Guests:

 

Identifying Kids at Risk for Aggressive or Violent Behavior

How to Talk to Your Kids about Sex

Helping Kids Succeed in School

What Does Johnny Want to Be When He Grows Up?

When Children Can't Live At Home

Whose Child is this Anyway?

Riding the Magic Carpet: Helping Kids Deal with Change

If Only I Had Known

The Power of Getting Involved

Labeled For Life

Surviving And Thriving During the Holidays

Kids Talk

 

Dennis M. Richardson, President and CEO, Hillside Behavioral Health System Dennis is the President and CEO of Hillside Behavioral Health System, an integrated family of agencies providing preventive services, school-to-work programs, therapeutic foster care, group care, customized home and community-based services to children and families throughout Western and Central New York. Prior to coming to Hillside in September 1994, Dennis was the Executive Director of the Children's Study Home in Springfield, MA, Western Massachusetts' oldest and most respected family and child services agency serving children throughout the state with 18 programs on multiple campuses. Dennis has also served as adjunct faculty at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and has worked at several other agencies including St. Joseph's Children's Services in Brooklyn as an Associate Executive Director, at the Catholic Guardian Society of Brooklyn and Queens as a Program Director, and at Essex County Hospital Center as a Psychology Paraprofessional. He is a graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work. He and his wife Kathy, have three children.

Lisa Pagano, Manager, Home and Community-Based Waiver Program, Hillside Children’s Center Lisa Pagano manages Hillside's Home and Community Based Services Waiver, a program that partners with parents in providing intensive services to children and youth at high risk of long-term psychiatric placement who are living at home with their families. Employed by Hillside since 1995, Lisa has also served as a clinical social worker in the following areas: Family Preservation, Home-Based Crisis Intervention, Intensive Family Support, and Emergency Services, and as a sociotherapist in Emergency Services. Prior to coming to Hillside, Lisa worked at Mary Cariola Children's Center as a Child Habilitation Specialist and at Genesee Hospital as a Psychiatric Assignment Officer and a Child Specialist. Lisa has also been a Compeer volunteer.

John Treahy, Leader, Collective Resources, Hillside Children’s Center John has been employed at Hillside Children's Center since 1973. He began as a line worker in Sunnyside Cottage working with 15 adolescent-aged boys. In 1978 he became Hillside's first social worker in the nonsecure detention program working with young people who were being detained by family court. In 1980 he became the program director for nonsecure detention. He remained in that position until 1996 when he assumed his current position at Hillside administering all of its residential, educational, and health services. John has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Gannon University in Erie, PA and a Masters degree in Community Services from the University of Rochester. John is the immediate past president of the Juvenile Detention Association of New York State, is a member of the Executive Committee of the National Juvenile Detention Association, and serves on County Executive Doyle's Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and the New York State Law Guardians Panel. John is also a part-time faculty member of the Finger Lakes Community College, and has co-authored a book entitled Managing Programs for Delinquents that Work.

Kathy Carroll Williams, R.N., Hillside Children’s Center

Jackie B.,  Hillside parent

Annette L. Gantt, Executive Director, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection Annette Gantt joined Hillside in 1993. As a youth advocate, she identified students at the middle school level who were likely to drop out of school and worked to build holistic support to help them graduate from high school. She was named Executive Director of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection in 1997. Prior to joining Hillside, Annette was staff assistant at the National Center for Education and the Economy. In this position she provided administrative support to the program director responsible for the development and implementation of education reform initiatives within the Rochester City School District. Annette has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Dr. Clifford Janey, Superintendent, Rochester City School District As Superintendent of Schools for the Rochester City School District, Clifford B. Janey leads a diverse school system of more than 55,000 students (pre-K through adult) and 5,000 employees and manages an annual budget of more than $359 million. He was selected as superintendent by the Rochester Board of Education after an extensive national search that involved broad-based community participation. He took office July 1, 1995.

Janey began his career in education in 1969 as Director of Black Studies at Northeastern University in Boston. In 1973, he began a 21-year career with the Boston Public Schools, first as a reading teacher then in a number of administrative positions including Principal (Elementary, Middle, and High School); Community Superintendent K-12 (overseeing 11,000 students); East Zone Superintendent K-8 (17,000 students); and most recently, Chief Academic Officer for the Boston Public Schools (62,000 students).

