Our staff is committed to coming alongside you on the caregiving journey. Passionate about supporting caregivers, this team brings years of training and experience into their roles.
Valarie Drown, M.S., NCC, LMHC, Director
Valarie Drown is the Project Director for the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative. Valarie graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with her Master’s in mental Health Counseling. Her passion has always focused on how to best serve those individuals either, with a memory related difficulty, and/or supporting their caregivers. Valarie has been working in this field for 19 years and continues to feel blessed to have a career that inspires and motivates her each day.
Kimberly Comisky, Assistant Director
Kimberly Comisky is the Assistant Director for the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative. Kimberly is a graduate of Siena College where she earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She has been working in human services for over 18 years and is passionate about helping families obtain the care they need. Her goal is to help caregivers feel less alone. She hopes that anyone providing care has someone they can reach out to, whether it is through the Caregiver Support Initiative, a friend, a peer or another community agency.
Tammy Morehouse, Care Navigator
Tammy Morehouse is a Regional Care Navigator for the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative. She joined the organization in May 2021 after spending nearly five years as a senior services specialist and works out of the Queensbury office. Tammy has an associate degree in human services that she earned from Northern Essex Community College and holds a community support practitioner certificate. In the position of Care Navigator, Tammy is looking forward to providing support for caregivers who are in need of assistance.
JoAnn Southworth, Care Navigator
JoAnn Southworth is a Regional Care Navigator for the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative. She attended Plattsburgh State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. JoAnn has more than two decades of experience in the healthcare industry. She previously served as a social worker at a healthcare facility and as an Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) case manager in Clinton County. She has navigated the difficulties of caring for loved ones living with memory issues and relates well to caregivers who are on a similar journey. JoAnn wanted to become a care navigator to help others discover what she has learned as a caregiver.
