Rebecca Peterson has been with House of Mercy since 2007. She has worked as a resident counselor, primary counselor, adult residential services supervisor, adult clinical services manager and now serves at Director. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Rebecca has finished coursework towards her doctorate in educational leadership from Drake University and she is in the process of working on her dissertation. As an adjunct professor in the Counseling Department at Drake University, she enjoys teaching students about counseling diverse populations and substance use disorders. She is serving her second term on the Mental Health and Disability Services Commission where she advocates for state improvements to mental health care. Rebecca has a specific interest in serving diverse populations and she is proud to work for an organization that leads the way in providing multi-culturally competent, strength-based services.
Lynn McCormick Lynn McCormick has been with House of Mercy since 1995. She has worked as an administrative professional for 28 years and has a master’s degree in Public Administration. She actively participates in community workgroups to advocate for services to persons with multiple needs. She is motivated by House of Mercy’s healing ministry and especially its work to build healthy and resilient families. She believes in service excellence and building opportunities for all people regardless of their circumstances. She takes great pride in working for an organization that can be life changing for adults and children as they experience personal growth and stable living.
Amy Halsted has worked at House of Mercy since 2008. She has worked as a resident counselor, case manager, primary counselor and currently a supervisor of direct care staff. She has her masters degree in Human Services with a Specialization in Counseling Studies and is a certified International Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has a strong commitment to supporting women and their children in achieving a healthy lifestyle, helping them learn to live substance free and guiding them towards strengthening family relationships. She takes pride in the House of Mercy mission focused on making a positive impact on the community through quality substance abuse and mental health treatment services.
Andy Smith has been with House of Mercy since 1997. She has worked as a classroom teacher and currently as supervisor of the House of Mercy/John R. Grubb Child Development Center and parenting program at House of Mercy. Andy has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa. She recently completed the Aim4Excellence National Director Credential from the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership. Andy has led the Child Development Center through 3 successful accreditations from The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) over the last 15 years. She believes in developing an environment that is stimulating and age appropriate for children and most importantly creating a nurturing environment where all children feel safe and secure. She is committed to building healthy families through parent education and support that emphasizes unconditional love and acceptance of all children.