About Us
Our Mission
Music Therapy Access Fund exists to increase access to music therapy by providing financial assistance to clients and interns.
Our Board
Carolyn Moore
President
Carolyn Moore deeply passionate about the intersection of music and community engagement in both her professional and personal life. As a member of the disability community and a disabled music therapist, her lived experience firmly shapes the work she does and the perspectives she brings to service and collaboration. Through her work with the Music Therapy Access Fund, she finds real joy in connecting people, supporting interns and clients, and helping others see what might be possible when the right resources and relationships come together. For Carolyn, community is not an abstract idea but something built through participation, access, and shared creative experiences where everyone has a place.
A Board-Certified Music Therapist since 2006, Carolyn holds degrees in music therapy from Montclair State University and the University of Miami. Her professional background includes teaching at multiple universities across undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as clinical work with individuals across the lifespan in educational, medical, mental health, rehabilitative, correctional, and community settings. Her research focuses on music therapy student wellness, self-care, and burnout prevention, with a strong interest in how future professionals can remain grounded, connected, and well within their communities. This commitment to supporting students extends naturally to her work with MTAF’s scholarship initiatives, where she recognizes that financial access to education is a vital component of wellness and long-term sustainability in the field. In addition to MTAF, she has served in nonprofit leadership roles with regional and national music therapy organizations.
Outside of her formal roles, Carolyn enjoys performing with local community music ensembles and exploring arts and culture throughout the tri-state area and New England. She is also an enthusiastic fan of University of Miami Hurricanes football and college sports in general — Go ’Canes! 🙌 She values opportunities to engage with the communities around her and believes there is space for everyone within the idea of community itself, a perspective that closely aligns with MTAF’s mission to expand access and inclusion in music therapy services.
E. Craven
Board Member
A Dallas native, Craven grew up as the 2nd oldest of 10 siblings and quickly developed a natural affinity for music and helping others. After obtaining her degrees in Music Therapy and Psychology from Southern Methodist University, Craven moved to San Diego to begin her career at Music Worx Inc. From 2014 to 2018, she worked in Plano with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and discovered a passion for addressing the often overlooked mental health needs that her clients experienced.
In 2018, Craven started North Star Therapy, a private practice specializing in music therapy for mental health. She and her team work extensively with YES Waiver services, and developed therapeutic approaches for supporting high acuity clients who are often in crisis due to anxiety, depression or trauma. In early 2022, she co-founded LIFT Therapies, which provides Lasting Intensive Family Treatment using a wraparound model to address from every angle the needs of clients and their families.
Craven sings, plays guitar, piano, and ukulele, and brings creative, collaborative thinking to treatment teams. Often described as engaging, disarming and sharp, you can count on her to ask effective questions or challenge an idea to promote meaningful conversation and progress. Outside of work, Craven loves to read, travel, and spend time with her friends and her dog Lola.
Jennie-V Turner
Board Member
Jennie-V is a passionate and accomplished professional dedicated to making a difference through music therapy and supporting neurodivergent professionals. After graduating from Florida State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy with minors in both psychology and communication disorders, she embarked on a journey to empower individuals with her expertise.
In 2009, Jennie-V relocated to Houston to establish her private practice, Signet Music, which focuses on serving disabled teens and adults through the CLASS program. Utilizing her minors, psychology and communication disorders, she has created nurturing environments for her clients. Recognizing the need for specialized support, Jennie-V launched theNDMT (the Neurodivergent Music Therapist) in early 2023, offering membership and guidance to neurodivergent professionals specializing in ADHD and autism support.
Jennie-V’s love for music extends beyond her professional endeavors. She finds solace and joy in playing the guitar and singing. She shares her life with two beloved feline companions named Henrietta and Mr. Louis. Their playful antics bring a sense of balance and joy to her everyday routine.
With an unwavering commitment to her clients and a diverse skill set, Jennie-V combines her musical talents, knowledge in psychology, and expertise in communication disorders to create a positive impact. Through her warm, kind, and compassionate approach, she strives to make a difference in the lives of everyone she meets, promoting growth and fostering meaningful connections.
Nikki Belshe
Founder, Board Member
Nikki Belshe, MNLM, MT-BC, is founder and Past President of the Board for Music Therapy Access Fund. She is also founder and Clinical Director of Heart and Harmony Music Therapy, a private practice serving urban and rural communities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Nikki was an honoree in the 2020 Forty Under Forty Awards from Fort Worth Business Press.
David Belshe, Nikki’s late husband, worked alongside her as a music therapist for nearly a decade. Over the years they saw a big need for additional funding sources for music therapy in their community. Starting a nonprofit to increase access to music therapy was a long time goal for the couple.
After David’s death in 2018, a generous donation raised by the student organization at his alma mater, Colorado State University, lit a fire under Nikki. She used that donation to found Music Therapy Access Fund (then Fort Worth Music Therapy Fund). Nikki then pursued and graduated from Arizona State University’s Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program.
Nikki has worked primarily with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 2009. She was a participant in The Arc Of Texas Partners in Disability Leadership program for 2021. Nikki is passionate about autonomy and human rights.
You can probably find Nikki somewhere outdoors: digging in the garden, watching birds, reading in the hammock, or – most likely – being chased by her kiddos.
William Hayter
Past-President
Dr. Hayter holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Texas Christian University, a Master of Music from Codarts, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Houston.
What we do
Founded in 2019, Music Therapy Access Fund provides Music Therapy Grants to individuals seeking music therapy services and Intern Scholarships to music therapy students completing an internship as part of their course requirements for an accredited music therapy program.
our code of ethics
All board members, staff members, and volunteers will abide by the following ethical principles while representing Music Therapy Access Fund:
Principle 1: Integrity
Act with integrity and veracity; file appropriate disclosures of financial, organizational, and legal nature; maintain adequate documentation; report potential ethical violations; and report illegal actions in accordance with the law.
Principle 2: Inclusivity
Disallow discrimination of any type; promote a culture of absolute inclusivity; identify and address personal biases; collaborate with others; and respect and protect the dignity and rights of all.
Principle 3: Governance
Promote the mission of the organization; possess the skills necessary to serve; fulfill responsibilities for the benefit of the organization and its public purposes; maintain oversight of programs, policies, finances, operations, and overall commitment to the mission.
Principle 4: Accountability
Fulfill professional and legal obligations to the organization in accordance with local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and employer policies; demonstrate responsible stewardship of all revenue; maintain adequate internal controls that include filings and/or audits conducted by a third-party certified public accounting firm; cooperate with all procedures and policies.
Principle 5: Conduct
Maintain professional conduct through continuous learning and personal growth; use caution and critical thinking when necessary; refrain from illegal and unethical actions; and encourage others to uphold legal and ethical actions.
Our commitment to Diversity, equity, & inclusion
Music Therapy Access Fund believes that marginalized communities must be centered in the work we do. We offer our programs to anyone in the state of Texas regardless of race or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religious belief, political belief, or disability, and we stand for fairness, equity, and inclusion.
The mission of Music Therapy Access Fund is to increase access to music therapy in our state. We recognize that there are numerous systemic barriers to obtaining and maintaining therapy services. Our organization was founded to mitigate these inequities.
Our action steps:
- Maintain a scholarship application review process that minimizes bias and supports diverse populations.
- Support marginalized voices by sharing their perspectives through social media posts that align with our mission.
- Train our board. We will continue to research books, training opportunities, and resources to continuously educate and equip our board and volunteers.
- Diversify our board to more appropriately reflect our community. We recognize that our board members are predominantly white, while the Texas population is beautifully diverse.