Executive Committee

Jody Jacobsen, Chair
Clallam County Juvenile and Family Services

Jody Jacobsen is the Director of Clallam County Juvenile and Family Services with a background in juvenile justice and court management. A lifelong resident of Port Angeles, Jody attended Port Angeles High School and Peninsula College before transferring to the University of Washington where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Society & Justice.  Jody later completed a Master’s Degree in Justice Management from the University of Nevada, Reno.

For over 27 years, Jody has helped youth and families navigate the Juvenile Court process during some of their most difficult and challenging life events. She has been a member of Prevention Works since the early 2000’s, participated in the training committee, and has served as the Treasurer since 2017 before being selected as chair in 2023.

Jody has been actively engaged in many youth serving organizations while working and raising her two boys here in Port Angeles.  She enjoys working directly with youth and believes that all youth deserve positive encouragement and supportive boundaries to reach their full potential.

Chair-Elect, Vacant

Kristi Queen, Board Secretary

Kristi worked in public education for 28 years as both a classroom teacher and a principal. She has served in the Kent, Shoreline, Mukilteo and Sequim school districts. She moved from Seattle to Sequim in 2018. She is currently a graduate student pursuing a doctorate in Education, emphasizing trauma-informed and restorative practices.

Susan Hillgren, Treasurer
Director: TAFY (The Answer for Youth)
Chair: Finance Committee

Susan was born in Port Angeles, left in 1977, and returned in 1996. She is a married, mother of 4 grandmother of 7, with 34 years in recovery.

She is currently (15 years) the director of The Answer For Youth (TAFY), a drop-in center for homeless and at-risk for homeless. She worked 5 years for Serenity House, 9 years for Family Planning of Clallam County, 3 years as a bus driver for Mason County, and many years as a waitress.

She is a Graduate of PAHS, has a Criminal Justice Certificate and holds a Chemical Dependency Professional Certificate.

She currently sits on the Prevention Works Board (23 years), PC Chemical Dependency Advisory Board, Reflections Treatment Center, and Unity in the Olympics.

Her awards include the Ruby Award, Clallam County Hero Award for 2011, and Peninsula Women in  December 2011.

Susan prides herself in knowing how to deal with active addict/alcoholics. She oversees all operations of both TAFY and Sprouting Hope Greenhouse, including the volunteers, community service clients and TAFY clients, and making sure all programs run smoothly and in a timely manner. TAFY has a men’s recovery housing unit and they are working on Micro homes (on church parking lots) for women with children who currently live in cars. TAFY allows everyone to have the rights to be exactly who they want to be.

Heather Nelson, At-Large
Communications Specialist Olympic Medical Center

Heather Nelson is an accomplished communications specialist at Olympic Medical Center, and in early 2022, she brought her talents to the Prevention Works! board. With over a decade of experience in marketing and communications, and a background in public and non-profit education, Heather is uniquely qualified to join with her fellow board members to drive the mission and goals of Prevention Works! forward. Her education, including a Bachelor’s degree in English from University of Nevada, Reno and a Master of Education from Arizona State University, laid the foundation for her current skillset. As a mother of two school-aged children, Heather draws inspiration from her kids for the work she does with Prevention Works! and is excited to be a part of the decades-long commitment the organization has poured into our community.

Appointed Members

Ellen Fetchiet
Clinical Social Worker, Private Practice

Ellen Fetchiet has been a licensed and practicing mental health professional in four states since completing her Masters in Social Work from Michigan State University in 1976.  Ellen has advanced training working with children, families, parents, and professionals in Headstart through high school (*See below).  She has worked in public schools and day treatment programs.

Ellen went to Clallam County Public Health to work as a Maternity Support Services social worker in 1998, which is when she began working with Prevention Works!.  Before that, she worked for six years at Peninsula Community Mental Health Center (now called Peninsula Behavioral Health).

Over the years, Ellen has provided supervision to students from three different universities who were working to get their Masters degrees in Social Work and to those getting licensed after obtaining their degrees.  Thanks to a grant from Bill and Melinda Gates in 2013, Ellen and her husband Bill became master trainers for BlockFest here in Clallam County.

*Honoring Children-Mending the Circle, Circle of Security, Promoting First Relationships, Incredible Years, Strengthening Families Program, Guiding Good Choices, NCAST, LSCI (Life Space Crisis Intervention), and Experiential Education

Tracey Hosselkus
Editor: PW! Update & First Teacher Newsletters
Retired, Lower Elwha Ed Director/COO/ & ECE Instructor

Tracey’s education & work experience in early childhood education across all ages spans decades, including working with infants-elders as a swimming instructor at William Shore Pool, Birth to Three Program and Educare Center at Peninsula College, First Step with B-3 Children with Special Needs Program, DSHS Developmental Disabilities Case Manager Birth to Elders, Early Childhood Education Instructor at Peninsula College, Program Coordinator for Work First/Basic Skills with the Tribal Nations across Olympic Peninsula for Peninsula College, Education Director for Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe supporting Head Start, Child Care, PASD Students, and College Students and even Elders Program. She retired from Lower Elwha after 15 years in 2018.

She earned an AA Peninsula College AA, CDA at Bank Street College, Master’s in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College, College Counseling Advising Certificate from Empower ED UCLA.

Her creative skills have involved glass fusing, bead making, beading, quilting, and sewing.

Amanda Sanders
Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition

Amand Sanders is the Coordinator for the Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition. She volunteered with the coalition for several years before stepping into the role as coordinator. Amanda is passionate about providing opportunities to support youth mental health and give youth safe places to thrive into adulthood.

Amanda has lived in Port Angeles for 20 years.  Before focusing her volunteer and work energy towards youth prevention of substance use and mental health, she worked in early childhood development and kindergarten readiness. Prior to that, she had a massage and yoga practice.

Contractors working for the Board

• Shelly Zollman, Program Coordinator
• Jennifer Charles, Accounts Manager

Emeritus / Past Board Members

• Norma Turner, RN, MPH
• Florence Bucierka
  Chair: Governance Committee
  Retired, Clallam County Human Services Planner
• Lisa Lyon
  Chair, Parent Education & Support Services Committee
  Program Director, Lutheran Community Services NW
• Cynthia Martin
  Retired, Parenting Matters Foundation
• Ann Simpson, Past Chair
• Mary Wegmann, Past Chair
  Retired Psychologist
• Joy Sheedy, Child Care Task Force
• Yvette Cline, Child Care Task Force
• Stacie Neff, North Olympic Health Network

Please email us at [email protected]  to reach any Board Members or Contractors listed above.