Get To Know Us

Why us?
Meet our founders
Meet the team

At Help in the Home, we strive to be known for our passionate approach and guiding motivation to add value to the communities we’re in. We believe in the importance of creating an inclusive community that provides housing and therapeutic support for people with severe mental illness– one where warmth, care, and support are present – is priceless.

Connection is at the center of why we do what we do. Our team stands by the promise to go above and beyond to lighten the load for our community members and their families whenever possible.

Work with us

In 2008, Rayetta Michael and Stacy Derrick recognized a missing piece in the care of residents in group homes and psychiatric rehabilitation programs. Families were outsourcing parts of their loved ones care to agencies without mental health expertise and not providing the level of support people deserved. Finding a solution started it all!

Rayetta Michael, MA
Founder
Making the world a better place may sound like a cliché until you have an opportunity to see how Rayetta Michael, co-founder of Help in the Home, serves her clients as well as their families, and their legal and medical professionals. Rayetta is a constant source of support for her staff, and acts as a sounding board for her clients to foster trust, honor their independence, and improve their well-being – despite their diagnosis. As a servant leader and advocate for the mentally ill, Rayetta testifies before the State of Maryland to help improve the laws that protect their dignity, quality of life, and medical needs. She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling from The Catholic University of America. You can find Rayetta singing at show choir with her daughter and son, and at church with her family regularly.
Stacy Derrick, BA
Founder
“There has to be a better way.” That magical phrase became the impetus for Stacy to open Help in the Home, LLC with Rayetta Michael, and remains her go-to phrase for everything she does to this day. Stacy mentors our staff and celebrates their growth.Passionate and pragmatic, she regularly implements new systems to support and unify the team. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Stacy is a Girl Scouts Troop Leader for her daughter’s troop and her favorite summers are spent at Camp Airy with her husband and son or visiting Camp Louise to see her daughter. Stacy is actively involved in her synagogue where she serves on their inclusion committee and mental health committee. Stacy enjoys finding different ways to be able to serve her community.

Our Help in the Home story is of a group of caring people who saw a need within our community and created a solution. It’s a story of humble beginnings, of providing love and care to those typically marginalized in our society. We are a story of determination to give joy and heart to all that we do.

Read Our Story!

It’s hard to believe that in 2008, we began our Supported Living Community (SLC) to meet the needs of four people who needed 24-hour support in two homes with five staff. These clients had schizophrenia, pervasive developmental disorders, and depression. Their symptoms were so unique they could not be served in the available group homes, assisted living, and psychiatric residential rehab programs. We created support in such an individualized way that they were able to thrive in the community. Thus our SLC was born. While we’ve grown, our mission, values and philosophies have remained true to who we are and who we serve, and our growing staff extend our vision for joy and heart in all that we do.

