Administration
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Jennifer Jackson, LIMHP, LPC, ATR-BC Executive Director
Jennifer Jividen Jackson has been at Heartland since 2012. She is a Siouxland native, growing up in South Sioux City and graduating college from Briar Cliff in 1999 majoring in psychology and art. Jennifer graduated with her master’s in art therapy from the University of Louisville in 2001. She stayed there for ten years working at the state hospital and co-founded an arts based day program for adults with mental illness and intellectual disabilities called Mariposa Place that is still going today. Jennifer is an advocate of behavioral health and has served as past president of the Kentucky Art Therapy Association, past president of the Iowa Art Therapy Association, past chair for the Education Programs Approval Board for the American Art Therapy Association and is currently Secretary for the American Art Therapy Association. At the local level, Jennifer serves as a chamber of commerce ambassador, board member for Growing Community Connections, and committee member for Leadership Dakota County. Jennifer and husband Rory have three wonderful children, Lochlin, Ireland, and Magdelyn and reside in Sioux City. If Jennifer is not in the office, she’s on the golf course or at a sports event watching her children have fun.
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Jessica Barnes, LICSW Community Based Services Director
Jessica Barnes is Heartland's Community Based Services Director. Jessica started at Heartland in 2012 as an outpatient therapist and was promoted to administrator in 2014 and then to Director in 2023. Jessica continues to provide therapy to all ages and specializes in trauma, specifically Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Jessica is passionate about working with individuals with complex trauma as well as educating others about Trauma-informed care. Jessica also focuses on working with people with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness and Personality Disorders. Furthermore, Jessica oversees the mobile crisis response team, peer support program, community support program, and The Life Center, our day rehab program. Jessica was born and raised in Siouxland and lives with her husband and two children. She enjoys spending time with family & friends, running, watching all kinds of sports, and spending time in Okoboji during the summer.
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Michelle Halladay, LIMHP, LADC Clinical Services Director
Michelle is a Nebraska native, growing up in Wakefield and graduating college from Wayne State College in 2003 with a major in psychology. Michelle graduated with her master’s in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2003. She worked as a school based mentoring coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands also spending time as a mentor with the program for over ten years. She started her therapy career at a dual diagnosis treatment group home for adolescence in Omaha, Nebraska where she worked for six years. Michelle and her family then moved to the Siouxland area where she worked as an Office of Juvenile Services caseworker for one year. She then began as a therapist at Heartland Counseling Services, Inc., a 501 (c)3, non-profit, community behavioral health center for 11 counties in northern Nebraska and all of Siouxland. She has filled the role of internship coordinator, mental health administrator and is currently filling the role of Clinical Services Director, supervising all mental health and substance use therapy programs. Michelle is trained as an adoption competent counselor and also specializes in trauma. Michelle has been a graduate of Leadership Dakota County and has helped create a program within the community, Trees of Hope, providing families in need with a Christmas tree. Michelle was recognized in 2018 by Women Aware as an individual in the community who is taking risks. Michelle and her husband Kelly have two children Mason and Kinsey and reside in Salix, Iowa. If not at work, Michelle can be found watching baseball or crafting.
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Emily Hamstra Laffin, LIMHP, LADC School Based Mental Health Administrator
Emily has worked at Heartland since 2012. Beginning July 1, 2021, Emily was promoted from School Based Mental Health Therapist for the South Sioux City Middle School to School Based Mental Health Administrator. Emily specializes in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and co-occurring diagnoses. She has experience working with all ages of individuals and is the past Substance Abuse Administrator for Heartland. Emily is an approved registered service provider with Nebraska Probation.
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Jennifer Hart joined the Heartland Counseling Services staff in November 2019. Prior to moving back to Akron IA in 2016 to work as the Development Director at the Food Bank of Siouxland, Jennifer had spent 20 years living in the Boston MA area where she spent 12 years as the Executive Director of an art, music & theatre school. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1996 with a BSBA focusing on management. While working in Boston, Jennifer completed her MBA with an Organizational Management concentration in 2004. Jennifer is community focused and driven to helping others fulfill their potential of making a difference in the world. She is also on the Board of Siouxland Philanthropy and also previously served on New Stage Players' Board of Directors.
