AMHC is pleased to announce the promotion of Ashley Pesek, LCSW, to Program Director of Crisis Services. Ashley's extensive experience within the agency and her dedication to service work in her community made her the ideal candidate for this leadership role. Ashley embodies AMHC's mission to improve the lives of our community members, and the agency looks forward to seeing her accomplishments as Program Director. Ashley will be based at AMHC's Ellsworth Outpatient Office, where she will provide leadership and oversight of crisis services across Aroostook, Hancock, and Washington Counties.

"Crisis work is a way of life for most of us, not a job," says Ashley. "I have grown up as a clinician at AMHC and in the crisis field. I love the high-intensity work and see that it comes with great opportunities for change. Being able to support people within the communities in which we live and to be trusted to support people in what may be their hardest moments is a true privilege."

AMHC's Crisis Services provide both mobile and residential care for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. Mobile crisis intervention services are available 24/7, 365 days a year, via telephone, telehealth, and face-to-face contact to provide crisis assessments, establish levels of care, develop safety plans, and implement appropriate interventions. Mobile Crisis Service providers are available to meet with individuals in their home or other community setting, or at an AMHC outpatient office. Residential crisis units provide 24-hour, short-term residency for adults 18 years and older.

Reflecting on her new role, Ashley emphasizes the importance of informed leadership: "Working in this field for as many years as I have, I have learned that having leadership at the top that understands what it is like to be boots on the ground is incredibly important," she said. "I am humbled to be in this position and have the opportunity to support my communities by being in a position to design a program that meets their needs when it matters the most. I could not ask for a better team to lead this important community work with, and I look forward to continuing excellent crisis care for the people who are our friends and neighbors."

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hawai'i Pacific University and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska and the University of Maine at Orono. In addition to her role at AMHC, Ashley also serves as Founder and Executive Director of Cody's Closet, which provides material needs and advocacy for teenagers in foster care. She also serves as an Adoption Match Coordinator. She is the Program Director of the Opiate Free Island Partnership on Deer Island, Stonington, which focuses on prevention, treatment, and education related to opioid use.