Jessica joined Riverside to continue her passion for helping families feel empowered to lead their most fulfilling lives. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in Public Health Education with a concentration in Substance Abuse Prevention and a master’s in Social Work with a concentration in clinical services. Jessica is a Supervisee in Social Work pursuing her LCSW. She has provided various community-based services to families and children of all ages over the past 7 years as an educational specialist, Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer, Crisis Intervention Team Trainer, foster parent educator, and an Intensive In-Home provider. ​Jess feels it is important to utilize an individualized & strengths-based approach to meet the needs of each client. She has a passion for supporting cohesion in families to promote positive relationships. Jessica finds joy in supporting families with education & connection to community resources to achieve a sense of overall stability. Jess is excited to provide a benevolent and empowering space for education and growth within Harrisonburg, Rockingham, & the surrounding counties.

Taylor Chamberlain became the Assistant Director of Riverside Family Support  in 2021 to support the growing agency in expanding upon services provided to families in the Shenandoah Valley.​ Taylor holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from James Madison University. Taylor has provided community-based services to families in the area since 2016 and has greatly enjoyed working directly with families in home, office, and community settings. Taylor enjoys work centered on agency management and development with consideration to how agency support aids in preventing worker burnout. She is passionate about biological family reunification and the preservation of families. She feels it is crucial to utilize the perspectives of client families and hear the direct experiences of youth in care to continually advocate for and improve client outcomes. Taylor is passionate about growth and development of services at Riverside Family Support to meet the diverse needs of our clients and community. 

Hannah joined Riverside Family Support to continue her passion for mentoring youth and supporting families in the surrounding community. 

Hannah received her Bachelor's in Social Work from James Madison University. While obtaining her Bachelor's degree, Hannah worked as an intern at Riverside Family Support from 2021 to 2022 to understand youth and families in the area. Additionally, Hannah interned for James Madison University's Valley Scholars program working directly with first-generation middle and high school students across the Shenandoah Valley to further their higher educational journey. Hannah hopes to provide a safe space for all individuals struggling with personal challenges and empower clients to advocate for themselves.

She wants to promote self-determination within clients in order to set and clarify attainable goals.

Morgan Thomas joined Riverside Family Support to continue to pursue her passion for teaching and mentoring youth and supporting families from all walks of life. Morgan received her Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in Middle School Mathematics from Radford University in 2021. Morgan comes to Riverside with three years of experience as a middle school classroom teacher.

Morgan is excited to use her experience working with a diverse community of youth in the classroom setting to support her awareness of the unique needs presented by this population. Morgan is passionate about creating and maintaining solid positive relationships with the youth and families she serves. She believes every person has value and deserves to feel safe and secure in their community.

Morgan is ecstatic to be on this new journey with her career and to be a part of the Riverside team. 

Kelsey Wiseman earned her Bachelor of Social Work at Mary Baldwin University. Kelsey majored in social work and psychology, seeking a well-rounded view and understanding of people. Kelsey has had experience working with individuals with substance use and mental health disorders, hospice patients, and those in poverty. Her experience has enabled her to aid people in finding resources, build relationships, raise awareness, and advocate for those in need. Kelsey is family and friend-oriented; she has experience with children, their developmental milestones, and has attained real-life experience in caretaking. Kelsey has always had a passion for helping others, however possible. Kelsey is excited for the opportunity to support her clients at Riverside Family Support, implementing her problem-solving mindset and creativity. Kelsey has been a natural advocate for those around her and is excited to continue this advocacy for her clients at RFS. Kelsey values consistent curiosity, open-mindedness, and believing in understanding that individuals are multifaceted & complex in her approach to working with clients.

Bio Coming Soon

Ana Juarez earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, with a minor in Family Studies, from James Madison University, and went on to complete her Master of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. During her graduate studies, she interned with Riverside Family Support, where she discovered a deep passion for providing therapeutic support to youth in the community.

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Ana brings experience working with refugee and immigrant populations and is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those who are often underserved. Deeply passionate about human connection, she believes in walking alongside youth during their most formative years so they can thrive.

As a strong advocate for mental health, Ana is committed to fostering growth, healing, and empowerment for the families and individuals she serves.