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Shannon Arens, Human Resources Director
Shannon Arens joined the Heartland Counseling Services staff in October of 2020 as Human Resources Director. Prior to working at Heartland, Shannon spent 25 years in various Human Resources and Benefits roles at Terra Industries and CF Industries in Sioux City. She has a business degree from Morningside College. Shannon and her husband, Dave have two teenage daughters, Cali and Casee. Shannon loves watching her girls at their various sporting events and other school activities, watching sports on tv, exercising, reading and spending time with family and friends.
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Suzanne Allen, Billing Supervisor
Suzanne Allen joined the Heartland Counseling Services staff in July of 2021 as a Housing Assistance Specialist and was promoted to Billing Supervisor in May 2022. Prior to working at Heartland, Suzanne spent 25 years in various public service, case management, and customer service roles at Sioux City Housing Authority, American Indian Council, and Gateway, Inc. She has a Bachelors of Management degree from Bellevue University. Suzanne and her husband, Jason have four children, Cielos, Isabella, Riley, and Zavier. Suzanne loves watching her kids at their various sporting events, photography, sunsets, concerts, and watching mixed martial arts competitions.
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Marcy Sellman, Compliance Specialist
Marcy has been with Heartland since May of 2006. In Fall 2021, she transitioned from being Heartland's Administrative Assistant to our new Compliance Specialist. Marcy has been a SSC Chamber Ambassador and is a graduate of Leadership Dakota County. She is married to Scott and they reside in SSC. They have two adult children and recently two new grandchildren.
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Kendra Gomez, Business Administrator
Kendra started with Heartland in June 2022. She earned her bachelor of the arts in accounting and business administration from Briar Cliff University. Prior to joining Heartland, she worked in public accounting for twelve years. Kendra is married with two children and is a life long South Sioux City resident. She is involved in the South Sioux City Chamberettes and is an advocate for The March of Dimes.
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Jamie Behmer, LIMHP, LPC, Rural School Based Administrator
Jamie joined Heartland Counseling Services as Rural School Based Administrator in February 2022 and provides school based therapy in the Wayne Public Schools as well as oversees Heartland's Rural School Based Mental Health Program. She has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, working in inpatient, outpatient, and school settings. Jamie is trained in a number of therapy modalities with the most frequent use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. She maintains a passion for mental health and meeting the needs of her students and community.
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Brenda Orlando, LISCW, Clinical Supervisor
Brenda has worked at Heartland since 2012 and was promoted to Clinical Supervisor in January 2023. She is a licensed clinical social worker. She works with youth through adults who are struggling with their mental health. Brenda is trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She has a passion for working with those who struggle with ADHD, anxiety and depression as well as those with chronic physical health issues. She is currently a Medicare provider.
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Marti Peters, LIMHP, LADC, Clinical Supervisor
Marti has worked at Heartland as mental health practitioner and substance use counselor since 2014 and was promoted to Clinical Supervisor in January 2023. Marti co-facilitates the Intensive Outpatient Program, provides individuals and group therapy, and teaches DUI classes. Marti works with adults who struggle with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues. She is also an approved registered service provider with Nebraska Probation.
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Jacob Hanish, Home Based Services Supervisor
Jake has worked at Heartland since 2012 as our Community Support Provider that covers five counties near the South Sioux City Office. In January 2023 he was promoted to Home Based Services Supervisor.
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Nicole Lidman, PSH Case Manager Supervisor
Nicole has worked at Heartland since October 2013 as one of our Crisis Responders for the five counties near South Sioux City. In 2020, Nicole became our Permanent Supported Housing Case Manager and in January 2023 she was promoted to PSH Case Manager Supervisor.
