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Melissa Watt-Henderson

Region V MRC Regional Coordinator

Ms. Melissa Watt-Henderson serves as MRC Regional Coordinator (RC) for Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI). Melissa provides technical assistance to over 200 units and coordinates activities. Region V is no stranger to snow/ice, floods, tornados and even earthquakes. Therefore, Region V units welcome nature’s gifts and its

Region V Regional Coordinator Melissa Watt-Henderson

challenges.

Ms. Watts-Henderson comes to the RC position from the Heartland Alliance, where she served as a Hurricane Katrina Senior Case Manager. There, she provided crisis intervention to Hurricane Katrina/Rita evacuees from the Gulf Coast once they reached Chicago, IL. She acted as the evacuee’s advocate concerning housing, public entitlements and medical care, and collaborated with other non-profit agencies in providing resources and financial aid to the hurricane evacuees.

Prior to joining Heartland Alliance, Melissa worked in community health and HIV advocacy at Access Community Health Network, the largest federal qualified health center (FQHC) in the nation. While Melissa worked there, she started her career as a case manager and graduated to administrator positions working with a wide range of patients who were margonized due to their health, well being, and economic status. During her 8 years with Access Community Health, Melissa also managed a primary health care center and a dental clinic in the south suburbs of Chicago, which served under-insured patients.

Melissa also has worked with the homeless and young adults at risk for substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy, violence, and mental health issues. Throughout her work, Melissa has assisted others and provided links to individual’s lives. Melissa hopes through each of her jobs she has touched others and helped improve lives.

Melissa has been an Advisory Board Member of Open Hands Chicago and has served as a Federal Grant Reviewer for the Health Resources and Services Administration. She holds a B.S. in Health Sciences from Western Illinois University and enjoys reading novels, volunteering with Big Brother Brother Sister, and playing with her cat, Ty. Melissa is also a recent newlywed and was married on October 18, 2008.

Last Updated on 4/22/2009