BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Members of the Allies with Families Board of Trustees serve on a volunteer basis. The board provides strategic guidance in the fulfillment of Allies' mission to offer practical support and resources for parents and their children with special/mental health needs. Allies with Families Board Members have broad responsibility to govern the organization. Together and with input from all members, they make policy to govern Allies, determine Allies’ official position on matters of public policy, set the budget and priorities of Allies, and develop strategic plans to guide organizational development.
Robert Rees, Chair
Jane Lewis, Vice Chair
Victor B. Scott
Elizabeth McCoy Doubek
Emily Waddoups
MANAGING STAFF
Allies has assembled a skilled staff to bring you the best in information and support for mental wellness. In addition to their expert abilities and approachable natures, every Allies staff member has a child or family member with mental health/special needs — ensuring that you will be served with professionalism and real-world understanding.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lori is the mother of two children, one of whom has profound disabilities, and has two grandchildren. She also has a sibling who has experienced a mental health disorder. Lori has worked as Executive Director of Allies with Families since 2002 and prior to that was a family consultant for five years.
Lori has been trained in wraparound facilitation, negotiation and mediation, cultural competency, the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health Evaluation Curriculum, Building Systems of Care (with Sheila Pires), and Georgetown University's Leadership Academy. She is also a certified Children's Case Manager. Lori has attended and presented at numerous local, regional, and national conferences.
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PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
Tracy Johnson is currently the Program Director for Allies with Families and a member of the Utah Family Coalition. Previously, she was the founder and Executive Director of New Frontiers for Families, a non-profit organization that served individuals with complex needs.
Tracy began this work searching for support for her own children in rural Utah. She participated in first System of Care project in Utah as an evaluator, a wraparound facilitator, and a family leader.
Tracy has worked with the National Wraparound Initiative on several projects including the Taskforce for Developing Core Competencies and Certification for Family Peer Support Partners. She has worked with Georgetown University as a consultant on family driven care in wraparound.
Tracy has provided training and certification in wraparound facilitation and supervision in Utah for over 16 years and is a certified peer support wraparound facilitator and mentor. She graduated from the University of Utah professional development program with a certification in non-profit management in 2014.
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FINANCE MANAGER
April J. Roberts served as New Frontiers for Families’ Finance Manager for over 15 years before joining the Allies’ team. She has over 16 years of experience in Financial Management, specializing in fields related to technology, government contracting, and non-profits. She has a wide range of knowledge of government contracting and accounting, including Defense Contract Audit Agency practices, Small Business Administration practices, and Federal Acquisition Regulations.
April graduated with top honors from DeVry University in Phoenix, Arizona, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting with an emphasis on information systems. She also enjoys raising her five energetic boys and spending time outdoors with her family in the beauty of Southern Utah where she resides.
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OFFICE/HR MANAGER
Tena's passion is to serve other families that are searching for help and support for their children with mental and emotional challenges. She is the mother of four children and six stepchildren, and has 17 grandchildren. Several of her children have mental health issues including drug addiction.
Tena has worked or volunteered for Allies with Families since 2002. She has been a family advocate, a teacher, and has sat on the Board of Trustees. She has successfully completed multiple courses, including certification from the State of Utah as a Targeted Case Manager. Tena has been part of the Utah Governor's Initiative for Transformation to Adult Living for children aging out of foster care and has presented at several mental health functions locally and nationally.
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SYSTEM OF CARE
PROGRAM MENTORNatalie is the sister of several children that have emotional and behavioral challenges. She understands the complexity of these challenges and their impact on families.
Natalie has experience working with teens and children, as well as adults with intellectual disabilities. She is passionate about working with people and supporting families. She became the Family Resource Facilitator at The Children’s Center in Salt Lake City in January, 2013. In December of 2015, Natalie also began mentoring other Family Resource Facilitators. As of May, 2016, she is the full-time System of Care Mentor.
Natalie has her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Utah.
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PEER PARENT COORDINATOR
WESTERN REGIONChanNa has been the Peer Parent Program Coordinator for the Western Region since November, 2013. Prior to working at Allies with Families, ChanNa was a permanency caseworker on the Family Drug Court team in Utah County. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University and used her passion for mental health advocacy as a utilization review manager in various psychiatric adolescent residential care facilities, collaborating with mental health professionals for medically necessary treatment for youth from across the country. She has volunteered in adult outpatient, researched at the Utah State Hospital, and participated in foster care and child welfare advocacy on the state and national levels.
ChanNa enjoys traveling, personal development, learning languages, meditation, Asian food, and being around great friends and family!
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Laura AdamsFAMILY RESOURCE FACILITATOR MENTOR
SOUTHWESTERN REGIONBio Soon!
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SIBSHOP PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Anna has several siblings with special needs. In September, 2015, she became a facilitator for the Sibshop program. She loved it so much that in April of 2016, she joined the Allies team as the Program Coordinator and continues to support and celebrate siblings of children with special needs. Anna is passionate about celebrating and empowering families.
Anna has worked as a special needs nanny, mental health case manager, and advocate for survivors of sexual violence. She has a Bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Utah.
Anna is a Salt Lake City local and enjoys the beauty, great food, and entertainment that the city has to offer. She loves spending time with her family, traveling with her husband, and spoiling her cat.
