Heartland Social Work Conference 2026

Will Francis is the Executive Director for the Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas Chapters of the National Association of Social Workers.  He previously served as the Government Relations Director for the Texas Chapter.  Prior work experience includes positions with Mental Health America of Texas in the state office of a home visiting program, Child Protective Services and Travis County Juvenile Probation.  Will received a master’s in social work from The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia

M. Jenise Comer, LCSW, MSW, ACSW, retired from the University of Central Missouri in 2017 after 32 years where she served as the Baccalaureate Social Work Program Director.  Prior to her tenure at Central, she was the Deputy Director of a residential treatment facility for children with emotional and behavioral disorders.  Ms.Comer began her career in social work in 1974 as the Coordinator of the Minority Adoption Program for Catholic Charities.  

Comer was a member of the Missouri Chapter of NASW for four years when she was appointed to the State Committee of Social Workers.  She was reappointed by two additional Governors and served from 2000 – 2015. She served on several ASWB committees and filled a one year unexpired term on the Board of Directors in 2007.  Jenise was elected Secretary of the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) from 2010 – 2014 and elected Board President from 2014 - 2018. Throughout her term on the board, she presented workshop about  Licensure at several NABSW and social work education conferences. Last year she received the ASWB Inaugural Award for Excellence in Regulatory Education.   

She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and a Life Member of the Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She serves on several boards, and uses her volunteer time to provide political advocacy, voter registration, education and mobilization.  She loves to travel to Jazz concerts with her twin sister, Denise.

Jenise Comer is the proud mother of an adult daughter and son, and is the proud grandmother of two beautiful boys, ages 12 and 8, and a three year old princess.

Julie Wells is the Director of Program Development at Give an Hour, a national nonprofit organization providing mental health support to those in need

Professional Background

• Nonprofit Leadership: She has over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, focusing on community advocacy, institutional change, and empowering disenfranchised populations.
• Program Development: At Give an Hour, her work involves expanding support for rare disease caregivers and exploring peer-led healing for survivors of mass violence.
• UNITY Fellowship: She is the founder of the UNITY Fellowship, a strategic leadership program designed to build capacity for nonprofit leaders, specifically supporting organizations led by women and BIPOC executive directors.
• Career History: Her early career began with advocacy for students with developmental disabilities and those in the criminal justice system in central North Carolina.

Jessica Willemsen graduated from Simpson College in 2001 with her BS in Sociology, and the University of Kansas in 2003 with her MSW.  She has 13 years of non-profit experience, providing clinical services to youth in residential treatment for 5 years, and running an adult and adolescent mental health program for 8 years, both in the urban core of Kansas City, MO.  In 2014 she started her private practice, De Novo Mental Health, LLC, which is currently located in Overland Park, KS.  Jess specializes in adults and adolescents, complex-chronic to single-event trauma, mood disorders, and chemical and behavioral addictions.  She holds a clinical social work license in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, and has permission to provide virtual services in Florida.  She holds an LMAC (Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor) in the state of Kansas.  She is EMDR trained, EMDR certified, and an EMDR approved consultant.  She contracts with Miranda Counseling to provide EMDR trainings, and is on the steering committee of the Kansas City Trauma Recovery Network (#KCTRN) to respond to natural and man-made disasters.  She is a proud member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).  You can find De Novo Mental Health, LLC at www.denovomentalhealth.com, as well as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (#therapywithjess).

Amanda Sowers is a therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW), and Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC) at Family Center for Healthcare in Colby. A Northwest Kansas native, Amanda has been working in the mental health field since 2004 and began work in addictions in 2016. Her experience has given her a deep understanding of the critical connection between substance abuse and family health, driving her mission to help clients and families navigate the path to recovery. 

Tamitha R. Ague, ACSW, CSWM, LBSW-IP, BSBA, is an accomplished nonprofit executive, policy advocate, and social work leader with more than 28 years of experience strengthening organizations and communities. She has served as Executive Director for multiple state and national associations, leading strategic planning, budget growth, legislative advocacy, and program development. A Missouri-registered lobbyist since 2001, she has successfully advanced policies supporting families, mental health, and vulnerable populations.

