Executive Director: Denise McCann

denisem@centrehelps.org

Denise Herr McCann has served as the  Executive Director at Centre Helps  since August 2021.  She brings her experiences in drug and alcohol prevention, risk and protective factors, and mentoring to Centre Helps where she enjoys grant writing, program development, and advocacy and education. She is a certified family recovery specialist and also serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reviewing Runaway and Homeless Youth programs across the country. 

988 Program Manager: Brian Rinker

Brianr@centrehelps.org

Brian Rinker, MPH, is the 988 Program Manager at Centre Helps, where he oversees clinical excellence, ensuring every hotline interaction is managed with the utmost skill, empathy, and compassion. Holding a master’s degree in public health from University of California, Berkeley, and currently pursuing Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Pennsylvania Western University, Brian initially joined Centre Helps as a volunteer in 2023. Transitioning from a decade-long career as a public health journalist and writer in San Francisco, he rapidly advanced to managing day-to-day operations and preparing the organization to meet the increasing demand of 988 calls. Brian’s favorite part of the job is empowering the dedicated volunteers and removing barriers to enhance their ability to save lives one call at a time.

Basic needs case management manager:

Moe Kawasaki

moek@centrehelps.org

Moe Kawasaki has been with Centre Helps since Spring 2021 when she began her service as a volunteer hotline counselor, providing short-term emotional counseling and basic needs support to clients. She has also worked as an On-The-Job Training Instructor, helping train incoming hotline counselors. Starting in spring of 2023, Moe began working as a Basic Needs Case Manager, specializing with clients seeking treatment for drug and alcohol misuse. She has a B.S. in Psychology, with minors in Sociology and Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies.

Basic needs case management manager:

Joanna Switala

JoannaS@centrehelps.org

Joanna Switala started with Centre Helps in July of 2024 as a Basic Needs Case Manager. She has worked on college affordability and student basic needs for the last four years before expanding into community basic needs. Joanna has a B.A. in Political Science and Religious Studies with a minor in Asian Studies, and a Masters of Public Administration from West Virginia University.