Mitigation Specialist Job Board

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​​Attorneys seeking to contract with a social worker can find available social workers by region below. ​​A contract template for PDC attorneys can be found here, and more information and a contract template for panel attorneys can be found here.​​​ ​

If you are an attorney​ would like to know more about mitigation, are curious about what this partnership could look like, or are looking for any specific research, please check out our Mitigation Res​ources page

All social workers listed below have be​en through PDS' Mitigation Training for Social Workers. If you are a social worker interested in mitigation or mitigation training please contact mallory.g.thompson@wv.gov​ and check out more information about becoming a mitigation specialist i​n West Virginia here.




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> Available for work in all counties

Lorie Mullan, MSW, LICSW
Available for work in all WV counties.​
​​I am a licensed independent clinical social worker currently licensed in West Virginia and Virginia. I received my Master of Social Work degree from West Virginia University and have spent my subsequent years treating the mental health needs of children, adolescents, and their families as well as adults seeking individual services. I have also completed the Forensic Social Work Certificate Programs in both foundational and advanced skills through the National Organization of Forensic Social Work.

For children and adolescents, my experience includes both residential, emergency shelter and outpatient child and adolescent behavioral health services. I have specialized training and education in abuse/neglect, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and problematic sexualized behaviors (PSB) and their treatments. I have also worked with countless children, adolescents and parents involved in the child welfare system, including both foster and biological parents as well as kinship caregivers.

I provide behavioral health services to children, adolescents, and adults. I have extensive training in trauma and its lifetime effects. I am a nationally certified therapist for Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and am also working toward becoming a certified therapist in additional therapeutic models and treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related stress. My additional clinical interests include personality and mood disorders, intellectual disability, autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
 

Rick Lee, M.Ed. (Counseling), L.S.W. (Social Work #​AP00942345) L.P.C.A (#265002), C.S.O.T.S. (Certified Sexual Offense Treatment Specialist (National Association of Forensic Counselors-NAFC), M.S.E. (Industrial and Systems Engineering)
740-744-3636, leer@lindsey.edu
Available for work in all WV counties.

I am a Licensed Social Worker (L.S.W.) and graduate level therapist (L.P.C.A.) hoping to improve the lives of others through my service. I do work with sexual offenders and risk assessments and I am also involved in restorative justice in c​ollege camp​us settings. I spend a considerable amount of time ensuring that I am staying current with best practices in the field and I enjoy attending conferences with ATSA (Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers) as I have had the opportunity to participate in national conferences and have presented at these conferences as well. My most recent presentation covered the topic of online grooming behaviors.

I work as Adjunct Faculty for Lindsey Wilson College School of Professional Counseling where I instruct undergraduate students in counseling theory and introductory counseling techniques. I have worked closely with Probation Officers and Attorneys throughout the state of WV as a Licensed Social Worker (L.S.W.) while working with children who presented with abuse-reactive behaviors in a residential psychiatric setting. I currently provide work in the field of substance use where I work as a graduate level therapist and I focus primarily on trauma and the ways in which trauma has impacted the lives of others. I have worked with the Court and with clients on topics such as relapse prevention planning to help ensure the safety of the community. I am familiar with providing testimony for the Court and I work very hard to do the best job possible.

If you would like to hire an experienced clinician with years of experience working with adjudicated offenders I would love the opportunity to chat with you. I am open to ALL WV counties. I want to leave a legacy of service to others. I am diligent, dedicated and trustworthy.


James Cadle, PsyD
304-925-3894 or 304-541-3894, jac896@suddenlink.net
Available for work in most WV counties.

I primarily perform sex offender risk assessment and associated therapy.*


Deb Murphy, L​SW, ADC
304-482-6738, murphydebk@gmail.com 
Based in the Mid-Ohio Valley region, but will also consider other counties. 

I am interested in identifying the root source/cause of an individual’s societal maladjustment and obtaining community based services to assist them. I would like to see our community reserve jail for violent offenders. I am a Licensed Social Worker and a Drug and Alcohol Counselor with many years of assessment, treatment and referral experience.


