Staff and Board
FFND Staff
Christy Dodd, MPH
Executive Director
Christy earned her BA in Bible and Counseling from Trinity Bible College and her MPH from the University of Northern Colorado. She has over 26+ years’ experience in both volunteer and leadership positions in local, state, and National nonprofit organizations from domestic violence, child abuse intervention, working with low income and immigrant populations, education, oral health policy work, small business development, and working with at risk youth. She has lived in ND since 2019. Her passion is to ensure that every child lives in a safe place and that families have the tools they need to provide that. She enjoys spending time with her son and their dogs, being actively involved in her local church, traveling around the state, and working in her flower garden. At FFND, she oversees the organization, does board and staff development and strategic planning along with working as part of the Team to promote the work across the state.
Lindsey Burkhardt
Director of Prevention Initiatives & ND Child Sexual Abuse Preventions Task Force Director
Lindsey Burkhardt has served as the Director of the North Dakota Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force since January 2022. Prior to this, Lindsey devoted 12 years to working in various roles across the Fargo-Moorhead community that have all provided Lindsey with valuable experiences in working with diverse populations. Lindsey began her professional career as a Head Start teacher in Moorhead, Minnesota. Lindsey then worked for Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota as a Family Strengthening Specialist where she is worked with newly resettled refugee families under the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program. Lindsey then began working in juvenile justice where she coordinated a local restorative justice program for the Clay County Attorney’s Office and provided victim services to victims of all juvenile criminal cases. Lindsey then returned to Head Start, a program she loves, where she served in various roles including the role of Project Director. Lindsey then joined Families Flourish North Dakota as the North Dakota Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force Director. In this role, Lindsey is working with a statewide task force to develop and implement a comprehensive statewide approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse. Lindsey believes that all children deserve happy, healthy, and carefree childhoods safe from sexual abuse. Lindsey has extensive training in child sexual abuse prevention and is a licensed facilitator of several training topics including Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development, Darkness to Light, Technicool, and Project Selfie.
Lindsey received her bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She is a mom to four children, a volunteer with a local non-profit organization that is dedicated to improving the self-esteem of adolescent girls and is an ordained minister. Lindsey uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to advocate for others.
Sam Brewer
Prevention Projects and Training Coordinator
Sam earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Dakota. She later continued her education and earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction: Teacher Leadership from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Sam has dedicated her career to serving children and families within the community through various roles. She started her career as a classroom teacher at a local Head Start program and eventually advanced to an Education Coordinator role within the same program. Most recently, Sam served has a Family Coach, helping single moms and their children break the cycle of generational poverty. At FFND, Sam has dedicated her time working with the North Dakota Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force, specifically conducting the Richland County Pilot Projects and supporting other child sexual abuse prevention efforts across the state. Sam currently oversees multiple prevention programs and conducts professional trainings in trauma informed care in North Dakota.
Sam is passionate about personal and professional growth and ensuring she stays involved within her community. After graduating from United Way’s 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program, she continues to volunteer for the program to help grow the next generation of women leaders in the Fargo-Moorhead community. She also currently volunteers with another nonprofit that serves local youth by being a committee member and board ambassador. Sam enjoys spending time outdoors, reading books of all kinds, attending local events and concerts, and spending as much time as she can with her golden retriever, Ellie.
Hailey Schaefbauer
Community Engagement Specialist
Hailey earned her two bachelor’s degrees—Social Work and Catholic Studies—from the University of Mary. There, she produced a capstone project centered on the inherent hospitality within human service careers. She has prior experience in youth crisis work and youth respite care. Most recently, she served within Medical Case management. She previously assisted FFND as a student intern. Hailey is passionate about advancing the FFND mission, she believes all families deserve a healthy home where children can joyfully thrive.
In her free time, Hailey enjoys cooking, running road races, and gardening. Her husband and her are expecting their first child this fall.
Shampayne Hirchert
Preventions Initiatives Intern
Shampayne is in her final semester at Southwest Minnesota State University for her bachelor’s degree in social work. She first heard of FFND when they came to speak at her work’s professional development day.
She has always had a strong passion for caring for children and helping individuals and looks forward to continue that work here at FFND . She is ready to continue learning so much more through this organization and hopes to make many connections for future endeavors.
A fun fact about Shampayne, she plays the trumpet and was part of regular band, brass band, jazz band, and marching band, where she played in the International Lions Parade in Seattle, WA where they took 1st place.
Jacob Davis, MPH
Assistant Director & Tribal Program Director
Jacob earned his graduate degree from North Dakota State University and was the first graduate in the MPH program with the American Indian Public Health specialization. He has over fifteen years of experience working with Indigenous populations through various positions at a state, tribal, and national level. Jacob has worked at PCAND since 2017 when he was encouraged to help develop a tribal arm to serve the needs of the Indigenous population within the state. At FFND, his mission is to raise awareness on the impacts of historical trauma within Indigenous populations by keeping it at the forefront when working with state, tribal, and federal partners. Jacob promotes a healthy lifestyle through weight training, volleyball, and intermittent fasting.
