LifeTies Staff
Lori Morris
Executive Director
lmorris@lifeties.org
Lori Morris
Dr. Morris joined LifeTies as its first Executive Director in July, 2017. She provides oversight to all operations, program development, fund development, new initiatives, program evaluation and development of community partnerships. She has over 20 years of experience working on issues surrounding vulnerable youth involved with the child welfare system. Prior to joining LifeTies, Dr. Morris was co-founder and the first Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mercer County, Inc. which was established in 2000. In 2011, CASA of Burlington and CASA of Mercer Counties merged and Dr. Morris was the director of both programs. After leaving her position in February, 2016, she moved on to two consecutive Interim Executive Director posts at CASA of Union County and Bergen County CASA to assist them with organizational transitions. Prior to her work at CASA, Dr. Morris worked as a Research Scientist at Educational Testing Service, and consulted with Princeton University Center for Arts and Cultural Policy and the NJ Administrative Office of the Courts. She is co-chair of the Mercer County Youth Homeless committee and has been appointed to the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect Staffing and Oversight Review Subcommittee. Additionally, she serves on the Mercer County Continuum of Care Executive Committee, CEASE Oversight Committee, and Mercer County Youth Services Commission.
Emily Anne Mattek, LCSW
Director of Clinical Services
emattek@lifeties.org
Emily Anne Mattek, LCSW
Emily Anne Mattek, LCSW has been the Director of Clinical Services for LifeTies since March of 2014. During her time at LifeTies, she has revamped the clinical department to increase the individualized clinical care offered to our four specialty populations: LGBTQ+ youth, youth with chronic medical conditions, pregnant and parenting youth and youth with complex trauma, hiring and training therapists who specialize in these areas. As a representative of LifeTies in the local community, she sits on the Traumatic Loss Coalition (TLC), the Coordinating Inter-Agency Council on Children (CIACC), and the Youth Services Commission (YSC). Before her tenure at LifeTies and continuing concurrent to her LifeTies service, Emily acts as a part-time clinical supervisor at Millhill Outpatient Clinic. For a decade prior, Emily worked as a school social worker for Children’s Day School. Emily has dedicated her personal and professional time to the social work values of social justice, service, and integrity and spends her personal time fighting for civil rights for all, against hatred, and playing with her children
Deborah Schlipf
Director of Finance
dschlipf@lifeties.org
Deborah Schlipf
Deborah joins Life Ties with 20 years of progressive experience in Senior Financial Management for small to medium organizations, the most recent 5 years in the non-profit sector where she specializes in balancing budgets, developing and managing streamlined, work-flow processes to improve overall efficiency. She is a native of New Jersey, holds a Bachelors' in Business Administration/Finance from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a Master's in Economics from Montclair State University. From 1992-1998 Deborah lived in Colorado where she was a Financial Advisor for Prudential Securities then Morgan Stanley, she also volunteered with the Denver Leadership Coalition tutoring and mentoring vulnerable, inner-city youths, and was a part-time, certified ski instructor at Keystone/Arapaho Basin instructing the same group of Denver public school students for 5 years enabling her to develop their skills. In late 1998, Deborah returned to New Jersey as Interim-CFO for a tech start-up, met her husband and settled down. In her free time, Deborah enjoys outdoor activities, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.
Priscilla V. Cartagena
Executive Administrative Coordinator
pcartagena@lifeties.org
Priscilla V. Cartagena
Priscilla V. Cartagena is the Executive Administrative Coordinator to the Executive Director of LifeTies, Inc. In this position, Priscilla provides administrative assistance for the Board of Trustees, Executive Director, Director of Financer in addition to the Directors of each Program and Clinical Services. She serves as the primary contact for external offices and assists on special projects such as: fundraising events, annual appeal mailing, holiday wish program, donations, etc. Priscilla provides logistical support for multiple projects, meetings, conferences, and workshops. Priscilla joined LifeTies, Inc. in 2011. Prior to her position at LifeTies, Inc., she served as an Administrative Analyst and Assistant at IBM for 3 years and as an Executive Administrative Assistant at Johnson & Johnson for 9 years as assisted in the launch of new products.