Janey received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Northeastern University in 1969. He also earned his Masters Degree in Reading and Elementary Education from Northeastern. His Doctorate from Boston University is in Educational Policy Planning and Administration with a minor in Health Policy and Administration. He has taken advanced courses of study in arbitration, negotiations, and collective bargaining at the Labor Relations Institute at Cornell University and in policy analysis, labor relations, and financial management at Harvard University’s Business School.

Janey has served on a number of community and corporate boards including the Medical Foundation, Inc., Junior Achievement, and the Boston Science Museum. He has also written a number of articles and publications on school reform, parent involvement, and school and staff accountability. He has been guided by the belief that "an excellent school is one in which the entire school community has focused its strengths on student achievement and citizenship."

Her work on career transitions, outplacement, and retirement is published in the Career Planning and Adult Development Journal and The National Business Employment Weekly. Ms. Koen presents locally and nationally on career-management issues and conducts programs for individuals and organizations.

Prior to joining Career Development Services in 1986, Ms. Koen was Director of Career Planning/Field Period and the HEOP Counselor for Keuka College. She received her MA in Counseling from Colgate University and BA in Political Science from Utica College of Syracuse University.

David C. Mammano, Publisher/Founder, Next Step Magazine As Publisher of Next Step Magazine, a magazine geared towards helping teens with college, career, and life planning, David is responsible for daily operations, including supervising and mentoring his staff of student volunteers, advertising sales, editorial, and long-term planning. In this role he expanded the magazine from local area to statewide, increasing circulation from start-up to 70,000 at over 750 high schools. He has expanded the magazine to 10 states through sale of franchise opportunities and doubled advertising sales to about $50,000+ per issue, an increase of 100% from 1998 to 1999. In 1987 he launched the magazine website and continued to develop complimentary businesses such as The Next Step College Transfer Student Guide, CollegeDollars.com, and Teenbookstore.com.

David attended the University of Buffalo for Communications and Advertising and completed human relations and public speaking training at Dale Carnegie Institute.

Denise Scharr, Group Care Clinician, Hillside Children’s Center

Ken Walsh, Human Resource Manager, Hillside Behavioral Health System Ken and his Human Resource Team are responsible for all aspects of human resources for the Agency. Areas a concentration include recruitment, benefits, compensation, disability/worker’s compensation, performance appraisal, and employee records.

Prior to joining Hillside in 1987, Ken lead the human resource function of the Brighton Central School District for three years and worked in progressively responsible human resource positions for BOCES, Monroe #1 for eight years.

He is a graduate of Indiana University School of Public Affairs (BA), SUNY Brockport School of Public Administration (MPA) and Cornell University School of Industrial & Labor Relations (Advanced Certificate).

Ken and his wife Rhonda, have three children.

Mary Jane Irwin, Foster Care Manager, Hillside Children's Center Mary Jane is a member of the Association of Certified Social Workers with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. While studying for her degree, her area of concentration was Family Mental Health and she served in the adoption area for her clinical placement. Mary Jane has worked in Therapeutic Foster Care since coming to Hillside in 1989. When she began at Hillside she served as a social worker until being promoted to Assistant Director and then, Director of the Syracuse Therapeutic Foster Care Program. She is now Foster Care Manager of Hillside’s Central Region service unit. Mary Jane has also been an adjunct instructor at Syracuse University’s School of Social Work and co-authored a book entitled Reducing Delinquency in the Community with Dr. Arnold Goldstein et al. Mary Jane herself spent much of her childhood in foster care until being adopted at age 12.

Ellen Werts, Homefinding Team Supervisor, Monroe County Department of Social Services Ellen is a certified social worker. She has been employed by the Monroe County Department of Social Work (MCDSS) in the Foster Care System for 16 years. For 6 of those 16 years, she has been supervisor for the Homefinding Team, a unit responsible for the recruitment, training, certification, and annual re-certification of all MCDSS-certified foster parents.

Sue C., a bio-mother who voluntarily placed her child in temporary foster care

Josh T., a young man who was a foster child

Darlene J., a former foster parent who adopted one of her foster children

He has received numerous community recognition awards, including the "Friends of Education" Award presented by the Rochester City School District in 1993 and the "Friends of Children" Award presented by the Rochester Area Children's Collaborative the same year.

