Mike started his career as a paramedic and has since built a diverse body of work spanning many different helping systems. He specializes in applying the sciences of safety, quality, and implementation to improve organizational reliability and effectiveness. His approach leverages tools like organizational assessment and systems analysis of critical incidents to build team culture and help systems learn and get better.

Previously, Mike served as Deputy Commissioner of Child Health for Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services and has held various administrative and academic positions at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall, and the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health. Mike holds degrees from the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, and Tennessee State University’s Institute of Government.

Tiffany’s work focuses on quality improvement and system reform efforts in helping systems. She has specific expertise in applying safety science to improve organizations’ safety, reliability, and effectiveness. Her approach leverages tools like organizational assessment, team-based behavioral strategies, and systemic analysis of critical incidents to help organizations learn and improve. Tiffany co-authored two CHP tools—the Safe Systems Improvement Tool (SSIT) and TeamFirst Field Guide for Safe, Reliable, and Effective Teams.

Before coming to the CHP, Tiffany held a faculty appointment in Health Management and Policy at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and formerly was a Policy Analyst at The University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall. She served as a quality improvement director within Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services (DCS). At DCS, she co-designed and oversaw the Department’s safety science applications, including its nationally acclaimed child death review process, which eventually led to a national quality improvement collaborative – the National Partnership for Child Safety.

Elizabeth centers most of her work around data analysis, communication, and dissemination, and she has a passion for working with public systems to leverage their data to promote meaningful systems change. She has expertise in translating research to practice, and she takes a collaborative approach towards designing and analyzing tools that hold sensitive systems data. Data is not useful unless it is used; Elizabeth works hard to make the collection, analysis, and communication of data more accessible.

Elizabeth’s primary appointment is as an Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, where she also engages in teaching and research with diverse public sector partners. Specifically, Elizabeth is interested in how networks of public helping systems can work together to identify and meet the needs of communities. Elizabeth is a clinical psychologist by training and has a clinical background in trauma, emotion dysregulation, and substance use among adult populations. Elizabeth holds degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Kentucky.

Santana Jones (she/her) is a Design Specialist at the Center for Helping Professions, where she leads quality improvement and system reform initiatives in child welfare jurisdictions. With over a decade of experience in child welfare, she brings deep expertise in applying safety science principles to enhance organizational reliability, effectiveness, and safety outcomes.

Throughout her career, Jones has developed comprehensive knowledge across multiple facets of child welfare, including foster care systems, intake processes, safety protocols, and child fatality investigations. Her work focuses on implementing data-driven solutions that create lasting positive change in child welfare organizations.

As a dedicated professional and mother, Jones balances her commitment to improving child welfare systems with quality time spent with her children, family gatherings, and enjoying live music performances.

Ashley leverages her extensive child welfare experience to champion systemic improvements. With a rich background that includes roles as Safe System Director and Local Office Director at the Indiana Department of Child Services, she has committed over a decade to refining safety protocols and practices within child welfare.

Ashley’s work is centered on safety science and fostering collaboration to enhance community well-being and drive systemic change. She advocates for strength-based approaches with colleagues, emphasizing non-punitive measures and utilizing diverse data sources to achieve lasting positive change. Ashley is dedicated to cultivating a non-punitive culture that supports professionals navigating high-stress situations.

Trained in Critical Incident Stress Management and a certified Question Persuade Refer trainer, Ashley brings a wealth of expertise to her field. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Edinburgh.

Christina’s work focuses on assisting organizations in implementing practice innovations in program development and workforce development that lead to system transformation and improved outcomes for individuals and communities. She uses team-based approaches to leverage the experiences and knowledge at all levels of an organization toward facilitating change.

Christina co-created AWAKEN: A Practice for Conscious Decision-Making through Affinità Consulting, which helps individuals, teams, and organizations collaborate to disrupt bias to make conscious decisions. Christina’s experience includes serving as Executive Director of Training and Professional Development at the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, where she began her career as a child welfare direct service practitioner 25 years ago.

Christina received a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she currently serves as an adjunct professor. She is also a skilled facilitator of IHI’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative Model and LEAN (Six Sigma) Process Improvement.

At the Center for Helping Professions, Caleb Smith helps disseminate our work with partner child welfare jurisdictions across the United States and contributes to research aimed at building a more just and capable child welfare system. Central to his work is the recognition that helping systems are safety-critical, and that lasting change comes through candid, collaborative partnerships that address systemic challenges rather than individual shortcomings.

Caleb’s broader research examines disenfranchised, non-death grief — the losses that clinical and policy frameworks often overlook despite their significance. He works across grief studies, carceral scholarship, and critical theory, drawing on multiple disciplines to shape his approach. Caleb holds BSW and MSW degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, has presented at professional conferences with publications forthcoming, and is preparing to pursue a PhD in Social Work.

Lexi Mueller specializes in applying Safety Science principles to improve organizational culture within child welfare systems. Her approach leverages research on workforce well-being, team-based interventions, and systemic analysis of workplace challenges to help organizations create safer, more supportive environments for both workers and the families they serve.

