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.
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, couples counseling.
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.
Lois Rice, LICSW
Works with adults and adolescents. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); supportive, goal oriented treatment
Emily Kennedy, LICSW
Emily is a clinical therapist
Ann Sunshine, LICSW
Depression, anxiety, parenting and grief issues. Uses psycho-education and skill building as well as meditative techniques, including mindfulness and visualization.
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.
Sue Clifford, Coordinator of Guardianship Program
Has 30 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. Stephanie joined JFS in 2008. She is a 2008 BSW graduate of Syracuse University and has her MSW from Springfield College 2011.
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.
Diane Kerrigan, Guardianship Case Manager
Interned at JFS while earning her certificate in gerontology studies at Worcester State College.
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.
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.
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.
