Ashley Brown is President of KVC Nebraska where she ensures the organization is responsive and agile to the needs of Nebraska youth, families and individuals, focusing specifically on prevention and early intervention services. She also supports a diverse and compassionate team of 60 professionals who make a positive difference in Nebraska communities every day. She is particularly passionate about strengthening KVC Nebraska’s culture by building an exceptional employee experience.

Throughout her career in child welfare, Ashley has worked in a variety of fields–including foster care, in-home services and outpatient mental health services. Ashley earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and is a licensed clinical social worker in Nebraska. She received a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of South Dakota.

Cassandra is Director of Family Preservation and Model Fidelity at KVC Nebraska. In this role, she collaborates with internal and external stakeholders and partners to support families and protect children from abuse and neglect. She is currently focusing on preventing child maltreatment through prevention and early intervention programs.

For more than a decade, Cassandra has helped vulnerable and at-risk populations and believes safe, secure, and connected relationships within families and communities are key to child safety and optimizing human potential. Her KVC team has supported the preservation and reunification of hundreds of families.

Cassandra is licensed in Nebraska as an Independent Mental Health Practitioner and a Marriage and Family Therapist. She holds a master’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from University Nebraska-Lincoln. She is an Approved Supervisor with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and serves as a Marriage and Family Therapist representative on the Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice. She is also a certified Gallup Engagement Champion.

Liz currently provides clinical and programmatic oversight as the Program Director for Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. Liz has worked in the Human Services field for approximately 15 years and graduated with her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2007. Liz’s work in the field has primarily focused on mental health, behavior modification, and developmental disabilities. Her current position allows her to work closely with individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, their families and other supports, and DHHS administration and Service Coordination. Additionally, Liz has experience working closely with community providers on several initiatives to increase quality of life for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and mental illness.

From mental health to Juvenile Justice, Theresa Goley has been working with youth for over 20 years. Theresa accepted a new opportunity with KVC in 2014 as a Service Area Director and is now serving in her role as Permanency Director. Theresa began her career working on an acute mental health unit in South Dakota. She moved to Nebraska in 2002 started doing in-home work and eventually moved on to be the Program Therapist on an acute mental health unit for adolescents. When the Child Welfare Reform started in Nebraska in 2009, Theresa saw this as an opportunity to be part of a much needed change and accepted a position with KVC. She served as a Supervisor and was then promoted to Director a little over a year later.

During her time as Director of OJS, Theresa was involved with both the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative in Douglas and Sarpy Counties and the Crossover Youth Practice Model in Douglas County.. While employed with State Probation, Theresa served as the statewide JDAI Coordinator and took the lead in working with the Georgetown Center for Juvenile Justice Reform on the expansion of Crossover from Douglas County to other counties across Nebraska.

Theresa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of South Dakota and a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the North American Baptist Seminary. She is currently licensed in Nebraska as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner.

Lucy is proud to be a part of the KVC family as she believes in being an advocate for the children and families we serve. Lucy graduated in 2008 from the University of Omaha with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. In 2010 she pursed her Master’s degree at Bellevue University in Clinical Counseling. Lucy has worked in Child Welfare for over 12 years. She has gained excellent experience in working at DHHS as a Children and Family Services Specialist, Probation as a Specialized Juvenile Officer, and at KVC Behavioral Health as an Intensive In-Home Therapist. In 2017, Lucy became the Supervisor over the Intensive In-Home Family Services team.

An Omaha native, Shannon graduated in 2013 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Adolescent Psychology. Shannon began her career as a volunteer for CASA and spent over two years in that effort. Shannon started with KVC Nebraska in September of 2014 as a Skill Builder in our Intensive Family Preservation (IFP) program and has been working in child welfare now for over six years. In her new role as an In-Home supervisor, Shannon is responsible for developing and implementing coping skills and techniques and is currently working toward her licensure in LADC.

Shannon has gained much experience in her six years working at KVC. Including: probational work, in-home family service interfacing, extensive knowledge in substance use and became certified in trauma-informed care. Shannon is personally a biological mother, a foster mother, and an adoptive mother.

