CornerHouse Staff

JENNIFER ANDERSON, MSW, LISW, Associate Director

In her role as Associate Director, Jennifer cultivates relationships and develops services that enhance CornerHouse's ability to meet our mission. Jennifer represents CornerHouse on the Board of the National Child Protection Training Center, has sat on the advisory committee for the Half a Nation by 2010 training initiative, and has assisted the states of Georgia, Maryland, Ohio and Arkansas in the development of their ChildFirst programs. She was honored to train the investigators from the International Criminal Court in a joint training session with UNICEF. Jennifer has co-authored the articles: Using Interpreters in Forensic Interviews, Forensic Interviews of Children Who Have Developmental Disabilities and The CornerHouse Forensic Interview Protocol: RATAC®.

JUSTIN DIERCKS, Forensic Services Assistant - Video Technician

Justin joined CornerHouse in October 2011 as a Forensic Assistant/Video Technician and works under the supervision of the Forensic Services Director. Being a part of the CornerHouse Support Team, he is responsible for videotaping interviews, dubbing tapes, and the video records library. Justin holds a B.S. in psychology with a minor in digital film and television from the University of Wisconsin.

PATRICIA HARMON, MSW - Executive Director

Patricia came to CornerHouse in January of 2010 as the Executive Director. In her role there, Patricia is responsible for the overall management of the Center, including financial management and fund development, and continued development of programming which will meet the mission of CornerHouse. Patricia has over 20 years of experience working in not-for-profit leadership, the majority of which has been in the field of child welfare. She wanted to work at CornerHouse because of the expertise and passion for children which her colleague staff members show each day. She has not been disappointed!

SANDY HEITKAMP, Program Assistant - Training

Sandy coordinates the Forensic Interview and Special Request trainings that occur at CornerHouse, throughout the United States and internationally. As the Training Assistant Sandy is also responsible for marketing and expanding CornerHouse training services. Sandy graduated from University of Minnesota – Waseca with an associate's degree in Services for the Rural Elderly and Persons with Disabilities. Sandy has many years of experience working at a day treatment elementary school, serving children with multiple mental health diagnoses. Sandy joined the CornerHouse staff in March of 2004.

NOAH INTHICHACK, Forensic Services Assistant - Client Services

Noah Inthichack began his work at CornerHouse in December 2010. Noah is a part of the Forensic Services Team and is the lead Client Services staff. His job is to help children and caregivers feel welcome and comfortable when they come into CornerHouse. Prior to being here, Noah was a youth group coordinator, a substitute teacher and a police officer.

CAITLIN JAWORSKI, B.A., Forensic Services Assistant - Intake

Caitlin joined the CornerHouse team in September of 2008 as a family service volunteer. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in May of 2009. During her college years she worked as a nurse's aide and volunteered at a horse therapy center where she helped children with special needs work on their social, physical and cognitive skills while riding horses. Caitlin began at CornerHouse as the Program Assistant-Client Services in August, 2009. Caitlin is currently the Intake Lead Program Assistant for intakes. In that capacity, she provides direct support and information to CornerHouse referrants in decisions regarding scheduling and coordinating on interviews.

WILLIAM KONCAR, Forensic Interviewer and Trainer

Bill first joined CornerHouse in June 2010 as training consultant and then as a forensic interviewer in June 2011. Bill was a police officer for 34 years in Illinois and Minnesota before retiring from the Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Police Department on December 31st, 2009 after nearly 25 years of service. During his career he investigated over two thousand child abuse cases and was closely involved with CornerHouse over the past twenty years having brought his first child to be interviewed at CornerHouse in 1990.

ANNE M. LUKAS MILLER, LSW, Forensic Interviewer and Trainer

Since joining the CornerHouse staff in 1993, Anne has conducted over 2500 interviews with children, adolescent and vulnerable adults, resulting in a career total of more than 3500 interviews. Anne is also the co-developer and an ongoing facilitator of the CornerHouse training program for mandated reporters. Anne is the primary liaison to the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC), who in partnership with CornerHouse, presents the Finding Words/Child First training initiatives. Anne graduated with honors from Southwest State University, located in Marshall, Minnesota, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a social work emphasis and a minor in psychology. When Anne came to CornerHouse, she had over ten years of experience in juvenile probation, adolescent residential treatment and county-administered social services. She worked for four years as a Child Protection/Child Welfare worker, and five years supervising the Children and Family Services programs in Chippewa County, Minnesota.