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Vera Ludwig, Day Rehab Supervisor
Vera Ludwig started as Case Manager at Heartland Counseling Center’s Life Center in September of 2019 and was promoted to Day Rehab Supervisor in January 2023. Prior to working at The Life Center, she was the Community Integration Activity Coordinator for PAMHC’s The Meeting Place. Vera has always lived and worked in NW Iowa and NE Nebraska. She was born in the Ice Cream Capital of the World and moved to Hawarden, Iowa before the end of her elementary school years. She considers NW Iowa home as she has lived, worked and has family connections in several towns in the area. She has lived in Sioux City the longest, having lived there for over 30 years. Vera’s undergraduate degree is in Art Therapy and Art Education and she has a Master’s in Pastoral Ministries. Her first connection with Heartland Counseling Services was when she was doing an internship for a second Master’s in Art Therapy.
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Kristina Garcia, Office Manager (South Sioux City)
Kristina Garcia joined the Heartland Counseling Services staff in February 2022 as a bilingual Office Clerk and was quickly promoted to Office Manager at our South Sioux City location effective February 1, 2023. Prior to Heartland, Kristina was a sales and leasing agent in South Sioux City. Kristina has four children and a grandbaby named Zarah. Kristina has spent most of her life here in the Siouxland area where she met the amazing man in her life, Roberto. Kristina enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She is always on the go with work, sports and kids, she is very involved with her two younger children as they are still in school and involved in many sports and activities. Kristina also enjoys taking long car rides and listening to music to unwind and relax.
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Diane Selby, Office Manager (O'Neill)
Diane Selby as an office clerk at Heartland Counseling's O’Neill location in January 2021 and was promoted to Office Manager in April 2023. She is married with four children, Conor, Tate, Rylee and Reagan. They have 2 boxer dogs also that are just like having children. In her spare time Diane like to garden, scrapbook, research family history and do crafts. In the summer she spends as much time outside with her family as she can.
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Practitioners
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Virginia Cochran, LIMHP, LADC
Virginia has been providing therapy to clients for over 30 years, and joined the Heartland team in July of 2015. Her expertise is working with individuals who struggle with substance abuse issues and working towards recovery. Virginia co-facilitates our PRIME Solutions Intensive Outpatient Program, provides individual and group therapy, and teaches DUI classes at Heartland. She is also an approved registered service provider with Nebraska Probation.
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Jamie Mackling, LMHP
Jamie is a mental health practitioner who works with all ages of individuals. She provides therapy in several rural school districts that include Bancroft-Rosalie, Oakland-Craig, Lyons-Decatur, and Wakefield. Jamie also works with District 6 Probation office providing group therapy and is also an approved registered service provider with Nebraska Probation. Jamie joined the Heartland team in September 2017.
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Nick Brown, LMHP, LPC, LADC
Nick is a bilingual English/Spanish mental health and substance abuse practitioner. He works with all ages of individuals that struggle with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Nick specializes in Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT) and facilitates an anger management group. He started at Heartland in March 2018.
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Aaron Youngberg, LIMHP
Aaron transitioned from providing therapy in the South Sioux City High School, to providing therapy services for kids and adults in our South Sioux City office in March 2022. Aaron is trained in The Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), a school-based program that provides group and individual intervention. Aaron started at Heartland in August 2018. He received his full License in Mental Health in 2021.
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Lisa Bye, LIMHP
Lisa is a school based mental health therapist for the elementary schools in the South Sioux City School District. Lisa has over 30 years experience and began working at Heartland in August of 2018. She provides individual therapy to children struggling with all different issues ranging from divorce, death of a loved one, to past trauma. Lisa received her Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) credentials in February 2022.
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Jewel Swanson, LIMHP, LCSW, RPT
Jewel is a school-based mental health therapist in O'Neill Public Schools and works with students ranging from preschool through age 21. Jewel is a registered play therapist and has been trained in EMDR and TF-CBT. Jewel began working at Heartland in August 2018.
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Jill Myers,PLMHP
Jill works part time for Heartland as a mental health practitioner, she works full time as a teacher. Jill has several years experience working with children and recently received her masters in counseling. Jill has been working with all ages at Heartland since August 2018, and is always excited to take on new clients.
