Meet Your NASW-Michigan CCNLI Representatives

CCNLI Region 1 Representative: Michael Lenten, LMSW-Clinical

Michael was Born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Michael is one of five children to Michael John Lenten and Susan Bergman. Michael graduated from Negaunee High school in 2000. After taking some time off, Michael entered Northern Michigan university where received a Bachelors of Science (2007) in the study of Political science and public administration, heavily weighted in Social policy and Constitutional History. Michael entered graduate school at Michigan state University earning his Masters in Clinical social work in 2015.

Michael was employed by Pathways Community Mental Health for ten years. During that time he held a variety of positions in Direct care, administration, training, vocational services, case management, adult therapy and child and family therapy. In addition, Michael spent 3 years working in after hours crisis intervention conducting over 500 crisis evaluations. Michael left CMH in 2018 taking a position with the United States Veteran Health Administration working in homeless prevention services as well as entering private practice as a therapist for UP Counseling (Marquette, Michigan) specializing in trauma treatment and behavior change.

Michael is trained in a variety of modalities including: eye movement desensitization & reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Motivational interviewing, Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR), Trauma recovery and empowerment model (TREM) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT.)

Michael participates in several community groups including the Marquette county suicide prevention alliance, Marquette-Alger housing board, Northern Michigan University Alumni Board, and the Boys and Girls Club of America-west end steering committee. Michael also participates with the Northern Michigan University School of Social Work, providing field supervision for MSW students as well as assisting with mock interviews and presentations.

In his spare time Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, Linda Susan Lenten and two daughters: Stella (10) and Amelia (8.) Socializing with friends, gardening, hunting, fishing and being outdoors. Michael is also a lover of travel having visited many other countries including South Korea, Germany, Japan, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

CCNLI Regions 2 & 3 Representative: Tracy Romel, LMSW-Clinical

Tracy Romel has been a clinical master social worker since 2012. Tracy graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a concentration in family and children. She has worked at various agencies which include MDHHS, NeMCMHA and two different federally qualified health centers in Northern Michigan. At this time Tracy has taken on a new professional role as the Community/School Engagement Specialist at the local ESD in Alpena, Michigan. As a Community/School Engagement Specialist Tracy provides direct and indirect services to K-12 students experiencing social, emotional and/or behavioral problems. As the Community/School Engagement Specialist, Tracy works within four local school districts and with parents, various human service agencies, law enforcement agencies and appropriate court personnel to help ensure school success and attendance for the student by addressing social/emotional needs. Additionally Tracy is responsible for the coordination of the 31N services within her local school district. Tracy also provides telehealth outpatient behavioral therapy through an outside professional agency. She is also certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Tracy is passionate about incorporating mental health services in the local school districts in which she works.

In her spare time, Tracy enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremy, sons Jacob (8) and Caleb (2) and of course her dog Leroy (11). She enjoys boating, spending time at her family’s cottage, walking her dog and watching her kiddos play sports. Tracy also serves as an active board member for her town’s local baseball organization.

CCNLI Regions 6 & 7 Representative: Jessica House, LMSW-Clinical

Jessica House received her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis in 2012. Jessica began work in the field with her BSW at a community mental health center in Indianapolis and then with a non-profit organization in Lexington, KY focusing on family reunification/preservation services as well as case management. Jessica graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2018 where she obtained her Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in clinical social work and integrated behavioral health. Jessica is now a resident of Michigan and has clinical experience working as a social worker at an inpatient psychiatric hospital and currently works at Sparrow Health System as a Behavioral Health Consultant within Sparrow’s primary care clinics. Jessica is also pursuing her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) at the University of Kentucky and is a part-time instructor at the university’s CoSW. Jessica is a passionate advocate for social justice issues.

In Jessica’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three dogs, watching sports, boating on the lake, visiting family and friends, and traveling.

CCNLI Regions 8 & 10 Representative: Monica Sampson, LMSW- Macro

Monica Sampson is an experienced social worker with 29 years of practice working with vulnerable children, youth, families and communities. Her purpose is to inform and educate individuals on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by utilize her educational and professional expertise while continuously focusing on the principles of family, community organization and partnerships in the effort to formalize a socially just nation one person at a time.

At The Therapeutic Loft, Monica is a Behavioral Health Therapist and Proprietor, offering guidance and support to individuals and families in need of unique approaches to well-being. Monica also provides individual and group clinical supervision to both licensed and unlicensed therapists in various environments and modalities.

Monica holds several other positions in the community where she is having an impact on social change. she is a Patient Care Manager at United Physicians, Inc. In this role, she supports primary care physicians by providing services to patients with complex chronic conditions and psychosocial problems. Monica also develops and implements individualized care plans designed to promote maximum functioning, quality of life, and improved clinical outcomes.

Monica is also a Lecturer at the University of Michigan's Graduate School Social Work in Ann Arbor, MI. Here, she educates MSW candidates in macro and micro studies such as; Community Organizing, Management, Policy Evaluation, Social Welfare Policy and Services, along with Children and Youth Services and Social Policies. Monica also educates these candidates in Interpersonal Practices. All of these courses are taught with an emphasis on power, oppression, diversity and social justice (PODS) and diversity equity and inclusion (DEI).

In her spare time, Monica is frequently found doing motivational and empowerment speaking engagements to women whom are struggling and need guidance getting back on their feet on the lower East Side of Detroit.

Prior to that, Monica severed as the Director of Youth and Family Services at the Ruth Ellis Center, specializing in LGBTQ family, mental health and substance use disorder services. Monica was a Services Program Manager for Child Protective Services (CPS) in Wayne County, Department of Health and Human Services for eighteen(18) years. Monica prides herself on being knowledgeable in Child Welfare Laws and Policy and sharing this knowledge with the community.

Monica has worked in the educational, private, public and now corporate sectors of social work. She studied Psychology at Westminster College in Fulton Missouri, earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1992. She went on to earn her Master of Social Work Degree from Wayne State University in 2000 and became licensed by the State of Michigan in 2007.

Monica Currently sits on the Board of the National Association of Social Workers and is a Neighborhood Builders Award Recipient from Bank of America titled: Executive Emerging Leader in 2017.

CCNLI Region 11 Representative: Zavette Gibson-Hughes, M.Ed., LLMSW-Clinical

Zavette is a Detroit native, advocate, educator, and creative. Zavette has over fifteen years of experience working with diverse client populations, including marginalized youth, as a teacher and both long-term and brief crisis interventions as an advocate. Zavette received a Master of Education degree from Marygrove College in 2010. After working several years as a Middle School English Language Arts teacher, she returned to Eastern Michigan University in 2017 in pursuance of a subsequent Master of Social Work degree that was obtained in August of 2020.

Zavette currently works as a Crisis Counselor and Medical Liaison at CARE House of Oakland County where she works with families of children and vulnerable adults that have been sexually or physically abused. Zavette advocates for the needs and well-being of child abuse victims and is dedicated to ensuring all families receive equitable quality of care. My life’s work is to help the ignoble and speak for those whose cries are loud, but voices have been diminished.

Zavette is driven to challenge systems of oppression. She is seeking to amplify her voice in this area. Zavette serves on several Human Service Boards and Committees and is excited about the new relationship with the NASW-Michigan.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of ten years, her godchildren and her grandson, Timothy. Zavette enjoys serving in ministry at Greater Emmanuel Church, where she is the Minister of Music. Zavette is an aspiring business owner and author