-Meet your 2023 Board Nominees-
Take time to read their bios and cast your vote as we fill seats for our upcoming terms.
Sara Kapp: Project Manager, ND DHHS, Behavioral Health Division (Mandan, ND)
Running for NDFBSA Board Director at Large for a 2 year term
Sara resides in Mandan, ND with her husband Jon, two daughters, Rosie and Ellie and their two dogs, Theo and Benny. Sara was born and raised in North Dakota and graduated from NDSU with a degree in Child Development and Family Science. Sara works as a Project Manager within the Behavioral Health Division with DHHS and has spent over 15 years working with Children and Families in different capacities. Sara’s passion is to help others live a fulfilling life and ensure they have the resources and tools to do so. Sara also serves as a Board Member for a non-profit within the Bismarck-Mandan region called Arts for All, which provides free classes to kids drama, art, music, and writing targeting those who are low income, at risk or have developmental disabilities. Sara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, shopping, reading, and has a passion for health and fitness.
Christine Litzinger, MA Counseling: Mental Health Coordinator, Grand Forks Public Schools (Grand Forks, ND)
Running for NDFBSA Board of Director at Large for a 2 year term.
Hello, I am Christine Litzinger. I have worked in the mental health field for the past 16 years. I started my career supporting children in a youth home setting after their return from the ND Youth Correctional Center. After graduating with my Masters in Counseling, I moved into in-home family therapy, wrap around services and K-12 school-based services. I then moved into the School Counseling professional for 13 years serving adolescents and families. In the last year, I transitioned into my current role as the Mental Health Coordinator for Grand Forks Public Schools. My personal values and my work are centered in children and families. I am an advocate for equality, and work towards systemic changes that support children. In my current role, I work on systemic mental health services that help support K-12 students through community collaboration, mental health training for educators and our mental health team. My mission of strength-based services for students and families align well with the ND Family Based Services Association. Thanks for your consideration of my application.
Brooke Biederstedt, LMSW: Director of Independent Living Services, Nexus PATH (Fargo, ND)
Running for NDFBSA Board Director at Large for a 2 year term
My name is Brooke Biederstedt. I am the Director of Independent Living Services at Nexus PATH. My passion for working alongside transitional age youth started in my role as a direct care staff at a residential facility and has grown in my roles as a treatment foster care case manager and supervisor at Nexus PATH. When working to support youth, one area of growth often overlooked is the development of permanent connections. With permanent connects, youth transitioning to independence have a network of individuals to utilize as resources. It is important to ensure that these connections are not limited to only professionals, but also include family. Enhancing permanent connections is not something that should wait until a youth is transitioning, rather as an immediate skill to be enhanced upon. This connectedness can be the bond that glues all other independent living skills together, acting as a tool kit for youth. Because of this, it is essential in our role as professionals to advocate for continued involvement of family and natural supports in our work.
Emily Althoff, LPCC & LMAC: Owner & Therapist of Althoff Therapy Services PLLC (Fargo, ND)
Running for NDFBSA Board Director at Large for a 2 year term.
Emily Althoff is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor in North Dakota and the owner of Althoff Therapy Services PLLC. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Counseling and a Masters of Public Administration from University of Mary. She has worked with youth and families for over 10 years. Emily has found her passion in working through caregivers to improve the lives of the youth she serves. As a mother herself and having experienced substance abuse and mental illness withing her family, Emily believes in providing the quality of service to her clients that she would want for her own family. Her personal self-care activities include playing at the park with her kids, lounging on the patio with her husband, cooking a super high calorie breakfast, or binge-watching reality TV.