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.

The Counseling 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.

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.

Alice Litter, LICSW

Special interest in working with families raising children with special needs. Individual, couples, and adolescent counseling for issues including depression, anxiety, health problems, marital/relationship conflicts, separation/divorce issues, gay & lesbian issues, grief counseling. Experienced in diagnosing and treating Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorders in adolescents and young adults. Previously was a civil rights attorney, has been a community advocate for special needs children and a hospice volunteer.

Elaine Kapperman, LICSW

Grief counseling, elder and caregiver issues, coping with illness, EMDR, relaxation techniques, child treatment.

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.

 

Amy Colangelo, LICSW

Danielle Comeau, LICSW

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.

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.

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.

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.

Diane Kerrigan, Guardianship Case Manager

Keegan Hoey, Guardianship Case Manager

Renee Harrison, Bookkeeper for Guardianship Program

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.

Virginia Frappier, Director of Fiscal Services

Virginia oversees agency accounting practices, including budgeting, audit, accounts payable and accounts receivable; maintains general ledger, manages cash flow, tracks investments, administers government contracts, prepares required financial reports for the Board of Directors and external funding sources.

 

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.

Kristan Nadeau, Billing/Receptionist

Kristy Fiorillo, Head Receptionist

 

Independently Contracted Staff

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.

Tom Murray, Esq., Attorney

Provides legal services for Guardianship Program.

Alan Harris, LICSW

Leads The CLUB, a monthly social group for developmentally delayed adults.