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Board of Directors

President

Brandy Brown, LCSW

Brandy Brown, LCSW

(Pronouns: she, her, hers)

Brandy is the Program Manager for The Gender Clinic Program at Maine Medical Partners/ The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. She provides assessment, therapy, coordination of medical and mental health services, and program development within a multidisciplinary setting. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry for Tufts University School of Medicine. Brandy received her MSW and BSW at the University of Southern Maine and is currently pursuing a DSW.

Brandy is an advocate for improving LGBTQ+ healthcare, with a clinical focus on best practices in transgender health within pediatrics, as well as improving overall systemic competency and functionality within a large healthcare system. Relevant memberships and affiliations include: NASW (President of the Maine Board of Directors and Chair of the NASW- Maine Chapter LGBTQ Advocacy committee), WPATH, MMC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee, MMC Equitable Care Workgroup, New England Transgender C.A.R.E. Consortium, & LGBTQ Youth Coalition (Maine).

She has worked within different systems of care, including psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, residential settings with vulnerable populations including homeless youth, severe psychiatric disorders, veterans and neuro-rehabilitation.

Brandy lives in Southern Maine where she prefers to stay close to the ocean with her family. She enjoys being outside at the beach or on a trail, hiking, camping, reading, and cooking.

1st Vice President

Julie Schirmer, LCSW

Julie Schirmer, LCSW is a behavioral health and curriculum consultant on a Preventative Medicine Enhancement for Maine (PrevME) HRSA grant with the Maine Medical Center (MMC) Department of Family Medicine. She recently retired from her 20+ year position as a behavioral science faculty at the MMC Family Medicine Residency Program and more recent position as Assistance Director of the Family Medicine Clerkship for Tufts School of Medicine/Maine Track Program. She has taught, consulted and held academic leadership positions on regional, national and international levels, authoring multiple articles, chapters and an edited book on Behavioral Health is Primary Care: A Global Perspective. Julie has been actively involved with Maine Providers Stand Up for Health Care and believes that by collaborating with other like-minded individuals and policy makers, we can improve the health and wellbeing of our clients, our communities and ourselves. She has been a member of NASW for over forty years and was co-chair of the Committee on Women’s issues for the state prior to the birth of her 35 and 33-year-old daughters.

2nd Vice President/Secretary

April Turner

April Turner is a graduate of University of Maine where she attained her BSW. She currently is attending the University of Maine, Graduate School of Social Work with an expected graduation date of May 2018. April realized her passion and purpose in social work after becoming a foster parent in 2012. Initially April intended to become a child protective worker; however, as she continued her journey she became more aware that her interest lied in macro social work. In 2016 April ran for the House of Representatives. April continues to be active in her community by volunteering with her local fire department and schools. While an undergraduate student April facilitated the development of a mentoring program between experienced social workers and undergraduate students. April currently works for Maine Families and has worked with families experiencing mental health crisis. April lives in Freedom with her family, dogs, and stray cat.