Our Team A-B

Nicolene Acosta-Zamora, BSW, LSW, is a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Ohio. Nicolene is a team member on the Child Focus Infant Early Childhood in Mental Health team. Nicolene has over 6 years of experience working with children ages 0-6. Some of Nicolene's work experiences include work as a case manager, parent educator, behavioral health treatment team member, Community Health Worker, and child/family advocate. What Nicolene loves most about being an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant is being able to promote healthy growth in young children's social and emotional development while working collaboratively with families and caregivers. 

Hillary Crippen Adams, BA, is a Parent Educator focused on home-based services in Hamilton County for families involved with Children’s Protective Services. In addition to this role, she also co-leads the LIFE Skills group for youth in Foster Care in partnership with Clermont County CPS. She graduated from University of Cincinnati with her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology in December of 2015. She has also been trained in the Nurturing Parent Program. Hillary started working for Child Focus in April of 2018.

Isabella Asbrock, MSW, LSW, earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Cincinnati, has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Wright State University and is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio. Isabella has experience working with children ages 5-12 in a Partial Hospitalization Program/Intensive Outpatient Program setting along with volunteer experience with children ages 3-18 within her community and through Hospice. During her free time Isabella enjoys going to concerts, spending time with her friends and family, playing with her dogs, and photography.

Jessica Ashcraft, MA, MS, MFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing therapeutic services on the Juvenile Court Intensive Home-Based Team (IHBT). She provides forensic assessments, risk assessments, psychiatric updates, and prevention counseling to youth detained in the Clermont County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) which also houses youth from Adams and Brown county. She provides in-home, intensive stabilization to youth involved with the Juvenile court system and their families through Juvenile Crisis Triage Team (JCTT) services. She also serves as part of the Clermont County Crisis Response Team. Jessica earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Science in Child and Developmental Psychology, and Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies. She is the spouse of a military retiree and parent of two amazing boys diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Jessica was born and raised in the suburbs of Cincinnati. However, her family has resided in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Washington, and the northern Virginia/DC area during their many adventures as a military family. Her past work experiences include: preschool teacher, school-based therapeutic day treatment counselor, mental health caseworker, and foster care family consultant. She is trained and experienced in areas of Juvenile Sex Offenders, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. Jessica uses an eclectic approach to therapy, drawing from different theories and evidence-based approaches to best fit the unique needs of her individual clients and their families. She has experience working with complex trauma, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, conduct disorders, ADHD, oppositional/defiant behaviors, and adjustment disorders.

Katie Barker BA, QMHS is qualified mental health specialist providing services in the Clermont county area. Katie earned her bachelor degree from Bellevue University.  Katie began working for Child focus in 1997 in the early childhood division, providing services for children birth to 5 years old. Katie left Child Focus to stay home with her family and then returned to work in the mental health division in September 2019.  Outside of Child Focus, Katie enjoys camping with family, watching soccer and hiking to see waterfalls. 

Trayonna D. Barnes, MSW is a Qualified Mental Health Specialist who provides preventive mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults in Hamilton County. Trayonna completed a Master of Social Work, with a focus in Mental Health/Direct Practice from Howard University in May 2023. Trayonna also received her Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies from Northern Kentucky University in 2021. Trayonna has a background working with children, adolescents, and adults who experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, low self-esteem, homelessness, challenges with race related disparities, and trauma. Trayonna has also worked with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. Trayonna has had the opportunity to work with survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence during her time working with NKU’s Norse Violence Prevention Center. Additionally, Trayonna has served as an advocate for the BIPOC community and has spoken nationally on mental health disparities facing marginalized communities. Trayonna’s theoretical orientation consists of strengths-based, trauma-informed, solution-focused, person-centered care. Trayonna is currently being trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and will be trained in 7 Challenges for substance use disorders. Trayonna is passionate about helping clients gain stability, improve functioning and enhance individual strengths. Trayonna works diligently to assist with individualized treatment plans and seeks to offer a safe and inclusive space for all clients. 

Shelly Baxter, MA, LPCC-S, completed her Master of Art in Agency and Community Counseling in 2004 from Xavier University. Mrs. Baxter is an independently licensed Supervising Professional Clinical Counselor and has been employed with Child Focus Inc. since March of 1995. She has served in many roles including the Associate Behavioral Health Division Officer and is now in the role of pieceworker supervisor.  Mrs. Baxter’s areas of competences include Child and Adolescent counseling, family counseling, mental health counseling, Crisis Counseling, Consultation, Supervision, Administration, as well as Independently Diagnoses and treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders.

Kara Bene, BSN, RN, is an outpatient nurse at Child Focus, Inc.  She received her BSN from Xavier University in 2014.  She also works as a pediatric oncology nurse at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and has been employed there since 2014. 

McKenna Benjamin, BS, is a Qualified Mental Health Specialist providing Community Psychiatric Support Treatment (CPST) services, Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) and prevention services at Clermont Northeastern (CNE) Local Schools. McKenna obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from The University of Cincinnati in 2019. McKenna has experience working with children with behavioral issues in the school setting and enjoys working with adolescents and teenagers while engaging with humor and using a client’s strengths to help encourage positive change.

