• Mission
• History
• Leadership
• Board
• Employment

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Jessica S. Derrick, M.N.A., joined the staff of Clausen House as Director of Development in 2011. She was raised in upstate New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New York at Albany. She has worked in the independent sector since 1993, focusing on missions that support the visual arts, environment and conservation, health and wellness, philanthropy and human services. Some of the nonprofits Jessica has worked with include the Jewish Community Center, Albany Center Gallery, Artspan, Root Division, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, The Marine Mammal Center, YMCAs and YWCAs. In 2009, Jessica graduated with a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco School of Business and Professional Studies. She enjoys guest blogging for Lipstick & Politics, playing banjo and traveling the world.

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Jaynette Underhill, M.A., Director of Program Services, has been in the human services field for more than 20 years, focusing on organizational regulatory compliance, risk and quality management, operations, management training and national accreditation. She holds a BA in Management and MA in Organizational Leadership from Saint Mary’s College. She is working to complete a doctorate degree Educational Leadership. Jaynette has held leadership positions in for- and nonprofit healthcare, behavioral health, mental health and long term care settings. She is dedicated to efforts that positively impact underserved populations and enjoys working collaboratively with talented professionals who are committed to consumers and families.

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Kristi Anderson, Director of Education, has over 15 years experience in the mental health and intellectual disability field.  She holds a BA in Education from the University of Akron and a M.Ed. in Community Counseling from Kent State University.  She has worked for the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities as a Program Director and as a Regional Director for The Mentor Network.  Kristi holds national certifications as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and a National Certified Counselor.  She is currently licensed as a Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio and is in the process of becoming licensed in California.  Her true passions and interests are dual diagnosis, counseling, and positive behavioral approaches.   

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Mary Frankel holds a BA in psychology from San Diego State University and has worked in the social services field for the past 15 years. She began her career as direct care staff and then became a residential Program Coordinator at Families Creating Living Options, where she worked with young people with severe developmental and physical disabilities. Later she became a Program Manager at Lions Center for the Blind. Mary joined Clausen House as the Program Coordinator for Supported Employment, a position she held for over three years. As our Director of Supported Employment for the past seven years, Mary enjoys visiting the employees placed by Clausen House at their job sites and observing the pride they take in showing off their accomplishments. She also enjoys "collaborating with a great team of colleagues who have the knowledge, patience, and expertise to work well with the individuals we serve in our program."

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Barbara Lang is a 1972 graduate of Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas, where she majored in behavioral psychology and sociology. Her goal in life was to work with people with disabilities. To that end, she joined Clausen House as a direct care, live-in weekend staff member on December 8, 1972. Within six months of hire, she became the Residential Supervisor of the four houses then in existence. A year later, she became the Director of Education and Activities for Clausen House. Barbara was the Director of the Behavior Modification Program, a six-bed home on Adams Street, from 1975 until it closed in 1989. She is currently the Residential Administrator at Perkins and the Belmont residences. Barbara enjoys her work at Clausen House, and with almost 39 years of service to our organization, we proudly acknowledge her many contributions.

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Danielle Richardson is the Residential Administrator for Clausen House’s Vernon Street residence. She has a Family Development Credential from the College of San Mateo and over 17 years of experience working with persons with developmental disabilities. Her journey started with RECARE (now Community Gatepath) on the Peninsula, where she realized this field is truly is her passion and niche. Danielle has worked with persons with severe developmental and physical disabilities and administrated over two homes designed for individuals with various extreme behaviors. She respects the importance of being fit inside and out and finds much opportunity for wellness working so close to Lake Merritt. Danielle believes that all things are possible through faith, trust in a power greater than the self and doing the footwork.

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Bridgette YoungHarry comes from a long line of missionaries, educators, and care providers. Beginning in 1964, her family owned and operated care facilities for people with developmental disabilities. Her family members opened their homes to individuals with special needs, providing foster care for children and safe environments for youth and elderly or disabled adults. These early experiences inspired Bridgette's passion for helping others and led her to pursue a fulfilling career in social services. For the past 35 years she has worked with, lived with, and cared for children and adults with developmental disabilities, as well as aging adults in convalescent, community, and other specialized settings. Bridgette obtained her bachelor's degrees from San Francisco State University in Behavioral and Social Science/Ethnic Studies, with a minor in dance and a discipline in geriatrics. After college, she became a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) and spent the next five years writing and designing program and behavior support plans for three level II facilities. She spent the following five years as a Residential Administrator at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home and transitioned into the position of ILS Program Coordinator there. She joined Clausen House in 2000 and currently serves as our Program Director of Independent and Supported Living Services. Bridgette is married and is the mother of two sons. As a humanitarian, she is driven by a philosophy to serve people with developmental disabilities "body, mind, and soul," in line with the mission, values, and vision of Clausen House.

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