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 runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth. Briarpatch works closely with local governments and other non-profit organizations to provide unique programs that fill service gaps. Each year, Briarpatch serves approximately 3,000 unduplicated youth.
Briarpatch Youth Services Staff
Jay Kiefer.
Interim Executive Director & Program Director
Shannon Algrem.
Director of Finance
Joseph Bednarowski.
Grants & IT Director
Ian Carter.
Chief Development & Communications Officer
Jen Ripp.
Associate Program Director
Runaway & Homeless Youth Programs
Mark B
Youth Counselor, Shelter, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Brock Cooper.
Youth Counselor, Shelter, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Kinthy M.
Youth Counselor, Shelter, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Cedric Jackson.
Youth Counselor, Shelter, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Andrew Feist.
AmeriCorps Youth Counselor, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Emily Fassbender.
Youth Counselor, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Alex Lazenby-Johnson.
Youth Shelter Manager, Shelter, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Dylan Kramer.
Connections Advocate Counselor, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Kesha M.
Youth Counselor, Shelter, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Maria Perez-Torres.
Program Coordinator, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Ollie Schaal.
Connections Advocate Counselor; Teens Like Us co-facilitator, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Emily Walden.
Teens Like Us co-facilitator, Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Willie Watkins.
Program Coordinator, Street Outreach Program
Connie Walton.
Outreach & Housing Specialist, Street Outreach Program
Parent Support Program
Michelle McKoy.
Program Coordinator, Parent Support Program
Youth Employment Programs
Gary Davis.
Youth Employment Program Coordinator, Youth Job Center
Court Involved Youth Programs
Dean Bossenbroek.
Program Coordinator, Youth Restitution Program
Jasmine Benson.
Senior Youth Counselor, Youth Restitution Program
Dominique Smith.
Youth Counselor, Youth Restitution Program
Amber Nuon.
Administrative Assistant/YRP Program Specialist, Youth Restitution Program
Claudia Parkes.
Agency Racial Equity & Social Justice Coordinator; Program Coordinator, Restorative Justice Program
Macayla Church.
Youth Counselor, Restorative Justice Program
Santos Ortez Cardenas.
Youth Counselor, Restorative Justice Program
Mariah Ortega-Flowers.
Youth Counselor, Intensive Supervision Program & Youth Restitution Program
Kim Simmons.
Youth Counselor, Intensive Supervision Program & Youth Restitution Program
Jonathan Tefel.
Youth Counselor, Intensive Supervision Program & Youth Restitution Program
Whitney Thompson.
Youth Counselor, Intensive Supervision Program & Youth Restitution Program
Jamie Wheelock.
Youth Counselor, Intensive Supervision Program & Youth Restitution Program