Maura Beehler, MA
Program Director
Maura earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, with a minor in Neuroscience from Wilkes University Pennsylvania in 2012 and in 2015 earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Catholic University in Washington D.C. Maura’s mental health experience includes more than two years as a Residential Counselor in a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services-funded community for adults with chronic mental illnesses.
Maura joined Help in the Home in 2014 where she started as a part-time Companion while earning her master’s degree. Upon graduation, she became a full-time Care Coordinator. Maura utilizes her great depth of experience while working with clients in a supported living environment, and offers social support to clients as they re-integrate into the community. Throughout her career, empowering clients and their families to have an active voice in their treatment plan has been and continues to be the driving force behind her dedication.
In her free time Maura enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether that’s enjoying a good movie/tv show together or enjoying the outdoors. Some of her favorite activities include annual camping and beach trips, attending baseball games or concerts, playing video games or board games, and traveling to new places.
Vilma Turgott
Supported Living Community Mentor
Vilma began with Help in the Home in our inaugural year 2008. She has nearly thirty years of experience in working with people. Since 1994 Vilma has acted as a personal care aid and in 2005 turned her focus to providing personal psychiatric supports. As a founding team member, Vilma is passionate about providing individual support to Help in the Home clients as the Senior Supported Living Community Manager. In her role, she provides oversight to a group of clients, and supports their daily routines.
Vilma is known for her heart of compassion, love for all people, and the ability to support individuals in establishing stability and a self-sufficient lifestyle. She values a team-based approach and working collaboratively in a supportive environment to promote independence and provide quality care.
Vilma is originally from Jamaica and moved to Rockville in 1996 and has resided there ever since. In her free time she enjoys going to church and being with her family and friends.
Shannon Harris, MBA, RYT 200, Y12SR
Outreach Representative/Yoga Instructor
Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from The University of Central Florida in 2008. She received her Master of Business Administration from The University of Memphis in 2016. Shannon is also a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance with an additional certification in Yoga for 12 Step Recovery.
Shannon began her career in behavioral health as an intern counselor at a substance abuse treatment facility in Orlando, FL in 2008. In 2009 she accepted an administrative assistant role at a residential psychiatric treatment facility where she discovered her love for the business behind mental health treatment, eventually moving into a national outreach role within the organization. Since 2011, Shannon has worked in outreach and business development for behavioral health organizations. In addition to bringing a wealth of industry knowledge to our team, Shannon excels at creating and nurturing connections within the community. She does this with an exceptional level of heart and skill, and there is no better person to represent us.
In her free time Shannon enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs. She also enjoys practicing martial arts, yoga and riding her Peloton. She is also in the process of completing her MSW and is scheduled to graduate in the summer of 2024.
Edna Bertus, MHA
Supported Living Community Specialist
Edna earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from York College of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in Health Administration from Ashford University. Edna has twenty years of experience working in the mental health field and has worked in a variety of roles such as office manager, case manager and supervisor. Edna is highly skilled in planning, organizing and monitoring clients’ activities, designing behavioral support plans, and monitoring behavioral issues.
What Edna values most about her work at Help in the Home is the sense of achievement she feels by being able to have the autonomy to successfully complete her tasks and serve others in a pleasant work environment. She is a great team player and very passionate about her work. Edna’s dedication, flexibility, communication skills and positive attitude make her invaluable.
In her free time, Edna enjoys spending time with her family, attending church meetings and listening to inspirational speakers.
Kim Johnson, MA
Care Coordinator/Peer Mentor
Kim received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1999 from Bowie State University. In 2009 she received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Bowie State University. Currently, Kim is working towards becoming a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner.
Before joining the Help in the Home team, Kim worked for over 10 years at a mental health agency where she learned to facilitate groups, the process of treatment planning and also facilitated home visits. Eventually she became the Rehabilitation Manager overseeing the day program where she participated in marketing the program, training and supervising staff, onboarding new hires, and worked collaboratively with various outside agencies. What she values most about working for Help in the Home is the people that she works with which includes both clients and her co-workers. Kim brings experience and stability to our Help in the Home team!
In her free time, Kim loves to sing. She has sung with a gospel choir for over 15 years! Kim also enjoys reading books about the paranormal.
Caitlin Wheeler, LBSW
Care Coordinator
Caitlin earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. While earning her undergraduate degree Caitlin completed her internship at Help in the Home. We are so glad she decided to stay on with us after her internship was complete and joined our team full-time as the Assistant SLC Supervisor!
Caitlin has now been promoted to Care Coordinator. She loves the feeling of community at Help in the Home. Caitlin appreciates that everyone feels very close and that she does not feel ashamed or embarrassed if she does something wrong or needs help with a certain situation. We love the fresh and new perspective Caitlin brings to the clients and community along with her upbeat attitude!
In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys reading. She also enjoys taking long hikes with her dog. Her dog is her whole life!
Kaleesha Redparth, MSW
Care Coordinator
Kaleesha graduated from the University of Baltimore County with her bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 2016. In 2019 she graduated with her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She has also completed additional training in bereavement and mental health.
Kaleesha comes to us with an extensive background working in the mental health field. She has served multiple agencies in multiple roles including housing specialist, specialized case manager, and residential counselor. What she values the most about working at Help in the Home is the interaction with the clients. Kaleesha brings a unique perspective to our team with her previous job experience as well as her personal experiences facing adversity.
In her free time, Kaleesha enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, especially her toddler son. She also loves swimming and watching all types of movies. She’s also a lover of most genres of music but her favorite type of music is reggae.
Ryan Simpson
Supported Living Community Specialist
Ryan received his undergraduate degree in Business Management from Howard Community College. He is also certified as a Patient Care Technician (PCT) and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
Ryan’s background includes volunteering at a senior living facility throughout his freshman year of college. One of the things he values most about working at Help in the Home is helping our community members solve day to day issues. He also loves creating bonds between community members and being able to contribute to their growth.
In Ryan’s free time, he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and surfing. He is also an avid kickboxer. Additionally, Ryan enjoys exploring art museums and spending time at the zoo.
Lindsay Young
Executive Administrative Assistant
