Hirschfield Center
Margaret Brigham

Cheyenne Syvertson-Hagestuen
Cheyenne grew up in rural Minnesota and completed her undergraduate and graduate schooling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work specializing in Clinical Mental Health. Cheyenne serves as a family advocate and also provides therapy to children, adolescents, and families. She is committed to providing quality care rooted in respect, thoughtful consideration of families’ unique strengths and challenges, and the belief that families are experts in their own lives. Services emphasize empowerment, collaborative problem solving, the power of relationships, and sensitivity to trauma. Cheyenne has additional practice experience and knowledge in areas of domestic violence, sexual violence, and commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking of minors and adults. csyvertson@tyfs.org

Dan Oas
Daniel is from Manchester, NH, and attended St. Lawrence University and graduated with a B.A in English Writing and Fine Arts. He moved to Jackson in 2000 to pursue is love for fly fishing and has worked for Teton Youth Family Services since 2008.
doas@tyfs.org

Cassidy Creel
Cassidy grew up in a small town in Oregon on the Deschutes River. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2015 with a BS in Athletic Training. After graduation she moved to Jackson, where she was lucky enough to combine her passion for working with children and love for the outdoors by running the Jackson Hole Leadership Program. She’s happy to be transitioning into her full time position with TYFS.
Van Vleck House

Jeremy Silcox
Jeremy is from Shelburne, VT, he attended the University of Vermont and graduated with a BA in French in 1992. He then attended the University of Wyoming where he earned his MSW in 2001. He moved to Jackson in 1992 and has worked for TYFS since 1993.
jsilcox@tyfs.org

Arty Polo
Arty has a B.A. from the University of Southwestern LA. He previously worked in wilderness programs and in residential treatment. He has worked at the Van Vleck House since 2002. artypolo@tyfs.org

Matia Wilson
Matia is originally from Vermont where she received B.As in Psychology and Anthropology and began her work with youth in the field of Special Education. She moved to Jackson in 2012 to work as the Head Wrangler at a local dude ranch and explore the mountains. Moving to Laramie, WY she attended the University of Wyoming for her Master of Social Work. While at the UW she worked with student veterans and undergraduates through the University’s counseling center and focused her degree on clinical practice and community outreach. Matia moved back to Jackson to pursue her passion of working with young adults and teens, aiming to take a systemic approach to therapeutic interventions. mwilson@tyfs.org

Patty Schengber
Patty grew up in the Tidewater region on the eastern coast of Virginia. After graduating from college in Virginia she moved west to work on a local dude ranch in Grand Teton National Park before moving into the town of Jackson. Patty is so thankful to have found TYFS and JHLP as they combine her love for the outdoors, working with kids and experiential education. She worked as a JH Leadership counselor during the summer of 2020 and is excited to continue her involvement with JHLP and TYFS as Program Coordinator for JHLP.
Youth Counselors
Hailing from all corners of the country, Van Vleck Child Care Staff are tasked with the daily care and supervision of our residents. Each of these individuals excels at building relationships with our clients and creating a safe and predictable environment. Creating this environment requires establishing healthy boundaries, reinforcing choices and behaviors through the use of natural and logical consequences, helping residents develop internal self-control by highlighting new growth and change as well as engaging in enriching activities. Child Care Staff undergo 30 hours per year of in-service training on topics including:
- Professional ethics and conduct
- Strengths-Based, Solution Focused and Competency-Based treatment approaches
- Understanding the effects of trauma on child development
- Right Response system of crisis management
- Emergency procedures
- Medication management
- Suicide Prevention
- Adolescent development
Red Top Meadows

Tom Concannon
Tom received a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1988, and came to Red Top to work for the next ten years. Tom went to graduate school at Pacific Lutheran University, earning a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2002. After graduating he worked in community mental health in Seattle and Tacoma Washington for four years. Tom returned to Jackson to be the therapist at The Van Vleck House. After eight years in this position Tom became the Director at Red Top Meadows in January 2015.
tconcannon@tyfs.org

Erin Silcox
Erin’s background working with at-risk youth began at an inner city job training program for adjudicated youth in Boston. Following graduation from the University of Vermont with a BS in Middle Level Education, Erin moved to Wyoming and continued her work with at-risk youth at the Van Vleck House group home and then as a math/science teacher at Red Top Meadows. Bringing meaning and passion to educating disadvantaged students is her most prominent goal. To this end, she is currently researching the intersection of literacy instruction and trauma while working on her Ph.D. in Literacy Education through the University of Wyoming.
esilcox@tyfs.org

Ted Nichols
Ted has been working within the field of experiential education in various capacities since 2006. Joining the Red Top staff in 2012, he worked as child care and wilderness field staff before assuming his current position. Ted has experienced, lead and learned from every aspect of the Red Top wilderness experience. The positive effects and skills that can be gained by traveling in small groups through the mountains has been made evident through these trips. He is thrilled to provide excellent wilderness and residential programs for youth at Red Top Meadows.
tnichols@tyfs.org
Child Care Staff
Red Top child care staff are active in all components of the program. They supervise daily living as well as work in the school and on wilderness trips. They receive 80 hours of annual training and regular direct supervision. Topics covered annually include but are not limited to:
- Professional ethics and conduct
- Solution based treatment approaches
- Understanding effects of trauma on child development
- Right Response system of crisis management
- Emergency procedures
- Wilderness education curriculum
- Wilderness First aid and CPR refreshers
- Medication policies and procedures
- Crisis management and suicide prevention
- Parenting and childcare skills