91´ÎÔª

Ivy Anderson, BSW

Ivy Anderson, BSW, is a social worker, leader, and devoted parent known for her steady presence, compassionate leadership, and commitment to strengthening families and communities. With more than a decade at The Parenting Place, Ivy has dedicated her career to building systems of support that empower caregivers, protect children, and promote healthy relationships. Ivy joined The Parenting Place in 2013 as Respite Coordinator, working directly with families during times of stress and transition. Her empathetic leadership and collaborative style led to her role as Program Director, where she oversaw prevention-focused services, guided trauma-informed staff, and supported program growth. In April 2023, Ivy became Executive Director, bringing vision, integrity, and a deep understanding of the systems impacting children and families. At the core of Ivy’s work is a passion for abuse prevention and early intervention. She believes strong, supported families are the foundation of healthy communities and that lasting change begins with trust and connection. Known for creating calm, inclusive spaces, Ivy leads with the belief that healing is possible and that even small moments of support can create lasting impact.

Andrew Campbell

Andrew Campbell is an expert on family violence and the associated risks of harm for adults, children, and animals residing in homes where this violence occurs. Andrew has a master’s degree in Public Health and has given over 250 family violence/community violence related presentations for multidisciplinary groups across the United States and around the world. His many publications over the last several years include papers cited by the FBI, CDC, United Nations, and in over 1,600 international academic papers and research studies. Andrew is the author of the book, "Taking Back What Abuse Took: A Public Health Based Approach to Healing from Abuse".

Mallori DeSalle

Mallori is a licensed mental health counselor, a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and MINT certified motivational interviewing trainer, and a certified humor
professional. Mallori's flair for listening and laughter lead her to start her own business teaching others to use  empath and humor at work and play.  Mallori has been faculty within The School of Public Health at Indiana University, Bloomington for nearly 20 years, but has yet to discover the exact meaning of a "Hoosier". In her spare time Mallori enjoys tasting Oreo cookies with her three children. Her credentials don't impress her kids, but occasionally her jokes do make them laugh.

Stacy Dreessen, MSW

Stacy Dreessen, MSW, brings more than 30 years of experience working with children, families, and communities, guided by a deep commitment to helping children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing environments. Her work centers on strengthening parents and caregivers, building resilience, and preventing child abuse through education, connection, and community-based support. Stacy spent 18 years with The Family Tree Center in Billings, Montana, serving as Executive Director for 12 of those years. During that time, she played a key leadership role in shaping prevention-focused services and strengthening systems of care for families. Concurrently, she served as Co-Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Network of Montana (CAP Network) and continues her involvement today as a member of the CAP Network Board of Directors. Stacy also serves on the boards of the Breakfast Exchange Club of Billings and Intermountain Deaconess Children’s Services. Currently, Stacy works as a consultant and trainer, sharing her expertise statewide and nationally. She has facilitated the Nurturing Parenting Program for nearly 20 years and is a National Trainer for Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children. Her training expertise includes Parent Aide Home Visiting, Visit Coaching, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Complex Trauma, Trauma-Informed Care, and Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences.