Lucas Blackwood, BS, is a Qualified Mental Health Specialist (QMHS) and Social Work Apprentice, currently providing stabilization services with the Mobile Response & Stabilization Services (MRSS) team. Lucas earned his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana in 2020, and is currently studying to earn his Master of Social Work at Miami University of Ohio. Lucas has experience working as a summer camp counselor and director, and has provided Qualified Mental Health Specialist providing Community Psychiatric Support Treatment (CPST) services, Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS), prevention services, and stabilization services at Child Focus. 

Aleesha Covert-Blank BA, CDCA, is an OhioRISE Care Coordinator for Child Focus, Inc. Ms. Covert-Blank received her Bachelor of Arts from Shawnee State University in 2016. Ms. Covert-Blank has over 7 years of experience working with clients with mental illness and substance abuse. Currently, Ms. Covert-Blank works with Clermont, Scioto and Lawrence Counties with OhioRISE. Before taking the role of care coordinator, Ms. Covert-Blank served as a Qualified Mental Health Specialist in Clermont County schools. Prior to working with Child Focus, Ms. Covert-Blank worked with adults diagnosed with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse as a community case manager and as a men’s AOD Counselor. As a Care Coordinator for Child Focus Ms. Covert-Blank serves as the point of contact for assigned OhioRISE youth and their families, facilitates comprehensive care coordination for all youth and family service needs and works collaboratively across systems including but not limited to education, behavioral health, juvenile justice, developmental disabilities, hospital and Family and Children First Councils (FCFC). Aside from her job duties with Child Focus, Ms. Blank enjoys spending quality time on her family farm in Lewis County, KY, gardening and being outdoors.

Akemi Brewer, Psy.D., completed her graduate training in clinical psychology in the field of health psychology at Spalding University, Louisville, KY. Her internship training was at University of Louisville, School of Medicine: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, The Bingham Clinic, Louisville, KY. The training included provision of individual/family therapy and group therapy to children, adolescents, and their families. Rotation included inpatient pediatric consultation-liaison services, psychiatric day treatment services, inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry and outpatient clinic services, and emergency room assessment as well as psychological testing. Dr. Brewerhas been working at Child Focus, Inc. since 2010 and completed her fellowship training at Child Focus, Inc. She obtained licensure as a clinical psychologist in November 2014. She provides individual/family therapy, psychological testing, and crisis intervention. She has a lot of experiences with different populations (from children to adults) and settings (e.g., elementary school, private practice, adult inpatient hospital, primary care setting, community mental health center). While Dr. Brewer uses integrated treatments to fit each client, her theoretical orientation represents the importance of attachment, meaning-based communication process, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Jennifer Brinkdopke, MA, LPCC-S, completed her graduate training in Community Counseling at the University of Cincinnati in 2000.  Her internship training was at Child Focus, Inc.  This training included diagnostic assessment of mental and emotional disorders, child and adolescent counseling, individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling.  Ms. Brinkdopke has been in practice in the Outpatient Division of Child Focus, Inc. since 2000.  Ms. Brinkdopke serves at the Director of Compliance and Performance Improvement which includes the shared role as a Privacy Officer for the agency, a leadership role in internal Quality Improvement efforts, and responsibility in securing compliance with CARF and OMHAS standards.  This role also includes that of Triage Coordinator, through which Ms. Brinkdopke reviews registrations and transfers of Child Focus, Inc. clients to ensure they are properly assigned to providers who are trained to meet each client's individual needs, with a focus on the application of Evidenced Based Treatment Strategies.  As a Clinical Supervisor, Ms. Brinkdopke provides weekly supervision to several staff who are working on their independent licensure or are in counseling graduate programs.  In her role as a Community Mental Health Therapist, Ms. Brinkdopke provides diagnostic assessment of mental and emotional disorders, child and adolescent counseling, individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling for children on the Autism Spectrum. Ms. Brinkdopke has received special training in the areas of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) as well as having attended several trainings on working with children on the Autism Spectrum.

Christina Britton, MSW, LSW, received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Cincinnati. She also has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Cincinnati. Christina began her internship at Child Focus, Inc. in September 2017 and became a full-time therapist with Child Focus in August 2018. Christina is a therapist for the Wasserman Day Treatment program.

Tessa Bruner, BA, QMHS, is a Qualified Mental Health Specialist for the Resilience Grant, focusing on building resilience in clients and their families in Clermont, Hamilton, and Brown Counties. Tessa obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology from Northern Kentucky University in 2019. Before joining Child Focus in 2022, Tessa served as a social worker providing case management services where she obtained knowledge and experience in investigating trauma and developing prevention and treatment plans. Tessa also plans to enroll in graduate school to obtain her MSW and LSW.

Renae Butcher, M.Ed, LSW, is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Ohio. She is currently working as a Mobile Crisis Responder and Jail Liaison on the Crisis Services Team at Child Focus, Inc. Renae earned her Master’s Degree in Social Agency Counseling from the University of Dayton in 1993. She earned additional certification in the Treatment of Juvenile Sexual Offenders from the University of Louisville. Renae has an extensive history providing assessment and mental health services to clients in both community and residential setting. Renae joined the Child Focus Inc. team in June 2015.  She received a 2018 NAMI Excellence in Mental Health Care Award for Criminal Justice/Mental Health.