JOIN THE TEAM!
 

Interested in joining the ICAS team? Visit the employment section to view our current job openings and get more information about working to deliver the ICAS mission to families across Iowa.

 

 

 


  
 
 
ORGANIZATION TEAM MEMBERS
 

Patricia GilbaughPatricia Gilbaugh is the Executive Director of ICAS.  She has a Ph.D. in social work and has been a practitioner and administrator in the child welfare/juvenile justice field for 17 years.  She has completed two Master’s degrees, one in Social Work and one in Public Policy.  Her career has been focused on high-risk children and youth, and prevention programming for juvenile delinquency, child maltreatment, and substance abuse.  Her employment history include such positions as County Director for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (including Head Start), Youth Counselor for residential treatment facilities and juvenile detention, Supervisor for the Linn County Child Support Unit, Program Coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, and other youth-related positions.  Dr. Gilbaugh is also the parent of a child with multiple disabilities and an adolescent who struggles due to being targeted by bullies and other emotional problems. Ms. Gilbaugh can be reached at pgilbaugh@childadvocateservices.org.
 

John MyersJohn Myers is the Director of Operations for ICAS.   His degree in business and experience as a supervisor for a youth shelter, combined with his specialty knowledge in technology systems for human services organizations, gives ICAS an advantage in implementing effective program oversight and the ability to continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of ICAS programs.  Mr. Myers also has significant experience in operations management, including facilities management and leadership development. Mr. Myers spent seven years working with the Boy Scouts of America designing and implementing summer camp programming for youth of all ages. Mr. Myers can be reached at jmyers@childadvocateservices.org.

 

Kim RobertsKim Roberts is the Director of Services.  She is an experienced youth shelter counselor and supervisor, and is also an experienced family-centered crisis counselor.  Her degree is in counseling and her expertise is in adolescent counseling and crisis interventions.  She has extensive experience in leading the creation and implementation process of new service delivery, which makes her a wonderful fit for ICAS. Ms. Roberts also has a unique perspective from being a struggling youth herself and overcoming many barriers that made her path in early adulthood very challenging. Ms. Roberts recently was honored by her peers with the 2007 Youth Advocate of the Year by the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas (MINK) Youth Network. Ms. Roberts can be reached at kroberts@childadvocateservices.org.

 

Rhonda Westergard is the Executive Assistant.  In this role she will provide operational assistance and direct some long-term strategic planning initiatives.  Ms. Westergard’s degree in business and her over 20 years experience as a business entrepreneur, along with her history in the physical health field, will allow her to be an effective leader of the organization.  Her connections within the Benton county community will also allow ICAS to build their resource base to effectively connect with and serve the needs of the community.  Rhonda states of her involvement with the organization, “Being an ICAS team member is another way in which I am able to live out my passion for loving my Lord Jesus Christ and His people through my avocation.  I have always felt the family and especially children are the center of society, when they are well cared for, we all prosper and live well.  I am blessed to join the ICAS team, built of joyful willing hands and hearts.  We each bring an integral part to the whole to create a strong entity that individually we wouldn't have.” Ms. Westergard may be reached at rwestergard@childadvocateservices.org

 

Renae KothRenae Koth is the Youth Programs Team Leader. She has a degree in Family and Child Services with an emphasis in Youth Programs.  Ms. Koth is experienced in substance abuse prevention as a Certified Prevention Specialist.  She brings expertise in program supervision and case management in after school programming which focused on group and individual skill development for at-risk youth. Ms. Koth is an asset to ICAS due to her competence in building rapport with youth and her commitment to providing quality support to struggling adolescents. Ms. Koth can be reached at rkoth@childadvocateservices.org.
 

Josh Carter is a Consumer Advocate II at ICAS, working specifically with the Immediate Response Crisis Teams.  He holds a degree in firefighting and is also certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-Basic).  Mr. Carter has worked with both fire and ambulance services and has gained valuable experience in the emergency service field.   He provides valuable experience in helping work with crisis services programs and will also be beneficial in collaborating with local emergency services for ICAS.  Mr. Carter can be reached at jcarter@childadvocateservices.org.
 

Ian KernsIan Kerns is a Consumer Advocate III at ICAS. He holds a degree in psychology and social work.  He has worked as a supervisor in MR/DD facilities in Iowa City, as well as working in the Iowa City Community School District special education program.  Mr. Kerns also worked as a youth day treatment caseworker before transitioning to in-home, family centered therapy.

Mr. Kerns leads the team providing crisis intervention services, remedial, and waiver therapies within rural Eastern Iowa. He utilizes an outcome based counseling style which focuses on the direct needs of consumers. Mr. Kerns can be reached at ikerns@childadvocateservices.org.

 

Chuck BlackhurstChuck Blackhurst is a Consumer Advocate III at ICAS.  He holds a degree in psychology with a minor in Business Administration.  He has worked with children and families for over twenty years.  He has worked as a Program Organizer in both a youth detention facility and a group home setting.  Mr. Blackhurst also worked for ten years in child protection as a child abuse investigator.  For the past ten years, he has been working with children and families as an in-home service provider and family therapist. 