Stephanie Fitch, MHA, MS, PCLC, LAC, PMH-C

Stephanie Fitch is a passionate advocate for maternal-child behavioral health, blending clinical expertise with systems-level innovation. A licensed addiction counselor and professional counseling license candidate in Montana, Stephanie holds dual master’s degrees in healthcare administration and clinical mental health counseling, along with specialty certification in perinatal mental health. She is also a certified Improvement Coach through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, bringing a sharp eye for quality and equity to every initiative she leads. Stephanie’s career spans inpatient, outpatient, and utilization review settings, where she developed a deep understanding of the behavioral health needs of families. Today, she serves as the manager of the Montana Obstetrics and Maternal Support (MOMS) demonstration project at Billings Clinic, a role that has grown to encompass multiple grant-funded programs focused on expanding access to integrated behavioral health and specialty medicine services across southern Montana. Her work centers on building collaborative, trauma-informed systems that support families from pregnancy through early childhood—especially in rural and underserved communities. Stephanie’s leadership is grounded in compassion, clinical insight, and a commitment to transforming maternal and pediatric care through innovation and connection. Holly Demarest, BS, LAC, PMH-C Holly Demarest brings nearly two decades of experience in behavioral health to her role as the Behavioral Health Care Manager for the Empaths Program. Prior to joining Empaths, Holly served at Rimrock Foundation for 19 years, where she provided addiction counseling, facilitated parenting support classes, and led motivational enhancement programming for thousands of patients across the region. Her passion for working with mothers and children was especially evident in her leadership within the Michel’s House and Willow Way residential programs. Now at Empaths, Holly continues to share her deep expertise, warmth, and unwavering positivity with both patients and staff. In her current role, she works within the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), providing problem-solving treatment and behavioral activation counseling to patients experiencing mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety, and substance use symptoms. Holly partners closely with care coordinators to address behavioral health and social determinants of health within the primary care setting, aiming to prevent escalation and support long-term wellness. Holly’s commitment to compassionate, family-centered care makes her an invaluable asset to the Empaths team and a trusted advocate for women’s health and behavioral well-being.

Heidi Gibson

For the past decade, Heidi Gibson has worked as an organizational development consultant, guiding healthcare organizations, human services, museums, schools and more in advancing their mission. She holds a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University and a professional certificate in Nonprofit Administration from the 91´ÎÔª. Before transitioning to consulting, Gibson was the State Director of the Alzheimer’s Association and the Executive Director of the Center for Mental Health Foundation, where she spearheaded the Beautiful Minds campaign to combat the stigma surrounding serious mental illness. She contributes her expertise at the Montana Empowerment Center (MEC) as the Executive Director. MEC is Montana's Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), primarily funded through the U.S. Department of Education. They were founded in 2018 by parents of children with disabilities, who provide free and confidential support to families and professionals across Montana. Our mission is to empower, encourage, and educate families to navigate special education and advocate for their children from birth through age 26.    

Cory Jewell Jensen

Currently an instructor for CBI Consulting, Cory Jewell Jensen, spent 35 years providing evaluation and treatment services to adult sex offenders in Portland, Oregon. In addition to her clinical work, Ms. Jensen provided training or consultation services to The National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse, The Office of Special Investigations-Diplomatic Security Services Agency, U.S. Marshall’s Office, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, American Association of Police Polygraph Examiners, National Child Advocacy Center, National Children’s Alliance, United States Navy,  National Crime Victims Association, National Boy Scouts Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse America, NYPD’s Special Victims Unit and scores of law enforcement, child advocacy and faith based organizations.  Ms. Jensen served on a number of state and national boards has provided training for countless Multi-disciplinary Teams throughout the United States and Europe and been the recipient of Oregon’s "Commercial Crime Prevention Award," the "Champions for Children Award," the OATSA "Significant Achievement Award," the Nunnenkamp "Award of Excellence," and the Jan Hindman Memorial Award.  She has published a number of articles related to sex offender treatment, risk management and child abuse prevention, testified as an expert witness in local and federal courts and been a featured guest on radio talk shows and the Oprah Winfrey Show.  

Justin Matthews

Justin Matthews grew up in a law-enforcement household, where he first witnessed the complex realities affecting individuals, families and communities. He went on to build a diverse career path-first in the culinary world and later as an international touring musician for over a decade. Along the way, his personal experiences navigating life's challenges, including exposure to substance use, have shaped his perspective on people, communities and resilience. Today, these insights drive his work in substance abuse prevention, where he is committed to fostering cultural change and healthier, more resilient communities.

