Meet Us Get to know our Family Support Partners by clicking on their pictures below | Hi-Fidelity Wraparound Support Partners |  |  |  |  |  |
| Michelle Hill, Family Support Partner Michelle has been employed G.E.A.R. Parent Network since December 2009. Michelle found that her passion was to support families involved with Child Welfare after she had been a foster parent for several years. It became important to her to help youth and families understand that experiencing trauma can affect many aspects of their family development and well-being and equally important is getting them connected to the right services at the right time. Michelle is a certified MHRT I and received training in Trauma Informed System of Care in her work as a family support partner with the THRIVE System of Care. Michelle also is a graduate of the “Family Empowerment Institute”. Other past professional work experiences have been as an in-home support worker, construction worker and administrative supervisor. She enjoys the outdoors, good friends and helping her children with school projects. Michelle and her husband are the proud parents of 4 children, two of whom have disabilities; and two beautiful grandchildren. |  |
 | Judy Somers, Family Support Partner Judy began her employment with the G.E.A.R. Parent Network in February 2009 as a Regional Parent Support Coordinator. She obtained much knowledge and experience in her 15+ years as a former foster parent and group home parent. She feels this experience has truly enriched her life in many ways and has gained much knowledge of local/statewide resources and in facilitating in bridging the gaps between these children, their families and provider agencies. Judy is a graduate of the “Family Empowerment Institute” and has received training on the Hi-Fidelity Wraparound Principles Curriculum through Vroom Vandenberg. She has a high commitment to the success Wraparound Maine endeavor as her family was a 2008 graduate. She also has served on the Catholic Charities Hi-Fidelity Wraparound Community Mobilization Team/Board in Milbridge. Judy and her husband have lived in the Northern Penobscot Region for 23 years and are proud parents of 3 adult sons and 3 adoptive adult sons. |
| Susan Stinchfield LeGrand, Family Support Partner Susan has been employed with the GEAR since March 2010. As a mother of three children, one of which has behavioral health needs Susan has gained much knowledge and experience. A native of Franklin County, Susan recently returned to Maine after living in North Carolina and California for a collective sixteen years. Susan has spent the past ten years working within the United States Marine Corps Family Readiness Programs, the Armed Services Y.M.C.A., and volunteering within the military community and schools, during which she acquired a broad knowledge of national, regional, and military resources. In her work with the Armed Services Y.M.C.A. and United States Marine Corps Family Readiness Programs, she developed and facilitated multiple programs to combat the financial burdens common within the military culture and community. Susan’s favorite program combined her Yankee resourcefulness with her love of cooking to teach young military families how to plan, purchase and prepare nutritious and economic meals. Susan is a graduate of the “Family Empowerment Institute” and is working towards her degree in Human Services Management. Susan enjoys spending time with her family, designing and constructing jewelry, playing the cello and singing. |  |
 | Roxanne Zwaga, Family Support Partner Roxanne has been employed with G.E.A.R. Parent Network since March of 2010. Roxanne has been an advocate for children with special needs for many years as a strong supporter of integration. She firmly believes that children with even severe mental health issues can and do learn in the classroom and that other children in the classroom will learn valuable life lessons from the experience. Roxanne hopes to combine her experiences working with G.E.A.R. Parent Network, being a mother of a child with special needs and her new education to care for the unique emotional needs of children and their families in the future. Roxanne is a graduate of the “Family Empowerment Institute” and is working toward her undergraduate in Biology at the University of Maine. Roxanne’s past professional work experiences are ten years in retail management. Roxanne and her husband are the proud parents of two boys and an adult daughter. |
Rebecca Williamson Rebecca has been employed with the G.E.A.R. Parent Network since June 2010. Rebecca’s passion is to support other families in navigating the systems of care, help bridge gaps and to help strengthen family voice. She explains that seeing her family’s significant progress of “where they were to where they are now” she believes in “paying it forward”.
Rebecca has been trained in the Trauma Informed System of Care with the THRIVE System of Care and is also a graduate of the “Family Empowerment Institute” and has received training on the Hi-Fidelity Wraparound Principles Curriculum through Vroom Vandenberg. Rebecca is a member of the F.A.C.E.S. Council in addition to Thrive’s Community Collaborative for Children, Youth and Families; she also participated in creating Thrive’s digital story “Together we can build a bridge” video and has presented it to providers and parents throughout the state. Rebecca’s past work experiences have been as a welder and a roofer in the construction field. Rebecca is the proud parent of 3 teenage boys. They have a love of animals and have over 100 different animals on their farm of which over half have come from neglected or unwanted homes |  |
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