Staff

	Project Staff Ellen Condon, M.Ed. has worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities since 1986. Prior to coming to Montana her experiences included hands on service delivery, program development and program management in community residential and supported employment programs. She received her Masters degree in Special Education from Boston College in 1990 after completing course work in Transition and Supported Employment. She has been on staff at the Rural Institute on Disabilities since April, 1996. She is the Principal Investigator and Project Director for WISER, Linkages to Employment, Graduate to Work, Eastern Montana Graduate to Work, and Youth Corps Project and is Co-Director of Partnerships for Transition. She provides technical assistance, training, and on-site support to schools, agencies, and individuals predominantly in the areas of employment, transition, and Social Security Work Incentives. Contact Information: 634 Eddy, 009 CHC Rural Institute University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 (406) 243-4134 condon@ruralinstitute.umt.edu Kim Brown, MSW started her human services career in 1982 as a volunteer at a vocational program for adults with developmental disabilities. She went on to work in group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses, a nursing home for the elderly and people with severe physical disabilities, and a psychiatric hospital for children. In 1990, Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree. She accepted employment with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and spent the next 11 years as a public assistance caseworker, county assistance office supervisor, State public assistance policy supervisor and welfare reform project coordinator. In 2001, Kim was hired as a children’s mental health case manager, behavioral consultant and community-based psychiatric rehabilitation aide for the Bitterroot Valley. Part-time Linkages responsibilities were added to her position description in the fall of 2002. To continue her journey of lifelong learning, Kim joined the University of Montana Rural Institute as a Transitions Project Coordinator in July 2003. She worked as part of the Transition team for the WISER and Linkages projects, providing technical assistance, training and on-site support to schools, agencies, families and students. She currently serves as Project Coordinator for the Montana Transition Training, Information and Resource Center, and Project Co-Director of the Partnerships for Transition Project. Brown completed her Master of Social Work degree in May 2007. Contact Information: 634 Eddy, 009 CHC Rural Institute University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 (406) 243-4852 brown@ruralinstitute.umt.edu Jillian Jurica has worked in the field of human services for the past 12 years. She has worked as a Family Support Specialist for two different agencies in Montana and has worked a total of 8 years at the Rural Institute on various projects. She is currently the Project Coordinator for the Dynamic Community Connections Project, in addition to working as the Media Specialist with the Transition Projects. Contact Information: 52 Corbin Rural Institute University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2390 jjurica@ruralinstitute.umt.edu Connie Lewis, Project Liaison, has worked at the Rural Institute for six years providing clerical and administrative support to the Training Department and the Transition Projects. She is the Vice President of the Missoula People First chapter, an Aktion Club member of Kiwanis, on the Board of Directors of Very Special Arts (VSA) and a singer in the VSA choir, and she has participated in advocacy classes at Summit Independent Living. Connie has experience as a consumer of Vocational Rehabilitation and DD services and has used a PASS plan to purchase her own vehicle. She owns her own condominium, lives independently and engages in a variety of community activities. Contact Information: 634 Eddy, 009 CHC Rural Institute University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 (406) 243-5467 cjlewis@ruralinstitute.umt.edu

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