Allison Mahoney, LBSW, MPA
Home Visiting Project Coordinator
Allison attained her BA in Social Work from Minot State University and has been licensed in ND for over 10 years and has since received her Master’s in Public Administration through St. Cloud State University. She has over ten years of experience working in numerous roles within the child welfare system in North Dakota. Additionally, she has over 5 years’ experience working on early childhood systems building and has been trained in numerous evidence-based home visiting curriculums. Allison enjoys sports, outdoor activities, coaching and watching her children’s activities as well as cooking and adventures with her blended family.
FFND Board of Directors
Erin Fox Dukart, President
Erin Fox Dukart is the Director of Environmental Services for Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Erin previously worked in public health as an epidemiologist for several years. Erin graduated from the University of North Dakota with degrees in Biology and Honors. She lives in Bismarck with her husband and three children.
Seth O’Neill, Vice President
Seth O'Neill is an attorney and social worker who currently serves as the executive Director of CAWS North Dakota. He previously worked at the University of Mary as an Assistant Professor of Social Work, at the North Dakota Office of Attorney General, and at White Earth Nation.
Tonya Auck, PMHNP-BC, MSN, RN
Tonya is a board certified mental health nurse practitioner that has been providing quality care in the community since 2012. She obtained her Masters of Science in Nursing degree at University of North Dakota. She was born and raised in New Rockford, North Dakota moving to Bismarck in 2001. An active member in the community. She can be found volunteering at church, fishing, spending time with family, playing volleyball, and working out.
Jeanine Larson
Jeanine is a highly accomplished communications professional with over two decades of experience in public relations, marketing and media. With degrees in broadcast journalism and communication from Penn State University, she brings a creative and polished approach to speaking, writing and strategizing.
Actively involved in her community, Jeanine serves as a board member for the American Diabetes Association, is a religious education teacher at her Church and is an ambassador for Giving Hearts Day. Passionate about effecting positive change for children, she aims to leverage her extensive communications expertise as a board member of Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota to raise awareness and drive impactful initiatives.
Jeanine resides in West Fargo with her husband, two children, and their family dog.
Bernie Satrom, Ex Officio
Bernie Satrom is President and Founder of Maranatha Customer Churches in Jamestown, ND. Bernie has been a member of the ND House of Representatives since 2016. Some of his focus areas in the legislature have been Civil and Criminal Justice as part of the House Judiciary Committee. He was also a sponsor of the bill to establish the North Dakota Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force, a statewide group focusing on Primary Prevention in this area. Bernie is a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and also serves as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at his church. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Montana State University. Bernie and his wife Dianne have 4 sons and 9 grandchildren, and enjoys cooking and gardening in his spare time.
Austin Schauer
Rep. Austen Schauer was first elected to the North Dakota House in 2018 representing District 13 in West Fargo. He was re-elected in 2022 and just completed his third session.
Rep. Schauer is chairman of the Government and Veterans Affairs committee, House GOP Caucus chair and Employee Benefits Program committee. He is also a member of the Industry, Business and Labor Committee.
Austen’s legislative passion is working for the needs of abused children, crime victims and veterans. He is also adamant on healthy communication within State Government.
Austen is a retired news anchor, reporter, and producer. He spent 36 years in the TV news business, mostly in Fargo working for WDAY-TV and KVRR-TV.
Austen is also a fundraiser but looks forward to retiring from that role. With a team approach, Austen has helped raise nearly $20 million for Calvary Church in Moorhead, Park Christian School, Feed My Hungry Children, and the Fisher House at the Fargo VA.
In 2017, Austen helped a start-up recruiting business called ProSource. He remains there as the business development manager.
Austen graduated from both Dickinson State University and UND in communications. He has been married to Angie since 1978 and together they have three grown children and 10 grandchildren. Austen and Angie are members of Submerge Church in West Fargo.
Megan Thompson, Secretary
Megan has been a Family Coach at Jeremiah Program, a non-profit organization that works to disrupt the cycle of poverty two generations at a time, for over 4 years. She has a strong passion for helping families be successful, happy, and safe. Megan earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from NDSU where she worked in Residence Life for 8 years. Megan is so excited to be a part of the FFND Board where she can work with other individuals to help make a difference for children and families.
Jay Meier
Jay retried as a Dean of Students at Bismarck State College and continues to work in state government at Job Service ND. His career has focused on education, mental health, and counseling. Working on boards has been a part of his past and looks forward to being a part of the FFND Board to support those doing the daily work of making a difference in the lives of children and families. He spends much of his time with his wife (Kateri) 2 daughters, their spouses, and 5 grandchildren. This time with family may include fishing, Jay’s favorite outdoor activity.