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Charlette Bowens Kissi Afare, PLMHP, PLADC
Charlette Bowens Kissi Afare is from from Wayne, Nebraska which has been her home since 2002. Charlette has 3 grown children and 15 grandchildren whom she loves and adores! Charlette graduated from Wayne State College in 2018 with a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling. She is certified as both a provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) and provisionally Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC). Charlette started working with Heartland Counseling Services in March 2020, and stated "I am certainly excited and looking forward to working closely with all of the faculty and staff as well as the new clientele I'll be seeing." When she is not working, Charlette's favorite things are spending time with family, cooking, and attending family events and activities within our communities.
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Cynthia Prather, LIMHP
Cindi Prather graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with her master’s degree in counseling in 2005. She also has a Master of Divinity degree. She was a pastor in several communities in Nebraska before going back to school for her counseling degree. She has worked in community mental health and substance abuse and addictions. She works with all ages from very young children to older adults. She is trained in Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and other therapeutic modalities. Her passion is meeting clients where they are and working with them to reach their goals. She joined the Heartland team in November 2020.
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Greg Brostad, LIMHP, LMHC, IADC, SOTPII, CSAT
Many of the individuals that I work with find themselves in need of help identifying healthy and effective means of coping with life's transitions and concerns. By utilizing extensive experience and training my goal is to help those individuals address their concerns and create a path for sustainable and healthy recovery. I do this by honoring individuals values and wishes while creating a life that is free from addiction.
I also specialize in treating sexual behavior that is inconsistent with a client's values or damaging to their relationships. I've helped many individuals and couples heal from infidelity, betrayal, compulsive use of pornography and many other kinds of high-risk or secretive sexual behavior and am a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). If your behavior has harmed your relationships, reputation or health I can help you regain a trusting, secure and happy life. In addition, I provide treatment and assessment for both adults and juveniles that have sexual offending issues and I am a clinical member of the National Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), and have my Juvenile Sex Offender Certification through the University of Louisville.
My approach is unique in that it is tailored to each client's specific needs rather than a one size fits all program. I utilize many evidence based treatment modalities to address and resolve client concerns. Treatment specializations include: men’s issues, sexual addiction, juvenile sex offender treatment, adult sex offender treatment, internet addictions, addiction Issues, domestic violence, anger management, stress management, personality disorders, anxiety and depression, individuals with Severe Mental Illness, co-occurring issues, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Greg joined Heartland Counseling in December 2020 as a contractor.
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Marit Westrich, PLMHP
Marit is a school based mental health therapist who works in the South Sioux City Middle School. She provides individual and group therapy in the schools. She has over a decade of experience working with youth who have experienced trauma and other mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues. Marit is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS). This program is school-based and provides group and individual intervention. Marit started at Heartland in July 2021.
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Melissa Sandoz, PLMHP
Melissa is a PLMHP, starting first at Heartland as an intern, then moving into the role of school-based therapist for the South Sioux City School District before quickly moving into the outpatient clinic fulltime beginning in June 2022. She graduated with her master’s degree in Art Therapy/Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She takes pride in her work and is passionate about using the healing power of creativity and the effectiveness of evidenced-based techniques for recovery, growth, and transformation. Melissa stated, “Being a therapist is an honor and a privilege.” Her personal mission is to help her clients see that they are a unique gift to this world. She believes everyone has the innate ability to be creative and that art is a powerful way to express things that words cannot express. Melissa started at Heartland in August 2021.
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Anna Sorenson, PLMHP
Anna is one of Heartland's school based mental health therapist working in the South Sioux City high school and middle school. Anna enjoys working with individuals of all ages and cultural backgrounds and takes a collaborative, developmental, strengths-based, person-centered approach with clients. Anna completed her master’s degree at Wayne State College in clinical mental health counseling. She received her bachelor’s in psychology and family studies from the University of Northern Iowa. Anna is trained in cognitive behavioral intervention for trauma in school (CBITs). She seeks to meet clients where they are at and walk beside them in their journey to healing. Anna started at Heartland in August 2021.
