Richelle Madigan
Executive Director
A neurodivergent Mom of 8, Richelle has faced a LOT of barriers and traumas while seeking resources for her family. In 2012 (and with 3 kids still in diapers at the time) Richelle got her Bachelor’s in Health Services Mgmt so she could better understand the systems she was seeking help from. While exhausting virtually every children’s behavioral health resource in our state (and still not meeting the need), Richelle became an accidental advocate for other families. In 2018 she was appointed to the Behavioral Health Advisory Council for WA, where she now serves as Co-chair. Since then, Richelle has served on lots of other committees and work groups. She has advocated with many families and has been contracted by state agencies to inform the work they do. For years, Richelle did peer work as a volunteer. In 2023 she earned her Certified Peer Counselor and Nationally-Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist-II credentials. Richelle currently works as Grant Project Manager for Washington State Community Connectors. She’s a hugger and loves to sing, especially on her church’s worship team. A fun fact about Richelle is that she’s worked as a casino card dealer for over 20 years (and still does every so often just to get out of the house and talk to grown-ups). Grounded in a "Shared Humans First" mindset, Richelle's greatest professional longing is for communities and systems to co-create a mosaic behavioral wellness system that wholly values and serves us all, without harming any of us.
Amber Bryant
Administrative Director
I raised two wonderful children who both struggle with mental illness and learning disabilities. My daughter is 21 and my son is 19 and both will be soon testing the waters independent from me in their own homes. My son has a rare brain malformation and is a unique and exuberant child. He has struggled through years with intense behaviors but has been doing so well lately that he is able to move into a DDA supported living home. There have been both smooth days and rough days along this path of ours, but we hold on tight to the good and learn from our challenges. As both a parent of children with behavioral health needs, and a professional working in the community, I have the balanced perspective of having been on both sides of the table. I am soon to be an empty nester and I’m not sure what I will do with all my alone time. The plan is to try new things and discover who I am apart from my children. I love to read, explore my creative side, and want to spend as much time outdoors as possible (preferably near water). It is very fulfilling to contribute to the empowerment of individuals, families, and caregivers to hone their self-advocacy skills to be able to overcome the barriers they face and gain access to the services they need. You can contact Amber at amberbryant@wsccsupport.org
Janice Schutz
Administrator of Special Projects
I am the proud parent of 2 daughters. One of my daughter’s struggles has been manifest in mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges for our entire family. I have been actively advocating for her as we have navigated through multiple Systems of Care (educational, peer support, medical, etc, at the federal, state and regional levels) for over a decade. Through problem solving, with the help of family and friends, and guidance from caring professionals, we have met these challenges and successfully overcome numerous obstacles. Throughout this time, I have worked steadfastly to educate myself and build a network of contacts in order to help other families like ours. I have also been a small business owner for more than 20 years. I have acquired many skills from supervision, management and training experience, public speaking and negotiating contracts, research and recruiting to marketing and training, I also have a very strong desire to support and empower other families to understand and utilize the systems of care from a grassroots community-based perspective. In my free time, I practice yoga, read books and play with my horse, Rocky. You can contact Janice at janiceschutz@wsccsupport.org
Karen Kelly
Project Director
Karen Kelly has been employed in the children's behavioral health field since April 2018 as the Project Director for Washington State Community Connectors, a statewide family led non-profit dedicated to uniting WA State family leaders in this field to strengthen children, youth, families, and community partnerships. She is also a Parent Consultant on the Children's Long-Term Inpatient Program (CLIP) Steering Committee as a parent voice, certified in WISe, and a certified Peer Counselor. She comes into this work because of her lived experience in parenting a child with intense behavioral health care needs. Karen is the wife of one husband, the mother of four children, and has a dog, cat, and pet pig at home. Her passion is to help families find or strengthen their hope, see families collaborate with their system partners in supporting their journey to health, provide growth opportunities for parents so they can know better to do better, share the value of the Family, Youth, System Partner Round Tables (FYSPRT) and the opportunities it gives for family and youth voice, and recognize the need for genuine personal wellness in order to become their best selves. You can contact Karen at karenkelly@wsccsupport.org
Nokey Pando
Program Coordinator
As a Program Coordinator for Washington State Community Connectors, I bring a wealth of lived experience and professional dedication to supporting our community. For over two decades, I navigated the complexities of mental health and substance use challenges, emerging as a parent in long-term recovery. This journey, including personally utilizing and navigating behavioral health systems with my own children and close family, uniquely fuels my passion for helping families understand and access the support they need. I've spent several years in peer-based roles, including serving on a crisis team as a recovery coach and contributing to non-profit housing and community-based organizations. I am a Washington State Certified Peer Specialist, a Nationally Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist-II, and a Certified Recovery Coach through CCAR. My commitment extends to serving on various local and statewide boards, committees, and coalitions, all focused on improving systems and enhancing the well-being of the populations they serve. I am deeply dedicated to fostering a healthier, more connected community for all families.
Kristie Lund
SUD Family Education TRAINER
Kristie worked in Child Welfare for over 20 years, created and ran her own non-profit serving relatives raising their kin’s children, and has a passion to see families are healthy and thriving. Kristie is dedicated to supporting Kinship Care as a grandmother who raised two grandchildren, this experience brought her into the SUD systems and multiple other behavioral health care serving systems. Kristie also has her own lived experience in addiction and recovery. She is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and supporting families as they navigate the various SUD systems. In her spare time, she enjoys camping and gardening and is active in the recovery community.
christina jackson
SUD supervisor & admin support
I am a genderqueer, bisexual wife to a cisman. Parent to multiracial and single-race children 5-28 (9 of them). I can relate to the challenges of juggling life with little help from others while dealing with Mental health difficulties, financial stress, and dysfunctional habits! I come from a traumatic childhood that gives me a unique understanding and level of empathy. Many people dear to me come from different backgrounds and experiences related to various relationship styles, lifestyles, disabilities, mental illness, homelessness, domestic violence, and addiction. Myself included. In 2021 when finding out one of my children was struggling with a SUD, I jumped into finding out how to best help without enabling and how to be supportive while holding healthy boundaries –I was lost, and this is where I landed. This training helped me so much; I just had to be part of the team. I am a Certified Peer Counselor, Certified life coach trained in guided peer support and SUD Navigation. “Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service.” – Robert Collier