Our Team

New Chance has an entire team that works together to service clients. From Clinical staff to Administrative personnel, everyone works together to deliver the best care possible to clients at New Chance.

Meet the Team

Co-Executive Directors Jimmy Jones and Doug Austen lead the New Chance team. Jimmy oversees the clinical operations, and Doug manages all administrative operations. As seasoned veterans in their respective fields, Jimmy and Doug form a dynamic duo to ensure premium client care and treatment protocols at New Chance.

Administrative Director & Co-Executive Director

Doug Austen

A Dodge City, Kansas native, Doug is the Administrative Director and Co-Executive Director of New Chance. With an accounting background and degree from St. Mary's, he started at New Chance as the Financial Director in 2012. With over a decade of experience at New Chance, Doug's favorite aspect of his work remains helping people and seeing New Chance provide needed help. He is also deeply involved with community organizations. Doug he serves as the Director of the Long Branch Variety Show and also as the Collections Manager and VP of the Ford County Historical Society.

Clinical Team

With a full team of licensed counselors and dedicated peer support, New Chance offers clients experienced, dedicated clinical staff to aid in the journey to recovery

Marla Howell (LAC)

A practicing LAC since 2011, Marla brings over a decade of counseling experience to help residential clients. Marla's favorite thing about her work is "getting to watch people take their lives back." She finds herself "smiling every day" as she works doing "the most rewarding job" she has ever had." Marla's passion in life is precisely what she gets to do at New Chance: help people rise above addictions and achieve recovery!

Donnie Barrand (LAC)

Donnie began working at New Chance in 1993. Over his 30 years in the recovery field, Donnie has seen SUD recovery up close and repeatedly. As an LAC, he brings his multi-decade experience to help clients with proven methods and creative forms of effective therapy. An avid musician, Donnie pioneered the music therapy component of the residential treatment program at New Chance. He continues to help clients with targeted individual counseling and engagement in group settings.

Bailey Schafer (LMSW)

Raised just a few miles away in Cimarron, Kansas, Bailey has returned home to help clients at New Chance. With a Master's Degree from KU, Bailey teaches a COG class for clients and stays involved with many clients for 18 months of services. She loves watching transformations in clients' lives from the beginning and sharing recovery milestones--from family reunification to stable housing to all the joys that come with recovery.

Tony Koontz (LAC)

Tony has four decades of experience with New Chance. Starting as a client in 1983, Tony returned to work at New Chance in 1993. He has a personal connection with New Chance and the thousands of clients he has helped to recover. Tony became a certified Kansas counselor in 2000, and he continues as an LAC today. His favorite part of his job is, and has been since 1993, talking with and helping addicts recover.

Cindy Dobratz (LMAC, LPC)

Cindy began working at New Chance as a counselor in 2004. Then, while still raising a family, she completed a Master's degree in 2012. Her combination of education and passion enables her to provide custom-fitted treatment and creative approaches to her work. She loves both the group dynamic and individual counseling involved with treatment. Her message to clients who feel "written off" after an addiction prognosis is: "the prognosis is good." Recovery is possible and proven.

Aaron Necas (Peer Support)

Aaron is a Nebraska native who brings enthusiasm wherever he goes. He is a certified peer support worker. Aaron fills an essential role by connecting clients with community services. From getting an ID to helping find housing and food resources, Aaron provides critical support for clients. He loves helping "the guys everyone has given up on," and he thrives on watching "clients change their lives." His passion makes Aaron an indispensable part of the New Chance team!

Administrative Team

The Administrative Team at New Chance often works behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly and ensure premium client care. From keeping the lights on to helping clients navigate programs and funding sources, the Administrative Team ensures a smooth experience for each client.

Office Manager

Janet Zimmerman

Janet has been with New Chance since 2005. In her management role, she supervises office personnel and oversees the on-site kitchen and cafeteria at New Chance. She loves the challenge of managing multiple departments and encouraging the teamwork culture at New Chance. While Janet helps in a variety of ways, she is especially crucial to make sure everyone has excellent meals to eat--for both staff and clients!

Billing Coordinator

Misty Blackburn

A Dodge City native, Misty has been with New Chance since 2017. Throughout her years at New Chance, her favorite aspect is and has always been "helping the people." Her work is particularly challenging because many clients requiring SUD treatment need help navigating funding sources and services necessary for recovery. From handling insurance claims to face-to-face meetings with clients to assist with funding applications, Misty plays a key role on a daily basis.

Residential Staff

New Chance has a full residential staff that monitors and assists residential clients with everyday needs. Our residential staff coordinates needed care and interacts daily with residents. This section includes the leadership members of the residential team.

Residential Supervisor

Todd Bittle

A Kansas native who has lived in Dodge City, Kansas for 40 years, Todd has deep community roots. He has worked at New Chance for nearly 15 years and has been a familiar face to countless clients who have received residential treatment and care at New Chance. Todd loves to "inspire hope" and help clients see the need for an "open mind and a real chance at a better life." Todd is involved in the everyday workings with residents and detox clients on a daily basis.

Residential Team Lead

Trisha Linn

Trisha wears a lot of hats at New Chance, and each hat involves close care for residential clients. From medication management to scheduling needed services to providing creativity outlets through arts and crafts with clients, Trisha helps clients in a wide variety of areas. Her personal connection to recovery fuels her in a job where every day is different. Her favorite aspect of her job is "taking care of the clients" and sharing the joys of recovery with clients through face-to-face involvement at New Chance.

Medical Division

Scot Yarnell (ARPN, PMHNP, FNP)

A board certified psychiatric and family nurse practitioner, Scot has extensive experience in providing medical treatment to clients with mental health and SUD recovery needs. With experience in both big city and rural settings, He has years of experience treating patients with psychotic disorders, mood disorder, anxiety, PTSD, personality disorders, ADHD, IDDs (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities), and substance use disorders. Scot meets many New Chance clients in person at the Dodge City facility and is able to maintain contact and address treatment needs through telehealth methods. Scot plays an essential role in providing MAT services to clients and advancing other evidence-based practices as part of client care at New Chance.

Scot is part of the Medical Division at New Chance, which also includes a Registered Nurse as well as a Medical Director, Dr. Merrill Conant.