Our Team
Executive DirectorDenise McCann
Denise Herr McCann has served as the Executive Director at Centre Helps since August 2021. She brings more than 35 years of experience in human services, focusing on drug and alcohol prevention, risk and protective factors, mentoring, and parenting. She sees her role as building a strong team and ensuring that staff have the tools they need to fulfill the agency mission, while also constantly assessing community needs and looking at ways Centre Helps can fill those gaps. She specializes in program development and advocacy and education. She has training as a family recovery specialist and also serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reviewing Runaway and Homeless Youth programs across the country and to the International Council of Hotlines, evaluating and updating accreditation standards.
denisem@centrehelps.org
Natasha Smith
Hotline Program Manager
Natasha Smith serves as the Centre Helps Hotline Program Director, overseeing the hotline and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Natasha is responsible for the recruitment, training, and operations of these programs, ensuring the highest quality of services provided. Natasha graduated from Saint Francis University with a degree in Behavioral Science and minors in Social Work and Healthcare Management. With a strong background in behavioral health and crisis intervention, Natasha ensures that individuals in emotional distress have access to timely, compassionate, and effective support 24/7.
natashas@centrehelps.org
Kiana Leija (they/them) joined the Centre Helps team as the Administrative and Program Coordinator in May 2026. They run the Youthful Offenders Program and provide support to the 988 hotline staff, the Basic Needs Case Managers, agency interns, and to those in need of emergency food pantry supplies. They graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2023 with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, bringing expertise in crisis peer support, substance abuse recovery, emotion regulation and mental health advocacy to the agency. Additionally, Kiana is a certified 500-hour advanced yoga & meditation teacher and is passionate about providing mindful, easily accessible techniques to their community.
kianal@centrehelps.org
Administrative CoordinatorKiana Leija
Joanna Switala has served as a Basic Needs Case Manager with Centre Helps since July, 2024. Joanna holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Religious Studies, with a Minor in Asian Studies, as well as a Master of Public Administration from West Virginia University. With a strong foundation in public policy and social equity, Joanna has dedicated years to addressing college affordability and advocating for student basic needs before expanding into community needs. This commitment to service led to her current position at Centre Helps where she continues to support individuals and families in the community that she grew up around.
joannas@centrehelps.org
Basic Needs Case ManagerJoanna Switala
Bella Huber joined the Centre Helps team in December 2024 as a Basic Needs Case Manager. In this role, she works to provide critical support and advocacy for individuals and families navigating challenging circumstances. Bella graduated from Penn State University, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology. Through her background in substance misuse counseling, she specializes with clients seeking treatment for drug and alcohol misuse. Her empathic approach allows her to build connections with those seeking meaningful change, helping them access resources and empowering them to take steps toward long-term wellness.
bellah@centrehelps.org
Basic Needs Case ManagerBella Huber
Youth Aid Panel CoordinatorPaul Meister
Paul coordinates the Centre County Youth Aid Panel (YAP). Serving as the liaison between law enforcement, judges, community volunteers, and youthful offenders and their families, he coordinates the development of restorative plans that address offender accountability and victim restitution to help cultivate safe and healthy communities. Paul began serving on the Youth Aid Panel in 2016 and also volunteers with Tides programs for grief support, Big Brothers, Illuman rites of passage programs, and was a Scoutmaster. He has engineering degrees from Penn State and Montana Tech and was most recently an instructor at Penn State where he taught leadership principles to engineering students. Paul encourages anyone interested in becoming a Youth Aid Panel volunteer to please contact him!
paulm@centrehelps.org