Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery

In the intricate web of recovery, the intersectionality of identities and experiences weaves a tapestry of resilience, where healing knows no boundaries.

Welcome to VAMHAR!

We are a statewide non-profit organization that has provided advocacy and professional training to Vermont’s workforce since 1939. The organization was founded during the great depression by a surprisingly visionary group: The Montpelier Ladies Garden Club. These women saw the need for radical social change in the way that mental health was treated. They believed that we should treat mental health for what it is: a health issue. Nothing more, nothing less. No different from any other aspect of human health.

MEET THE TEAM…

  • Daniel Franklin (he/him)

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    A native of Guilford, Vermont and a current resident of Craftsbury, Daniel has worked on the front lines and in leadership positions in health and human services for nearly two decades. He previously served as executive director of North Central Vermont Recovery Center,  VP for Advocacy and Community Relations at VAMHAR/Recovery Vermont, and as COO and co-Executive Director of Jenna’s Promise. He is a driven and innovative community and relationship builder who is especially dedicated to the cause of recovery from addictions and mental illness and their intersections with sexual and domestic violence, poverty, justice-involvement and other challenges our communities face.

  • Lisa Lord (she/her)

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

    Lisa brings to this work a passion for wellness - or wholeness, a deep sense of curiosity, and a steadfast belief in the potential for human growth. She appreciates and embraces the non-linear nature to recovery, believes in harm reduction, and values the potency of community and connection to promote individual and collective healing. At VAMHAR, she blends her background in curriculum design, education, and facilitation, and a deep well of compassion to promote and celebrate all pathways to mental health and addiction recovery.  She is inspired daily by the transformative nature of recovery and how transferable the skills learned through a recovery journey are to the workplace.

  • Courtney Harrness (he/him)

    DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ADVANCEMENT

    Courtney, a native of Randolph, Vermont and a proud eighth-generation Vermonter, brings a wealth of experience in philanthropy, strategic planning, and nonprofit leadership to his role at VAMHAR. In his most recent role as Chief Advancement Officer for Herren Project, Courtney led the National strategic philanthropy and communications mission to foster healthy, fulfilling lives by offering support systems, celebrating recovery, and building resilient communities. He is a passionate advocate for recovery, equity, and justice, with a deep commitment to addressing the intersections of addiction, mental health, and systemic barriers such as poverty and justice involvement. Known for his collaborative approach and innovative thinking, Courtney is dedicated to building strong relationships and advancing community-driven solutions that empower individuals and strengthen Vermont’s communities.

  • Martina Anderson (she/they)

    DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

    Martina is a harm reductionist and social justice advocate at heart. She believes in all humans – in their potential, and as they are. She is dedicated to the rights of those our patriarchal culture has marked as disposable and fosters radical care for all beings. Martina loves to create safer spaces for those who have no one else to listen, and then amplifying these voices from the ground up. Fostering connections between communities – even those with profoundly disparate belief structures – has allowed her to build collaborations that might have previously seemed improbable.

  • Will Roberts (he/they)

    DIRECTOR OF TRAINING

    Will has vast experience in training design, delivery and facilitation. Throughout their plus 30-year career, they have demonstrated a compassionate and mindful approach within multiple fields.Their knowledge of adult learning theory and technology support the creation and execution of quality trainings. Will is passionate about fostering awareness and understanding around mental health, addiction, and recovery.

  • Tiffanie Katsuva (she/her)

    RURAL GRANT DIRECTOR

    Tiffanie is leading strategic initiatives to strengthen rural behavioral health programs. She brings a unique multicultural perspective to her work. Tiffanie is fluent in English, French, Swahili, and Lingala. She holds a LEND Fellowship from the University of Vermont, a BA in Economics from Saint Michael’s College, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health.

  • Havah Armstrong-Walther (she/her)

    BOARD CHAIR

    coming soon

  • Jae Basiliere (they/them)

    BOARD SECRETARY

    Jae is the Public Health Workforce Director for the Vermont Department of Health, where they have served since December 2023. Prior to transitioning into the world of state government, Jae spent the first half of their career working in post-secondary education, first as a professor and later as a faculty developer and Chief Diversity Officer. Jae approaches all of their work through trauma-responsive, person-centered, and anti-capitalist frameworks. Jae holds a Ph.D. in Gender Studies from Indiana University and an M.A. in Global Gender Studies and International Development from the State University of New York at Buffalo. In their free time, Jae enjoys spending time outside in nature, crafting, playing games of all kinds, and agitating for social revolution.