Cherie Moore, MSW 
304-709-4255, tiahovatter@healthconsultantsplus.com
Available for work in all counties.

Health Consultants Plus Inc. was established in 1991 and is a industry leader in professional staffing, education and training. Our team has trusted and experienced LSW, BSW and MSW on staff ready to assist you.​​


Rashida Dickerson, Psychology degree
Available to work in all counties.

I would like to be an asset to this process, and help assist in Social Justice as wel​l Restorative Justice.​


Mwandishi Cochrian-Goodwin, MSW, LCSW
256 201-2423, mcochrian@yahoo.com
Available to work in all counties.

I’ve always wanted to do mitigation from the first moment I heard about it. Helping vulnerable populations is what I love. Helping a person tell their story to help people understand the why is what I would love to have the opportunity to do. I feel like we as people are quick to pass judgment without knowing all there is to know. Not taking away the accountability for the actions, but helping people better understand. I’ve always wanted to do capitol cases involving mitigating factors to prevent someone from dying by lethal injection.


Jim Manning, BSW, MSW, MPA, SC-LISW
(803) 240-9003, jimm.ghs@gmail.com​, www.grayhairsolutions.org​​
Available for work in all WV counties.
I am interested in functioning as a mitigation specialist and sentencing advocate for the criminal defense team. I have successfully completed the NLADA/NASAMS Fundamentals of Mitigation Certificate training and the Advanced Forensic Social Work Certificate Program offered by the National Organization of Forensic Social. This training and my 4 decades of professional experiences have culminated in acquiring the skills and training to investigate a person’s life history and unmet needs, and to make recommendations for that person’s sentencing and/or treatment. I earned a BSW and MSW at West Virginia University and first provided professional Courtroom testimony in 1980 in Child Protective Services at Richland County Department of Social Services. I have taught college level courses for two decades including an Ethics class I assisted in creating for Midlands Technical College. Most recently, I have provided mitigation services and criminal sentencing testimony in the 3rd and 5th South Carolina Judicial Circuits. I also contract with the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense to work with Public Defenders in Court involved child neglect cases. Finally, I am a member of the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) and the National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates and Mitigation Specialists (NASAMS) section of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA).​



> Northern Panhandle

Marsha Woods, MSW, LICSW (West Virginia), LISW (Ohio), Adventure therapist certification
Available to work in Brooke, Hancock, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, and Tyler Counties.

I have been in the social work field for the last 24 years.  I have a Master in Social Work, Bachelor Degree in Social Welfare and an Associates in Human Services.  I am a licensed social worker in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  I currently work full time for The Village Network serving as a clinical therapist to Youth in Crisis.  The youth on my caseload are actively involved in the juvenile justice system which requires that I participate in court hearings and provide recommendations for treatment.  In the past I completed a mitigation assessment on a local school counselor that was involved in a pill distribution scheme.



> Eastern Panhandle

Heather Klockmann, MSW - LGSW, Associates in Criminal Justice, Bachelors in Forensic  Investigation
Available for work in Morgan County.

I have worked as a CASA in the past as well as a school social worker for the past 5 years.  I enjoy being an advocate for those who are in need of social justice.*

Noel Canellas, MSW, LSW
304-579-3204, naspickler@yahoo.com 
Available for work in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.
Experience with the criminal justice system and report writing.


Kasey Perdue, BSW, LSW
304-820-5812kasey@jccm.us
Available for work in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties.
I would like to help improve lives of those involved in the justice system as well as their families. I believe it is important to view these persons as individuals and not by their crime(s). I am a LSW with a BSW from Shepherd University. I have experience in mental health for adolescents in residential settings, and a strong case management background. I am the department head of case management at a local non profit in Charles Town WV. ​​
 



> Central WV

Julie Gower, BSW, LSW
304-594-6090, juliegower@gmail.com 
Available for work in Central ​and North Central WV.

I've worked as a CASA Coordinator and have interviewed clients in that capacity. I've also taught Parenting Classes for the courts and have had to write reports for the judge. I'm very interested in the interviewing of clients and the contracting framework.



