Leadership
Dustin Tibbitts, LMFT
Executive Director
Dustin has been with New Haven from its inception, beginning as a staff supervisor working directly with the girls (something he loves). Dustin's experience includes fifteen years working with intensive in-patient residential treatment settings, rape and suicide crisis lines, and raising five foster teenagers in his home over a two year period. He directed the development of New Haven's Family Works© approach, its Values Program, and its employee training program.
His pre-New Haven management experience includes two years in sales, one year in marketing and business development, and one year in a start-up hearing aid manufacturing business with two partners. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor degree in Psychology and from Southern Christian University with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. His clinical expertise is in the areas of healing trauma, attachment disorders, sexual abuse, personality disorders, eating disorders, and depression.
Dustin and his wife have a daughter and two sons, one of whom is adopted. He loves to snowmobile, hike, camp, garden, play jazz, and wrestle with his kids.
Listen to Dustin's Sound Advice.
John L. Stewart, LCSW
Clinical Director
After earning his BA from Utah State University, John went on to Brigham Young University to earn his Masters of Social Work. He is an approved supervisor for interning social workers. John has been practicing in the mental health field for the past twenty years, specializing in addictions, attachment, mood disorders, trauma-related disorders, and therapist training. John developed New Haven's trauma model, upon which most of our therapeutic interventions for PTSD hang. He has also developed and managed intensive outpatient and general outpatient programs for drug and alcohol services. John worked five years as clinical director at a private, non-profit agency doing therapy, training interns and professionals, and developing programs. In addition, he developed and directed Crisis Line Services prior to involvement in the mental health field.
John has been involved in community-based youth organizations for the past 20 years. John is on the National Board of NATSAP and also serves on BYU's Social Work Alumni Organization. He is fortunate to be married to a wonderful woman, with whom he has three sons. John loves to travel and be in the outdoors, camp with his kids, and is a geography wizard. He is a fantastic cook and is well-versed in Native American lore.
Listen to John's Sound Advice.
Laurie Laird, M.Ed.
Utah State Teaching License, School Counselor License, Special Education License (Endorsements: Family and Consumer Science, Biology, Mathematics, and Mild/Moderate Disabilities)
Education Director
Laurie is a graduate of Brigham Young University's secondary education program and has a master's degree in educational counseling from the University of Phoenix. She taught family and consumer science, math, and biology for 15 years in the public school system to junior and senior high school students. She has also worked as a comprehensive guidance counselor specializing in career development and counseling. Her various capacities of service in the Utah education system include curriculum developer, student-teacher coordinator, teacher in-service trainer, and school-to-careers specialist. Laurie is special-education certified and specializes in learning styles, learning disabilities, behavior management, trauma, NLD, and negative mind processes. She is currently an instructor at University of Phoenix, teaching adults in the Special Education Teacher Master's Program
Laurie has four children and enjoys running, sewing, travel, and the outdoors. She lives on a farm in the country, complete with emus, horses, chickens, and dogs.
Listen to Laurie's Sound Advice.
Kris Kilpatrick
Residential-Program Director
Kris graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and has been with New Haven since May of 2000. Kris spends the majority of his time at New Haven doing what he loves most – working with and training the front-line staff and interacting with the girls. He specializes in passive physical and non-physical crisis management and working with girls who display oppositional behavior, personality disorders, and depression. Kris oversees the Residential Department and facilitates New Haven's weekly management meeting. He led the implementation of New Haven's emergency preparedness program and has presented on the topic on several occasions at national conferences.
Kris and his wife Katie, have a daughter and two sons. They have worked as foster parents and have a combined 20 years experience of working with teenage girls. In his spare time, Kris likes to be outdoors with his family and two dogs. He likes to fish, camp, and cook new things (he cooks a mean fried turkey!). Kris is an avid sports fan and loves to talk sports, (particularly college football and basketball) with anyone who will engage.
Debbi Johnson
HR Manager
Debbi joined the New Haven team in 2007. She brought with her 12 years of Human Resource experience. She has worked as the HR Manager in a variety of fields including computer support, telecommunications and manufacturing. Debbi enjoys working at New Haven because of the culture of unity and caring that exists here. She has been very impressed with the program philosophy, the people and the girls and she loves witnessing the dramatic changes the girls make while at New Haven. Debbi enjoys reading, going to the movies and spending time with her family. She has a wonderful husband, four daughters (also wonderful) and 10 grandchildren who are the light of her life.
