Jill Amos, a 1987 graduate of Vero Beach High School, earned her undergraduate degree in Rehabilitations Services from the Florida State University and her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is a licensed mental health counselor with areas of specialty in Chemical Dependency, Parenting, Domestic Violence, and Grief. Over the last 20 plus years, Ms. Amos has worked with adolescents and adults in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. She enjoys her role at SAC both working directly with clients and their families as well as teaching/supervising other clinicians.

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Irene Cauwels has worked in many roles in the helping professions. She earned her undergraduate degree in Applied Behavioral Science in 1985 and completed her Masters of Science in Human Services and Counseling in 2005. She has worked as a domestic violence advocate, a clinical supervisor of an addictions partial hospital program, and in private practice. Whether an individual is struggling with mental health, career stressors, substance abuse and/or trauma, she believes that each person has the inherent ability to be healthy, and works to help individuals connect with their personal power while achieving healthy lifestyle changes. She is a National Certified Counselor and Advanced Clinical Heart-Centered Hypnotherapist. She is loves her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother and believes that living in Florida is waking up in paradise every day.

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Gina has been an integral member of the SAC team for 13 years. Hers is the first face you will see and the first voice you will hear when contacting the agency. Her position of Office Manager includes drug test coordination and appointment scheduling.

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Jennifer Mobley is a lifelong resident of Indian River County. Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services-Addiction Studies from Indian River State College and went on to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Webster University. Jennifer is a Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (M-CAP) and an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC). Jennifer is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has many years of experience working in substance abuse treatment. Jennifer enjoys reading, concerts, and travel.

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Tony was born and raised in Vero Beach. He is working towards a degree in Human Services at Indian River State College. Tony is an active member of Unity Spiritual Center of Vero Beach and enjoys being a Prayer Chaplain there. He also enjoys being a student and group facilitator of an A Course in Miracles study group. Tony is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist.

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Kathy Jones relocated from Central Illinois in 1983. She has enjoyed a long and successful insurance career as a licensed Insurance Agent/Owner. In 2004, she was first introduced to the Substance Awareness Center and their mission. Overwhelmed with gratitude for the organization she feels she has personally benefited from, she feels blessed and humbled to work for the Substance Awareness Center. Kathy has dedicated much of her life to volunteering in her community and to non-profit organizations such as Daughters of Naomi and Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach. She is an active member of St. Helens Catholic Church. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends in Vero Beach, and cherishes time with her two adult sons, who reside in Alaska and Georgia. Kathy appreciates the outdoors and fresh air, loves to walk and bicycle, and you will often find her about town. She is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist.

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Dan has been self employed as a successful construction contractor for the past 20 years. He joins the SAC for a change in his career direction and to achieve a new sense of fulfillment from his work. He aspires to have a greater impact on his community through his employment at the SAC and enjoys working with others in this new capacity. Outside of work, Dan enjoys the outdoors, spending time with his family, fishing and riding his motorcycle.

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Darleen Medeiros is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. She also hold an Associate Degree in Elementary Education. She joined SAC in 2017 and is a Certified Botvin LifeSkills Facilitator. Darleen has worked with youth for the last 25 years in education, youth outreach and mentoring.

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Kady has worked in the social service field for over 10 years and work with adolescents has always been her passion. Kady completed a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology. She has a certification as a Parenting instructor and as a targeted case manager. She is currently working on a master’s to become licensed as mental health counselor. Kady has two children and is a grandmother to small children.

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Alana has her Master’s in Social Work from the University of South Florida, Tampa which she received in 3 semesters through an accelerated program. She has experience working as the Stroke Social Worker at both Holmes Regional in Melbourne, FL and the prestigious VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, FL. She received her BSW from a small state school nestled into the beautiful mountains of northern Pennsylvania. Alana has experience working with all types and age groups of people which benefits her ability to generate great rapport with all populations. She is excited to be working alongside the great  SAC team in Vero Beach and the amazing people they serve. Alana is a Jersey girl at heart and will forever love the Jersey Shore.

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Catherine is originally from Bloomington, Illinois. She received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Illinois State University. She retired from Indian River School District in 2019 after 42 years of teaching in grades 3-6. Having worked in Middle School for the last 14 years, she became a proponent of the Botvin LifeSkills Training program in her classroom. She joined the SAC team in the fall of 2019. Catherine loves working with students, teachers and her community. She was on the Executive Board of the Teacher’s Union (IRCEA), taught Academic Games for 20 years, and is currently on the School Advisory Council at St. Helen Catholic School. She and her husband Victor are parents of one daughter, Victoria. Catherine has many interests including traveling, photography, music, needlework, and reading. Catherine is a Certified Botvin LifeSkills Training Facilitator.

Michele Buldo began her experience in the prevention field more than 15 years ago. In her first position, she worked for RWJBarnabas Health in Toms River, NJ where she was the Finance Manager for 10 years. For the past 5 years, she worked as the Coalition Coordinator for the DART Coalition of Ocean County, NJ. 

Michele has advocated and established several ordinances and policies surrounding underage drinking; trained over 1,000 servers and bartenders in TIPs (Responsible Beverage Server training); advocated additional Rx drop boxes in the county; and coordinated several county-wide events and initiatives surrounding underage drinking, the illegal use of marijuana, and prescription misuse.

She relocated to Vero Beach in November 2018, where she was hired as the Director of the SAFIR Coalition. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Montclair State University and a Master’s degree in Administrative Science from Farleigh Dickinson University in NJ. Michele has 2 children and enjoys the beach and traveling.