Panel Session III:  Understand, Accept & Value:  Women in Human Services

Marla Behler, MS, LMSW, Program Director, Child Advocacy Center of Putnam County

Marla Behler is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the State of New York who received her Master of Science Degree from Columbia University School of Social Work. She has worked in the field of Child Protection for twenty-eight years in a variety of settings on the East and West coasts. Marla has been Program Director at the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Putnam County since 1999 where she and her team work to ensure that children, suspected of being abused, receive coordinated services they need and deserve, serving close to 300 children per year. Her prevention efforts include public awareness campaigns and trainings promoting child safety and child abuse prevention issues. She was instrumental in bringing the "Protecting Our Children, Lessons Learned from Sex Offenders" program to New York. Marla also co-chairs the Putnam County Suicide Prevention Task Force and is a member of the Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Regional Suicide Safety in Schools Leadership Team and Regional Crisis Team. For more information visit putnamcac.org

Clare J. Degnan, Esq., Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Westchester

For over 29 years, Clare has been a champion for clients in need and serves as the first female Executive Director at the Legal Aid Society of Westchester. A graduate of SUNY Purchase and Albany Law School, Clare and her team provide free criminal and family court legal representation to persons unable to afford an attorney. They represent clients during felony arraignments, may file appeals, habeas petitions in federal district court where there is a claim that a federal constitutional right has been denied, as well as filing certiorari petitions in the Supreme Court of the United States. They participate in Diversion Court, as an alternative to incarceration with the mission of recovery from addiction; Mental Health Court, for those diagnosed with serious mental illness; Family Court, providing representation in matters relating to domestic violence, orders of protection, and parental rights; and Veterans Court, a treatment court which allows for mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for those who have served in or are currently serving in any branch of the United States Military. Under her leadership, the society received grants from the Offices of Indigent Legal Services to fund and develop the Regional Immigration Assistance Center and the Assigned Counsel Resource Center and she has secured grants exceeding $14 million to fund development of new strategies and protocols and is dedicated to providing holistic representation for all her organizations clients. For more information visit: laswest.org

Martha Elder, Executive Director, Second Chance Foods

Martha Elder has been the executive director of Second Chance Foods, a Putnam County New York based food rescue, since August 2016 and is one of its founders. She created the organization’s innovative program which upcycles recovered food into meals which are then donated to local hunger relief organizations. Martha came into human services after working in marketing, data analytics and sales with many personal care companies like Procter & Gamble, L’Oreal, Colgate, and Clairol. While at Clairol, she volunteered with a domestic violence agency and a hospice and her path became clear. She went on to earn her Masters in Social Work at Hunter College and then worked at a residential center with foster care children who were dually diagnosed with a mental illness and an intellectual disability. During her time in Social Work, she saw the impacts of poverty and hunger on children and families. Today, Martha’s work at Second Chance Foods combines her interests in nutrition, protecting the planet and service to underserved communities. For more information, visit secondchancefoods.org

Ann Ellsworth, LCSW, Executive Director, Putnam/Northern Westchester Women's Resource Center

Ann is a seasoned non-profit executive with 15+ years of experience; strategizing, implementing, and sustaining mission driven social change organizations. She currently serves as Executive Director responsible for improving fiscal and administrative policies and procedures for the Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center, a women’s anti-violence, victim service organization for ALL victims of violence. Under Ann’s leadership, the Center provides advocacy and legal assistance, support groups and clinics, a 24-7 shelter for women and children, trained advocates to support sexual assault victims with assistance during examinations and/or trauma, and outreach education among other services. Ann works in partnership with her employees, volunteers and a passionate and dedicated (currently women) all volun- teer Board of Directors to ensure the vision and mission of the organization is reflected in the work of the organization and the community served. Known to be an ethical, compassionate and transparent leader, Ann champions the rights of women and children and ensures that the governmental, legislative and the local community have access to education and opportunities to end violence against women and children and support gender and racial equity. For more information, visit pnwwrc.org

Erin Lee Crowley, Putnam County Legislature & Founder of Hope Chest Sisters Inc.

In her first term as a legislator, Erin represents her hometown of Mahopac, New York. She currently sits on the Economic Development and Energy Committee as well as the Health, Social, Educational & Environmental Committee. In addition to fiscal policy review, as a legislator she is involved in enacting resolutions and local laws. Erin is the founder of Hope Chest Sisters Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides support and advocacy for domestic violence victims. A mother of four and wife of a police officer, Erin is also a small businesswoman and dedicated volunteer. For more information visit https://putnamcountyny.com/legislature

Kelly Primavera, Republican Election Commissioner, Putnam County Board of Elections

Kelly has served the county of Putnam for the past 19 years in various roles within the Board of Elections including Elections Specialist and Deputy Commissioner. In 2023, she was officially sworn in as Republican Commissioner, the first woman to serve in that role. During her tenure, she has overseen over 44 elections and works to interpret the ever changing election law landscape, including over 132 changes since 2019. She is often tapped to speak at the NYS Election Commissioners Association events and can present on a wide range of election topics. Kelly is a staunch supporter of engaging young people, especially young women, to exercise their right to vote. For more information, visit putnamboe.com

Cassie Ward, Historian Moderator, Executive Director of Putnam History Museum

Cassie has served as the Executive Director of the Putnam History Museum since September 2019. She has a Master’s of Art in History, with concentrations in American History and Public History, from American University in Washington, D.C. Before joining the PHM, Cassie worked as the Executive Director of the New Castle Historical Society & Horace Greeley House in Chappaqua, NY; as the Interim Executive Director & Director of Public Programming at Historic Long Branch in Virginia; and as a Project Manager at the Heritage Education Services Department of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. For more information visit putnamhistorymuseum.org