Professional Staff
Individual & Family Services
Licensed, experienced professionals who treat children, individuals and families for mental health issues and difficult life situations.
Our counselors provide effective help with problems of depression, anxiety, traumatic experiences, interpersonal difficulties and much more. They possess a wide range of expertise in working with complex family and individual situations, including the transitions of marital separation and divorce, remarriage, loss and multi-generational issues.
They teach the Children Cope With Divorce Parent Education Seminars, provide court approved family mediation, and consult to community agencies and schools.
Members of the staff have the following areas of specialization:
David Hollis, LICSW, Director of Child & Family Counseling
Divorce and family mediation, Guardian ad Litem for the Probate & Family Court. Trauma, PTSD, crisis intervention, men’s issues, couples and family therapy. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, EMDR, coordinates the Central Mass Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Service.
Amy Colangelo, LICSW
Secializes in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. She is also experienced in parenting, family and blended family issues.
Danielle Comeau, LICSW
Specializes in children and families and is a certified school social worker/adjustment counselor.
Nathan Dittmer, LICSW
Specializes in the treatment of depression, with special interests in humanistic, interpersonal and psychodynamic approaches to therapy.
Beth Greenberg, Ph.D., Associate Director of Planning and Community Outreach
Child and adolescent therapy, family therapy, parenting consultations and workshops, school consultations. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) screening and consultation. Provides onsite consultation to Westborough Area JCC Preschool teachers and parents.
Kathy Kaiser, LICSW, Coordinator of Mediation Services
Individual and couples counseling. Child and adolescent therapy, school and behavioral issues, family therapy, divorce and post-divorce reorganization. Depression, anxiety, bereavement issues. Divorce and family mediation.
Elaine Kapperman, LICSW
Grief counseling, elder and caregiver issues, coping with illness, EMDR, relaxation techniques, child treatment.
Michaele McGinnis, LICSW, BCIAC
A family and individual counselor and certified practitioner of biofeedback with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Biofeedback can be a helpful treatment for stress, insomnia, chronic pain and other ailments.
Zelda Schwartz, LICSW
Although retired as Director of Family Therapy, Zelda continues to provide family, couples and individual psychotherapy. Complex family issues of divorce, remarriage, illness, multigenerational families, eating disorder and domestic violence.
Elder Services
Professionals who provide geriatric care management and counseling to elders and caregivers, and assume decision-making and fiduciary responsibility for our Guardianship wards.
Michelle Sheerin, LICSW, Director of Elder Services
Background in medical social work, formerly Manager of Social Work Services at St. Vincent Hospital, and emergency social work at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital emergency room.
Laurel Blair, Neighborhood Connections Director
Manages all aspects of Neighborhood Connections, an aging-in-place program for residents of the West Side of Worcester, slated to begin in the spring of 2009. Previously Laurel served as the volunteer coordinator for American Red Cross Blood Services in Worcester. She is an educator, case manager and patient instructor.
Sue Clifford, Coordinator of Guardianship Program
Has 25 years of experience at JFS of Worcester as the manager of the homemaker program and as a guardianship case manager.
Janice Conrad, B.A., Guardianship Case Manager
Case manager for wards referred by Protective Services. Has Certificate in Gerontology Studies and performs hospice work.
Stephanie Dujnic, LSW
Guardianship Case Manager. Steph joined JFS in 2008.
Renee Harrison, Bookkeeper for Guardianship Program
Oversees the recording of income, issues checks, prepares annul accountings for the Court, and maintains each ward’s bank account.
Elaine Kapperman, LICSW Geriatric Care Manger
Background in medical social work at Fallon Clinic and Fairlawn Hospital, Worcester. Elder issues, grief counseling, illness, EMDR, relaxation techniques.
Diane Kerrigan, Guardianship Case Manager
Has been a guardianship case manager for three years. She interned at JFS while earning her certificate in gerontology studies at Worcester State College.
Kristan Nadeau, Guardianship Case Manager
Newest member of the Elder Services staff. Recently she transitioned from the Administrative staff.
Adoption
Janet Eckler, LCSW, Adoption Coordinator
Provides home studies and post-placement supervision in the Adoption Program. Previously was a supervisor at the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, which licenses adoption agencies.
Administration
Ensuring that the proper care is provided, while overseeing that the agency’s many business functions are conducted professionally. As is common in small non-profits, members of the JFS administrative staff wear many hats and interact with clients, the Board of Directors, financial benefactors and the community.
Stephen Slaten, Ph.D., Executive Director
Joined JFS in 1999. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist with advanced training in child and family therapy and trauma, Dr. Slaten remains involved in direct service with the Counseling, Guardianship and Adoption programs. During his tenure, JFS has renovated the facility to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), increased fundraising significantly, enhanced the agency’s marketing program, and created several new services.
Jeremy Beamenderfer, Director of Fiscal Services
Jeremy oversees agency accounting practices, including budgeting, audit, accounts payable and accounts receivable; maintains general ledger, manages cash flow, tracks investments, administers government contracts; and prepares required financial reports for the Board of Directors and external funding sources.
Kim Snyder, Director of Administrative Services
Kim supervises the Reception and Support Staffs, is responsible for billing and collections, agency internal systems, human resources, building and technology maintenance, administrative support to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors. Has implemented many improvements to internal systems to comply with professional and business practices, while creating a culture responsive to client needs.
Reception/Support Staff
As the first voices you hear and the first faces you see at JFS, our Reception and Support Staff members create a welcoming environment while performing professional and efficient agency operations. With few exceptions, a real person will always answer your phone calls during regular business hours.
Kristy Fiorillo, Head Receptionist
Puts clients as ease as the greeter for the agency. She also registers clients and performs a variety of other clerical duties.
Justin Alden, Billing/Receptionist
Handles all aspects of billing and collections for Counseling, including prior authorization and claims administration.
Independently Contracted Staff
Alan Harris, LICSW
Leads The CLUB, a monthly social group for developmentally delayed adults.
Tom Murray, Esq., Attorney
Provides legal services for Guardianship Program.
Mark Zarrow, Esq., Mediator
Provides family mediation services. Partner with the law firm Lian, Zarrow, Eynon, and Shea. Chairs the Worcester County Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.
