President
Becky Parton, MSW, LICSW is currently employed by the Dartmouth Trauma Interventions Research Center. This role combines her background of both mental health practice and child protection work. She is the project coordinator for the New Hampshire Adoption Preparation and Preservation project and works closely with the NH Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). She provides training and consultation to DCYF and Mental Health providers across the state. Becky previously worked in community mental health providing family and child therapy. She is trained in Child Parent Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Becky’s early career was working for child protection. Becky is the co-chair of the Children’s Issues Committee for NH NASW. She is also a part of the CEU committee and the Ethics Committee. In the past, she sat on SLAC as well. Becky is a Teaching Lecturer at Plymouth State University for the undergraduate Social Work program and is an Adjunct Professor for the University of New Hampshire for both their online MSW program and their Durham undergraduate program. Becky’s passion is working with children and families and she has been involved in statewide efforts to increase awareness and prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Vice President
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Kevin Keefe, LICSW, CAI is the Chief of Service Excellence & Compliance with WestBridge, which means he is the Chief of first impressions and assures that WestBridge is in compliance with ethical standards as well as internal and external regulatory requirements. Having worked at WestBridge for more than 16 years, he has utilized his skills in almost every department of WestBridge. He is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), a Certified ARISE Interventionist (CAI), Trainer & Intern Supervisor as well as a NAMI-trained Connect-Suicide Prevention trainer. Kevin supports WestBridge in direct clinical care & family work, as a member of Leadership, and in overseeing all licensing, compliance, and facility management for WestBridge. Kevin believes in the power of Social Work and has supported the supervision of social workers for over 20 years. As a Social Worker, Certified ARISE Interventionist and Connect-Suicide Prevention trainer, Kevin understands and values that connections allow for greater protection and wellness for individuals, families and communities.
President-Elect
Carol Sobelson After graduating from Boston College, I attended Columbia University School of Social Work. I moved to Concord in 1984, I taught at Connecticut University School of Social Work on the Concord campus while maintaining a private practice. Although I do not teach at the present time, I maintained a private practice in NH for over 40 years and I recently retired in May 2020. I have had the honor to participating on many nonprofit boards over the years : The Circle Program, a non profit organization for disadvantaged young girls in NH through a residential summer camp and year-round mentoring program, CATCH (Concord Area Trust for Community Housing) a non profit that creates affordable workforce housing in the Concord area, and currently Riverbend CMHC and NASW NH. Living in Concord has allowed me to remain active on board projects and being able to attend legislative hearings on issues that effect NH citizens as well as social workers in our state. Over the last 7 years during my tenure on the NASW NH board, I have enjoyed being a part of a vibrant organization. It is my hope to continue my commitment to NASW NH as President elect . The prior presidents have mentored me well by their dedication to social issues and their investments towards making NASW NH a powerful and influential organization in our state. I am honored to work alongside a group of highly talented and skilled social workers on the NASW NH board. My colleagues and I strive to enhance professional growth and development through offering professional learning opportunities sponsored by our chapter, create and maintain professional standards for social workers, and to advance sound social policies in our state. My investment in working on the board has become a highlight of my professional career.
Secretary
Mary Banach, LICSW Mary is an associate professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of New Hampshire, where she has taught since 1995. Prior to teaching, Mary worked in direct practice positions as a social worker in New York City. Her positions included work in child welfare, hospitals, and legal services. She was a faculty member of Columbia Law School and Columbia School of Social Work immediately before moving to New Hampshire. Love of teaching has prompted research exploring the effectiveness of different pedagogical strategies. Mary has served on a number of non-profit boards. Currently she is a member of the Waysmeet and Cocheco Academy for the Arts boards. She has been a member of NASW since 1978.
At Large
Melissa Grudinski, LICSW, MLADC
Melissa was a member of the first cohort of UNH’s Online MSW program, and received her degree in May of 2016. While at UNH, Melissa interned with the Division of Children Youth and Families for two years. Prior to receiving her MSW, Melissa worked as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and with families of homicide victims. Currently, Melissa is working as a psychotherapist at PCS Counseling in Manchester, where she works with teens, adults, and families. Melissa joined the NASW while a graduate student at UNH and was the recipient of the NH-NASW’s 2016 MSW Student of the Year award.
Anne Marie Olsen-Hayward, LICSW, CDP is a clinician at Frisbie Memorial Hospital Outpatient Geropsych Clinic. Utilizing her 14 years of experience working as a medical social worker, she works with geriatric patients experiencing mental health concerns, specializing in working with patients with dementia and their families. Anne Marie has a strong focus on the marriage between macro and clinical social work, often using her clinical work to inform the focus of her advocacy and program development work. Anne Marie is a member of the NH NASW Aging Committee, former chair of the PACE and SLAC committees. She is a graduate of the UNH BSW and MSW program and was a Title IVE-E recipient for both degrees.