Rachel Kauffman joined Riverside Family Support in order to work closely with the community and advocate for their different needs. Rachel has experience working with the elderly from her work at nursing homes as a CNA. She served as a Youth & Family Specialist and MSW intern at Riverside from 2021-2022, she gained experience working with youth, parents, and families as a parent educator and therapeutic mentor.  Prior to Rachel's involvement in social work, she worked in human resources and spent a lot of time assisting with employee crises and relations. Rachel received her Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from James Madison University and recently graduated from the University of Southern California with her Master's degree in Social Work. Rachel is a Supervisee in Social Work pursuing her LCSW.  Rachel's main priority as a social worker is to make a positive difference in whatever way she can. Rachel is an advocate for mental health and hopes to bring joy to the lives of those she interacts with. 

Abby McKay earned her Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in Individualized Studies. She designed a unique major by combining concentrations in Family and Consumer Sciences, Child Development, and Early Education. Abby has had a variety of experiences that support her knowledge of the purpose and mission of Riverside. She has spent time working in schools and daycares, for mental health support groups, and as a special needs care worker. ​Abby’s passion for engaging in community support and her experience working with children and families brought her to the Riverside team. Abby plans to pursue her MSW in the future so she can broaden her work in social services and continue advocating for the well-being of those around her. ​Abby is committed to maintaining welcoming office spaces and providing information to clients and referring parties to ensure a positive, smooth experience for everyone with Riverside Family Support.  Abby is here to help with all things admin and more! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Abby joined Riverside Family Support to continue her passion for working with children and families, and to continue being an advocate for youth who have experienced trauma.  Abby received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Mary Baldwin University. During her studies, Abby interned at Riverside, where she felt deeply inspired by working with families in our community and wanted to continue to serve our client population. Abby has a history of working with children with multiple years of experience working as a pediatric psychiatric care technician; providing direct care and support to children & adolescents experiencing mental illness and behavioral crisis. She has a specific interest in child development, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the way that trauma affects us physically and emotionally.

Abby values working with a strengths-based perspective and utilizes empathy and empowerment to provide a safe space for all clients without judgment. 

Denae joined Riverside Family Support to pursue her passion in helping others. In joining RFS she hopes to empower and support those in the community. Her passion is working with the youth and allowing them to use creative outlets to better understand themselves and their emotions. 

Denae is currently a student at Mary Baldwin University working towards her BSW and is projected to graduate in May 2025. She  previously worked in animal care at a doggy daycare for 8 years while working towards her degree. Denae has also volunteered at the local YMCA in the afterschool care program. In working with animals and volunteering with children, Denae has found the value of the uniqueness and strengths everyone possesses.  She has learned to utilize that in the support she shows to those in our community. 

Denae is excited to take on this journey of supporting youth and the family unit alongside RFS's services.

Barbie Jenkins joined Riverside Family Support to continue her passion of helping youth and families to become successful members of the communities they live in. Barbie has her BS Degree in Management and Organizational Development and her AAAS Degree in Mental Health and Human Services from Blue Ridge Community College. Barbie is licensed to teach Family and Consumer Sciences, Business & Information Technology, and Middle School Social Studies. Barbie has worked in a variety of community-based settings and has served as a Children's Services Coordinator for a domestic violence shelter, a juvenile probation officer, a mental health case manager, and has spent the last several years teaching life skills as a Family & Consumer Sciences Educator. Barbie believes in equipping those entrusted to her care with skills and confidence to be productive, to learn they can be successful, and to be a positive & encouraging support in their lives. Barbie believes every person is capable of leading their best life, and she enjoys providing the support they may need to achieve their level of success. 

Courtlend joins Riverside Family Support as a Therapeutic Mentor. He has three years of previous experience as a Youth Mentor with the community. Courtlend has experience in helping families through difficult times in public service. He is passionate about helping others and volunteers his time serving his community. Courtlend is always looking for new ways to help the people within his community. His interests are to continue helping youth and families by promoting positivity in their lives. Courtlend feels that he has significant experience in this area of work and is excited to pass along what he knows to help others.  Courtlend obtained his Associate in Applied Science in Administration of Justice. While obtaining his Associate Degree, he focused on Substance Use Disorder and how it is significantly impacting the local community. He has obtained certification in Crisis Intervention & takes pride in helping those in times of crisis. Courtlend has worked over 8 years in public service and will bring a multitude of knowledge and experience

to his current role.

Nat Suziedelis earned his Bachelor’s in Social Work at James Madison University, with a minor in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. Nat is pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University; he is studying under a macro concentration as he is passionate about supporting communities and improving larger systems. During his undergraduate studies, he interned at SexEdVA, a local agency that provides comprehensive sexual health education and Positive Youth Development programs to youth in the Shenandoah Valley. Here, he discovered his love for working with youth to “plant the seed” and empower them in having healthy and positive lives. After his undergraduate studies, Nat was hired by SexEdVA, and has been continuing his work with the agency for two years now. Nat is enthusiastic about making the most of opportunities through this internship for continuous learning and gaining experience that can help him better understand and support the community’s needs and strengths. Nat values relationship-building, autonomy, respect, empathy, and open-mindedness.