Vivian Harmon M.Ed., MSW, LSW
Director of Group Home Services
vharmon@lifeties.org
Vivian Harmon M.Ed., MSW, LSW
Vivian D. Harmon is a New Jersey Licensed Social Worker and Certified School Social Worker with 16 years of diligent service to youth, adults and families. Vivian has extensive experience in various settings including: adolescent residential care, secondary and higher education student services, Intensive in Community Counseling, and the criminal courts. She has committed her education and career to empowering youth and families through education, trauma-informed and strengths based practices, advocacy, and civic engagement. She received 2 degrees from Rutgers University- B.A. in Political Science- Douglass College in 2001, MSW- Graduate School of Social Work in 2009. She also holds a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology. It is Vivian’s personal philosophy that every individual has the ability to attain greatness in all its forms. In order to achieve this greatness, it requires 3 basic things: a desire for greatness, the tenacity for the journey, and the unwavering support of committed persons. She has instilled this in her adult children, a niece and a nephew that she’s raised since they were young children; and the youth that she has committed her life to serving every day. Vivian currently serves as the Director of Group Homes for the LifeTies, Inc. Rainbow and Triad Houses.
Madeline Cauthen-Lloyd
Coordinator of Residential Services
mlloyd@lifeties.org
Madeline Cauthen-Lloyd
Madeline Cauthen-Lloyd is the proud mother of 3 amazing children; Khyir, KhyAsia and Makaya. In addition to being a proud mother, she has committed 14 years of her career in service to youth and families. She served diligently as Head of Security and Discipline for Emily Fisher Charter Middle School. She received her certification as a Medical Administrative Assistant and Medical Billing and Coding from the National Healthcare Association in 2013. Madeline has given 4 years of dedicated service to the youth of the LifeTies, Inc. Rainbow and Triad Houses as the Medical Liaison and Coordinator of Residential Services. In this role she demonstrates stellar leadership in supervising a team of 20 residential support staff; and provides a invaluable service to both homes. Madeline is a woman of integrity and Christian character who brings passion, great leadership, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the LifeTies, Inc. family.
Robin Wilkins, MSW
Director of T.I.L.T. Mentoring & Mary’s Place
rwilkins@lifeties.org
Robin Wilkins, MSW
Robin Wilkins, native born to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. She joined the LifeTies’ family in May 2006, as the Program Director of the agency’s first housing program, called Mary’s Place designated to serve youth ages 18-21 impacted by homelessnessor transitioning from the Child Welfare System. In May 2013, Robin also became the Program Director of our T.I.L.T. Program, which is Teenage Independent Living Training, a program designed to provide skills needed to transition into adulthood such as money management, budgeting, career planning, education planning, health and wellness, and community resources, etc. The mission of the T.I.L.T. program as of 2015 includes providing mentors to our youth, matching them with life-long caring adults to be a friend, a resource and a positive role model in the lives of the youth served. Robin is passionate about the needs and goals of consumers and provides them with much-needed support. She specializes in providing youth the necessary skills and housing resources to attain healthy and productive lives. In her, spare time; Robin enjoys being with family and friends, and spending time with her fiancé. She also enjoys listening to music, playing the drums and organizing youth-driven, fun-filled activities with the youth ministry at her local church.
Teresa "Teri" Triano-Davis
Mentor Coordinator
ttriano-davis@lifeties.org
Teresa "Teri" Triano-Davis
Teri Triano-Davis is originally from Newark, NJ. She attended Kean University and the New School for Social Research. Her career has been spent advocating and educating children and families. She has a background that includes research in neurological disorders. Teri worked for 19 years as a Senior Probation Officer in Essex County where she had experience in several aspects of this department including investigations and direct supervision of adults and juveniles. After leaving that position to care for her family, she was employed as a teacher for 8 years. Wanting to re-enter social services again, Teri joined CASA of Mercer and Burlington Counties as a Case Supervisor training and supervising advocates for 8 years. While there she worked with the Gang Task Force, as well as the Adoption Day Committee. Teri came to LifeTies in January 2018, to assume the position of Mentor Coordinator. Teri is the mother of three grown children and two beautiful grandsons. Her passions are fitness and spending time with family and friends.
