Washburn Center for Children’s team is honored to join with the Klibanoff and Pierotti family to award the Patricia L. Klibanoff fellowship to another leader in our community of social work and therapy innovators at Washburn Center.
Amy Noakes, MA, LPCC, has been named the 2024-25 Patricia L. Klibanoff Fellow for her impact as a champion for school-based mental health services.
Amy’s impact in Washburn’s school-based program has been a hallmark of her service here and within the Cedar Ridge Elementary School in Eden Prairie School District. Since joining Washburn Center for Children in 2014, Amy has served students, their families and educators at Cedar Ridge. Amy has a strong partnership with her school, which is notable in the praise and appreciation that is voiced by Cedar Ridge administration, and she consistently goes above and beyond to help those around her.
About the Patricia L. Klibanoff Endowment Fund
Established by family and friends of the late Pat Klibanoff, the fund honors the memory of a beloved mom, wife, friend and social worker who dedicated her life to help all who knew her lead successful lives.
This Fellowship continues Pat’s legacy of impact on youth in particular, and it was established at Washburn Center for Children in 2010 in honor of Patricia Klibanoff and her passion for improving the lives of children and families.
Patricia’s life was centered on advocacy for children and families in their homes, schools and at the state policy level. This deep passion permeated her work as a family life educator and school social worker in the public schools of East Greenwich, RI. Patricia’s daughter Kathryn is a trustee for Washburn Center and she and her husband Jeremy Pierotti are long-standing generous supporters of the mission.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the Patricia L. Klibanoff Endowment Fund will honor the memory of Pat with support for its school-based program. For its first 14 years, the endowment supported training for the next generation of child clinicians through an annual selection of a postdoctoral fellow who was part of an APA-accredited internship at Washburn Center.
That APA-accredited internship program was phased out in 2024 as a result of decreasing applicants and resource requirements that were unpredictable and made the program less sustainable. What remains consistent is the Klibanoff Endowment Funds’ and Washburn’s commitment to development paths for professionals from graduate students through pre-licensed clinicians and licensed staff.
About Amy Noakes, MA, LPCC; recipient of the 2024-2025 fellowship
In putting Amy forth as the fellow, her leaders called out her ability to create a safe and understanding space for her clients to explore their thoughts and feelings without fear or judgment.
“Amy’s insights, patience and compassionate approach have truly made a positive impact on the lives of the students and families that she has served at Washburn Center for Children. Amy has served through multiple administrative shifts at Cedar Ridge and supported the community during a time of leadership loss.”
Amy has always had strong clinical skills, but she has honed them to be very intentional in her approach. Amy has always been willing to share ideas and feedback in consults, team meetings etc., but that feedback is more thoughtful and focused as she has grown more comfortable in her role and clinical skills. She tries to keep the family in the room, even if they are not very involved in services.
The Klibanoff family is struck by how Amy demonstrates and lives out her passion for students and school settings. She has continued to work on using the EBPs she is trained in, even when the fit with school based is a challenge.
She is also a champion for others. Whether it is taking on TF-CBT supervision or providing support for a new clinician, she is approachable and a well trusted and regarded colleague. She has mentored numerous interns and has honed that skill set so that her interns are able to meet expectations and take full advantage of their opportunity.
She is deeply committed to her faith and her family; those 2 things center her.
Amy’s past experience includes therapy with youth, families, adults and couples at Counseling Services of Southern Minnesota in St. Peter, MN, as well as the Counseling Cooperative at the Blessing House in Victoria. Her volunteer focus has also centered on community-based mental health in Carver County and Waconia as well as in Colorado where she lived prior to moving to Minnesota with her family.
Amy earned her MA in clinical counseling at Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado, and a BS in psychology from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN. She has continued to invest in post graduate education and training with a focus on childhood interventions.
Amy will be celebrated at a luncheon with members of the Klibanoff family and highlighted in other venues throughout the year.