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Kathy Carr, CPSS, PLMHP
Kathy Carr joined Heartland Counseling Services staff in August 2020 as a Peer Support Specialist and transitioned in a full time therapist role after receiving her PLMHP in December 2021. Kathy worked as a Paraprofessional at Valentine Community Schools for 2 years prior to joining Heartland. She has a MA in Mental Health Counseling and a BA in Psychology with an emphasis in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling, graduating from Chadron State College in 1992. She received her CPSS & PLMHP while working at Heartland. Kathy has several years’ experience in working with individuals to better their lives and enhance their personal growth through support in overcoming life’s problems. Kathy enjoys a variety of outdoor activities – canoeing the river, camping and gardening to name a few. She also enjoys playing guitar and singing, crocheting and doing genealogy research. She and her husband, Russ, are busy daily with their fur babies, Killer and Casper.
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Hanna Samson, PLMHP
Hanna joined the Heartland Counseling Services team as a school-based mental health therapist in the South Sioux City High School and Gateway to Learning in January 2022. Hanna completed an internship at Heartland and graduated from South Dakota State University with a Master's in clinical mental health counseling in December 2022. She received her Bachelor's in psychology and social sciences from the University of Sioux Falls. Hanna is trained in the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS). Hanna stated, "I am in awe of the resiliency of human beings, and I believe in the healing power of the therapeutic alliance."
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Lisbeth Knudsen, PLMHP, PLADC
Lisbeth joined Heartland Counseling Services in February of 2021 as a Substance Abuse Evaluator/Prevention Specialist and received her PLADC in May 2022. Lisbeth graduated from Wayne State College with her Master's in Clinical Mental Health and received her PLMHP in September of 2023. Prior to working at Heartland, Lisbeth obtained her undergrad in criminal justice and worked at Haven House helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Lisbeth is also bilingual and is fluent in Spanish and English.
Lisbeth se unió a Heartland Counseling Services en febrero del 2021 como evaluadora / especialista en prevención de abuso de sustancias y recibió su PLADC en mayo del 2022. Lisbeth se graduó de Wayne State College con su Maestría en Salud Mental Clínica y recibió su PLMHP en septiembre del 2023. Antes de trabajar en Heartland Counseling, Lisbeth obtuvo su licenciatura en justicia penal y trabajó en Haven House ayudando a víctimas de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual. Lisbeth también es bilingüe y habla español e inglés con fluidez.
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Shawn Rasmussen, PLMHP
Shawn began working at Heartland Counseling in 2020 as our Community Support Provider, Crisis Responder and Life Center Case Manager for the South Sioux City office. In August 2022 she moved into the role of School Based Mental Health Therapist and in August 2023 she moved to the SSC clinic doing therapy. Shawn has her PLMHP.
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Michelle Claussen, LIMHP, LADC
Michelle is a school based mental health/substance abuse therapist in Wayne Public Schools, working with students ranging from grades 7 through 12. She specializes in anxiety, depression, and co-occurring disorders. Michelle has worked in the field for eight years and has worked with all age groups. She started at Heartland Counseling in September of 2022.
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Michelle Hingst, PLMHP, PLADC
Michelle Hingst joined the Heartland team in our O'Neill office in June 2023.
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Sarah Shanahan, PLMHP, PCMSW, Iowa LMSW
Sarah has been at Heartland since 2019 as the Community Project Leader for the South Sioux City School District’s School-Based Mental Health services and became then joined our therapy team in June 2023. Sarah is a Sioux City native and graduated from Morningside College with a degree in Counseling Psychology and with a Masters in Social Work from the University of Iowa.
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Amy Specht, PLMHP, School Based Therapist
Amy Specht is a Mental Health Therapist working in Pierce Jr./Sr. High School. She has vast experience working with young people. She owned her own Daycare/Preschool for 17 years while raising her 3 girls. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in education in 2017 from Wayne State College and taught Middle/Junior High students while working on her master’s degree. She obtained her master’s in clinical Mental Health in December 2022 and worked in an agency setting until July 2023, when she started at Heartland Counseling as a Rural School-based therapist in August 2023. Her husband has worked in Education for 28 years and their favorite pass-time is spending time with their grandchildren or golfing. Amy’s passion is helping students live a happy, healthy life and learn their potential.
