Vermont
PSI-VT

Co-chair

Lindsay Lachant, DNP, APRN, CNM, IBCLC, PMH-C, is co-owner of Sage Willow Midwifery & Wellness PLC, a private midwifery practice in Manchester, VT. She is co-chair of PSI-VT. She has worked in maternal health for 20 years in various roles including RN, childbirth educator, lactation consultant, and for the past 10 years, as a Certified-Nurse-Midwife. Since becoming a midwife, it has become apparent to Lindsay that there is a tremendous gap in mental healthcare for pregnant people and families. Her goal is to make perinatal mental health accessible to all Vermonters. She received her certification in Perinatal Mental Health through PSI. Lindsay moved back home to Vermont in 2019 after working in a freestanding birth center in Connecticut for 6 years. Lindsay and her family are happy to be back in Vermont and she is looking forward to advocating, educating, and providing support to Vermont families.

Co-chair

Kimberleigh Weiss-Lewitt, MA, IBCLC, PMH-C, CD/CDT(BAI), E-RYT 500, YACEP is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who supports families throughout Vermont and New Hampshire in her private practice based at the Red Clover Community Wellness Center and the Gentle Landing Birth Center. She is also a Lactation Specialist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and supports families through Berkshire Nursing Families. Additionally, Kim is an experienced and certified birth doula, certified birth doula trainer and a postpartum doula with Birth Arts International  and a prenatal yoga teacher specializing in trauma-informed yoga and yoga as birth preparation.

Kim has served pregnant and parenting people at Rikers Island Jail in NYC with Liberation Prison Yoga as a board member, Program Director and teacher trainer. She has worked extensively with Yoga Service Council , Omega Institute and Yoga Behind Bars where she co-lead the first ever prenatal yoga teacher training for incarcerated women in Washington State.

Kim holds an MA in Applied Psychology/Drama Therapy from New York University. She has her Perinatal Mental Health Certification with Postpartum Support International having completed advanced training in Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders and Perinatal Loss & Grief from Seleni Institute and PSI. She is a proud member of the New York Lactation Consultant Association and New Hampshire Lactation Consulting. Kim lives in Manchester, VT with her family.

Secretary

Jess Dewes is a licensed mental health counselor who works with adults as a therapist. Jess first started her career working with children and families in working collaboratively in achieving their goals. Currently she works as an Adult Outpatient Therapist for a non profit organization in Franklin County. She is a certified perinatal mental health therapist and is passionate about assisting parents with their mental health during pregnancy and perinatal period. She is also interested in assisting parents after they have experienced the loss of their child and works collaboratively with Empty Arms in facilitating groups for parents. Jess lives in the northern part of the state with her four living children and one child who would be twelve this year. Jess enjoys puzzles, traveling, playing games, camping and swimming. Jess has been on the board since 2019 and holds the position of secretary.

Treasurer (NEED)

Outreach & Fundraising

Kiana Gates, LICSW, PMH-C, is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Vermont and Massachusetts and is certified in perinatal mental health. Kiana obtained her Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) from Castleton University followed by her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University, where she concentrated in the areas of health, mental health, and disabilities. Kiana has a very diverse skills set, and currently works as a therapist and as a nephrology social worker. Kiana’s clinical work focuses on providing support to perinatal parents and families, as well as supporting individuals with chronic illnesses. She has advanced training with Postpartum Support International, and is trained in EMDR, IPT, and polyvagal theory. In her free time Kiana enjoys reading, hiking, running, and traveling.

Advocacy Lead

Kate Littlefield, LCMHC is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 15 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings from schools to outpatient services. Currently, Kate is the owner and founder of Through to THRIVE, a new and growing business of her own design that aims to provide accessible, inclusive, tiered levels of support to parents in all seasons of parenting from pre-conception through postpartum and beyond. Kate’s clinical work focuses on couples and family therapy as well as providing inclusive support to perinatal parents and families. She has advanced training with Postpartum Support International, and is trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy, the Neurosequential Model, EMDR, Didactic Developmental Psychotherapy, trauma and family systems. Kate also has a deep passion for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) work and received her certificate in Restorative Justice from Vermont Law School in 2023. She continues on a path to integrate JEDI practices within herself, her family, her work and her community in authentic and meaningful ways. Kate lives at home with her spouse, twin 5-year-olds and dog, Kevin. She loves TV, the woods, crafting and baking.

Advocacy Lead

Cathleen (Cat) Blanchard,  Registered Nurse since 2011 with passion for working with families and children.  Cat first started her medical career as a Critical Care Paramedic before achieving her RN.  She worked in the emergency department as a maternal child health nurse for visiting nurses for 12 years before recently moving to her new position as the Blue Print RN Case Manager at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center OBGYN and Pediatrics.  Cat strives to collaborate with all of clients care team,  provide good experiences for clients and connect them with resources that can be beneficial.  Cat lives in southern VT with her husband, dog Mac and four children.  She enjoys snowboarding and spending time outside with her family.

Liason

Kiersten Parks is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and private practice therapist specializing in the treatment of perinatal mental health. Kiersten is a strong proponent of supporting individuals at any point throughout their reproductive journey and believes that maternal mental health is an integral part of fostering healthy and nurturing families. Kiersten graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Vermont in 2017 and obtained her Perinatal Mental Health Certification in 2023. In her free time, Kiersten enjoys being with her young daughter, husband, and two dogs, reading, baking, and spending time outdoors.

Liason

Wendy S. Hubbard, RN, MPH works for the State of Vermont, Vermont Department of Health in the Local Health office in Morrisville. She has been the Family and Child Health Coordinator (FCHC) for ten years. As FCHC with a group of local providers they noticed there was an inconsistency in the information available to families suffering through loss and resources available to hands on providers when facilitating care for families. The implications extend beyond the mother-father unit and these patients have few avenues addressing their needs. They formed the Childhood Bereavement to address the needs of families experiencing the process of loss. These efforts led her to become a board member of PSI-VT to help share perinatal mental health resources with Vermonters.