Andrew Monroe, LCSW

Andrew Monroe, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus (OUHC), Center on Child Abuse and Neglect where hehas been employed since 2020. He completed his undergraduate studies at Auburn University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. He completedhis Master of Social Work at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL in 2013. Mr. Monroe has experience working with and developing programs for youthwith problematic sexual behaviors as well as trauma survivors in urban and rural communities through telehealth, in home, residential, school, and clinic basedservices. He is certified in several evidence-based treatment models, including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Problematic SexualBehavior Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT). Mr. Monroe is a lead clinician in the Treatment Program for Children with Problematic Sexual Behavior forschool-age children (PSB-S) and Adolescents with Illegal Sexual Behavior Program (PSB-A), and oversees the coordination of all the PSB-S training programs andrural health initiatives for the National Center on the Sexual Behaviors of Youth as the School-Age Training Director. Andrew provides both clinical and senior leadersupport to teams being trained in the University of Oklahoma Problematic Sexual Behavior – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy™ (PSB-CBT™).

Teresa Nygaard, LBSW

Teresa Nygaard, LBSW,  is a trainer, consultant, and advocate with more than 30 years of experience working alongside children, families, and communities across Montana. As the founder and owner of DragonFly406 Training & Consulting, Teresa is known for her trauma-informed, relationship-centered approach and her ability to create learning spaces that are engaging, thoughtful, and grounded in real-world practice. A graduate of the 91´ÎÔª, Teresa is a Montana ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Master Trainer and a National Trainer for both the Nurturing Parenting Programs and Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children. Her professional background includes nonprofit leadership, parent education, child abuse prevention, and healthcare fundraising, giving her a broad systems perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges facing families and service providers. Teresa excels at translating complex concepts into accessible, practical tools that build empathy, confidence, and capacity. Her work emphasizes prevention, resilience, and strengthening relationships, with a focus on supporting professionals and organizations to create safer, more responsive environments for children and families. Teresa’s passion for this work is rooted in a belief that informed, compassionate communities are essential to long-term healing and well-being.

Kirsten H. Pabst

Karl Rosston, LCSW

Karl Rosston is the Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.  He provides evidenced-based programs to all Montana secondary schools, implements the State Suicide Prevention Plan, supports the Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline, implements firearm safety programs and statewide media campaigns, provides suicide prevention trainings, and coordinates suicide prevention efforts around the state. Karl is adjunct faculty at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and a nationally certified trainer in QPR and Mental Health First Aid. 

Previously, Karl was the Director of Social Services at Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena.  Before returning to Montana, he was on the faculty of the University of Colorado, School of Medicine, and a clinical consultant with the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections.  

He is a licensed clinical social worker who maintains a small private practice in Helena.  He received his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver and his Bachelor’s in Psychology from the 91´ÎÔª.

Jean Schroeder

Jean is the Project Coordinator at the Montana Empowerment Center. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and has over 26 years of experience, both professionally and personally, working with people with disabilities in different capacities. She has extensive experience working with families who have children with disabilities.  She has worked previously as a Family Support Specialist, helping families get connected and navigate through Montana Part C, connecting to Part B (school) and Family Education and Support services.  She has also been a case manager for children being served by the Children's Medicaid Waiver. She is also a parent of an adult son with a disability.  

D.J. Vanas

D.J. is an enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe of Michigan, a former U.S. Air Force officer, best-selling author and his expertise is in showing people and organizations how to apply the warrior spirit at work.  He’s delivered over 7,000 programs to clients such as Intel Corporation, the U.S. military, Walt Disney, Amazon, Costco, Subaru, Mayo Clinic, NASA and over 500 tribal nations.  He’s also been twice invited to speak at The White House. His passionate focus is inspiring the use of our traditional warrior spirit principles to stay resilient, fiercely solution-oriented, create clarity from chaos and get better results in all we do as leaders and service providers.  He holds a B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. from University of Southern California and has served on the Board of Directors on the National Board of Certified Counselors.  After serving ten years as a decorated Air Force officer, he is now the president of his own company, Native Discovery Inc.  D.J.’s mission is to "build the warriors of tomorrow...today".  He’s also the author of The Tiny Warrior: A Path to Personal Discovery & Achievement (which is printed in six countries), Spirit on the Run and his newest book, The Warrior Within (Penguin Random House) was released in 2022. D.J. is featured on the PBS documentary The Warrior Tradition, exploring warrior traditions across Indian Country and is the host and producer of the PBS special, Discovering Your Warrior Spirit. D.J. is also a regular contributor to Men’s Journal Magazine.