Heather Iese, Director of Residential Services

Heather joined the AK Child & Family team in July of 2021 as the Director of Admissions. An MSW pursuing clinical licensure, Heather has more than ten years of experience working with children and families in crisis, specializing in trauma and adolescent mental health. Originally from Texas, Heather started off her professional journey at Child Protective Services. From 2015 to 2021, Heather served in rural communities including Bethel and Utqiagvik, AK, first with the Office of Children’s Services, and then as Program Manager of Children and Youth Services, the residential care facility in the North Slope. Because of her experience in these rural communities Heather understands the unique challenges families from these communities face when seeking mental health services and strives to streamline the process. Heather and her team of Intake Clinical Therapists are responsible for screening all referrals to AK Child & Family and connecting families to the services that best fits their needs. Heather’s goal is to make sure that anyone who calls the AK Child & Family Intake line feels connected to a resource with clear next steps, even if it is not admission to one of the AK Child & Family programs. When she is not managing her incredible intake team, Heather enjoys spending time with her kids, gardening, and crafting.