About

Briarpatch Youth Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization serving Dane County. The agency’s mission is:

Strengthening the Lives of Youth and Families

The organization was formed in 2003 by the merger of Briarpatch, Inc. (established 1971) and Community Adolescent Programs, Inc. (established 1978). Project HUGS (established 1995) joined the agency in 2009. The agency offers a broad array of services to youth who have runaway, are experiencing homelessness, and/or facing other challenges. Briarpatch works closely with local governments and other non-profit organizations to provide unique programs that fill service gaps in Dane County. Each year, Briarpatch serves approximately 2,000 unduplicated youth.

Board of Directors

MIKE NELL, President
Community Representative

BERNIE HOES, Vice President
Education Representative

PENNY SIMMONS, Secretary
Education Representative

MISTY ARMSTRONG, Treasurer
Community Representative

ELIZABETH ERICKSON
Community Representative

RYAN ESTRELLA
Community Representative

BEN GONRING
Community Representative

SARAH MILESTONE
Community Representative

JEAN PAPALIA
Community Representative

JILL PFEIFFER
Member

LU SENATUS
Community Representative

VICKI SHAFFER
Community Representative

TOM WARD
Community Representative

 

Leadership Team

 

Jill
Executive Director

Jay K.
Program Director

Jay Y.
Communications & Development Director

Jen
Program Director

Shannon
Finance Director

Support Managers

 

Heidi
Human Resources

Jason
Facilities

Joseph
Grants & IT

Molly
Reporting & Compliance

Comprehensive Community Services

 

Emily
CCS Advocate

Nikky
Bilingual CCS Advocate 

Sami
Manager, CCS Program

Season
CCS Clinical Supervisor

Housing, Advocacy & Shelter Services for Youth

 

Abbe
Youth Advocate, Youth Advocacy Services

Andi
Program Manager, Shelter Program

Bender
Youth Advocate, Youth Advocacy Services & Teens Like Us

Brooke
AmeriCorps, Youth Advocacy Services

Erin
Youth Advocate, Connections Advocate

Gina
Youth Advocate, Teens Like Us

Jailyn
Peer Housing Advocate, YHDP

Justin
Program Manager, Youth Advocacy Services

Kinthy
Youth Advocate, Shelter Program

Taylor
Youth Advocate, Shelter Program

Whitney
Housing Case Manager, YHDP

Willie
Program Manager, Street Outreach Program & YHDP

 

Parent Support Program

 

Angie
Program Manager, Parent Support Program

Youth Employment Programs

Gary
Youth Employment Program Manager, Youth Job Center

Lex
Youth Employment Advocate, Youth Job Center

 

Justice Involved Youth Programs

 

Amber
Youth Advocate, Youth Restitution Program

Anthony
Youth Advocate, Youth Restitution Program

Cliff 
Program Manager, Intensive Supervision Program

Dean
Program Manager, Youth Restitution Program

Dominique
Program Manager, Restorative Justice Program

Felix
Youth Advocate, Intensive Supervision Program

Jamie
Administrative Specialist, Youth Restitution Program

Jasmine
Youth Advocate, Youth Restitution Program

Jonathan
Youth Advocate, Intensive Supervision Program & Youth Restitution Program

Kim
Youth Advocate, Intensive Supervision Program & Youth Restitution Program

Menkhu
Youth Advocate, Restorative Justice Program

Shaneece
Youth Advocate, Restorative Justice Program

 

Briarpatch Youth Services