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Krista Roeber, PLMHP/PCMSW, School Based Therapist
Krista Roeber is a PLMHP/PCMSW and began working as our school based therapist in the Emerson-Hubbard and Pender Community Schools in August 2023. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa’s MSW program and is a Northeast Nebraska native.
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Lora Heithold, PLMHP, PCMSW, School Based Therapist
Lora Heithold is one of Heartland's Mental Health Therapists working in the Wayne, NE Schools. She has vast experience in working with people from preschool to geriatrics. She worked in a K-12 setting as a sign-language interpreter while attending graduate school. She obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of South Dakota in May 2023. She has 16 years working as a social worker in the medical field and 14 years working in the education field from preschool to high school. She worked for the past year and a half as a Hospice Chaplain, when she started at Heartland Counseling as a School-based Therapist in August 2023. Her & her husband’s favorite pass-time is spending time with family, being active in their church, and being on the farm. Lora’s passion is helping others find their way and watching them grow to their fullest potential.
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Paige Delperdang, PLMHP, PCMSW, School Based Therapist
Paige began as one of our School Based Therapist at the SSC schools in August 2023.
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Sonia Rodriguez, PLMHP, School Based Therapist
Sonia began as one of our School Based Therapist at the SSC schools in August 2023.
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Jessica Ortega, PLADC
Jessica received her PLADC in September 2023 to take on the role of one of Heartland's bilingual substance use counselors. Ms. Ortega started at Heartland in February 2018 as our bilingual mental health and substance abuse Office Clerk and transitioned to the new Interpreter position in June 2022. Jessica is fluent in Spanish and English.
Jessica recibió su PLADC en septiembre de 2023 para asumir el papel de una de las consejeras bilingües sobre uso de sustancias de Heartland. La Sra. Ortega comenzó en Heartland en febrero de 2018 como nuestra secretaria de oficina bilingüe de salud mental y abuso de sustancias y pasó al nuevo puesto de intérprete en junio de 2022. Jessica habla español e inglés con fluidez.
Community Based Services
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Kendra Steinhauser, Crisis Responder & Community Support Provider
Kendra has been working at Heartland since 2014. She works as our Crisis Responder & Community Support Provider in the six western counties that Heartland covers.
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Madalen Larrabee, CPSS, Peer Support Specialist
Madalen has worked at Heartland since 2014 and is the Certified Peer Support Specialist for the South Sioux City office.
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Jasmine Luckow, CPSS, Youth Peer Support Specialist
Jasmine is our Youth Peer Support Specialist in the South Sioux office. She became certified as Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) in May 2021. Jasmine is from Des Moines, where she previously worked in a Residential Youth Facility. Jasmine has been with Heartland since December 2020.
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Melinda Hoogland, Community Support Provider
After living in Huron, SD for ten years, Melinda and her family returned to NW Iowa in December of 2017. Melinda considers NE Nebraska and NW Iowa home as she was raised in these areas. She graduated from Wayne State College in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a minor in Social Sciences. She completed a undergrad internship at Heartland in 2021 and now works full-time for Heartland as a Community Support Provider. Currently, she is a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Melinda resides in Sioux City with her husband of thirty years and their youngest high school age daughter. She has a daughter that married in 2021. Her middle daughter is employed at K & B Transportation. She has 3 dogs, a cat, 2 grand kitties, and a grand doggie. She enjoys spending time with family, making crafts, organizing, taking naps, and camping. Melinda loves the atmosphere and the services Heartland provides.
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Erin Tomoson, CPSS, Crisis Responder
Erin Tomoson grew up in Moville, Iowa and graduated from Woodbury Central High School. She then continued her education at Briar Cliff University where she earned her Bachelor's in Social Work. Erin is certified in drug and alcohol counseling and peer support. Erin Tomoson started as a Crisis Responder in our South Sioux City office on 9/1/2022 and became a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) in February 2023. She plans to continue her education. In her spare time, Erin enjoys hanging out with friends and cuddling with her six cats.