Elected a Family Court Judge in 1986, he was re-elected in 1986.

Judge Sciolino is deeply committed to the welfare of families and children in our community.

Chuck Allan, Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI) Coordinator, Monroe County Office of Mental Health Chuck Allan has over 18 years of experience in Youth Services, Service Coordination, Cross-System Coordination, Family Court, and Residential Treatment Services for children and families. As the CCSI Coordinator for the Monroe County Office of Mental Health he is responsible for the administration and implementation of a state grant program aimed at reducing and preventing the placement of children in residential care. Formerly he served as a Probation Officer for the Monroe County Probation Office. He has also held positions with the Urban League of Rochester (Youth Counselor), Hillside Children’s Center (Sociotherapist), Essex County (New Jersey) Division for Youth Services (Crisis Intervention Worker), and Union County (New Jersey) Youth Service Bureau (Crisis Counselor). Chuck has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from SUNY Brockport and a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies from College of Wooster.

Michael Doran, Associate Leader, Collective Resources, Hillside Children’s Center Mike Doran has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Psychology from St. Bonaventure University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Syracuse University. He began his employment tenure with Hillside Children’s Center (HCC) in 1977 as a childcare worker. In 1982 he began providing social work services to HCC group homes. The focus of his work changed in 1989 when he began providing social work services to HCC’s non-secure detention facilities. Shortly after that, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Non-Secure Detention Services. In 1995, he became an active member of Hillside’s redesign team, whose task it was to offer Hillside leadership recommendations for a new organizational structure and service delivery system. Following Redesign, Mike became Associate Leader of HCC’s Collective Resources, with responsibility for assisting in the management of all Monroe County residential facilities and group homes.

Caroline Haviland, Social Worker, Hillside Children’s Center Caroline has been at Hillside Children’s Center since 1991. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Syracuse University. Caroline began her tenure at Hillside Children’s Center (HCC) as a Social Work Intern. In 1992 she was hired as a Family Resource Specialist and shortly after also took on the role of Relief Sociotherapist in HCC’s Residential Facilities. From 1993 to 1996, Caroline also served as a Family Life Education Associate, planning and presenting education to clients and families receiving preventive services at HCC. In 1995 she began preparing for completion of her Master’s degree as a Social Work Intern in HCC’s Therapeutic Foster Care Program. In 1996 upon completion of her MSW, Caroline was promoted to Family Service Primary for HCC’s Parkway Team in the Monroe Region, a position she currently holds.

Alithia, grandmother with temporary custody of her grandson

Caroline, foster parent

The Children of Divorce Intervention Program is the 1991 recipient of the National Mental Health Association's Lela Rowland Prevention Award. Given to one project a year, the award is widely considered to be the most prestigious recognition that preventive mental health services can receive. Dr. Pedro-Carroll's areas of research include the effects of marital disruption on children; factors that moderate post-divorce child adjustment; and the development, implementation, and evaluation of preventive interventions for children experiencing stressful life circumstances. In 1997 she co-founded ACT - For the Children, (formerly Rochester P.E.A.C.E. program), a preventive intervention for separating parents, designed to teach parents ways that they can reduce the stress of family changes and protect their children from the toxic effects of on-going conflict.

Dr. Pedro-Carroll received her Ph.D. and Master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Rochester and graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Pedro-Carroll lectures locally and nationally, provides consultation and training on family issues, and maintains a private psychotherapy practice. She is a member of the William T. Grant Foundation's National Consortium of Researcher's on Children and Divorce and the Genesee Valley Psychological Association. She recently received the "Outstanding Psychologist of the Year Award" by that organization. She is also a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Pedro-Carroll has been a frequent guest on local and national TV and radio shows, discussing the effects of family changes on children's development and how parents, mental health professionals, social, legal, and educational systems can promote children's resilience and adaptive coping. She has written extensively on issues relating to children and families.