Kim joined Riverside Family Support as an educational specialist to continue her passion for working with those in the community. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in sociology, Kim has a master’s degree in human services counseling with a concentration in trauma and crisis response. She has worked in social work for over seven years for multiple agencies in Harrisonburg. She has experience working with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Department of Social Services (HRSSD) as well as the local court system.

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Kim believes in finding creative solutions to the problems that families are facing. She is passionate about working to meet the unique needs of each family and empowering them to maintain change long-term. This involves a strength-based approach that identifies the positive aspects of the family while focusing to build on those characteristics. ​Kim is excited to utilize her experience and passion while helping families remain intact.

Claire Foerster joined Riverside Family Support to continue pursuing her passion for helping families. Her interests include supporting families and individuals learn healthy communication styles and form relationships, find productive outlets for coping with stress, & break cycles of poverty, abuse, & addiction. Claire has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, with a special focus on recidivism prevention. She has a variety of experiences with individuals in the Valley. Claire has worked for various social work, domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy, and public safety agencies over the past seven years. These years of experience included the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Department of Social Services, as well as the Collins Center & Child Advocacy Center. ​​Claire believes in meeting people where they are, however they are, and helping them feel empowered to make & maintain positive changes while understanding their own trauma responses. 

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Samantha Schutz joined Riverside Family Support to continue her passion of building a strong community as well as advocating for children and their families. Samantha obtained her bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.  After college, Samantha pursued a career in law enforcement. Most of her time as a LEO was spent responding to mental health and domestic calls for service. She later became a crisis negotiator and was involved in several major crisis negotiations in the Northern Virginia area.

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Samantha's main goal is to make sure people know that they do not have to face their problems alone. She believes that strong families build strong, healthy communities. Every individual is unique and Samantha believes in focusing on a person's strengths instead of dwelling on their past or weaknesses. Samantha is thrilled to be a part of the Riverside team and she is most excited to work with struggling teens and their parents. 

Ciara Brennan joined Riverside Family Support after working closely with the agency through her volunteer role as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) with Blue Ridge CASA for Children. While volunteering, Ciara met a devoted local parent working toward reunification with their child, who inspired her to pivot to a career supporting family preservation and empowerment. Her communication style is warm, curious and playful, and she brings deep empathy and creative problem-solving to her role. Previously, Ciara held a variety of roles in nonprofit communication and storytelling, where she learned to ask good questions, listen closely and turn complex or emotionally layered material into something useful and true. Ciara also has experience working with individuals and families in Sudan, South Sudan and India through her role as a community outreach coordinator at a relief nonprofit. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication from James Madison University and an MA in Writing from the University of Galway in Ireland.

Lyric is a Youth and Family Specialist Intern at Riverside Family Support in Virginia and a Clinical Master of Social Work (MSW) student at Radford University, expected to graduate in May 2026. She holds an Associate of Arts and Sciences from Blue Ridge Community College and a Bachelor of Social Work from Mary Baldwin University.

She is passionate about providing holistic, trauma-informed care and approaches her work through a non judgmental lens. With experience in school social work, truancy, and management, Lyric brings a strong foundation in advocacy and support for youth and families. Lyric’s long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and continue making a meaningful impact through compassionate, client-centered care.

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Lyric is excited to contribute her passion and knowledge to the team at Riverside Family Support and the clients she serves. 

Jennifer Crookshanks is a Youth & Family Specialist providing mentoring support to youth in Rockingham County. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Intermont College. 

Jennifer has a variety of experiences partnering with youth and adults in the Rockingham County community to support positive outcomes.  ​

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Gina is an undergraduate student at James Madison University and BSW intern at Riverside this Fall. She will be receiving her BSW in December 2025, and plans on pursuing her MSW shortly after. She has a strong interest in working with veterans and their families, and is hopeful of exploring a career in either Veteran’s Affairs, or Clinical Social Work.

 Gina has interned with other agencies in the Harrisonburg community such as Our Community Place (OCP) and Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS). She has cherished learning about the experiences of individuals across different populations, as well as how she can better support them. During her time here at Riverside, she is very driven to build relationships with others and help them achieve their goals.