OUR STAFF

Leadership Team

MIKE PERRY, CEO

Mike Perry, MA, Organizational Management University of Phoenix, BS in Youth Services from Wesleyan College. Mike has spent an entire career in behavioral health care with 23 years of experience. With 10 years experience as the CEO for Century Healthcare in Arizona, Charter NW Indiana, Dungarvin and now Midwest Center for Youth and Families, he has dedicated his career to improving the lives of children with behavioral and emotional problems.
 

MELISSA DUTCHER, DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICES

As the Clinical Director, MJ has implemented the center’s Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
program treating female adolescents with a variety of issues, but a major focus on treating borderline features and self-harming behaviors. MJ began her training in DBT in March of 07 and has continued to complete additional training in 2008. DBT teaches clients how to deal with issues without resorting to self-defeating behaviors. She specifically chooses to integrate DBT into the adolescent milieu because it’s evidence based and successful. It is often commented that clinicians who work with this population find it can be very challenging. Melissa thrives on this challenge because she sees the effectiveness of DBT and how it creates a life worth living for our clients.

MJ is described by coworkers and clients as direct, fair, humorous, witty and team oriented. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology with a concentration in human services from DePaul University in Chicago. She has a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. She has 3 French Bull Dogs, Jaws, Cole, and Helga, is the captain of a co-ed softball league and is teaching a graduate class at Valparaiso University. She also has a private practice with outpatient services.

 

JACI HAARSMA, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Jaci Haarsma, BA, Business & Communications, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI. Jaci transferred to Midwest Center for Youth and Families from one of our sister facilities in Grand Rapids Michigan. While at that facility, she was the Human Resources Coordinator. Jaci transferred to Midwest Center as the Director of Human Resources in 2004. Jaci has implemented many new policies for the organization while still finding time to plan many of the employee activities and events here at Midwest Center.

 

ROBERTA ULLERY-COOMBS, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Roberta Ullery-Coombs, is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University, MS in Educational Leadership, BS, from Ball State University. She also has her endorsement in English for Speakers of Other Languages from NOVA Southeastern University. Most recently, Roberta has served as an Assistant Principal for the School Board of St. Lucie County in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Prior to serving as Assistant Principal, she has taught Special Education to students at all grade levels in Florida and Indiana. Roberta oversees all of the teachers who carry out a clinical education model that combines education and therapeutic techniques. These techniques set realistic expectations for growth to give each student the best chance for success. Her favorite thing about working with children is helping them to accomplish their goals both academically and behaviorally.

 

TAREYLON CHARISE, RN, MSN - DIRECTOR OF NURSING

Tareylon (Terri), RN, MSN, is the Director of Nursing for Midwest Center for Youth and Families and South Shore Academy, therapeutic residential treatment facilities for children and adolescents with mental illness. As a member of the executive staff, she supervises the day-to-day nursing operations for both facilities and works directly with the physicians and nursing staff to insure a high level of patient satisfaction. She has developed an integrative approach in collaborating with teachers, therapists and behavioral health workers for the benefits of our residents and their families.

She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix 2010, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Phoenix 2009 and an Associate Degree in Nursing from South Suburban College, South Holland, Illinois, 1999. As a registered nurse in the state of Indiana and Illinois, she is certified in Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR & AED). She is also a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives.