Dr. Tasha M. Childs, PhD, MSW, LMSW
CCNLI Interior (AKE)
Dr. Tasha M. Childs, PhD, MSW, LMSW is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Missouri and licensed social worker (OH, SC, AK-pending) formally trained as a school social worker with practice experience as a crisis counselor and group facilitator. She has been a member of NASW since 2018 and recently served on the NASW South Carolina Governing Affairs Committee helping organize responses to legislation impacting social workers and their clients and providing trainings to understand to impact of recent legislation for social work practice. Her research and practice focus on eliminating racial inequities in schools by examining contributions of teacher racial bias, leveraging school social workers in schools and youth-serving organizations, and working towards equitable access to mental health services and supports. Dr. Childs has collaborated with schools across the past six years in Utah, Ohio, New York, South Carolina, and recently Alaska, to improve students’ access to mental health services, implement expanded school improvement models, and better understand military-connected students unique service and support needs. She is also trained in motivational interviewing and has supported the development of two school-based interventions targeting youth at-risk of high school dropout and building school readiness to implement social and emotional learning. Together, she uses her experience in these roles and as an instructor working closely with faculty and staff to prepare and teach social work students and engage practicing social workers in ongoing continuing education and advocacy for social work practice with children and families.
Lindsay Bothe Culverhouse, LCSW
Ethics/Non-Voting
Lindsay Bothe Culverhouse is a Child Welfare Consultant and a licensed Social Worker. She brings a broad knowledge base to her work along with a passion for social justice and system transformation. She specializes in program design and implementation and in helping organizations make data-driven decisions. Recent consulting projects include creating a Parent Advisory Committee for state child welfare, developing prevention programs, providing leadership coaching, conducting federal CFSR reviews, and reviewing research to ensure adequate protection of vulnerable populations. She volunteers with her local district council, where she recently created the Greenspace Equity Collaborative, and she is the Ethics Chair for the National Association of Social Workers - Alaska Chapter.
Lindsay has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, with a specialization in Social Work Management. After living in Alaska for over a decade, Lindsay moved back to her home state of Minnesota, where she currently resides with her husband, three daughters, and dog. She travels back to Alaska regularly for work and for the Alaskan wilderness.
Leigh Smith
MSW Student Representative
My name is Leigh Smith. I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and I absolutely love it. In May 2023, I graduated with my BSW from the University of Fairbanks Alaska, and will pursue my MSW at the University of Kentucky in the fall of 2023. In my professional efforts, I worked with special needs children for 5 years, managed several outpatient programs addressing opioid use, and ran groups and individual counseling for an outpatient treatment center. Currently, I work as a Prevention Educator at UAF, and I will soon be transitioning to a new position at Tanana Chiefs Conference overseeing a program responsible for prevention, treatment, and aftercare for Alaska Native individuals experiencing substance use disorders.
I have served on many boards and committees, from the Golden Heart Softball Association and the Organization of Student Social Workers, to the Fairbanks Reentry Coalition and Parent-Teacher Association. My most recent endeavor is co-creating the Nanook Prevention and Empowerment Network at UAF, an alliance developed to address substance use, mental health, and domestic violence on campus. Additionally, I have volunteered with Angels In Motion for seven years, serving food and care packages to the unhoused individuals in my community. During my own time, I enjoy watching crime shows and football, playing softball, and laughing with friends and family. Cheers!
My determination to support and advocate for others comes from a place of deep sensitivity to vulnerable and unprotected populations, as well as lived experience. While the homeless community has a special place in my heart, I am passionate about the well-being of all groups. Additionally, I feel connected to the Alaska Native community and recognize culture as a means of healing and building resilience. I believe in the purpose of social work, to guide others towards a path of love, peace, and happiness; while fostering self-determination and accountability for people to have control of their journey. My goal is to build compassionate communities through valuable education, addressing barriers, and being involved.
“Where there is love, there is life.” - Gandhi
Paradise Porter
BSW Student Representative
Paradise Porter is a first generation, low income, out-of-state, honors student at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) majoring in Social Work and Japanese Studies. At the
university, Paradise is the President of the Organization of Student Social Workers, President of
Students for Disability Advocacy, and Treasurer of the Japan Alaska Club. Paradise is the 2023
Academic Excellence Award recipient through the UAF Honors College. She is eligible for a
Leadership Distinction at graduation. Paradise works at UAF Disability Services as a Student
Assistant.