Beverly Kent, Counselor, East Rochester High School

Joanne Panarisi, CSW, Program Manager/Clinical Mentor, Family Resiliency Services, Hillside Children’s Center Joanne has been with Hillside Children's Center (HCC) as an employee since 1995. In 1994 she did her undergraduate internship in the Home-Based Crisis Intervention Program (HBCI), which at that time was a collaboration between Hillside and Parkridge Mental Health. In 1995 she graduated with a BS degree in Social Work from Nazareth College of Rochester. She then entered graduate school and obtained her Master's of Social Work degree, with a concentration in Family Mental Health and a Certificate in Women's Studies in 1996 from Syracuse University. During her year of graduate school (and after) she worked for Hillside Children’s Center’s (HCC) Family Preservation Services (FPS), providing intensive, in-home, crisis intervention services. She also became a Certified Social Worker (CSW) with New York State in 1996. Following FPS, she worked for HCC's Day Treatment Program, a collaboration between HCC and the Rochester City School District. In July of 1998 she joined the collaboration between HCC and Better Days Ahead of the Mental Health Association in the position she currently holds as Manager/Mentor of Family Resiliency Services.

She has also provided trainings for new staff at Hillside on Suicide Awareness, Gender and Sexuality. She has presented at workshops on Homophobia, Genograms as a tool for mental health providers to address sexuality, and High Risk Gay and Lesbian Youth. Joanne also co-created and facilitated a Solution Focused group at the Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley for adults entitled "Coming Out, Your Next Step." In 1996 she co-presented at the National Association of Social Work (NASW) conference on Solution Focused Therapy.

Joanne is also currently studying to be a Qi Gong practitioner at the QI Gong Institute of Rochester. Qi Gong is a form of energy healing practiced by the Chinese culture for centuries. It is an alternative way of healing mind, body and spirit.

Ken, divorced parent

Donald A. Shulman, CSW, Emergency and Crisis Service Coordinator, Crestwood Children's Center Donald Shulman joined Crestwood in 1988. As a senior psychiatric social worker, he provided individual, group, and family therapy, designed and implemented adult/child psychotherapy groups, performed sexual abuse assessments, and provided diagnostic evaluations. In 1991, Donald created a Monroe County crisis intervention team, Youth Emergency Services, whose purpose is the prevention of psychiatric hospitalization and out-of-home placement. He has also worked in the capacity of emergency psychiatric social worker for Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York since 1995. Donald has served as a social worker in numerous capacities, including the Monroe County Association for Retarded Citizens and the Jewish Home of Rochester. As assistant professor at SUNY Buffalo from 1975 to 1979, Shulman shared his knowledge of child welfare services. He has a Masters in Social Work from Syracuse University.

Charles C. Weld, Intensive Treatment Coordinator, Collective Resource Manager, Hillside Children's Center Finger Lakes Campus Charles Weld has managed Hillside's Finger Lakes Campus, a residential treatment facility for mentally ill youth ages 12-18 in Auburn, New York since 1994. Previously he was a childcare supervisor and director of residential services at George Jr. Republic in Freeville, New York. He was also a childcare supervisor at Children's Home of Wyoming Conference in Binghamton, New York. Charles has a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Maine.

Sheryl Karch, Director, Office of Volunteer Personnel, Greater Rochester Red Cross Karch has worked with Red Cross volunteers for 12 years. Currently, she is State Lead for Volunteer and Staff Development in which she consults for Red Cross chapters throughout New York State. She is also a consultant for non-profit board development, volunteer and paid employee relationships, and development and management of volunteer programs in non-profit organizations. She is a member and past president of the Rochester Area Administrators of Volunteer Services (RAAVS). Karch was the assistant director of the Greater Rochester Red Cross Youth Services for eight years. She has also been a high school teacher in the Rochester City School District.

Melinda A. Merante, Volunteer Resources Manager, United Way Merante has served as United Way's Volunteer Resources Manager for over three years. Prior to joining United Way, she enjoyed a career in non-profit management, marketing, and development. Merante is a graduate of the Leadership Rochester Class of 2000 and a member of 2001 Program Planning Committee. She also serves as a member of the Rochester Area Administrators of Volunteer Services (RAAVS). She chairs the 2000-2001 Volunteer Administration. In addition, Merante works in a certificate program with other local volunteer management professionals to bring professional development opportunities to the Rochester area and surrounding region.