> North Central WV

Elle Webb-Overbay, BA of Psychology, MSW
304-542-1298, ellenikole1@yahoo.com
Available to work in Harrison, Marion, Doddridge, and Barbour Counties.

I have no experience in this field, however I am very interested in beginning work within the field of Mitigation as it combines all of the things I believe I could excel at within the bounds of Criminal Justice and Social Work. I've always had a great admiration for the Justice System and how Social Workers have worked within it. Having the opportunity to become a Mitigation Specialist is something that I look forward to very much!*



Brandi Robinson, MSW LICSW
304-669-2823, brobins7712​@gmail.com​
Available to work in Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, and Lewis Counties.

As a social worker, I have the opportunity to work in various intersecting systems in West Virginia. For the last 14 years, I have completed assessments and interventions with individuals in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I have worked in the fields of criminal justice, child welfare, and healthcare with a specific emphasis on behavioral health. My experiences have provided me with specific skills to be adept at identifying mitigation factors and writing detailed reports for review.


Brittany Henderson, MSW, LGSW
304-919-8130, brittany2310@gmail.com
Available to work in Monongalia, Marion, Preston, and Harrison Counties.

Being able to provide the bigger picture for individuals involved in the court system is huge. Many need rehabilitation not to sit in a cell doing nothing and getting lost in the system. This happened to a family member of mine and they have since passed away.


Julie Gower, BSW, LSW
304-594-6090, juliegower@gmail.com  
Available for work in Central and​ North Central WV.

I've worked as a CASA Coordinator and have interviewed clients in that capacity. I've also taught Parenting Classes for the courts and have had to write reports for the judge. I'm very interested in the interviewing of clients and the contracting framework.



> Eastern WV

Maria Madariaga, MS​W, LMSW
304-860-8235, madamachi7@gmail.com
Available to work in Greenbrier, Summers, Monroe, Raleigh, Mercer, and Fayette Counties.

I have been working as a Spanish/English court interpreter for several years. I am comfortable in court setting.  I have seen while in court that often defendants are treated solely on the content of the crime and not on any outside influences that may have had an effect on the act or their ability to make amends. I feel that mitigation could bring in information that could be helpful to better meet the needs of the defendant and of the community.*



> Southern WV

Maria Madariaga, MSW, LMSW
304-860-8235, madamachi7@gmail.com
​Available to work in Greenbrier, Summers, Monroe, Raleigh, Mercer, and Fayette Counties.

I have been working as a Spanish/English court interpreter for several years. I'm comfortable in court setting.  I have seen while in court that often defendants are treated solely on the content of the crime and not on any outside influences that may have had an effect on the act or their ability to make amends. I feel that mitigation could bring in information that could be helpful to better meet the needs of the defendant and of the community.*


Debbie Thompson, MSW, LSW
304-222-4652, warddebbie71@yahoo.com
Available for work in Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, and Wyoming Counties.

Interested in helping to be a solution with the legal system. Skills include advocacy and interviewing experience.​

Shaa Marcum, BSW, LSW
304-545-5270, ShaaMarcum@gmail.com
Available for work in Boone, Logan, Lincoln, Cabell, Kanawha, Wayne, Mingo, McDowell, and Mercer Counties.
I am an LSW with an undergraduate degree in social work from WVSU. I am currently completing my MSW from Walden University with a concentration in Advanced Clinical Practice.  I will also graduate the MSW program with a minor certification in Forensic Social Work. I have 10+ years of experience working with children and families. I am a member of the WV chapter of the NASW. I have become interested in mitigation work through my work with children and families. I have actively worked in conjunction with the courts, probation, and specialty courts while working with children and families.  I have experience with many types of assessments that take a person-centered approach to holistic assessment.



> Mid-Ohio Valley

Chelsea Zuspan, BSW, MSW, LGSW
304-812-0168, cmullens1993@yahoo.com
Available to work in Mason, Jackson, Cabell, Roane, and Calhoun Counties.​

Familiarity with court procedures, court report writing, knowledge in therapeutic interventions, knowledge in trauma and impacts on decisions and brain development, extensive social work training.​​



*Information accurate as of June 2023.​​