Mr. Blackhurst leads the team that will be providing crisis intervention services, remedial, and waiver services within Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.  He utilizes an outcome based counseling style that focuses on each individual family’s needs. Mr. Blackhurst can be reached at cblackhurst@childadvocateservices.org.
 

TOm MyerTom Myer is a Consumer Advocate III at ICAS.  He holds a degree in psychology and religious studies from the University of Iowa.  He has worked for Systems Unlimited, providing direct care to clients with physical and developmental disabilities prior to entering the field of family centered services.  He currently provides CMH Waiver and Remedial services and will also participate in Crisis Intervention.  Mr. Myer  utilizes solution based problem solving and role modeling techniques to address the specific needs of his client.  He also works with them to develop adaptive interpersonal skills and independence within their communities.   Mr. Myer can be reached at tmyer@childadvocateservices.org.
 

Lisa MillardLisa Millard is the Program Support Assistant at ICAS.  She was an intern at ICAS as part of the Social Work Program through the University of Iowa and will complete her BSW in the fall. Her role at ICAS will be to assist families through the process of reaching the services that they need.  Ms. Millard has experience in working with families and their children, providing individual and group counseling to youth and adolescents and in conducting educational assessments.  Ms. Millard can be reached at lmillard@childadvocateservices.org.

Lisa Bonorden is a Consumer Advocate III at ICAS.  She has a degree in Social Work from Wartburg College and is a Licensed Master Social Worker from the University of Northern Iowa.  She has a passion for youth and a dedication for partnering with families to provide much needed services.  She is experienced in working in two different shelters for women and children struggling with homelessness and poverty.  Ms. Bonorden has provided counseling for women and children who have experienced domestic violence.  Ms. Bonorden has also worked four consecutive summers as a camp counselor, building relationships with youth and families.  Since April 2007, Ms. Bonorden has been providing in-home individual and family therapy and skill development through the waiver and remedial programs.  She uses the solution-focused approach while working with children, youth and families.  Ms. Bonorden can be reached at lbonorden@childadvocateservices.org
 
Heidi Freeland is a Consumer Advocate III at ICAS. She holds a sociology degree from Iowa Wesleyan College. For the past four years Ms. Freeland has worked as a certified sexual abuse and domestic violence counselor as well as the Rape Prevention Education Coordinator for the Muscatine County Sexual Assault/Domestic Abuse Advocacy Program. Ms. Freeland can be reached at hfreeland@childadvocateservices.org
 
Shanon Claussen is a Consumer Advocate III at ICAS. She holds a Licensed Masters Degree in Social Work and undergraduate degree in Social Work and Psychology.  She speaks Spanish and enjoys working with Spanish-speaking people, as well as people from all backgrounds.  She has experience in school social work, substance abuse counseling and dual diagnosis treatment.  She enjoys working with children of all ages.  After completing her graduate degree, Mrs. Claussen has been working with children and their families in Iowa providing in-home services, remedial services and family therapy services.  She utilizes an empowerment approach as well as cognitive behavioral and solution focused counseling styles.  These methods assist consumers in identifying obstacles in their lives and finding positive ways to overcome them.  Mrs. Claussen can be reached at sclaussen@childadvocateservices.org.
 
Vanessa Wieck is a Consumer Advocate II at ICAS. She holds a degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Philosophy from Iowa State University. She is currently working towards her Master's degree in Criminal Justice through the University of Central Missouri. Ms. Wieck has experience working as an advocate in a domestic and sexual abuse shelter providing counseling services and referrals. Ms. Wieck also has experience working as a youth service worker in a detention center where she provided youth with interventions and crisis counseling. Ms. Wieck will be working primarily in Eastern Iowa providing remedial services in home as well as working in the youth drop-in center. She will also provide crisis counseling services for youth and families at ICAS. Ms. Wieck can be reached at vwieck@childadvocateservices.org.
 

Yvette Bridgewater is the Program Support Assistant .  Her role will consist of assisting in making sure the services and ICAS team members have everything they need to fulfill the different programs.  Yvette brings in over 15 years of experience in customer service and assessing clients’ needs.   She has strong office and managerial skills and pays close attention to detail.  She is looking forward to helping in any way that she can to make sure that ICAS programs and services run smoothly.  Her motto has always been ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’   Ms. Bridgewater states, “A child, no matter what their capabilities, is always a part of that village.  The village consists of parents, family, friends, neighbors, clergy, educators, medical providers, community members, etc., and now there is also ICAS.   It is the village’s responsibility to not lose a child.  Because when a village looses a child, then we have given part of our village away.“   Ms. Bridgewater is very excited to be a part of ICAS and can be reached at ybridgewater@childadvocateservices.org.
 
Ryan Kidder

Ryan Kidder is the Youth Drop-In Center Coordinator and a Consumer Advocate II at ICAS.  He holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work with a minor in Sociology from the University of Iowa.  Mr. Kidder has just completed his spring internship at ICAS and will be heading the youth drop-in center and will be assisting in crisis intervention and individual skill-building services..  Mr. Kidder has over a year experience of working with youth and adults with mental disabilities.  Mr. Kidder has also worked with the high school aged youth in his hometown of Waterloo.  He has aspirations of getting his Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Iowa and is interested in working with at-risk youth and their families.  Mr. Kidder can be reached at rkidder@childadvocateservices.org.