As a student with a diverse and minority based background, I hope to become a
platform for those who feel their voice being underrepresented. I want to bring attention to the
unique experiences minorities go through. In Alaska specifically, I’d like to work towards having
the Alaskan Native voice and opinion at every table where decisions are made. Social workers
are crucial to society and minority social workers should not be excluded from that due to their
minority. The National Association of Social Workers is an organization that is actively working
towards a diverse, equally led experience and I’d like to be apart of that mission.
Luvenia V. Johnson, LMSW
SHARP Representative
Luvenia Johnson, LMSW, andd graduate of USC School of Social Work, 2014. I have 15 years of experience working in the field of social work, including 6+ years in supervisory roles and leading multi-diciplinary teams. I am pursuing a LCSW and Trauma Specialist Certification. I am a strong believer in remaining current with best practices using evidence based techniques. I provide consultations to patients by providing leadership in patient care planning and caseload management which ensures improved efficiency and effectiveness in services delivered. I actively promote patient/family autonomy by ensuring their participation in the planning, decision-making, and development of problem-solving abilities. I enjoy building relationships and providing much needed resources to enable patients with tools for success.
My vision of NASW-AK would be that all social workers have the opportunity for affiliation, engagement and membership to their professional organization. I will contribute to the vision by maintaining active membership, actively participating on the NASW-AK board, attending board meetings and participating on one or more committees, and engaging in opportunities to share information of the profession organization while networking with other social workers and other professions.
Tonie Protzman, MS, LPC, CDC, PSP III
Executive Director
Tonie Protzman, whose Native name, Yethnhahnilats, means “makes her life strong,” is an enrolled descendant in the Turtle Clan of the Oneida Tribe in Oneida, WI. Tonie was raised and remains in Anchorage, Alaska with her Iñupiat Eskimo daughter, Paisley. ;
Protzman, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), holds a Master of Science (MS) degree in Clinical Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in justice and psychology, both degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She was a PhD Candidate with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Clinical Community Psychology Program with rural and indigenous emphasis, as well. Since graduating with her MS, Protzman has worked in the nonprofit and public sectors of behavioral and mental health. Protzman owns a consulting business, where she consults on behavioral and mental health needs and potential ethical issues around the state of Alaska. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Alaska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Prior to NASW, Protzman was the Executive Director with the Alaska Psychological Association (AK-PA) for a decade.
Protzman shares that she is passionate about reducing stigma associated with receiving behavioral and mental health services and encourages disseminating information/access to alcohol use disorder services and care to Alaska communities. Protzman is a Governor Dunleavy appointee to the State of Alaska Mental Health Board. She serves in a Providers seat.
Protzman’s role as NASW Executive Director will be to increase membership, develop the chapter’s strategic/succession plans and to advocate for social workers in both traditional and non-traditional roles in Alaska and Washington, D.C. She plans to expand continuing training resources that address cultural trainings specific to social worker licensing requirements and to strengthen local presence and impact around the state of Alaska through development of relationships with statewide prevention program partners.
As a first-generation college graduate, Protzman is a devoted mentor, supporting historically underserved populations in Alaska studying higher education. Protzman mentors’ students and professionals new to the behavioral health field with the University of Alaskan Anchorage.
Protzman is a dynamic and powerful American Native woman who is passionate about reducing stigma in Alaska communities regarding receiving behavioral/mental health services. She dreams of one day to have a world stigma free of receiving such services – “it should be the same as going to your routine medical appointment.” Protzman has solid business expertise serving in association management and advocacy while networked throughout the State of Alaska and beyond. Tonie is active in her community, serving on several national and statewide boards and committees that address stigma associated services related to mental and behavioral health issues.
Publications (PEN NAME: Quaintance)
Rivkin, I.D., Lopez, E., Trimble, J., Johnson, S., Orr, E., & Quaintance, T. (2018). Cultural values, coping, and hope in Yup’ik communities facing rapid cultural change. Journal of Community Psychology, 45(1), 1-17.
Rivkin, I., Johnson, S., Lopez, E., Trimble, J., Quaintance, T., & Orr, E. (2017). Yup’ik understanding of stress within the context of rapid cultural change. Journal of Community Psychology, 45(1), 33-52.
Rivkin, ID, Lopez, EDS, Quaintance, TM, Trimble, J, Hopkins, S, Fleming, C, Orr, E, & Mohatt, GV (2012). Value of community partnership for understanding stress and coping in rural Yup’ik communities: The CANHR study. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice.