the Early Childhood Cook for Florence Crittenton’s Early Childhood Programs. With previous experience in a childcare setting and in a variety of establishments within the food industry, she now enjoys bridging these two fields together in her work in our centers. Brooke values introducing new foods to children because she believes learning happens at any moment, especially during mealtimes. She is adept at meeting the needs of children with food allergies and intolerances. For Brooke, “interaction with the children within our programs is key, because I gain insight regarding their eating habits. Not only is this time with them a fun experience, but it also inspires me to seek out new ways to incorporate different foods and to be creative, so that all kids, even those with dietary restrictions, can enjoy the same meal!“

Daniel currently serves as the Director of Clinical and Residential Services. A farm kid from Ohio, Daniel believes in hard work partnered with care and nurture. He has worked for over 15 years in the mental health field and has served as a direct care staff, therapist, clinical supervisor, and clinical director in programs specializing in lockdown residential treatment, sex offender treatment, group home care, school-based services, and outpatient services. He earned his Masters of Arts in Counseling from Waynesburg University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Daniel specializes in childhood development and complex trauma work throughout the life stages. He is passionate about digging in and coming alongside the tough and complicated situations that so many experience. Daniel is incredibly excited to be reaching even earlier into intervention with our families. He and his wife stay busy after work chasing six children and a variety of farm animals in an attempt to live simply but fully.

David was born in Great Falls, MT but spent 15 years moving around the U.S. and abroad as an active duty member of the Air Force. After several years of professional and supervisory experience, David finished his B.A. in both Psychology and Sociology at Carroll College while continuing his military career part time in the Air National Guard, and falling in love with Helena community. He plans on continued education to attain his Masters in clinical counseling.

David is a faithful Christian, husband, and father of 5. David has worked alongside her loving wife and kids to create and maintain “The Good Doers,” a community and facebook group that fosters generosity toward others and common welfare through community service and action. David loves spending time with his family, practicing Central Hawaiian Activities Kenpo Karate with his Dad, and recharging outdoors. He enjoys writing and reading, and is always up for learning and trying new things.

David agrees whole-heartedly with the mission of Florence Crittenton in providing a comprehensive continuum of services to support those in need. He embraces each new day and seeks out opportunities to foster environments that provide trauma-responsive, relationship-based care to help clients find the best possible futures for themselves and their families.

Denice Wells is an Early Childhood Lead Teacher at the Florence Crittenton Child Enrichment Center (CEC). With over 23 years of experience in the early childhood profession, she is an expert in ensuring the CEC operates efficiently. From meeting the needs of children 0-2 to mentoring new staff members, Denice is known for her caring, responsible, and trustworthy personality. She continually seeks opportunities for growth in her field and has attended several trainings that address various areas of child development. Denice believes children are happiest when they feel safe and loved. She is passionate about providing an atmosphere where infants and toddlers can safely explore their environment. Denice is proud of the accomplishments the CEC has achieved, and she strives to ensure the center continues to experience success.

Liz’s journey to Florence Crittenton began with a cattle drive vacation, a rattlesnake and a cowboy! Having lived for 30 years in London working in the technology field she made the move to Montana and found her passion doing work that has meaning and playing her part in helping transform the lives of young families.

Today she is married to the cowboy and has 2 beautiful children and a badly behaved mutt. In her spare time she enjoys hiking in the mountains, camping, boating, a nice cup of tea and some English chocolate.

Heather was born and raised in Missoula, and ventured over the hill to Helena in 2006.  She serves as Florence Crittenton’s Development Director, and brings more than 25 years nonprofit experience, 11 of those in development, to Florence Crittenton. She has gained a thorough understanding of all aspects of fundraising, and enjoys putting her talents to work.  Heather is proud to be a part of an organization that brings hope and healing to young families, and helps set them up for a bright future.

Prior to joining Florence Crittenton in 2020, Heather served as the Development Director for Montana Wilderness Association and Prickly Pear Land Trust.  In addition, she chaired the board of Heart of the Rockies Initiative, as well as Preschool, Inc.  She served as Co-Chair of the Helena Development Directors Roundtable, served on the board of the Helena Public Montessori Parents, and has presented on Development in several venues.

In her free time, Heather enjoys exploring our special Montana with her three kids, hiking, floating and camping.

Isabelle is originally from Helena and attended Montana State University and Carroll College for undergrad.  Isabelle earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Carroll College in 2017.  Isabelle joined Florence Crittenton in 2019 as the Admissions Coordinator for our programs.  After working in Admissions for a year and a half and finding a passion for working with mothers and their families, she chose to transition to the SafeCare Educator role in 2021.  Isabelle looks forward to being able to continue building relationships with families in the residential programs as well as in the community.

Isabelle enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and spoiling her poorly behaved dog.  Isabelle is the head cheer coach for the Carroll College Fighting Saints and previously cheered at Carroll from 2013-2017.

