Melanie Heitkamp, LICSW, Executive Director, 701-255-6909 ext. 105, mheitkamp@youthworksnd.org
Melanie Heitkamp has been the Executive Director of Youthworks/Mountain Plains Youth Services since 1997. Prior to assuming those duties she worked as Program Manager for the agency. She has been with Youthworks since 1987. Before joining Youthworks she worked for Mercer/McLean County Social Services as the Social Work Supervisor for 7 years. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). She has her Master’s Degree from the University of North Dakota. She has received Certification in Conflict Resolution, Community Intervention Support Groups and the Philadelphia Child Guidance Institute Structural Family Therapy. She completed the Impact Institutes Leadership Advanced North Dakota training. She has extensive experience in family therapy, individual counseling and group work. She also conducts training in Anger Management skills and Mentoring.
Doug Herzog, Development Director, 701-255-6909 ext. 103, dherzog@mac.com
Doug Herzog founded Youthworks and its parent agency, Mountain Plains Youth Services, in 1979. He is currently the Development Director. Mr. Herzog has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. Doug chaired the National Network of Youth Services in 1986-87 and was a Board member for 7 years. He has served on numerous local, state, regional, and national organizations. He represented the United States and was a presenter at a United Nations sponsored conference on youth services held in France and participated in a professional youth worker exchange program with Germany. Prior to founding Youthworks, Doug was the Administrator of South Dakotas Office on Children and Youth. He has been in the youth services business for more than 40 years.
Lauren Bosch, Licensed Teacher, Program Manager 701-255-6909 ext. 104, bosch_yworks@midconetwork.com
Lauren Bosch is a Bismarck native and has worked for the agency since 1994. He is a graduate of Moorhead State University with a major in Social Studies in Secondary Education and holds a North Dakota teaching license. He has experience with a number of programs at the agency and currently serves as the Program Manager for all of the school-based programs (New Direction, Out-of-School Suspension, and Day Treatment) . He also is the AmeriCorps Program Coordinator for the Bismarck office.
Mark Heinert, LSW, Program Manager 701-255-6909 ext. 106, heinert_yworks@midconetwork.com
Mark Heinert is the Program Manager of the Youthworks Transitional Living programs. He has been a licensed social worker since 1991, and has been with Youthworks since 1996. Mark has been active with both the state and local homeless coalitions, serving two terms as the president of the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc. Mark has previous professional experience in child welfare, with developmentally disabled adults, and as a rural social worker.
Emily Yanish, LPC, Program Manager, 701-255-6909 ext. 110, eyanish_yworks@midconetwork.com
Emily Yanish is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College in 2003, and has her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of St. Thomas in 2007. Emily currently works as the Runaway Program Coordinator in the Bismarck office and provides services to runaway and homeless youth and families, including case management, advocacy, referrals, and individual and family counseling. In addition, Emily coordinates Bismarck’s Short Term Care and Assessment Center, including the Shelter Care and Attendant Care programs, and supervises the Peer Mentoring program. Emily has been employed with Youthworks since December 2007.
Dierdra Horner, LSW, 701-255-6909 ext. 102, dierdra_yworks@midconetwork.com
Dierdra Horner is a Licensed Certified Social Worker with her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Mary. Dierdra has been employed with Youthworks for nine years. She has had 18 years of experience working with at risk youth and families in a residential group home setting and early on prevention. Dierdra currently works as the Diversion Program Coordinator and provides services and crisis intervention to youth and families referred by the Juvenile Court in the Bismarck office. Her role includes assessment, planning, case management, individual counseling and family mediation and referral services. The intent is to work with the families to keep youth in their home and community. In addition, Dierdra has extensive experience facilitating school support groups; including but not limited to, drug/alcohol prevention, general issues faced by teenage girls today, and an issues group for Native American Youth. Dierdra is the Coordinator for the Anger Management groups held in the community. Dierdra serves on the Bismarck-Mandan area Crisis Team and the North Dakota Coalition for Girls.
Betty Leingang, Administrative Assistant, 701-255-6909 ext. 100, youthworks@midconetwork.com
Betty Leingang has been employed with Youthworks since March 2000. She has 20+ years experience as an Administrative Assistant. Betty spent the first 18 years of her life in ND and moved to NY after graduating from Mandan High School. While in NY she worked as a Nanny, Birthday Party Assistant, as well as, a Mommy & Me helper at Whipper Snappers. Betty was employed with a Saturn dealership during her last years before returning home to ND. She is the League Secretary for the Bumpers and Bantams Youth Bowling Leagues at Midway Lanes. She also plays an active role in her church.
Anita Tipton, LSW, 701-255-6909 ext. 101, anita_yworks@midconetwork.com
Anita is a Licensed Social Worker with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Mary. She has been employed with Youthworks since the Spring of 2008. She was previously employed as a case worker for Community Action and as a residential supervisor for H.I.T.
Amy Jacobson, LSW, 701-751-4526, jacobson_yworks@midconetwork.com
Amy Jacobson is the social worker for the Out of School Suspension Program. She has been employed with Youthworks since 2009. She received her undergraduate social work degree from Minot State University in 2009. Amy has previous experience facilitating Family Group conferences for at-risk youth and their families.
Annie Raatz, Day Treatment Social Worker, 701-255-6909 ext. 115, araatz_yworks@midconetwork.com
Annie Raatz is Supervisor/Lead Worker in the Short Term Care and Assessment Center She received her Bachelors in Social Work from Minot State University in 2010. She has been employed by Youthworks since November 2010.
Chelsea Kuhlmann, LSW , 701-255-6909, ext 122, ckuhlmann_yworks@midconetwork.comChelsea Kuhlmann is a licensed social worker for the Youth Cultural Achievement Program (YCAP). She has been employed with Youthworks since 2008, working in Americorp, Mentoring and YCAP. She received her Bachelors in Social Work from Minot State University in 2011. Chelsea is also and active State Advisory Group Member on the board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency prevention and North Dakota Home Visitation Coalition.
Kay Karnik, Family Counselor, 701-255-6909
Kay Karnik, a licensed social worker and licensed professional clinical counselor with 38 years of experience. She provides family counseling services through the Youthworks Family COOP. Kay received her BA in Social Work and MA in Counseling at the University of North Dakota. Prior to joining Youthworks she worked in a variety of settings to include hospitals and social service agencies.
Jeanette Gravseth, Accountant, 701-255-6909 ext. 111, jeanette_yworks@midconetwork.com
Brenda Lipp, Family Counselor, 701-255-6909
Rocky Metzger, Independent Living Coordinator/New Directions Teacher, rmetzger_yworks@midconetwork.com
Blaise Reagle, YCAP
