Waterville, Maine — May 27, 2021 — Maine Children’s Home (MCH) has hired a new Director of its Teen Parent Education Program (TPEP), a new Clinical Director, and two counselors at its Family Counseling Center. The former Clinical Director Deb Levenseller and TPEP Director Rebecca Judd will take on new roles at the organization. This growth and staff changes come at a time of increased demand for child and family counseling and during a slight operational shift for the organization to becoming more virtual during the pandemic.
Bobbi Pelletier, the former Youth Advancement Coordinator at the Alfond Youth and Community Center, will begin as the new TPEP Director on May 17, 2021. Pelletier has held several supervisory and direct support positions in the mental health field as a BHP and a BHP Supervisor. Pelletier is also certified as a BHP Professional and as an Ed Tech III, and has a personal history with MCH.
“My mother attended the Teen Parent School at MCH when she had me, and then again when she had my brother,” Pelletier said in her interview. “Knowing how this program supported her during that time drives me even more to want to return to the program in a capacity to help support other teen parents … to help inspire and encourage their continued growth would be an amazing opportunity to give back and come full circle with an amazing program that supported an integral person in my life.”
Sharon Fowler LCSW will begin as the new Clinical Director on June 14, 2021. Fowler brings an impressive background of social work, most recently being the Clinical Supervisor for MSAD #75 and prior to that being the Clinical Director for AOS92. In addition to these recent positions, Sharon has had many years of experience in other public education settings and in outpatient mental health providing direct support and supervision. Sharon is an experienced trainer and has organized and delivered timely and relevant training programs to educators, peers and others during her career.
Gabriel Pinnette LCSW and Elizabeth Compton LCSW are the latest additions to the Family Counseling Center team of counselors. Pinnette has been working in the public schools since obtaining his clinical license in 2016. Pinnette has worked in AOS92 as a social worker and most recently was the program clinician for the Lighthouse program in the Waterville school district. Gabe also has a private practice that Pinnette started in 2017.
Compton most recently worked as a hospice clinician in Belfast. Prior to that, Compton worked as a public school counselor providing support to children in grades K-8. Compton completed her internship work at the University of Southern Maine Counseling Center.
The former Clinical Director Deb Levenseller will continue to work with MCH on a part-time basis as a Co-Coordinator for the Connected Families Project — a project and resource that offers tools and trainings to help strengthen families.
“We are thankful for the leadership and professionalism Deb has brought to Maine Children’s
Home as the Clinical Director. We are stronger as a professional team and are excited for her to continue her work with Connected Families Project.” Director of Operations at MCH, Diana Rafuse, said.
The former TPEP Director Rebecca Judd will transition back into a social worker in the Family Adoption Program, which is where she started at MCH in 2014.
“We are grateful for the heart and soul Becky has put into Teen Parent Education Program over the last five years and know that she will bring that same passion to our adoptive families.” Director of Operations at MCH, Diana Rafuse, said.
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About Maine Children’s Home
Maine Children’s Home (MCH) is a 501(c)(3) organization that offers programs for building and strengthening families and their children, instilling hope for the future and a better quality of life. Founded in 1899, the Waterville-based organization has evolved with the changing needs of families and children, and supports more than 3,000 people each year through the following programs and services:
- Family Adoption Program
Providing a lifetime of services for birth parents and adoptive families - Family Counseling Center
Guiding toward hope, healing, and wholeness - Teen Parent Education Program
Helping teen parents build a foundation for their future - Connected Families Project
Offering powerful, accessible tools to help strengthen families - Christmas Program
Sharing joy and winter warmth with kids and families - Summer camp connections
Supporting Maine Summer Camp Experiences
More information about MCH’s programs and its history can be found at MaineChildrensHome.org.