Who We Are

Administrative - Kate Gross

Development and Communications Coordinator

Meet Kate!

So what do you do?  "A little bit of everything, but a few of my primary roles are: developing print materials and advertisements, maintaining our website and social media outlets, developing annual marketing, outreach, and donor engagement plans, and coordinating special events and campaigns.  A lot of my job is focused on visibility and messaging, and conveying to families and the community what we offer, what we're up to and why."

What drew you to work for ASK?  "My heart is in the nonprofit and human services sector, where I've worked in various capacities for over 15years.  When I came to work for ASK, I didn't realize how our mission would touch me personally.  As a survivor of adolescent trauma, I recognize the want and desire of these kids to be understood, to feel good in their own skin, and to know that people around them care and support them; it makes all the difference.

What's your favorite part of your job?  "Helping to shape the image of a fantastic organization.  I get to be very creative, which is wonderful, and I get to interact with everyone here and we have a fun team.  I especially love it when I get to work on projects with youth & family members.  Their perspective and energy always inspires me.

What's your favorite quote?  "Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Family Support - Christine Eckrich

Family Support Partner

Meet Christine!

 Tell us about yourself and what you do:  I am a Family Support Partner who provides support and assistance to families who are raising children with mood behavioral or emotional challenges. I am the parent of a daughter who was diagnosed with a mental illness at age 16 – anorexia nervosa.

What is your favorite part of your job?  My favorite part of being a Family Support Partner is watching families achieve goals that change their lives forever and instilling hope to these families that everything will be okay!  Life may be different than they know it, but it will be OKAY!

What is your favorite hobby?  A hobby that I enjoy doing is running.  I started running casually when my mother was diagnosed with Advanced Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type when she was only 60 years old.  It was my escape from the anger, as well as exercise that is said to help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s for those who may be genetically inclined to acquire the illness.  If there is anything I can do now to help prevent my children from experiencing this dreadful condition with me and their Grandma, I am motivated to do it.  Over the past several years, as my own life was becoming crazier and crisis filled, I have turned to running more frequently.  No gym membership or fancy clothes needed!  Although now running every day, I still consider myself a casual runner as I am not “training” for any marathon or event.  I do not want to think about the person ahead of me, beside me or behind me, or the cause that may be the theme of the event.  Running is my time to clear my head – cook dinner for that evening, be creative with my finances to pay my bills, re hash my schedule and my children’s schedule for the day, and to think about the people in my life I have lost that I love and miss so much.  My favorite time to run is 5:30 a.m. in January and February when the snow lights up the country roads and I can soak in the nature awakening at that time.  My least favorite time to run is 5:30 a.m. in November when I hear gunshots in the distance and I know that the nature I wake up with every morning is going down!  Always having extremely busy days, I have really learned to appreciate the peace and tranquility of the sounds of nature that are happening around us all the time but we are too busy to hear them.  It is a good reminder for us all to just slow down a bit!  I do not know if running will guard off the onset of Alzheimer’s, but it sure helps to clear my mind right now!  

Family Support - Kathy Howard

Family Support Partner

Meet Kathy!

So what do you do?  "We work with families in whatever capacity they need, it depends on what the family feels they need. We offer a unique source of support,  It ranges from helping a family set goals and work with the family to reach their goals. We support family’s in the engagement process as they are building relationships with the providers they are working with while they are navigating the child serving system. I promote family voice and collaboration.  We will attend meetings with the family, help them  find resources available to them, and make sure the family is informed.  One of the biggest things is offering the family hope.  As a family support Partner we have a good understanding of what the families are going through. Our mission is to empower family’s and that is what we do. We meet them where they are and show them how to problem solve, and feel confident in their decisions while working to reach their full potential, whatever that may look like."

What drew you to work for ASK?  "I am a mother of a child who has significant mental health challenges. During my own journey I encountered many challenges from parenting to finding help. I was judged by others and the community. I was blamed for my child's behavior, there was a lack of understanding and I had many struggles trying to access services. We were heading downhill fast. The biggest thing for me was the fact that as her parent I felt I was not heard or valued.  I am very passionate about families' knowing they are not alone and they can make it through this."

What’s your favorite part of your job?  "The favorite part of my job is the sense of HOPE that families get and the growth they thought they could never reach. I would have to say seeing the family’s grow."

Is there anything about you that people would be surprised to know?  "There is not much about me that I think people would be surprised to know, I am an open book."
Ok, so What is your favorite quote?  "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

Youth Involvement - Kristina Dristy

Youth Involvement Coordinator

Meet Krissy!

So what do you do?  "As Youth Involvement Coordinator, I work closely with Calling All Youth, our youth advisory board for the Kalamazoo System of Care.  CAY members and I work together to develop methods, strategies and structures to assure authentic youth voice and in our system of care."

What is your background?  "I graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology in April 2011."

What’s your favorite part of your job?  "My favorite part of my job is working with the youth in Calling All Youth.  I am incredibly proud to live in a community with such driven, talented and passionate youth.  It is truly amazing to view their accomplishments and help them plan future projects, activities and events."

If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?  "If I could have one super power it would be the ability to speak any and every language.  This power would allow me to travel anywhere in the world and be able to meet new people and learn about their culture."