Michaela Breault is Administrative Supervisor of Developmental Disability Services where she oversees a variety of different elements that make our Shared Living program successful.

Michaela began her career with KVC four years ago as a Shared Living Specialist where she worked closely with individuals with disabilities, their families, and other team members before transitioning to her current role in 2019. She came to KVC with over six years of extensive experience in the developmental and intellectual disabilities field. After working in a group home for individuals with disabilities, she realized her passion for community-based services. Michaela received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education K-8 and special education K-12 from Hastings College.

“I am extremely grateful to work with a dedicated team of Specialists who go above and beyond to advocate for those KVC supports.” – Michaela Breault

Becca graduated in 2006 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences. Becca began working for KVC in July of 2010 as a Kinship Specialist and transitioned to a Foster Care Specialist before becoming a Supervisor in November 2014. Becca has been working in child welfare since 2006 to include In-Home Services. Outside of work, Becca enjoys spending time with her husband Evan and son Ledger and, spending time in the outdoors.

Nicole Deere-Andersen serves as a Foster Care Supervisor and has over 15 years of valuable human services experience. Beginning her career with KVC in 2010, Nicole gained experience as an Admissions Liaison and Foster Care Specialist before transitioning to her current role. As an Admissions Liaison, Nicole placed over 1,600 youth in need of a safe and loving home with KVC-licensed foster parents over a six-year period.

Nicole earned a master’s degree in human resource management from Doane University in 2019 and received two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and history from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008.

Larissa earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work in 2015 at the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Back in Minnesota, Larissa completed her clinical internship working at a trauma-focused preschool day treatment program. Prior to her role as Supervisor of the PACT program, Larissa provided outpatient mental health services to children and families, conducted trauma-focused groups in Nebraska public schools and provided intensive in-home family therapy.

Becki Johnson is a Foster Care Supervisor, where she supports staff who have direct contact with youth and families KVC serves. She has worked in the human services field for nine years in a variety of areas, including group home settings, visitation and family support, foster care, and foster home licensing.

Becki joined KVC in 2016 as a Foster Care Specialist where she provided ongoing support and advocacy for the youth KVC serves. In 2018, Becki transitioned to a new role as a Foster Care Recruitment Coordinator. In this position, she worked to recruit and support prospective foster parents through the initial training process prior to licensure. During her time with KVC, Becki received the Lucy Nevels Child Care Worker of the Year Award in 2017 and was named KVC Nebraska’s Employee of the Year in 2019.

Becki earned a bachelor’s degree in family studies and a minor in social work from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She is also a certified TIPS-MAPP and Deciding Together trainer; working together with the larger TIPS-MAPP group at KVC to train and support prospective foster parents through the initial training process.

“I love working at KVC because I feel like I’m a part of something bigger. I get to work collaboratively with others to support positive outcomes for the children and families we serve. I’m a strong believer in “Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story.” I strive to be an advocate for youth in foster care to ensure they feel supported and heard.” – Becki Johnson

Tracy Muller earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling in 2014. In her previous professional work Tracy provided behavior modification intervention strategies in community based settings to assist individual’s improve their daily living as well as direct therapeutic services while working with individuals with developmental disabilities and major mental health issues. She currently provides clinical supervision oversight to Extended Family Homes (EFH). In this position Tracy provides guidance to assist with developing interventions, utilizing community resources, and facilitating relationships between clients and community providers.

Lauren graduated in 2007 from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and Psychology. She then went on to pursue her Masters of Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She graduated with her Masters in 2009.  Lauren started with KVC Nebraska in August of 2010 as a Licensing Specialist and through hard work and dedication became a Supervisor in October of 2015.  Lauren has been working in child welfare for over seven years.  In her downtime, she loves to play golf and spoil her puppy Brody.

Jessica serves as a Foster Care Supervisor where she oversees a compassionate team of Foster Care Specialists who provide training to foster families as well as direct support and ongoing services to foster parents licensed through KVC. She enjoys the daily challenges within her position and strongly supports the KVC mission.

Jessica began her career with KVC Nebraska in 2010. With over 17 years of human services experience, she has made a positive impact in group home settings, in-home services and foster care. Jessica earned her master’s degree in management from Doane University and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska.