Our Team
Butler County CISM's employees are highly-trained, experienced and dedicated to the success of our business.
Tim Birge
Butler County CISM Team President
Has served on the CISM team for 5 years
Currently Works for the Beaver County Crisis Intervention Services
Has participated in several CISM debriefings and defusings as a member of both the Butler County and Beaver County CISM teams.
Currently has training in Advanced CISM, Psychological First Aid, Disaster Crisis Outreach, and Referral Team, Trauma Informed Care, Workplace Violence Prevention, BLS and First Aid Instructor, National Organization of Victims Assistance (NOVA) trauma support.
Works closely on daily basis with 1st responder personnel in various crisis situations, school officials, and individuals in crisis.
I have witnessed first hand the impact trauma can have on individuals. As a member of two CISM teams, I have had the opportunity to help individuals who have been through the most difficult of times. I have seen first hand the impact that CISM can have in helping people get through these traumas and persevere. This is why I serve on the CISM team.
Just prior to assuming his newly elected role as Butler County Commissioner, Kevin completed his Masters of Science degree at Geneva College for Organizational Leadership to compliment his graduate Community Counseling studies at Slippery Rock University and his undergraduate work at Indiana University for Elementary Education. Kevin actively volunteers and serves as a board member in multiple organizations. Some of the key organizations include Rotary, Harrisville Volunteer Fire Company as an active certified firefighter/EMT, Governor appointed Emergency Management Coordinator, Critical Incident Stress Management, Community Action, Butler County Children’s Center, Butler Emergency Relief Initiative, Masonic Lodge, Local/State Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, and the Local/State Homeless Initiatives.
Jackie Eppler is currently employed by Grace Community Church in Cranberry Township as part of the Care and Counseling Team and serves as the MH Coalition Coordinator for the Cranberry Area Diversity Network.
Though new to this team, years of experience in crisis intervention, leading groups, pastoral and one-on-one care, provide a background for coming alongside others during difficult situations.
Jackie has a Bachelor of Psychology and Sociology from Thiel College and a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Health Services with a focus on mental health and child abuse and neglect. Before her master’s degree, she worked in specialized foster care, corrections, and community mental health, serving as MH delegate for Somerset County and county liaison to Somerset State Hospital. Postgraduate work included research in MH service delivery and consultant to Allegheny County MH Planning, Information, and Evaluation including evaluating closing of Woodville State Hospital.
Jackie is active on various boards and coalitions including the following: Butler County Mental Health/Early Intervention/Intellectual Disabilities Advisory Board, Butler County Commissioners’ Opioid Leadership Team, and Seneca Valley MH Roundtable; Co-Chair, Butler County Suicide Coalition; and Cranberry Area MH and Special Needs Coalitions. Special training includes individual and group crisis intervention, techniques for delivering bad news, interviewing individuals with disabilities, suicide prevention/risk assessment/risk formulation, suicide loss/survivor support, and one-on-one care.
A Somerset County native, who has lived in Minnesota and California, she has called Butler County home since 2000.
She believes that anyone can benefit from having someone to talk to during difficult times and that it’s important to work through hardships and trauma to lessen the impact and encourage healing and overall wellness
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