Jen’s passion for children began at a very young age.  As a little girl anytime she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up her answer was always the same; “I am going to be a mom when I grow up.”  Little did Jen know that her goal of becoming a mother would happen much sooner in her life than she anticipated.  In fact, she was only seventeen and a senior in high school when she found out she was expecting her first child.  Jen graduated high school married, and with an infant in her arms. In many ways, her goal that she set years before as a young child had been achieved.  She had become a mother, and the joy that it brought to her life was immeasurable.  However, it didn’t take long for Jen to realize that her passion for children ran deeper than just parenting her own.

By the time she was twenty-five, Jen and her husband had four children. She continued working with children and families in a variety of atmospheres, primarily focusing on early childhood education. Working with families opened her eyes to the fact that every parent struggles, questions their ability; and many days feel as if they are failing. If additional factors such as; single parenting, teen parenting, addiction, poverty, or abuse are present the task of raising children and believing in yourself as a parent is often overwhelming.  In 2013, Jen realized that her passion wasn’t working with children, it was working with families and helping parents break generational cycles, and to provide hope in the darkest places.  She decided to continue her education and earn a degree that would allow her to work with families and young children on a deeper level.

Ms. Burckhard began her work at Florence Crittenton in 2015; providing in home education, parenting support, and vital resources to Helena community families and their children ages 0-5. She is also one of three certified SafeCare Trainers in the state of Montana, providing training,  guidance and support to other home visitors who provide services in their respective communities across the state.  Jen is excited to continue  many more years of supporting Florence Crittenton’s mission to ensure all families have the best start and are able to thrive in a demanding world.

Jodie was born in Oregon but grew up primarily in Montana. After many years in customer service and management, she moved to a field of work that was more meaningful to her. For 9 years she worked at a local non-profit organization that assists adults with Developmental Disabilities. Working with the clients there really gave her a passion to serve our most vulnerable populations.

Jodie has a degree in Healthcare Administration, and a PHR certification. She has been a long-standing member of the Helena Job Service Employers Committee (JSEC) working with local employers to provide them with HR knowledge, trainings and materials, and providing scholarships to High School students looking to further their education.

She enjoys spending time with her two boys, watching movies, and is an avid reader. She is a 2nd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, holds several Championship titles, and is a certified instructor.

The mission of Florence Crittenton is near and dear to Jodie’s heart and she is honored to be a part of the dynamic team at Florence Crittenton!

Jolene Van Valkenburgh is the Program Manager/ Case Manager for the Residential Programs at Florence Crittenton Homes and Services. Jolene joined the Florence Crittenton team May of 2017, and found working with pregnant and parenting women rewarding. Jolene finds fulfillment in connecting clients to comprehensive resources and advocating for individuals and their families.

Jolene brings 18 years of experiences from work at the Montana Development Center, Alternative Youth Adventures/ Youth Dynamics Inc., Acadia of Montana, and Intermountain Children’s Home.

Her experiences spans from direct client care, supervisory roles, school base services, to managing residential programs at Florence Crittenton Home and Services.

Jolene is a Certified trainer with Crisis Prevention Intervention, trained in trauma informed care, and is a Licensed Foster Care provider.

Kara Brockett served Florence Crittenton as the Admissions coordinator for a year before transitioning into the Clinical Services Program Manager. Kara graduated from Park University in 2016 with her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management. She has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years, however, decided to follow her heart and passion into an even more rewarding career in nonprofit, serving young mothers and families.

Kara’s driving force is her husband and 3 children that are her world. She knew from a young age she wanted to be a mother, and she is now living her dream. She believes the Helena community is a wonderful community to raise children in, there is support from every angle, someone always willing to help. During her free time when Kara isn’t cleaning, she loves getting her children outside on adventures, hiking, fishing, camping, and her son’s favorite…skipping rocks at the lake.

Her desire has always been to help people, specifically pregnant and nursing mothers. She has such a passion for young families and a desire to empower mothers and young families so that they can reach their full God-given potential. Coming to Florence Crittenton has been a beautiful transition in her career and allows her to fill this passion. She is excited to continue growing in such a great organization and bonding with the team and the clients. She believes the future holds great things for the organization and is excited to be a part of the dream becoming a reality!

Kendall has been a part of Florence Crittenton as a Licensed Addictions Counselor for about three years. Kendall works with residential and outpatient clients in both an individual and group setting. Kendall has been in the field of addictions for 7 years and is currently licensed through the state of Montana. Kendall has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as a Graduate Certification in Licensed Addiction Counseling both from Montana State University. Go Cats! Kendall is currently in school full-time pursuing her master’s degree in social work. Kendall has recognized the need for dually licensed providers for client success. Kendall will graduate in June and pursue hours to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Kendall grew up in Helena and moved to Bozeman to pursue her education. As a young single mother herself, she realized her passion for wanting to help young mothers and families, which brought her back to Helena and to Florence Crittenton. Kendall wholeheartedly believes that compassion and empathy can help clients and their families live a purposeful, and joy-filled lives. Kendall looks forward to supporting and empowering all of her clients on their journey in recovery.
When not at work you can find Kendall at the lake, getting outside with her 5-month-old and 4-year-old sons, or in the mountains hiking.