Lexi’s work is informed by her previous experience directly serving children and families and managing state-level programs and policy in Wisconsin’s Child Protective Services system. She is currently a PhD student at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, where her research focuses on moral distress and Safety Culture in child welfare. Lexi holds BSW and MSW degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was recognized as a Title IV-E Public Child Welfare scholarship recipient.

Manny Rivera is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of expertise in strategic planning, communications, stakeholder engagement, and narrative development. Manny has a proven track record of delivering transformative results for mission-driven organizations, with significant impact across education, child welfare, public health, and social justice sectors.

A trusted advisor and strategist, Manny has led efforts that have shaped policies, amplified voices, and driven systemic change. Manny’s work is at the nexus of strategy, communication, culture, and advocacy, crafting campaigns that resonate deeply and mobilize action by seamlessly blending diverse voices. His expertise has guided clients through complex challenges, notching victories for progress.

Jesse Lindsey is a Senior Software Engineer and Architect whose work centers on building and customizing tailored technology solutions. Jesse brings a practitioner’s mindset to software development – taking the time to understand the unique demands of helping systems and translating those needs into reliable, purpose-built tools that support the Center’s mission.

Jesse holds a Master of Science from the University of Tennessee and brings over a decade of professional software engineering experience across multiple industries, including healthcare, financial services, and retail. His technical background spans full-stack development, systems architecture, and enterprise integration, giving him the versatility to solve complex problems with practical, maintainable solutions.

Leah Weber is a Pittsburgh-based child welfare consultant with a background in public child welfare and quality improvement. She partners with state and regional teams to strengthen practice through safety science, data-driven decision-making, and system improvements. Her expertise spans system assessment, training, and implementation, with a focus on supervision, case consultation, and permanency.

In her free time, she travels the world to see her favorite artist, Brandi Carlile.

Ashley Kaelin brings over 15 years of experience in child welfare at both state and federal levels, including four years conducting critical incident reviews. She holds a Master of Social Work from Indiana University and has dedicated her career to strengthening systems that serve children and families, with a focus on permanency, safety, and systemic improvement.

Ashley is passionate about fostering a culture where every team member feels valued and empowered, and believes meaningful change happens when diverse voices are heard, data informs decisions, and collaborative solutions are embraced.

Lauren Zylla-Whetstone is an experienced child welfare professional with over a decade of service in government administration. Throughout her career at the Indiana Department of Child Services, she progressed from direct family engagement to high-level systemic oversight.

She began her career in direct case management and as an Intake Specialist, assessing child safety with data-driven tools. Most recently, as a Safe System Reviewer for Indiana, she analyzed critical incidents and presented deidentified findings to state leadership and national partners.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Women’s Studies from Purdue University. Outside of work, she’s a wife and mother to two active children, and enjoys designing iced cookies and baking with her sourdough starter, ‘Hugh.’

Sarah Hanson is an experienced child welfare professional with a decade of service across state and local government. She began her career as a Family Case Manager in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then transitioned to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families where she developed expertise in data analysis, program monitoring, and systems leadership.

Throughout her tenure at DCF, Sarah has led critical initiatives including Systems Change Review, Safety Revisions, and Citizen Review Panels—work that strengthened her passion for advancing safety culture and identifying system-level barriers to supporting children and families. Sarah holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Social Welfare from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Richard is a licensed clinical psychologist and applied health services researcher whose work focuses on improving care for children and families of children who have experienced adversity, have special healthcare needs, or are involved with publicly-funded child welfare and mental health services.

Richard holds degrees from Bates College, The University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt University.

Robin Leake is a Research Professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work with more than 25 years of experience supporting organizational change, workforce well-being, and leadership development across public, private, and Tribal human service systems. She has partnered with organizations across the country to build healthier workplace cultures and translate research into practical strategies that improve outcomes for professionals, families, and communities.

Robin has held significant national leadership roles, including positions with the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute and the Administration for Children and Families Capacity Building Center for Tribes, where she contributed to advancing systemic practice improvements.

Her work centers on building psychologically safe, equity-centered organizational cultures that support learning, resilience, and sustainable change.

Mike is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Leach Consulting Group, where he brings over 25 years of experience in leadership, organizational development, and social services to his work with health and social service organizations. Before establishing Leach Consulting Group, Mike served as the State Director at the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SC DSS), where he led the agency through significant organizational change, strengthening its ability to serve vulnerable populations across the state and spearheaded pivotal reform efforts that reshaped the agency’s safety practices, policies, and outcomes.

Mike’s work is driven by a deep commitment to social responsibility, community well-being, and sustainable reform, making him a trusted advisor and advocate for lasting change.

Cassie is a full-time Lecturer of Social Work in the College of Education and Social Services at the University of Vermont. She also produces and hosts the UVM podcast, The Social Work Lens. Her work focuses on collective care practices, and she is passionate about bringing trauma-responsive social work skills into workforce development.

Her expertise addresses secondary trauma, moral injury, and burnout at both team and organizational levels, extending beyond individual self-care. Cassie specializes in training, coaching, and practice implementation, using innovative models such as Secure Base Teams to drive effective change for impacted professionals, teams, and organizations.

Before joining the University of Vermont faculty, Cassie worked for 15+ years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving children, youth, families, and helping professionals in direct service roles.