Nicola Howe, CIT-TTAC Coordinator, MSW

Nicola Howe is the CIT-TTAC Coordinator at Behavioral Health Network, Emergency Crisis Services (BHN Crisis) since March 1, 2022. This role oversees the ongoing training of police officers in Western Massachusetts with the view that through training there will be a provision of information to increase understanding of the dynamics of communication and de-escalation strategies. This can be implemented to assist in resolving situations when coordinating assistance for jail diversion within our mental health community. 

As a past Law Enforcement Officer for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (Jamaica) and Civilian Police (CivPol) for the United Nations (UNMIS), Nicola brings years of experience in training, program planning, curricula building, reform and restructuring, cultural competencies, gender mainstreaming and community policing. In addition to the aforesaid, since Nicola’s advent to the United States, she concentrated on the field of mental health for her social work experience. Her prior positions were Program Manager – Servicenet and Crisis Counselor Supervisor. 

Nicola is a current doctoral student at Baypath University, Longmeadow, MA in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies. She completed her Masters in Social Work (MSW) through Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) at the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, MA. Nicola is also a recipient of the Medal of Honor in Peacekeeping for her role as CivPol in the United Nations. 

William Witherspoon, MA, Crisis Behavioral Health Law Enforcement Coordinator 

William Witherspoon is the Crisis Behavioral Health Law Enforcement Coordinator, which oversees our Co-response Programs and CIT/TTAC Programs. William has over thirty years’ experience as a police officer with the Springfield Police Department (SPD). While working at SPD he earned his Master’s Degree in Counseling and retired shortly after obtaining his Master’s Degree.

Since his retirement from SPD William has worked as a Mental Health Clinician with the focus of counseling men transitioning back into society from criminal justice intuitions.

For the past twenty years William has also been involved in a 12- step program, where he was a volunteer escort for male inmates at the former Western Massachusetts Alcohol Center for Hampden County Jail, and sponsored AA meeting at McDougal Correction Facility, Suffield Connecticut and Carl Robinson Correctional Facility in Somers, Connecticut. William is also on the Board of Directors for Putnam Academy.

William is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Education Program at American International College for Professional Counseling and Supervision

Nilda Espinosa, Office Manager for Emergency Services & Support 

Nilda Espinosa is the Office Manager for Emergency Services & Support programs and has been employed with BHN for over 28 years doing what she loves, administrative work. Nilda supervises administrative staff and oversees the day to day operations for various emergency programs including Crisis Services, ECCS, Respite, The Living Room, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Urgent Care and Community Based Acute Treatment (CBAT). 

Nilda ensures that individuals served are provided high quality services. She is responsible for oversight and quality control of programs and provides support and supervision to staff and volunteers. Nilda has been an instrumental and vital member of the CIT training program since it was implemented in 2013.