Lisa Anderson
President
Lisa joined the board in 2022
Profession: BS in Family Studies Lisa is the Family Support Program Manager at Waypoint, Manchester
Roles on the Board: Serves on the Executive and Development and Fundraising Committees.
Why IMH Matters: There is nothing better than seeing a child grow and develop to their fullest potential. Making sure everyone knows that children need support from the adults in their lives to make that happen is fundamental. We are learning more and more about how critical the early years are and that all caregivers need support in their lives to foster sound infant mental health and development.
Melissa Hellen, MS, CCC-SLP
Vice President
Melissa joined the board in 2022
Profession/Employment: Melissa is a speech-language pathologist in the Early Supports and Services department at Gateways Community Services (https://www.gatewayscs.org). She earned the Infant Family Specialist endorsement through Washington Association for Infant Mental Health in 2020.
Roles on the Board: Serves on the Executive and Outreach and Public Awareness Committees.
Why IMH matters to me: My goal is to empower families to help their children thrive in every area of development. I consider it an honor to support and educate families along this journey.
Tessa McDonnell, M.Ed
Treasurer
Tessa joined the Board in 2015
Statement Profession/Employment: Tessa began as a Head Start teacher and holds a master's degree in Early Childhood Education, in NH. Tessa has worked for five years in public elementary schools with children in grades 1-3 (multi-aged combined classrooms) and in higher education administration at Granite State College for 38 years. Tessa pursues advocacy for children and families on committees and Boards: NHAEYC, Child Care Advisory Committee, Child Development Bureau, SPARK NH. Currently, Tessa is an Adjunct Online Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the University of New Hampshire.
Roles on Board: Tessa serves on the Executive Committee, Leadership and Governance, and Development and Fundraising Committees. She also maintains the association’s website.
Why IMH matters to me: "The formative years for young children are precious. Working with teachers and families, I strive to support the critical roles they play. Ever-increasing research on brain development demonstrates the necessity of providing safe, secure, and stimulating environments for infants. The more we learn the better we are."
Nancy Lucci, M.Ed., CAGS
Secretary
Nancy joined the Board in 2020
Profession/Employment: Nancy is the Senior Manager for Early Childhood and Family Support Programs at Waypoint. Nancy has worked in the field of Early Intervention and Human Services for the last 17 years.
Roles on the Board: Nancy serves on the Leadership and Governance Committee and the Executive Committee.
Why IMH matters to me: “The early years are the foundation upon which the rest of one’s life is built. Slight changes to how one interacts with children starting at infancy can make a remarkable difference over the lifespan. I am passionate about helping parents realize the important role they play in their children’s lives as well as supporting their increasing mastery in taking care of themselves and their families.”
Mary Mullen LaValley, CLC,FSW,BA
Mary Mullen has served on the Board since 2017
Statement Profession/Employment: Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, Keene, NH
Roles on Board: Mary serves on the Knowledge and Education Committee
Why IMH matters to me: I am eager to participate in the planning and facilitation of the diversified realms that NHAIMH sets as critical goals through NHAIMH's educational outreach to support the intricate growth of the infant-family dyad in NH communities.
Maryann Evers, LICSW
Maryann has served on the Board since 2016
Statement Profession/Employment: Maryann is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with an advanced certificate in Early Childhood and Infant Mental Health. Maryann has worked in the fields of mental health and child welfare for forty years, most recently at Waypoint. Maryann is an Advanced Reflective Practice consultant and facilitates groups of NH early childhood professionals seeking the ECMH credential.
Roles on Board: Maryann serves on the Outreach and Public Awareness Committee.
Why IMH matters to me: "I have worked for many years with families who are struggling with poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues and feel strongly that early intervention with families is our greatest hope for helping improve outcomes for our children and for our communities."
Andrea Jergensen, LICSW
Andrea has served on the Board since 2023.
Profession/Employment: Andrea is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker currently working in a federally qualified healthcare center. Andrea has worked in mental health and child welfare for seven years. Andrea currently works for Health First Family Care Center as the senior behavioral health clinician, providing individual counseling services to individuals across the lifespan. Andrea’s primary focus throughout her education and professional work has been focused on children and adolescents who have experienced significant trauma.