MIRIAM MAPLES, M.Ed, Training Director

In her role as Training Director, Miriam has primary responsibility for the management of training service delivery, including planning, evaluation and supervision of the Training Team Members. Miriam also facilitates training sessions for investigative professionals, responds to requests for CornerHouse training services and revises training curricula. Miriam has a Masters of Education degree and is a Parent Educator. Miriam began her career at CornerHouse in September 2005 as the Family Liaison/Volunteer Coordinator and moved into the Training Coordinator position in January 2009. She became the Training Director on June 1, 2011.

SHARON McLAUGHLIN, MS, Business Manager

In her role as Business Manager, Sharon oversees the finances of CornerHouse including budgeting and ensuring the ongoing financial health of CornerHouse. She serves on the Revenue Enhancement Committee, Finance Committee and Communications Committee of the CornerHouse Board of Directors and manages employee benefits. Sharon joined CornerHouse in 2003 after having worked for five years at another non-profit as a Business Manager. She also worked for 17 years as a Social Worker at Hennepin County Medical Center with patients being treated for kidney failure. She has an undergraduate degree in Social Work and a graduate degree in Health Care Administration.

RUT NEWMAN, Volunteer and Administrative Coordinator

As the Volunteer Coordinator, Rut ('root') is responsible for recruitment, training and retention of volunteers who do a variety of jobs at CornerHouse. Rut brings professional certification and membership in the Minnesota Association of Volunteer Administration to this role. As the Administrative Coordinator Rut is providing support and coordination for administration, fund development and the business office. She is also responsible for the management of the CornerHouse data base and provides support for donor relations & special events. Rut comes to us with many years of experience in Volunteer and Database management in non-profits. She has been with CornerHouse since May 2011.

GRACE WERNER RAY, Forensic Interviewer and Trainer

Grace conducts forensic interviews and provides forensic interview training to professionals. Prior to joining CornerHouse, Grace was the founding Executive Director and Forensic Interviewer for Valley Children's Center in Staunton, VA. Grace also served on faculty for the ChildFirst Virginia forensic interview training for 5 years and was Board President for Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia. In addition, Grace has spoken both nationally and internationally on child welfare issues. Grace is excited to join the CornerHouse team.

NANCY SEGER, MSW, Forensic Services Director

Nancy joined the CornerHouse team in February 2011. In her role as Forensic Services Director, Nancy has day-to-day responsibility for the management of interview, family support services and medical services delivery. Nancy has extensive experience as a teacher, children's mental health case manager, and community-based youth program manager helps inform her holistic perspective. She is honored to be a part of a dedicated, child-focused team.

JULIE STAUFFER, MSW, LICSW, Forensic Interviewer and Trainer

In her role at CornerHouse, Julie conducts forensic interviews and provides forensic interview training to professionals. Prior to joining CornerHouse, Julie was a therapist, providing services to children and families in a residential treatment setting. Julie joined the CornerHouse staff in April 2006. Julie is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Social Work degree from the College of St. Catherine / University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work from the College of St. Catherine.

LINDA THOMPSON, MD, Consulting Physician

Staff Pediatrician, Hennepin County Medical Center, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics
Linda graduated from medical school at the University of London, England in 1968. She completed her training in Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota in 1974 and joined the Department of Pediatrics at Hennepin County Medical Center in 1975. She first became involved with the medical evaluation of child sexual abuse in 1986 and was on the planning committee to develop CornerHouse; she has been a staff physician since its opening in 1989. She is on the child abuse teams of Hennepin County Medical Center and the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital, and is a member of the Helfer Society, an honorary society of physicians seeking to provide leadership to enhance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

NANCY VAN THORRE, MA, OTR/L, Family Support Coordinator

In her role as the Family Support Coordinator, Nancy is responsible for the provision of support, information, and referral services to the children, vulnerable adults, and families served by CornerHouse. She also provides support to the physicians during medical evaluations. Nancy joined the CornerHouse staff in March of 2009. Nancy is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist with a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from the College of St. Catherine. Prior to joining the CornerHouse team, Nancy worked as an OT in a residential treatment setting.

JUDY WEIGMAN, MA, LICSW, Forensic Interviewer

Judy is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a master's degree in Counseling & Psychology and a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Since joining CornerHouse in 1990, she has conducted over 3,500-videotaped forensic interviews. Judy assisted in the development of CornerHouse's advanced training course; she trains professionals throughout the country in basic and advanced interview skills and presents at national and local conferences. Judy has previous experience in elementary teaching, as a principal social worker in child protection, and as a therapist in private practice. Judy is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), and a charter member and former board member of its Minnesota Chapter (MAPSAC).