Micaela Wilfong is an Early Childhood Program Supervisor at Florence Crittenton Preschool. Micaela graduated from Montana State University-Bozeman in 2014 with a BS in Early Childhood Education. Since graduating, Micaela has taught preschool in various programs in Tennessee and Montana. She is a strong advocate for family services being a leading part of the preschool program. Micaela believes “when you start a child in preschool you don’t just enroll the child, you enroll the family”. Micaela is a firm believer that parents are their child’s first educators and that preschool is an extension of family driven learning.  She believes having parents as an active participant and advocate in their child’s education is essential. Micaela is excited to be a part of the Florence Crittenton team and to bring her education and experience to the classroom.

Michelle received a BA degree in Art, an MA in Spirituality and Creativity, and a certificate as a Montessori pre-primary teacher. One of her favorite roles is that as a mother to her two teenage sons. Once her sons began school, Michelle thought it would be rewarding to become a special education paraprofessional in the East Helena Public School District. After 8 years of being a preschool teacher, prior to the birth of her children, Michelle was back working with her favorite population. This time it was working with children who had disabilities of all types, from psychological, emotional to physical. Michelle found this work so inspiring that after 5 years she decided to become a Family Support Specialist at Family Outreach, Inc. Here she began her home visiting career working in early intervention with children and their families in the state’s early childhood programs. In this capacity she was able to give families caring support and hope in some of their most challenging times. She realized how important it was for parents and children of all abilities be able to have the best opportunities to bond and attach and create healthy families and healthy lives. This is what would eventually lead her to Florence Crittenton and their Parents As Teachers program. Now she is a Parents As Teachers Educator and continues her mission of spreading hope and support to help all families grow and thrive!

Sarah accepted the position of Director of Operations for Florence Crittenton in 2022. She was blessed to raise two adventurous, independent daughters in Helena where she has resided for over 20 years.

Sarah brings over 10 years of budget and inventory analysis to Florence as well as 12 years of office management experience. She also has worked with youth programs in Helena for over 6 years prioritizing health and nutrition. Sarah is excited to lend her expertise to such a wonderful community-oriented program.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Master of Science degree in Pharmacology/Toxicology. Prior to her time at Florence, Sarah ran her own business in Helena for 10 years. In her free time, she works with her husband, Bryan Johnson, creating custom stained glass and metal artwork.

Sarah Mitchell is the Early Childhood Program Manager for Florence Crittenton Preschool and Child Enrichment Center. Originally from Georgia, Sarah brings over 12 years’ experience in the educational setting. While attending Valdosta State University, she received a BA in Psychology and M.Ed. in School Counseling. Sarah has developed a strong sense of devotion to supporting children’s development as a program manager of early prevention and intervention services. This experience has provided her with a deep appreciation for collaborating with educators, parents, and community partners to meet each child’s developmental needs. She believes early exposure to learning opportunities that are fun and engaging enhance children’s social-emotional, cognitive, communicative, and physical development.  She is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where children develop a love of learning and feel a sense of belonging.

Savannah serves as the Grants and In-Kind Manager at Florence Crittenton. She holds a B.A. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from High Point University in North Carolina. Savannah previously served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at a disaster recovery organization in Pensacola, Florida, where she worked to secure funding to return families to safe, permanent housing following hurricanes and other major storms.

She brings her talents to Helena after falling in love with Montana while working a seasonal resort job near Yellowstone National Park. Savannah is passionate about working with organizations that build the resilience of the clients they serve, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to support Florence Crittenton’s mission. In her free time, Savannah enjoys getting out in nature, going on spontaneous road trips, thrift shopping, and reading.

Sharaya Doney is the Early Childhood Lead Teacher for the 4-to-5-year-old classroom at the Child Enrichment Center. With over 15 years working in early childhood education, she understands the important role teachers play in providing positive experiences to kiddos at a young age. She is passionate about children’s learning and therefore strives to teach them something new every day. Sharaya’s approaches in the classroom toward all her little learners entails having an open mind, loving heart, understanding, and plenty of patience. She values spending time with each of her students because these opportunities not only help build their relationship but also provide her insight into their unique and special personalities. She is excited to share new experiences with the children in her classroom and hopes to help them establish a strong love of learning that they will take with them when they transition to Kindergarten.

Sydney Wilke is the Early Childhood Lead Teacher in the 2-4-year-old classroom at the Child Enrichment Center. With over a year of teaching early childhood education, she has become a strong advocate for guiding and supporting young children with their social-emotional development. For Sydney, “when children learn at an early age healthy ways to work through their emotions, they develop effective ways for approaching and solving problems later in life.” Recognizing the important role social-emotional development plays in early childhood, she continues to seek opportunities to enhance her knowledge and skill set in this area from attending trainings to working in a team to develop strategies to support children experiencing struggles with behavior. Sydney values the Child Enrichment Center program’s focus on building children’s self-help, independence, and coping skills. Her favorite part of the day is seeing children smile and watching their interactions with others!