Lindsay has more than 10 years of experience in the administrative field. Her eye for detail and eagerness in problem solving makes her a valuable asset to our organization. In her role, she works closely with the owners and the staff to support them in anything they may need. Lindsay is a very proactive and energetic member of our team!
What Lindsay values most about her work at Help in the Home is serving our owners and staff because they are the most compassionate and loving people she has ever met. Lindsay knew after her first interview with our owners Rayetta and Stacy that this was the place she had to join. She is grateful that her path led her here, and that the owners and staff at Help in the Home inspire her to grow every day.
In her free time, Lindsay serves as Uber driver to her 3 children who are all involved in different activities. She and her family love doing puzzles, listening to music and having dance parties in their kitchen. Lindsay and her family are always entertaining friends and family and enjoy having fun together!
Dr. Ioanna Gisone, Ph.D.
Family Consultation Specialist
Ioanna has a Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology that she received from Michigan State University after getting her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Spanish from Rutgers University. She has worked as an Assistant Director of Admissions for a private outpatient mental health program for young adults with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders. Ioanna also brings experience in outreach, business development, and marketing. In addition, she has training and experience providing therapy, individual and parent coaching, plus psychological testing and research.
She values the ability to help each and every client find stability, community, and joy in their lives. It is tremendously important to Ioanna to provide support to every client’s family so they can work as a team to help their loved one in their mental health journey. She brings passion, empathy, and a willingness to learn to Help in the Home and feels fulfilled when working with our passionate team.
Ioanna likes to watch movies and documentaries with her husband and children. She also loves things like visiting coffee shops and farmer’s markets, dog sitting, attending soccer games, and reading!
Morgan McCulley, MA
Independent Support Services Program Manager
Morgan received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from Oklahoma State University in 2013. She received her graduate degree in Forensic and Legal Psychology from Marymount University in 2015. In addition to her education, Morgan has extensive experience in supporting individuals with serious mental illness and their families.
Prior to working at Help in the Home, Morgan worked as a Program Manager at a group home that specialized in working with individuals with SMI and oversaw their daily operations. She also has experience providing case management to individuals with SMI and legal involvement. What Morgan loves the most about working at Help in the Home is working with staff, clients, and families to create a team dynamic in supporting clients to achieve their goals. She appreciates being able to meet clients where they are and identify ways our team can support them on their journey.
In her free time, Morgan enjoys playing music. Currently, her instrument of choice is the guitar. She also enjoys reading and self identifies as having a slight obsession with tv shows.
Shawn Campbell, MSW
Supported Living Community Program Manager
Shawn received his Business Administration degree from Strayer University and then completed his Masters Degree in Social Work from Howard University. His past social work experience was working in long term care facilities, a drug rehabilitation center, and working collaboratively with geriatric dietitians. Here at Help in the Home Shawn utilizes the skills he’s learned over the years to add value to the services he provides to clients.
Shawn’ believes the best way to find yourself and have a meaningful life is to lose yourself in the service of others. Valuing teamwork in general, he appreciates the way Help in the Home’s staff all works together for the best client care experience.
On the weekends Shawn likes working on his cars, going on family outings, and traveling. He also likes to read and is even in the process of writing his own book! Making a priority of his health, you will find Shawn in the gym 5 days a week too.
Terence Anderson
Supported Living Community Assistant Program Manager
With over 2 years of prior experience providing support to the mental health community and those with substance abuse, Terence is a valuable member of the Help in the Home team. He provides structured face-to-face and/or tele-health sessions with clients weekly based on their treatment plan. Terence also assists clinical managers by updating treatment plans based on changing goals and current diagnosis(es).
Terence has participated in many community outreach events and continues to increase his knowledge via mental health training courses. His favorite part of working with Help in the Home is interacting with and supporting our clients. He loves being part of the SLC staff since they work as a team to accomplish goals together.
You will catch Terence watching football with his family on the weekends as he cheers on his favorite team- the Philadelphia Eagles!
Cornelius Kuteesa, MA
Care Coordinator/Peer Mentor
Cornelius earned his master’s degree in Sustainability and International Development from Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Cornelius’ mental health experience includes more than four years of working for DMH-funded community-based mental health programs in the Boston, Massachusetts area. While in graduate school, he worked with the Disability Rights Fund (DRF/DRAF) in Boston, MA where he supported the African Regional Director in empowering grassroots CSOs to advocate for policy reforms in their various countries to make them inclusive of all people, especially for persons with disabilities. He also worked for a UN agency in New York and UN labor organization in D.C. where he represented the organization at the Harkin Summit on Disability and Employment.
Cornelius is passionate about inclusive social policies and continues to use his background in social policy to advocate for vulnerable people in the community to make sure no one is left behind.
Sarah Harte, LCSW-C
Intern Supervisor
Sarah is a clinical social worker with over 20 years of expertise and leadership skills honed in a variety of behavioral health settings. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and her Master of Social Work from New York University, with a specialty certification in Clinical Supervision. Sarah has extensive clinical experience working with people who struggle with significant mental health problems, substance use and co-occurring disorders, as well as the use of mindfulness meditation in therapeutic settings. Sarah’s supervisory work focuses on building teams and workplace culture where mental health professionals can enjoy satisfying, sustainable and healthy careers.
Katherine Lalos
Care Coordinator Intern
Katherine received her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in justice and ethics in the law from Saint Joseph’s University in 2022. She is currently working towards her masters degree in social work from the University of Maryland and is expecting to graduate in 2025. Katherine is also trained as an Ally in Recovery for substance use disorders.
Prior to interning at Help in the Home, Katherine interned virtually at a private practice therapy office. She also interned with a circuit court judge for Montgomery County and with the Drug Court program. For the past year, she has worked as a substitute teacher at a local high school. What she values the most about working at Help in the Home is the opportunity to see the personal growth and successes of the clients.
In her free time, Katherine enjoys spending time with her family and boyfriend. She also loves playing with her 6 year old doberman, Marley. When Katherine has breaks from school, she enjoys teaching Irish Dance at the school she started taking classes at when she was 5 years old! Additionally, Katherine enjoys different arts and crafts and is currently working on enhancing her sewing and quilting skills.

Our services are unique, our staff are passionate, and at the end of the day, we care for you and your loved one. Our passion is caring for people with severe mental illness, and we are always looking for ways to improve the care they receive always.

Join Our Team