Alternate Care Team

Nicholas Whelan is a Manager of Alternate Care with Key Assets NL in St. John’s Metro. With a combined total of 15 years frontline and leadership experience working with children, youth and families, Nicholas uses his knowledge and expertise in the field to develop policies, and to design and implement therapeutic programs and services for vulnerable populations. His educational background has helped immensely in fulling his current role. Having completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a focus on policing/criminology, he takes a multidisciplinary approach to issues pertaining to child and youth care. Throughout the years, Nicholas has completed specialized training in crisis intervention, trauma informed practice as well as the implementation of harm reduction-based programming. In his leisure time, Nicholas is an avid musician and outdoor enthusiast. He also enjoys time with his family and friends.

Sam has been a happy employee of Key Assets NL for over 4 years. Sam has held leadership positions in other organizations and has over 2 decades experience in Child and Youth Care roles within Newfoundland and Labrador. Sam is currently a Manager of Alternate Care Services with Key Assets NL and enjoys providing services to children and families in the province.

Samantha has been working in the child and youth care field for 7 years, 5 here at Key Assets in Alternate Care as a frontline staff then supervisor. Samantha also has done volunteer work with the NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Center, and the St. Johns Women’s Center. Samantha has a strong interest in youth mental health and understanding/working as a trauma informed person and recently became an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer and although it is very new, she is already loving the facilitating. Samantha is always striving to learn more about the field of youth care and enjoy attending trainings to connect with others and learn. Samantha has a BA in sociology and psychology, Certificate in Criminology, and the Child and Youth Care with Addictions Support Worker Program.

Joanne Holds a CYW Diploma from Algonquin College- Ottawa/ Youth Studies degree from Mount St Vincent her passion for the field started in residential care in Ottawa Ontario in 1996. Joanne spent 10 years with Child protection agencies in both Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and another 10 years in hospital and treatment centers.  Joanne joined the Key Assets team in February of 2022 and began as Manager of Alternate Care in Central region in November 2022. Joanne loves travelling to Ireland and has had a few trips in Haiti, working in the Orphanage (Hands across the Sea) and is looking forward to going back. Joanne also loves the hiking trails and outdoors that Newfoundland offers- with her children and furry friends.

Brian graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1989 and Bachelor of Social Work in 1999. He started his career with the Department of Social Services in 1989 as a front line social worker in Milltown, Bay D’Espoir. Brian has experience in many of the program areas including Child Protection, In Care, Youth Services and Adoptions and he was the Zone Manager for the Western Region- Corner Brook and Deer Lake offices from 2010 to 2020.

I am an Inuit woman who was born and raised in Hopedale on the North Coast of Labrador. I am a foster Parent who has been fostering children for over 20 years.

I have worked in the mental health, addictions and intergenerational trauma field for 13 years. I hold a certificate in Inuit Intergenerational Trauma and Addictions from the Justice Institute of BC.

I am a trained facilitator in ASIST- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.

I am passionate about teaching our young people, staff and colleagues all about our culture, language and traditions that are unique to Labrador.