Courtney Porter, MSW Courtney currently works as the School Social Worker in Claremont, New Hampshire. As the first to hold this position in her school district, Courtney has used her 17 years of experience as an educator to work with other school professionals to create a program that brings social work services and supports to the students and families of her community. Courtney also serves as the President of the New Hampshire School Social Workers Association.After graduating with the first cohort of online MSW students at UNH in 2016, Courtney immediately enrolled in the M.Ed program. Courtney enjoys volunteering in her community and currently serves as the Vice President of the Kiwanis Club of Claremont.
Kristina Lind Kristina is chair and associate professor in the social work program at Plymouth State University (PSU). She also coordinates the University’s Child Welfare Title IV-E program. Prior to starting at PSU in 2013, she provided over 30 years of direct practice and supervision to programs in Chicago, Baltimore, and Burlington. She has been teaching for over 20 years, most of those years as adjunct to public and private Chicago area universities where she was primarily responsible for teaching school social work practice and policy courses. Her (current) primary interest is in developing pedagogical approaches that meet the needs of the 21st century student. Related to this is her interest in engaging students in global and domestic professional pursuits. She is on the Nominations Committee.
Celia Woolverton, LICSW, LCSW Celia Woolverton, LICSW, LCSW has maintained a private practice since 1988 and is licensed in the states of Tennessee, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In addition to her psychotherapy practice, Ms. Woolverton is a certified mediator, having undergone formal mediation training in Tennessee and Massachusetts. She is a Principal of MacLeish & Woolverton, LLC, a Co-Mediation firm with offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Tennessee.
Ms. Woolverton has served as a Parent Coordinator for families; written court evaluations for victims of sexual violence; and is an expert witness in the areas of sexual violence and divorce. She has done extensive work and lectured nationally on sexual violence. She works with numerous victims of childhood sexual abuse and trains on identifying abuse and neglect.
Ms. Woolverton has worked in the area of substance use disorder since 1985 and was the Clinical Director of two substance use disorder treatment facilities in Washington, DC and in Nashville, TN, respectively.
Ms. Woolverton has served as a board member for Massachusetts Citizens for Children, and on the board of Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee. She has worked extensively with the Tennessee Department of Child and Family Services, supervising cases. She has supervised BSW students at Plymouth State University and she continues to supervise MSW clinicians in New Hampshire and Tennessee.
Ms. Woolverton received her BA from The Colorado College; her MSW from The Catholic School of Social Service; and a post-graduate certification in advanced psychotherapy and psychoanalysis from The Washington School of Psychiatry. She also received a two-year training certification on Primordial Sound mediation from the Chopra Center.
Jorge Santana, MSW Jorge Santana, MSW, is the Executive Director at PACE Career Charter High School and has been serving youth and families for two decades. His years of direct experience with mentoring, child welfare, in-home therapy, and crisis response informs his innovative and adaptive approach to programming and community building. Jorge specializes in helping organizations with unique models overcome the obstacles they face and fulfill their mission and potential. A strong believer in leadership development for both his teams and those he serves, Jorge's ultimate goal is to work himself out of a job.
Nick D'Amore Nick began working on the NASW NH board as a Master's Student Representative before transitioning to an At-large position. Nick has worked on a number of community-based and social justice initiatives through various roles as a social worker, researcher, educator, and writer. He is finishing up graduate school in UNH's dual degree MSW/MS Kinesiology program where he specializes in Adventure Therapy and policy advocacy. Currently, the bulk of his work focuses on equity, food justice, and law enforcement reform. He plans to continue working as a macro practitioner after graduation so that he can remain involved in all manner of advocacy and activism in his community, Outside of work, Nick is passionate about a wide range of outdoor sports, reading for pleasure, and all aspects of the culinary world.
Student Board Members
Elizabeth Kipp, BSW Student, UNH is currently a full-time student in her senior year at the University of New Hampshire. As an Accelerated Masters student she will be finishing her BSW in May of 2021 while also working toward her MSW. Outside of academia, Elizabeth works with veteran students at the university and balances a family of five at home. Engaging with communities to support families is Elizabeth’s passion and she is eager to be working with Community Action Partnership of Strafford County this coming year. Elizabeth is excited to be a part of the NH-NASW family and is anticipating a year of immense growth.
Amanda Wilfore, BSW PSU Amanda Wilfore is a student at Plymouth State University. She will be completing her BSW in 2021 with minors in gerontology and anthropology/sociology. Junior year Amanda became the President of the Social Work Club. This club is service oriented and is dedicated to volunteering and fundraising for various projects around the community. Recently, Amanda has been developing a mentor program that will be implemented in the fall semester of 2020. Senior mentors will be paired with freshman SW majors to help with the exciting transition into college and create peer relationships. Amanda is a member of the social work honors society, Phi Alpha. After she receives her BSW at PSU, her goals are to further her education at a graduate school.
Gina Apgar, MSW UNH Gina Apgar is a graduate social work student at the University of New Hampshire. She earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Education, a bachelor’s in Human Service and Early Childhood Development, and recently completed the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. Gina has over 12 years’ experience working with diverse populations in the fields of early education and human services. She has held roles in early education, home visiting, family support, and advocacy. She is focused on cultivating resilience and improving systems of care to promote optimal outcomes for children and families, with a particular interest in adverse childhood experiences.