THE SUPPORT NETWORK TEAM
Gretchen Emond
Director
📞 413-536-2401 x3032 or 413-530-4689
Our director, Gretchen Emond, has been affiliated with The Support Network for over twenty years, first as a parent seeking assistance with her own child and then as a Family Support Specialist, Senior Family Partner, Co-Director and now Director. Prior to working for The Support Network, she has had experience as a childcare provider and then as a special education paraprofessional. Gretchen has served as a Youth Commissioner in her home town and is a trained CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children) volunteer. She has extensive training in special education advocacy, wraparound care and strengths based, trauma responsive care. She has assisted countless families to become their child’s own best advocate throughout western Massachusetts. She believes strongly that every family has strengths and talents to lean upon when times are tough and that we all create our own unique pathway for healing and recovery. When she is not working, Gretchen enjoys spending time with her family, reading, gardening, and raising chickens and ducks.
Margery Jess
Special Projects Administrator
📞 413-536-2401 x3005 or 413-530-5488
Margery Jess has been employed by the Support Network for over twenty-two years and recently stepped down as co-director so that she could enjoy semi-retirement. She brings her own lived experience raising children with mental health concerns as well a background in Special Education to the program. Margery was part of the Collaborative Assessment Program, the first strength-based program for children in MA. She also was a Senior Family Partner with the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative when the program was first established in 2009. Margery was employed as a Family Consultant with the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services Planning and Review Team working with the most complex child and family circumstances. She is the recipient of the Human Service Forum “Clara Temple Leonard Award”, the “Paul Winske Access Award”, the PPAL “Trailblazers Award” and recently received the “MA Department of Mental Health Susan Sprung Trauma Informed Leadership Award”. During the past twenty years Margery has had the amazing opportunity to partner with hundreds of families to bring the family voice to the table. She spends her free time flower gardening, knitting, exercising, baking, and spending time with families and friends, including her three adored grandchildren.
Janice Lamberg
Bilingual Family Support Specialist/Especialista Bilingue
Jan Lamberg, Family Support Specialist, is the mother of three daughters, all of whom are special in their talents, needs and relationship to the world! As a parent, Jan emphasizes supporting her children in their self-advocacy skills as well as nurturing their development of an ‘ear for the concerns of others’. She enjoys helping other parents strengthen their families and effectively navigate the many public systems of care and she is grateful to families who have shared with her their dreams, struggles and plans for a fulfilling life. Jan describes that perhaps the biggest challenge is learning how to juggle responsibilities with a unique, creative expression. Her efforts advocating for children’s and families’ mental health has been a tireless practice for Jan as she supports families on their distinctive and collective journey!
Spanish/español
Jan Lamberg, especialist bilingüe de familias, es mamá de tres hijas todas especiales por sus talentos, necesidades y relaciones con el mundo. Como madre, ella ha apoyado a sus hijas en el desarrollo de su auto-abogacía tanto como en ampliar empatía para los demás.
Ella disfruta ayudar a las familias en fortalecer su navegación a través de los sistemas de cuido y está agradecida a las familias que han compartido sus sueños con ella.
Se dice de sí misma que quizá el desafío más importante haya sido aprender de desempeñar sus responsabilidades según una expresión única y creativa. Sus esfuerzos apoyando la salud mental de las familias han sido un meta principal y un labor indefatigable para ella.
Shawna Osman
Family Support Specialist
Since 2010, Shawna has been working as a Family Partner and Senior Family Partner at a local Community Service Agency. Shawna enjoys working closely with families to help them identify their strengths, needs and goals for their family and child (children). Shawna has extensive training in trauma informed care, special education, Motivational Interviewing and is a Certified Community Health Worker. Having lived experience raising a child with social/emotional needs, Shawna understands the difficulties faced by parents and caregivers who have children with emotional health care needs. Shawna is the mother of three and grandmother to one. When Shawna is not working, she enjoys gardening, sewing, golfing and spending time with family and friends.
Diosdado Lopez-Martinez
Bilingual Family Support Specialist / Especialista Bilingue
📧 DLopez-Martinez@wmtcinfo.org
Diosdado Lopez-Martinez first moved to Holyoke, MA from Puerto Rico when he was a teenager. For over 30 years he has dedicated himself to working with youth, senior citizens and the community at large in and around Holyoke. Diosdado became a member of The Support Network team in January 2023 as a Bilingual Family Support Specialist. He has a special interest in helping families with social, emotional or mental health challenges both in the community and school systems as he has family members that have similar challenges. Diosdado is a military veteran who also served many years on the Holyoke City Council. In his free time Diosdado enjoys watching sports and spending time with friends and family.
Spanish/español
Diosdado Lopez-Martinez primero se mudó a Holyoke desde Puerto a una edad muy joven. Por más de 30 años se ha dedicado a trabajar con familias, jóvenes y personas de edad avanzada en toda la comunidad. Diosdado comenzó a trabajar con la agencia “The Support Network” desde enero del 2023. Empezó a trabajar como especialista bilingüe. Tienes intereses en trabajar con familias y sus problemas sociales, emocionales y retos de Salud Mental. En la comunidad y el sistema escolar con problemas similares. Diosdado es Veterano y fue electo a la asamblea Municipal de Holyoke por muchos años. En su tiempo libre disfruta de los deportes, su familia y amistades.