  • Paul Dragon (he/him)

    BOARD MEMBER

    Paul is the Executive Director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. Over the past 15 years, he has worked at the Vermont Agency of Human Services in several roles, including the Deputy Secretary for the Agency and Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. As the Director of the Healthcare for the Homeless Program in Burlington, he led the development of the Safe Harbor Clinic and the Pearl Street Clinic. Paul is a former Peace Corps volunteer working in Mali, West Africa. Paul received his Doctorate Degree in Education from the University of Vermont where he received the Herman B. Meyers Excellence in Doctoral Policy Research Award. Paul has received awards in the field of human services and has served on several boards of directors. He lives with his family in Underhill, Vermont.

  • Alex Figueroa (he/him)

    BOARD MEMBER

    Alex Figueroa is currently the Deputy Director at SAFE Communities with SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic), a national 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to contributing solutions toward overcoming mental health challenges, substance use struggles, and the overdose epidemic in the United States. Alex’s focus includes a systems change approach, leading technical assistance efforts and regularly capturing progress to improve community outcomes and enhance organizational collaboration, strategy, and performance. He is originally from Buffalo, New York, but moved to Bennington in 2017. Alex attended Utica College where he received a B.S. degree in Health Sciences with a Minor in Gerontology, and Hilbert College obtaining a Master’s degree of Public Administration with a focus concentration in Health Administration.

  • Brenda Siegel (she/her)

    BOARD MEMBER

    coming soon

  • Sara Stearns (she/her)

    BOARD MEMBER

    Sara brings compassion, curiosity and adaptability into everything she does. She appreciates life’s complexities and humanity’s perseverance. Sara worked at Vermont State University at Castleton as the SBIRT Prevention and Intervention Specialist for two years before starting in her current role as the Vermont Prevention Lead Organization (VPLO) Coordinator for Addison and Rutland Counties. The work with VPLO is focused on enhancing and expanding substance use prevention across the lifespan. With a background in social work, sociology, women’s and genders studies and interdisciplinary trauma studies, she brings intersectional perspectives and interconnected ideas to her work. Combining her background and personal experience, she focuses on building understanding, awareness, community and safe spaces for all people. Sara is deeply passionate about breaking the silence, ending stigma, challenging stereotypes, and changing the culture around mental health and substance use.

  • Daisy Berbeco (she/her)

    BOARD MEMBER

    Daisy grew up in a small fishing community off the road system in coastal Alaska, where she developed a deep appreciation for the importance of human connection in building community wellness. Daisy is an expert in mental health and substance use policy and practice improvement, currently serving in the legislature. She has worked around the country with thought leaders in trauma-informed care, peer recovery groups, health care management, leadership, and care integration. Prior to her election as a State Representative in the Vermont General Assembly, Daisy served as the Senior Advisor for Mental Health Policy at the Vermont Department of Mental Health, the Secretary for the Finance & Policy Division for the National Association of Mental Health Program Directors and Director of Special Projects at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. She is currently on the advisory board of the Hopi Foundation's peer-run Substance Use Prevention Center and a member of the Vermont Judiciary Commission on Mental Health and the Courts, an Executive Board Member of Urban Institute’s Vermont Prison Reform and Innovation Network and the Conference of Chief Justices State Court Administrators Behavioral Health Committee Funding Workgroup.

  • Bethany Thibault (she/her)

    BOARD MEMBER

    Bethany has 20 years’ combined leadership and professional experience in the field of human behavior focused on helping individuals in marginalized populations recovering from mental health crises, addiction, poverty, and generational trauma. Most recently, serving as the regional Director of Operations and Administration for Phoenix House New England's Vermont RISE Programs until August 2021, when she enrolled in the University of Vermont's Sustainable Innovation MBA Program at the Grossman School of Business, and obtained her MBA in 2022. Bethany believes that all humans deserve equal opportunity to flourish, and she is passionate about inspiring and facilitating systemic change, particularly in the areas of Social Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. In addition to her various professional roles and educational opportunities, the biggest teacher and privilege of Bethany's life has been mothering her 3 boys, who have been the most consistent and profound source of joy, love, adventure, and personal growth! consistent and profound source of joy, love, adventure, and personal growth! Some of her other passions include yoga, meditation, weight lifting, reading, astrology, and binge-watching Ted Lasso.

  • Greta Jaeger (she/her)

    BOARD MEMBER

    Greta Jaeger is a dedicated mental health professional specializing in Trauma Therapy, Couples and Life Coaching, committed to fostering compassionate communities that support healing and recovery. Currently, Greta serves as a Therapist and Life Coach at Coaching Your Dreams Inc., where she guides individuals and couples through transformative processes. With expertise in Trauma recovery, and Communication, she empowers clients to navigate their challenges effectively. Throughout her career, Greta has held various positions that uniquely position her to support mental health initiatives. As an After-care Coordinator at Accelerated Recovery Centers, she developed innovative after-care programs for clients overcoming alcohol dependence. Her experience as Team Leader at GRN CSB involved supervising a dedicated team and providing direct therapeutic counseling. Additionally, she has led therapeutic groups in anger management, grief, and coping skills, enhancing the recovery process for her clients.