PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Pathfinder Network (TPN) is pleased to announce the recent hire of Kelly Irish as its new Director of Community Programs. In this role, Irish will oversee the agency's Center for Family Success and act as a liaison between staff, community partners and the agency leadership team. Bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in criminal justice and social work, Irish will play an integral role in ensuring The Pathfinder Network's community programs are fully supported to deliver high quality prevention and intervention services to system-impacted adults, children and families in Multnomah County.
For the past 7 years, Irish has worked as a parole and probation officer with the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice, including leadership roles as a lead and manager. She possesses a Masters of Social Work (MSW), a Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) certificate, and is currently working towards her Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) certification. Previously, Irish worked as the Director of the Celebrate Recovery Program in Eugene, OR, where she managed an all-volunteer staff, taught weekly group lessons on overcoming addictive behaviors, managed a 24-hour crisis line and provided crisis intervention. Her other experience includes working as an African American Rites of Passage Life Skills Instructor with Lane Community College, and interning with Catholic Charities Pregnancy Support & Open Adoption program and the Domestic Violence Resource Center.
"It is an honor to join The Pathfinder Network team and work with a group of professionals who are committed to social justice and helping those in need," said Irish. "I am passionate about the work we do, because I believe in each client who walks into our Center. We are only a small part of their journey, but we hope we can make a lasting impact in each person we serve."
As TPN's service delivery center, The Center for Family Success offers wraparound support for adults, children and families impacted by the criminal justice and child-welfare systems. Services at the east Multnomah County location are delivered at no-cost and include parenting classes, early childhood home visiting, advocacy, youth mentoring and trauma support, gender-responsive trauma coping skills groups, adult peer mentoring, reentry support and family engagement activities.
"We are so excited and grateful that Kelly is joining our leadership team, and for the incredible experience, skill and passion she brings to the work," shared Leticia Longoria Navarro, TPN's Associate Executive Director. "Kelly compassionately lives our mission, vision and values though her leadership and engagement with others, and her contributions already show she is a great addition to the TPN family."
For more information, please visit https://www.thepathfindernetwork.org.
The Pathfinder Network is a 501 (c) (3) social service agency founded in 1993 with a mission to provide justice system-impacted individuals and families the tools and support they need to be safe and thrive in their communities. The Pathfinder Network provides cognitive-behavioral programs, parenting programs, education and support services for pro-social living to adults in the Oregon prison system and to children and families in the community.
SOURCE The Pathfinder Network
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