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Tanya Walters, Permanent Supported Housing Case Manager
Tanya graduated from Wayne State College in 2004 with a major in psychology. After graduation she worked as an adult and child mental health case manager in the states of Iowa and Florida. Tanya was employed as a Family Services Advocate in Nebraska for the past three years where she assisted individuals and families that were homeless or at risk of homelessness to obtain and maintain stable housing. In her spare time Tanya enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and attending events around the Siouxland community. She started at Heartland in October 2022 as the Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager.
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Julie Mizner, CPSS, Crisis Responder
Julie joined the Heartland Counseling Services team as a Crisis Responder for our western coverage areas of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, and Rock in September 2022. Julie obtained her undergrad in Criminal Justice from Bellevue University and is also a Certified Peer Support Specialist. She comes to Heartland with several years of experience in substance abuse, mental health, and recovery. She also has experience as a 911 dispatcher, Corrections Officer, EMT, and most recently joined the Nebraska Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) debriefing team as peer support for First Responders. Julie is passionate about helping others find the beauty in recovery which has led her to pursue a graduate degree. Julie and her husband, Kyle, have one son. When she’s not working or volunteering, she can be found pool side with their diehard swimmer. She loves to travel and most recently left a part of her heart in Alaska. She has dreams to one day retire and become a professional tourist!
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Joshua Alloway, CPSS, Crisis Responder (Antelope, Cedar, Pierce & Knox Counties)
bio coming soon
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Sadie Heckert, Part-Time Peer Support Specialist
Sadie Heckert is a sophomore at Morningside University who is originally from Neligh, NE. In high school, she was involved in everything from band and choir to one act and musicals to FCCLA. With FCCLA and mental health both holding a special place in her heart, she completed a project that helped make mental health “sick” days become a reality for students in Nebraska. Overall, she is very excited for the opportunity to work for Heartland and can’t wait to get the year off to a great start! Sadie's first day at Heartland was Jan 9, 2023.
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Kate Limke, CPSS, Peer Support Specialist
Kate joined the Heartland team in February 2023 as a Peer Support Specialist. She received her CPSS certification the summer of 2023.
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Rebeca Quezada, Bilingual Peer Support Specialist
Rebeca Quezada has joined the Heartland team as our Bilingual Peer Support Specialist in June 2023.
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Jamie Vogt, School Youth Peer Support Specialist
Jamie Vogt is one of Heartland's School Youth Peer Support Specialist for the rural schools. Jamie is a mother of three kids, two girls and one boy. She has been married to her husband for 8 years. Jamie earned a degree in Behavioral Science in 2012 and has been working in the Mental Health/ Substance Abuse field most of her working career. After starting a family, Jamie owned her own in-home daycare. Once her own children started in school, she began working in the school. In August 2023, she began working for Heartland Counseling Services. Jamie has a passion for helping people through their recovery journey and has always loved working with children.
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Megan Doffin, School Youth Peer Support Specialist
Megan Doffin is one of Heartland's School Youth Peer Support Specialist for the rural schools. Megan and her husband reside in Northeast Nebraska with their two daughters, Addison and Emma. Megan earned her degree in Human Services Counseling from Wayne State College. She has always enjoyed working with students of all ages. Megan started at Heartland in August 2023.
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Raquel Garcia Contreras, School Youth Peer Support Specialist
Raquel Garcia Contreras started in September 2023 as one of Heartland's School Youth Peer Support Specialist working with the SSC schools.
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Brock Paesl, Crisis Responder
Support Staff and Business Department
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Haley Knowlton, Billing Clerk III
Haley has been with Heartland since 2015. In 2022, she transitioned from being Heartland's Tele-Psychiatry Care Coordinator for Medication Management to our Billing Clerk III.
