Growing Together: Building a Stronger Springboard

Dear Friends of Springboard Community Services,

As I reflect on the completion of this past year, I am mindful of the challenges we faced as a result of diminished state and federal program support, and proud of how we persevered and moved forward with the invaluable support of our community. We celebrated the start of construction on the Springboard Community Services Youth Training Center, expanded our behavioral health facilities and access through phase two construction in Carroll County, and grew our community-based in-school services. We also celebrated a fun and successful holiday gala, a wine event, and Inked with Hope, along with the launch of the Collective Conversations two-day conference, where we contributed to strengthening a community of practice for clinicians across central Maryland.

Your support, whether through time, resources, or years of continued involvement, is the foundation that allows us to keep our doors open and our services running for the youth and families who need us most. I am grateful for that every single day.

July marks the first month of our new fiscal year, and we aim to build on the successes of the prior year. We continue to strengthen our programs, welcome new talent to our team, and take meaningful steps to deepen our connection with the youth and families we serve. In this edition, you will find updates on our new Youth Advisory Board, an initiative we are especially proud of, as it ensures the voices of the young people we work with have a direct role in shaping our programs. You will also get to meet some of the wonderful new hires who have recently joined our team, each bringing fresh energy and expertise to our mission.

As we embark on this journey, we are eager to continue our progress with your ongoing support, which has continuously enabled us to serve the youth and families who need us most. None of this work happens without you.

Our community is what makes lasting change possible, especially during periods of uncertainty. Moving forward, we hope to deepen our partnership and communication with you. Below, you will find a brief engagement survey. Your feedback is crucial to our success, as it influences our decisions and the programs we prioritize. It only takes a few minutes to complete, and every response is invaluable to us.

Additionally, we have information about opportunities on our Board of Directors, should you or someone you know be interested in bringing your passion for our mission to the board table.

Thank you sincerely for being a vital part of the Springboard family. Your commitment allows us to continue our work for those who need us most, and we could not do it without you.

F.T. Burden

CEO, Springboard Community Services

We Want to Hear From You

(Please Fill out our Engagement Survey)

Springboard Community Services is only as strong as the community behind it — and that's you. Whether you volunteer your time, attend our events, follow us on social media, or support us through giving, we want to know what's working and what you'd like to see next.

Take The Survey

SAVE THE DATE

Collective Conversations 2027

We're excited to announce that Collective Conversations is returning for its second year!

Save the date for May 10th–11th, 2027, as we bring the community back together for another season of meaningful dialogue, building on the connections and conversations from last year.

Keep an eye on your inbox and our socials — more details, including how to get involved, will be shared soon.

Stay tuned — you won't want to miss it!

Youth Advisory Board: A Milestone Worth Celebrating

We're excited to share a significant milestone for our Youth Advisory Board (YAB). These young leaders have dedicated countless hours to leadership training, curriculum development, and mentorship, showcasing remarkable commitment and resilience along the way.

Through our partnership with Johns Hopkins, YAB members have successfully completed Peer Connection Training Modules 1, 2, and 3, and are now preparing to put their skills into action under the guidance of our Youth Resource Center (YRC) staff.

Soon, our Youth Advisory Board members will have the opportunity to shine before their families and Springboard staff at a celebration recognizing their invaluable contributions to our agency and community.

We're incredibly proud of this group of young leaders and look forward to sharing more about this milestone in the future!

Meet Our New Hires

As Springboard Community Services continues to grow, so does our team! We're excited to welcome several new faces to the Springboard family this season. Each of our new hires brings their own unique background, skills, and passion for community work, and together they help us expand our capacity to serve the youth and families who rely on us.

Meet Kristi Palmerino, LCPC

Kristi Palmerino is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with an M.Ed in school counseling and years of experience in the public school system, along with certification as a career counselor. She believes therapy is a collaborative process, helping clients discover their strengths, set meaningful goals, and build the skills to reach them. Kristi works with children, adolescents, and adults facing anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, and life transitions, using techniques like CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and

Solution-Focused therapy. She sees clients in person and virtually at

our Harford County office.

Meet LaTonya Wilson, LGPC

LaTonya Wilson creates a warm, collaborative space where clients feel safe exploring life's challenges while building on their strengths. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship concerns, using an individualized approach that draws on CBT, person-centered therapy, and motivational interviewing. LaTonya is passionate about helping clients build confidence, resilience, and lasting change. She sees clients at our Carroll County office in Westminster, Maryland, as well as through telehealth.

Please join us in giving Kristi and LaTonya a warm Springboard welcome! We're so glad to have them on board, expanding access to compassionate, skilled care for the clients and communities we serve.

Congratulations to Franki Hooks, LCPC!

The Howard County team is thrilled to celebrate a big milestone: Franki Hooks has officially earned her LCPC license!

Franki’s journey with Springboard began as an intern, and she has since grown into a full-time therapist who has made a meaningful impact on both our team and the clients she serves. Watching her growth has been especially rewarding for everyone who has had the opportunity to work alongside her.

Please join us in congratulating Franki on this well-earned achievement!

Advocate Spotlight: Natalie Klein

Natalie Klein serves as the Victim Advocate for the Carroll County Child Advocacy Center, providing compassionate support, crisis intervention, and steady guidance to children and families through every step of their case.

Recently, Natalie stayed late to support a young sexual assault victim and her mother through a forensic interview and medical exam, ensuring they never felt alone. The next day, still carrying that weight, she led the Center's table at National Night Out — where she was called on again to support a teenager who disclosed an assault.

Natalie's dedication and compassion embody Springboard's values of hope, partnership, and support. Thank you, Natalie, for all you do.

Join Our Board of Directors

Your voice could shape what's next for Springboard.

We're growing — and we're looking for passionate, dedicated people to help lead the way as members of our Board of Directors. This isn't a once-a-year commitment; it's a real seat at the table, where your ideas help steer decisions, strengthen our mission, and expand our impact for the youth and families who count on us.

We're especially looking for advocates who are ready to roll up their sleeves on a committee, bring fresh perspectives, and help us stay bold, inclusive, and mission-driven. The board meets six times a year, so it's a meaningful commitment without being an overwhelming one.

If you're ready for a role where your voice truly matters — or you just want to learn more first — we'd love to talk.

Submit a letter of interest and resume to the email address below, or give us a call.

Call Us

Email Us

Help Us Keep Moving Forward

Every gift helps us open doors for youth and families across central Maryland — funding new programs, expanding behavioral health access, and giving young people the tools to thrive. As we begin this new fiscal year, your support makes it possible to build on everything we accomplished together this past year.