The Scottsdale Youth & Community Coalition is an alliance of professional resources and community leaders that support youth, young adults, and families in Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Eating Disorders. The purpose of SYCC is to engage, educate, and empower our community through education, prevention and outreach.
We hold monthly Professionals Meetings (MPM) where community providers and social service organizations come together to share information and ideas on how to best serve the community of Scottsdale and the surrounding areas.
WHO WE ARE
Christine Driscoll, LAAC
SYCC Board Chair
Christine Driscoll, MC, LAAC is a seasoned counselor with more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field. She has provided individual, family systems, and crisis counseling, with specialized training in parenting and in supporting youth through complex challenges. Christine integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing into her work, offering compassionate, practical guidance to those she serves. Currently, she is a Behavioral Health Advisor at Paradigm Treatment, where she brings her expertise and dedication to helping teens and young adults navigate mental health and co-occurring disorders. Beyond her clinical work, Christine co-founded the Scottsdale Youth and Community Coalition, focusing on substance use, mental health, and eating disorder awareness. She also co-founded the Mental Health Matters Arizona Coalition and Conference to expand community education and support around mental health needs. Christine is deeply committed to empowering others through connection, education, and advocacy. Outside of her professional role, she enjoys yoga, hiking, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two adult children.
Francine Sumner
SYCC Board Vice Chair
Francine Sumner is the founder and CEO of Kid in the Corner whose mission is to shatter the stigma that surrounds mental illness and to support the Kid in the Corner whoever that may be. Francine is a mother of three who lost her youngest son Zach to suicide on June 13, 2017, after a short battle with mental illness. In the months that followed, she knew that his story was powerful and could potentially save lives. In September 2017, Kid in the Corner was born. Kid in the Corner has reached over 30,000 people using their Penny Pledge Program to shatter stigma and normalize mental health. In addition to her work at Kid in the Corner, Francine sits on the Mental Health America of Arizona board and helped form the Mental Health Matters Arizona Coalition. She was the recipient of the prestigious 2022 Phoenix Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business, the Arizona Capitol Times 2023 Women of Achievement, and a Congressional Recognition Award.
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Jennifer Cohan, MBA
SYCC Board Secretary Chair
Jen brings over 30 years of experience in the business side of health care to our nonprofit organization. With an MBA in Business Health Care Management, Jen has excelled in a variety of roles, particularly in client relations and business development. Her extensive expertise and dedication to improving health care services have been invaluable assets throughout her career. Recently, Jen graduated from the SHE Leads program at the Arizona Foundation for Women, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities and emerged as the top fundraiser of her cohort. This achievement underscores her commitment to leadership and her ability to inspire and mobilize resources for meaningful causes. Jen is deeply passionate about fitness, health, and wellness, which aligns perfectly with our mission to support youth mental health. Originally from New Mexico, she has called the Phoenix metro area home since 2001. Jen is happily married and a dedicated dog mom, embodying a warm and nurturing spirit that she brings to our board. We are thrilled to have Jen's experience, passion, and leadership on our board as we work together to make a positive impact on the mental health of young people in our community.
Kristy Hahn-McDonald, MSW, LCSW
SYCC Board Community Liason Chair
Kristy Hahn-McDonald is the Human Services Manager at Youth and Family Services with the City of Scottsdale. Kristy has worked in Human Services for the City since 2001. As a state licensed clinical social worker Kristy has worked with various populations including older adults, persons with disabilities, persons experiencing homelessness, culturally diverse communities, and currently working with adults and youth who enter the court system. Kristy manages the State licensed Behavioral Health component at Youth and Family Services where she oversees the mental health programs, provides supervision of licensed therapists and management of restorative justice programs along with Adult and Community Intervention Court programs. She is a board member for the Mental Health Matters Coalition and Scottsdale Youth Community Coalition with the purpose of addressing local mental health needs in her community. Kristy is passionate about the work of Scottsdale Human Services and is always eager to engage with others for the purpose of addressing unmet needs and services.
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Katie Rasmussen
SYCC Board Member
Katie Rasmussen has more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field, working across multiple levels of care. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by mental health challenges and substance use disorders connect with the resources and support they need to recover and more fully enjoy life. Katie is a strong advocate for equitable access to quality care and is deeply committed to improving community mental health outcomes. She considers it a privilege to support individuals during some of the most difficult moments in their lives and takes pride in witnessing their growth and transformation through treatment and support. She also values collaboration with other community providers and organizations, believing the collective efforts are essential to fostering a healthier, more resilient community.
WHAT WE OFFER
The Coalition is a great place to connect with the community and other professionals to learn, share resources, and grow together!
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Monthly Professional Meetings (MPM) - VIRTUAL
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Quarterly CEU Events - Offered by SYCC & Aurora Behavioral Health
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Coffee with the Coalition - IN PERSON
Contact us if you'd like to be added to our coalition email list to find out about future events!
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