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Amanda Phommavong, Care Coordinator
Amanda started as a part-time Office Clerk with Heartland in May 2019 and moved to full-time in November 2019. She shared in many of the office duties for substance abuse and mental health in our South Sioux City office. In 2022, Amanda transitioned into the role of Care Coordinator working with our Tele-Psychiatry Program. Our clients that are in need of Medication Management work with a provider based out of The Richard Young Outpatient Clinic located in Kearney, NE. Amanda has a respiratory therapist degree from St. Luke's College. She has lived her whole life in the Siouxland area and continues to reside in the area with her family. When not working or spending time with family, you will find Amanda enjoying the outdoors and reading.
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Brittany Smith, Billing Clerk III
Brittany joined Heartland Counseling in the summer of 2021 as a Billing Clerk II having received a degree in medical billing and coding in 2017 and moved into the Billing Clerk III role in February 2022. Brittany is originally from central Nebraska and moved to the Sioux City area in the fall of 2020. In her spare time, Brittany enjoys cooking and exploring her new town with her husband, Matthew and their Golden Retriever, Rudy.
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Kimberly Velazquez, Billing Clerk II
Kim started as one of Heartland's Billing Clerks in May 2023.
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Tracy Allen, Accounting Clerk
Tracy joined the Heartland team as our Accounting Clerk in May 2023.
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Samantha Hoffman, Office Clerk II
Samantha joined Heartland's South Sioux City's front office team in May 2023.
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Dylan Leininger, Office Clerk II
Dylan joined Heartland's South Sioux City's front office team in May 2023.
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Deasha Finauga, Billing Clerk II
Deasha Finauga joined the Heartland team in July 2023 as one of our Billing Clerks.
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Caleigh Mackling, RHIT, Medical Records Clerk
Caleigh Mackling started in July 2023 as Heartland's first Medical Records Clerk after receiving a degree in Health Information Management Systems. Caleigh also obtained her Registered Health Information Technician certification.
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Karina Langseth, Office Clerk
Karina began working as one of our Office Clerks in the South Sioux City office in September 2023.
Board of Directors
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Cyd Fleckenstein, Board President
Board President & Executive Committee Member
Aventure Staffing, Chief Risk Officer -
Paula Schmeckpeper Wendte, Board Vice President
Board Vice President & Fund Development Committee Chair
Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company, Administrative Assistant -
Erica Carter, Board Treasurer
Board Treasurer
Umonhon Nation Public School -
Megan Dickinson, Board Secretary
Board Secretary
Marriott South Sioux City Riverfront, Sales & Marketing Manager -
Jason Allen, Board Member
Governance Committee Chair
City of Sioux City, Transit Operations Supervisor -
Shannon Beller, Board Member
Board Member, Fund Development Committee Member
Consumer Supply -
Allison Berg, Board Member
Fund Development Committee
Wells Enterprises, Finance Manager-Retail Sales -
Josiah Boneschans, Board Member
Finance Committee Member
City of South Sioux City
Deputy Treasurer -
Matt Burival, Board Member
Finance Committee Member
Arbor Cares Centers of O'Neill, Licensed Nursing Home Administator, Executive Director -
Nancy Cochrane, Board Member
Finance Committee Member
F&M Bank, Vice President -
JoAnn Gieselman, Board Member
Governance Committee Member
Growing Community Connections, Executive Director -
Hilary Hawkins, Board Member
Board Member
CMBA Architects, Interior Designer -
Stephanie Hirsch, Board Member
Finance Committee Member
Joe Morten & Son, Inc., Account Representative -
Nikki Nobbe, Board Member
Governance Committee Member
Great West Casualty, Deputy General Counsel -
Heather Rochez, Board Member
Board Member, Fund Development Committee Member
Tyson -
Rogelio Rodriguez, Board Member
Board Member, Fund Development Committee Member
Unity in Action -
Helen Sorenson, Board Member
Board Member
Retired Teacher, South Sioux City Community Schools -
Brian Van Berkum, Board Member
Fund Development Committee Member
South Sioux City Police Department, Master Patrolman