Anne, Volunteer Visiting Friends, Hillside Children's Center Anne is a business owner and volunteer for Hillside. She balances caring for her family with the rigors of maintaining a business and still finds time for volunteering.

Clyde joined Hillside in 1984 as administrator of Residential Programs, a position he held for six years. From 1990 to 1995, he served as vice president of Hillside Children's Center. During this time, the Hillside Finger Lakes Residential Treatment Facility was constructed. Clyde was instrumental in its program design, start-up, and administration. Comstock assumed administration responsibility for the Residential Treatment Center, Emergency Shelter Program, Diagnostic Program, and Group Home Program during his vice presidency.

Clyde Comstock has also given training and consultation to other agencies on a number of work-related topics. Comstock received his bachelor's degree from Hamilton College and a Master's in Social Work from Boston University.

Ellen H. Folts, Special Education Teacher, Rochester City School District As a special education teacher for the Rochester City School District, Ellen Folts has blended classes to offer her students more opportunities, such as vocation programs with HeadStart and Rochester General Hospital. She has also worked as a special education teacher for Hillside Day Treatment and BOCES.

Folts has given presentations on peer mediation, teaching, and learning. She has been a mentor teacher, training new special education teachers. Ellen Folts received her bachelor's degree in psychology and a Master's in Elementary Education from Nazareth College. She earned her special education certification from State University of New York at Geneseo.

Amy L. Hollen, Education Leader, Hillside Children's Center In Amy Hollen's current role as education leader for Hillside Children'sCenter, she provides leadership to, consultation with, and coordination ofall education services provided through Hillside Children's Center. Hollenserved as Education Director of Hillside Children's Center's HenriettaDay Treatment and the Halpern Education Center in Rochester from1991 to 1998. Before that position, Hollen worked as assistant director of the Elementary Day Treatment School Program at Halpern Education Center. Before becoming an administrator, Amy Hollen was a special education teacher for eight years, working at Halpern Education Center, BOCES, and Haverling Central School District in Bath.

Amy Hollen received her Bachelor's in Education of Exceptional Children from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She received her Master's in Developmental Disabilities from University of Rochester. She also achieved a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from State University of New York at Brockport.

Jody Levison-Johnson, Clinical Social Worker Jody Levison-Johnson is currently the assistant director of Mental Health Services - Early Childhood Center for Crestwood Children's Center. In this position, she is responsible for the clinical oversight and administration of a day treatment program serving 66 emotionally disturbed children between the ages of three and ten. She also provides individual and family psychotherapy for the program. Levison-Johnson is also a partner/psychotherapist for Partners in Adolescent Therapy (PATH), through which she provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy to child, adolescent, and adult clients. COPE, a group therapy curriculum aimed at reduction of at-risk behaviors in adolescents, was created as a result of PATH. Levison-Johnson provides COPE as well as psychotherapy and consultation services to community organizations, including schools and mental health agencies.

Levison-Johnson joined Crestwood Children's Center in 1993 as a mental health clinician/clinical case manager. She has also worked as coordinator for a Juvenile Delinquent Diversion Program and as a social worker for the Elementary Education Center while at Crestwood.

Jody Levison-Johnson received her bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Rochester. She obtained her Master's of Social Work from Syracuse University.

Sally Bohne, Hillside Community Relations Manager Sally started working at Hillside Children's Center 15 years ago in the volunteer office. She has also worked in the public relations department. As Community Relations Manager, Sally's responsibilities involve building and fostering community relationships and the Parents as Partners initiative. Through this initiative, Hillside works to involve parents' input and voices in guiding agency policy and clinical philosophy. 

Sally also coordinates Hillside Special Santas, a holiday gift-giving program for the children, teenagers, and families of Hillside Children's Center and Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection.

Kara, Mother and Student A single mother of two children, ages 7 and 11, Kara is a full-time student at Nazareth College. She is working towards an English degree with dual certification in Elementary Education and Special Education. She also consults with businesses and provides graphic design and marketing support services.

Marge Stevens, Hillside Chaplain and Director of Adoption Services For over 20 years, Marge has been working for Hillside Children's Center. She was a foster mother for Northaven before it became part of Hillside. In addition to working in adoption services, Marge has adopted 13 children in addition to her 4 biological children.