Alliance Healthcare Services Welcomes Dr. Kiersten Hawes as Director of Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center

Alliance Healthcare Services is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Kiersten Hawes as the Director of our Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center, scheduled to open in mid-to-late April 2026. Dr. Hawes brings a wealth of experience in pediatric behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and clinical leadership to this vital new role.

A Memphis Native Committed to Serving Memphis Families

Dr. Hawes is a proud Memphis native whose career has been defined by a commitment to serving children, adolescents, and families at their greatest point of need. She earned her bachelor's degree from Spelman College before returning home to Memphis to pursue advanced training at the University of Memphis, where she completed both her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision.

Bringing Expertise in Pediatric Trauma Care

Most recently, Dr. Hawes served as the Clinical Director of Trauma Counseling Services at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital's BRAIN Center. In that role, she oversaw a hospital-based mental health counseling program that provided trauma-informed interventions to children and their caregivers, both at the bedside and in outpatient settings.

Dr. Hawes's clinical experience spans individual, group, and family therapy with children and adolescents across multiple settings, including hospitals, community programs, universities, psychiatric inpatient facilities, and outpatient clinics. She has also trained and supervised master's-level counseling students and clinical staff, ensuring the delivery of evidence-based interventions.

A National Board Certified Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and Licensed Mental Health Service Provider, Dr. Hawes was awarded the NBCC Minority Fellowship in recognition of her leadership in serving vulnerable, underserved populations.

A Scholar and Educator

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Hawes has made significant contributions to the field through research and education. She has published articles in the Journal of Trauma Surgery and Acute Care, Journal of Medical Research Archives, and Journal of Child Adolescent Trauma, focusing on the integration of behavioral health services in pediatric hospital settings.

She also served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research at the University of Memphis, where she trained the next generation of mental health professionals.

Meeting a Critical Community Need

The opening of the Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center represents a significant expansion of Alliance's services and underscores the organization's commitment to meeting the behavioral health needs of all Shelby County residents, regardless of age.

Alliance has served Shelby County for more than 50 years, providing crisis stabilization, outpatient therapy, addiction recovery services, and community-based programs to more than 22,000 residents annually.

The addition of the Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center will ensure that young people in crisis receive specialized, developmentally appropriate care.

Stay Connected

Alliance will share more updates about the Children and Youth Crisis Wellness Center in the coming weeks.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available 24/7:

• Crisis Line: 901-3691410

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Text of Call 988