As CEO of Right Directions, LLC, and its DBA Double Hearts Ranch, Tamitha provides nonprofit consulting, grant writing, leadership training, and equine-assisted learning programs that blend experiential education with organizational development. Her expertise spans governance, human resources, fundraising, ethics consultation, and government affairs, with a proven record of securing significant public and private funding.

Tamitha has also taught social work policy at Fontbonne and Maryville Universities. She holds an MSW from Saint Louis University and multiple professional credentials, reflecting her commitment to ethical leadership and community impact.

Sheng Lee isa first-generation Hmong refugee, Sheng has overcome many challenges and worked hard to create a positive impact in her community. Her journey from being resettled in Wisconsin as a young refugee to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and perinatal mental health therapist.

Sheng's background as a former professor teaching social justice issues, mental health, and advocacy to social work students highlights her commitment to educating the next generation of social workers and mental health professionals about the importance of these critical topics. Her professional experiences in various sectors, include public, private, government, and nonprofit institutions. One of the most significant aspects of Sheng's work is her dedication to integrating social justice and cultural humility into behavioral health. This approach is crucial in ensuring that mental health services are accessible and sensitive to the diverse needs of the community, especially in her role as President and Executive Director of Us 2 Behavioral Health Care.

The opening of Us 2 Behavioral Health Care in 2019 reflects Sheng's vision of creating a space where everyone can work towards better mental health together. Her personal and professional journey is a testament to her commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in her community. Furthermore, her role as a proud mother of two young children adds an additional layer of perspective and empathy to her work, highlighting the importance of family and community in the context of mental health and well-being.

Jeremy Didier, LSCSW, LMAC, ADHD-CCSP is a licensed clinical social worker, addiction counselor, and nationally recognized leader in adult ADHD education and advocacy. She specializes in the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD in adults, with particular expertise in complex and co-occurring presentations, including substance use disorders. Jeremy brings a neuroinclusive, evidence-informed approach to clinical work, emphasizing functional impairment, developmental history, and ethical diagnostic formulation.

She has advanced training in adult ADHD assessment and substance use disorders and brings nearly two decades of experience working in the ADHD field across clinical, educational, and advocacy settings. Jeremy is the current President of the Board of Directors for CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and maintains a private practice focused on adult ADHD assessment and treatment. She frequently presents to clinicians and professional audiences and is known for translating research into practical, real-world clinical frameworks.

Deborah (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Northeastern State University, a licensed mental health professional, and an experienced HR consultant with a Ph.D. in I/O Psychology and an MSW. In addition to her academic role, Deborah is actively involved in crisis response and mental health advocacy and regularly deploys through the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps to disaster sites. With a decade of HR consulting and expertise in management development, she focuses on the intersection of mental health, people development, and workplace policies. She is passionate about fostering resilience through building SEL skills, trauma-informed care, and inclusive policies that improve workplaces and communities. Deborah enjoys collaborating with others who are committed to positive change, innovation, and creating environments where individuals can thrive.

Dorthy Stucky Halley, LMSW, an international trainer, is co-founder and co-director of the Family Peace Initiative.  She was the executive director of a domestic violence shelter from 1986 to 1996. She has worked with those who cause harm since 1991 and has served as an expert witness in domestic violence cases since 1989. She taught social work at Pittsburg State University for a decade before becoming the state’s Victim Rights Coordinator and directing the Victim Services Division of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. Her development of a motivation typology for those who batter has opened the door to a more nuanced understanding for domestic violence professionals. She led the state efforts to develop standards and certify battering intervention programs. She has also served as President of: Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Kansas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and Kansas Organization for Victim Assistance. She also served as VP of the International Public Policy Institute Board of Directors, and currently serves as the Program Administration Chair for the National Network of Abuse Intervention Programs. 

Steven M. S. Halley, LSCSW, an international trainer, is co-founder and co-director of the Family Peace Initiative, has been visionary in the development of a trauma-focused approach for intervening with those who batter.  He is nationally recognized for his expertise in using a trauma-focused approach to intervene with those who batter, and in training others in this approach. His development of the “River of Cruelty” model that describes how cruelty is passed from person to person and generation to generation has been groundbreaking in the field.