Roles on the Board: Andrea serves on the Leadership and Governance Committee
Why IMH matters to me: I have worked in various capacities since 2013 with young children and adolescents. I am passionate about providing support to children and families as they navigate traumatic experiences and process the complex emotions associated with experiencing direct or vicarious trauma. I heavily emphasize the importance of developmental milestones throughout the lifespan to sustain a healthy sense of self and ability to form secure attachment and relationships with others.
Maureen Thibault
Maureen joined the board in 2022
Profession/Employment: I have worked as an RN Lactation Consultant for over 20 years and have provided Lactation care in the inpatient environment as well as in the outpatient setting. My experience is diverse having worked at Elliot Hospital, Dartmouth Medical Center, the Concord Visiting Nurse Association, NH Special Medical Services and as the NH WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator.
Roles on the Board: Maureen serves on the Knowledge and Education Committee.
Why IMH matters to me: Given my work in Lactation has included inpatient and outpatient settings I have been able to see the impact of maternal/infant mental health on Lactation across both settings. My work has taught me that Lactation and maternal/infant mental health are deeply connected. I believe a better understanding of these connections can lend to serving families in ways that more deeply support both parent/infant mental health and Lactation.
Kassie Eafreti, MA, NHECFMHC-Intermediate
Immediate Past President
Kassie has served on the Board since 2017
Statement Profession/Employment: Statement Profession/Employment: Kassie works for Northern Human Services (NHS) as the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program Director, a certified Early Childhood Educator for NHS Family Centered Early Supports and Services, and a credentialed Program Consultant working with the Preschool Technical Assistance Network (PTAN). She has a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Child Development. Kassie is also a Trauma Informed Early Childhood Services Highly Qualified Consultant (TIECS-HQC) working with a statewide team.
Roles on Board: Kassie serves on the Executive Committee.
Why IMH matters to me: "Infant Mental Health matters to me because my passion is to help children and families to be successful, functioning, HAPPY members of our communities. This begins and ends with their mental health."
Lauren Holden
Lauren has served on the Board since 2023
Profession/Employment: I recently started my new work here at Department of Health and Human Services, working for Population Health in Maternal and Child Health. Prior to my new position I have worked in various roles including the hospital setting working in acute services, providing care coordination and case management, individual counseling and working with families who are involved with DCYF and the foster care system. Being a new mom, I have a new level of motivation for our pediatric population and hope to add new perspective in this roadmap of policies and procedures.
Roles on the Board: Lauren serves on the Outreach and Public Awareness Committee.
Why IMH matters to me:
Liz Sommers, M.A.
Liz has served on the Board since 2022
Profession/Employment: Liz is the Program Specialist at the State of NH’s Birth to Three: Family Centered Early Supports & Services office. Prior to this, she was an Early Childhood Special Educator at Community Bridges working with children ages birth to 3 and their families. She was also the co-founder and leader of Better Together: Parenting One Week at a Time, a supportive parenting group for new mothers in opioid recovery
Roles on Board: Liz serves as the Co-chair of the Knowledge and Education Committee
Why IMH matters to me: Infant mental health is key to a child’s ability to grow and develop in all other areas. This association provides key information and training to early intervention providers of all kinds to support children and families on their journey through these years.
Jessica Lewis, MS, OTR/L
Jess joined the board in 2023
Profession/Employment: Jessica is the Director of Family Centered Early Supports and Services at Community Partners. She also oversees the Autism Pediatric Diagnostic Services Clinic and Spectrum Connection, an ABA Treatment Program for children with autism. Prior to her work in Early Supports and Services, Jessica worked in an outpatient therapy clinic, public school setting, and an acute pediatric psychiatric hospital. Her specialties are in the areas of working with children with medical complexities, supporting families who have experienced trauma, as well as developing and teaching programs for sensory integration and feeding.
Roles on the Board: Jess serves on the Development and Fundraising Committees.
Why IMH Matters: Why IMH matters to me: “Raising children is a journey filled with unforeseen challenges and moments of triumph. I am deeply passionate about meeting families where they are, and partnering with them to develop ways forward that empower caregivers to maximize their family’s potential. Everyone deserves to be seen and supported in the way that works best for them.”
Fallon Cluxton-Keller, M.A., Ph.D.
Fallon joined the Board in 2023
Profession/Employment: Fallon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She is a clinician-researcher and educator. Her research focuses on developing and testing interventions to improve mental health in perinatal populations. She has authored several journal articles on identifying and addressing mental health problems in perinatal populations.