Ralph Ward
Agency Director

The Director of Youth and Family Programs received his M.S.W. in 1979 from S.U.N.Y at Buffalo, New York. He has been involved in the child welfare field as a childcare worker and social worker for over thirty years.

Karen Cole
Chairperson

From “73-“76 I tutored kids in reading in Bay Area, “78-“79 I ran a tutoring program for CAVE, “80-“85 worked for Children's Home Society, “85-“90 employed as a Social Worker for Butte County CPS, “89-“90 worked for Youth & Family Programs, & 1991 to present I have taught/counseled in Alter. Educ. Programs for Colusa, Chico Unified & Paradise Unified. Was also program manager for the Asian Teacher Program the summer of 2003.

 

Jen Walter
Director

Originally from Anderson and went to school at Mercy High in Red Bluff. Moved to Chico 1994 from Sacramento and worked at Youth & Family from June 1995 to December 2006. Graduated Chico State with BA in American Studies and bought house in the Avenues June of 2006. Currently at Enloe Medical Center as secretary in the Security Department. Love to work in my yard and cater to the whims of my numerous rescued cats and Australian Sheppard.

 

Pam Johansen
Director

Pam Johansen, EdD, LCSW, is an associate professor in the School of Social Work, CSUC. She has a long history of direct practice with children and families. Pam worked with Ralph Ward at Children's Home Society in the 1980's. In a collaborative effort with Dr. Roy Brazzale, she went on to develop and direct a foster family and group home agency for seven years. The agency closed in 1995 with the birth of Pam's only child, Alex. She has worked in many settings as a licensed clinical social worker, including HIV/AIDS organizations, mental health, substance abuse, and correctional settings. In addition to her full time work at Chico State, she continues to work part time as a clinician at Butte County Jail. Pam is very excited for the opportunity to be part of the board, having watched Youth and Family Programs develop from a tiny office and small staff, to the amazing organization it is today.

Mike McIver
Director

Hello my name is Mike McIver, the newest board member for Youth and Family. In October 2008 I retired from Butte County Children Services after over 38 years of employment with Butte County. The first fifteen years was with Probation as a juvenile counselor, juvenile probation officer and finally as an adult probation officer.

I transferred to Child Protective Services in 1984 as a social worker. In 1990 I was promoted to a supervisor and in 1997 was again promoted to a program manager. During this period of time I worked closely with most of the foster family agencies in Butte County and was always impressed with Youth and Family’s philosophy regarding working with children and families. I am looking forward to serving on this board over the next couple of years.