Loren Greene
Volunteer Coordinator
lgreene@lifeties.org
Loren Greene
Loren joined LifeTies in January 2019 as Volunteer Coordinator. Loren graduated from Montclair State University with a B.A. in psychology and is currently a student at Rutgers University School of Social Work, where she is working toward her MSW. Loren has a passion for social justice and policy. She curates a weekly newsletter about state and federal social policy news and opportunities for the Rutgers Social Work Policy Network. Additionally, Loren sits on the board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of New Jersey, an organization aimed at supporting the next generation of nonprofit leaders in the state. In her free time, Loren enjoys walking her dog, exercising, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Esther Michel-Auguste
Case Manager at Rainbow House
emauguste@lifeties.org
Esther Michel-Auguste
Esther Michel August is of Haitian descent. growing up in a third world country Auguste always had a passion to see young people succeed and Excel at the full capacity. With a bachelor in Social work, Auguste worked with her local church counsel and teaching the young people in the community.
Auguste had a thirst for more that's when she started working with the young homeless women and their children in Philadelphia. While working with these women to transition them back into the community was satisfying, Auguste wanted to reach the youth at a younger age. Auguste believes that working at LifeTies will give her the opportunity to influence, guide and support the young adults that she serves and their life changing their Journey.
Alicia Morrison, M.D.iv., MSW, LSW
Residential Therapist
amorrison@lifeties.org
Alicia Morrison, M.D.iv., MSW, LSW
Alicia Morrison is a Licensed Social Worker and also holds a Masters of Divinity. She was born and raised in Mercer County and is committed to working with marginalized and vulnerable populations. Prior to working at LifeTies, she worked at Arm In Arm, the Trenton YMCA, Womanspace, and MillHill Behavioral Health. Alicia currently works at a local church where she is the Director of Sunday School and the Church Administrator. Alicia and her husband live in Lawrenceville with their two sons. Alicia is a yogi, she enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and family, and exploring in the outdoors.
Ashante Taylorcox, MA-MHC, LAC
Social Service Coordinator, Rainbow House
ataylorcox@lifeties.org
Ashante Taylorcox, MA-MHC, LAC
Ashante Taylorcox joined the LifeTies team in May 2018 as the Social Service Coordinator at Rainbow House.
Ashante graduated with a B.A. in Music Education from Westminster Choir College and received her Master’s in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (dual degree: LGBT Health, Education, and Social Sciences) from New York University. Ashante has always had a passion for working with youth in her community, particularly survivors of trauma and individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. From working with at-risk youth in group homes and schools, to working with survivors of exploitation and domestic trafficking in New York City. Ashante’s passion has been committed to the youth and adults impacted by trauma within her community and throughout the tri-state area.
In her spare time, Ashante loves spending time with her family, partner, and two fur babies, a cat named Cinnamon and dog named Molly. Additionally, she enjoys lots of shopping trips to Target, milkshakes, and sleeping.
Laura Roberts
Accounting and Office Assistant
lroberts@lifeties.org
Laura Roberts
Laura is presently a Bookkeeper for Lifeties, she has worked in finance for non-profits for over 24 years. She spent 23 years with The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation as Accounting Manager and served as a Bookkeeper for Womanspace for close to two years. She graduated from MCCC, attended Rider for Accounting and Rutgers for Human Resources. She serves on the finance team for her church and belongs to the UMWomens Association.
Deanna Eaves, BS
Mentor Coordinator
deaves@lifeties.org
Deanna Eaves, BS
Deanna graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a Bachelors in Human Services and Psychology. In college, she was a mentor for high school students and loved everything about it, which pushed her towards that career path. Her background is with the DD population managing an adult group home and doing in-home ABA Therapy for children but she wanted to get back into where I have always seen myself, working with at risk youth. She will be pursuing her MSW in plans for an LSW and continue to work with adolescents. She is very passionate about empowering the youth and giving them the support that they often do not get. Acting as an advocate and helping to guide adolescents into a successful and happy life is what she strives for. Her philosophy is to be the change you wish to see and she feels that her role as Mentor Coordinator at LifeTies will help her get there, being that she has seen the positive benefits of what a mentor can do in a young person life.
Ashley Jones
Case Manager at Triad House
ajones@lifeties.org
Ashley Jones
Ashley joined Lifeties September 2017 as a mentor she then became a Residential Support Professional September 2018 she is currently the Case Manager for Triad House. Ashely graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Communication, Political Science and History. She will be pursuing her MSW. It has always been her passion to provide services to at-risk youth. As a young adult, she has sheltered friends who were homeless. Throughout her college career, she was a vital member of P.U.L.S.E mentor program which exposes mentees to a positive role model and helps smooth the transition of the first year student from high school to college. Ashley is passionate about helping youth become all they can be her motto: “ don’t be the excuse, be the example”.