Family First Prevention Services and Kansas Strong - Southwest
Southwest Regional Interagency Advisory Board
The Southwest Regional Interagency and Community Advisory Board for Family First Prevention Services and Kansas Strong was formed to achieve better outcomes for Kansas children and families involved with, or at risk of involvement with, the child welfare system. The Committee achieves this goal by assessing program implementation and addressing systemic factors impacting the state’s prevention service array. Committee membership is comprised leaders across service sectors impacting safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.
Co-Chairs: Stacey Tweedy, DCF & Kathy Gemaehlich, Early Head Start
| Name | Agency | Role/Title | Email Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augustus, Teri | Saint Francis Ministries Family Centered Treatment | Director | Teri.Augustus@st-francis.org |
| Ausmus, Ryan | Big Brothers Big Sisters | SW area Director | rausmus@kansasbigs.org |
| Bretsnyder, Jennifer | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Family First Grants Manager | Jennifer.Goodman@ks.gov |
| Byers, Kaela | University of Kansas School of Social Welfare | FFPSA Principal Investigator/Evaluator KS Strong Evaluator | kaela@ku.edu |
| Cizek, Meghan | University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research | FFPSA Project Manager | mcizek@ku.edu |
| Reynolds, Debbie | Spirit of the Plains CASA | Interim Executive Director | director@spiritoftheplainscasa.org |
| Erwine, Ariele | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Family First Prevention Services Program Manager | Ariele.erwine@ks.gov |
| Falcon, Richard | Compass Behavioral Health | Program Supervisor | rfalcon@compassbh.org |
| Garstka, Teri | University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research | FFPSA Co-Investigator | garstka@ku.edu |
| Gemaehlich, Kathy | Early Head Start | Parents as Teachers Coordinator/Supervisor | gemaehlich.kathy@usd443.org |
| Gregg, Elizabeth | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Assessment and Prevention Program Administrator | Elizabeth.Gregg@ks.gov |
| Guest, Robert | Harvey County LE/Family First Family Council | Investigator/Council Member | rbtgst@gmail.com |
Hahn, Pam | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Director of Prevention | |
| Hardin, Lori | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Assessment and Prevention Supervisor | Lori.Hardin@ks.gov |
| Harrison, Megan | Family First Family Council | Council Member | Harrisonm694@gmail.com |
| Lichter, Ryan | Barton and Russell Counties | Community Case Manager | rlichter@bartoncounty.org |
| Martinez, Terri | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Assistant Regional Director | Teresa.Martinez@ks.gov |
| Montague, Susan | Saint Francis Ministries | Director of Behavioral Health | Susan.Montague@st-francis.org |
| Owens, Terra | Saint Francis Ministries | terra.owens@st-francis.org | |
| Preston, Jenn | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Family Services/State Plan Administrator | Jennifer.Preston@ks.gov |
| Sterling, Meghann | Horizons Mental Health Center | Marriage and Family Therapist | sterlingm@hmhc.com |
| Townley, Cheyenne | Family First Family Council | Council Member | Cheyenne.Townley@gmail.com |
| Tuttle, Amy | Emberhope | Vice President | atuttle@emberhope.org |
| Tweedy, Stacey | Kansas Department for Children and Families | Southwest Regional Director | Stacey.Tweedy@ks.gov |