DIVI CFGC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Providing Therapy in Private Practice
Job Titles:
- Director, Functional Family Therapy
Biography
Charles Maillard, LCSW, is the Director of Functional Family Therapy, an evidence-based, in-home counseling model designed primarily for at-risk youth who have been referred by the juvenile justice, mental health, school, or child welfare systems. Prior to FFT, Charles was a program coordinator and clinician for CFGC's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services - a role he held from 2018-2021.
Before joining CFGC, Charles worked as a peer prevention specialist and clinical social Work intern with AIDS Project Greater Danbury. He received his master's in social work and his bachelor's degree in psychology from Southern Connecticut State University.
Job Titles:
- Secretary / Adjunct Professor / Department of Technology Management
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman / R. D. Scinto, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Director of Development & Communications
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
- Director of Human Resources at the Child & Family Guidance Center
Biography
Guy Bocchino is the Director of Human Resources at the Child & Family Guidance Center and is responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the human resources function. He has a broad range of experience and expertise in the full cycle of human resources management covering recruitment, employee relations, coaching, performance management and workforce planning.Prior to joining The Child & Family Guidance Center, he worked for 12 years as Corporate Human Resources Manager at Hexcel Corporation. At Hexcel, he managed the human resources function for the corporate headquarters, international assignees and a separate manufacturing facility in northern CT. He received his Master's degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Bridgeport and his Bachelor of Science degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
Job Titles:
- Director of Multiple Programs
- Director of Several Programs at the Child and Family Guidance Center
Biography
Hyacintha V. Jameson Bernard, MS, is the Director of several programs at The Child and Family Guidance Center, including Reunification and Therapeutic Family Time, Intensive Family Preservation, and the Visitation Center. Prior to supervising these programs, Hyacintha provided therapy to children and families referred to CFGC. She has worked with youth with mental health issues, children infected and affected by AIDS, and children in crisis via our Emergency Mobile Crisis Unit. Before coming to CFGC, Hyacintha worked at The Kennedy Center (Bridgeport) as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Coach for children and adults with developmental disabilities, and at Optimus Health Care.
Hyacintha received her Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Connecticut State University. She has worked with the HIV/AIDS population for the past 17 years; especially with children infected with the virus. Additionally, she has run groups with women, children, and the transgender community.
Job Titles:
- Program Supervisor, Intensive Family Preservation ( IFP )
- Supervisor of Intensive Family Preservation
Biography
Ivette Hernandez, M.S. is the supervisor of Intensive Family Preservation or IFP. This program works to keep children in the home by supporting parents in creating a healthier, more stable environment.
Job Titles:
- Family Therapist in Private Practice
Job Titles:
- Assistant Unit Director, Behavioral Health
Biography
Jasmine M. McLean, LCSW, M.Ed. is our Assistant Unit Director of Behavioral Health. Jasmine has experience as both a supervisor and therapist for a local IICAPS (Intensive In-home Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Service) provider as well as a former position as the Program Director of a residential co-occurring treatment facility and has also held a clinical position in an eating disorder clinic. Jasmine's experience also includes being a former intern here at Child and Family Guidance Center when she was completing her Masters of Social Work.
Jasmine earned her MSW from the University of St. Joseph and her M.Ed. from Widener University in Human Sexuality Studies. Jasmine is currently working toward her Doctorate of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University.
Her specialized educational background paired with her clinical experiences position her to integrate innovative therapeutic care across programs, further benefiting our depressed, anxious, and traumatized child clientele.
Job Titles:
- Director, Behavioral Health Unit
Biography
Ken Lacilla, LCSW is the Unit Director of Outpatient and Emergency Services at the Child & Family Guidance Center. Ken has nearly 30 years' experience working within the Child Behavioral Health and Child Welfare fields. . Ken also has been a senior leader for several DCF funded evidenced informed models and programs to include Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Intensive In -Home Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services (IICAPS), Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) Out Patient Child Clinics (OPCC) and Emergency Mobile Crisis (EMPS). Ken has had a career spanning interest in the treatment of trauma in adults, adolescents and children. CFGC's continuum of trauma services is a major focus of his leadership here. A 1998 Graduate of Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service, Ken has a deep commitment to actively addressing Mental Health and educational disparities that exist in the workplace and among the impoverished. He is a natural collaborator and strives to build inclusive, holistic social service delivery systems offering a range of data informed quality treatment options.
Job Titles:
- Program Director of Community Support for Families
Biography
Lizette Ortiz-Nash is Program Director of Community Support for Families, a program that supports parents who have come to the attention of the Department of Children and Families, due to unmet needs. Lizette describes her program as a "jack of all trades," engaging with families of different backgrounds and providing each family with assistance in their community, in the school system and at home.
Job Titles:
- Retired Bridgeport Administrator, Teacher
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Pediatrics at Bridgeport Hospital / Regional Medical Director for Inpatient Pediatric Services at Yale New Haven Children 's Hospital
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Medical Director of the Child
Biography
Margo L. Fugate MD is the Medical Director of the Child and Family Guidance Center. She is board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as well as Adult Psychiatry. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University, Brooklyn Center where she graduated from the General Honors program, and her Medical Degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Dr. Fugate completed her Adult Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital and joined the faculty of Cornell Medical School and New York Presbyterian Hospital Westchester Division from 1999-2018. Dr. Fugate co-founded New York Presbyterian Hospital's Cultural Diversity Committee (later renamed "Diversity Council") which was established as a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to recognizing and addressing the cultural needs of patients, families. clinicians and support staff. Dr. Fugate is a member of The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The American Psychiatric Association and The Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- President and CEO of the Child and Family Guidance Center
Biography
Michael Patota is the President and CEO of The Child and Family Guidance Center, and brings over twenty years of clinical and administrative expertise to his position. Prior to joining CFGC in April 2015, he served for fourteen years as Division Director of Clinical Services at United Services, where he was responsible for the oversight of a comprehensive array of outpatient behavioral health programs serving Northeastern Connecticut. Additionally, Michael has worked extensively with the Latino community in a variety of clinical settings. He earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from Boston University's School of Social Work, his Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Bay Path University, and his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Psychology from Bridgewater State College.
Job Titles:
- Director of Information & Technology at the Child
- Director, Information & Technology
Biography
Mike Ryan is the Director of Information & Technology at the Child and Family Guidance Center, where he is responsible for the implementation, management, maintenance and upgrade of the agency's technology systems and software. Prior to joining CFGC, Mike worked for almost 10 years as the Technology and Security Manager for United Services, a non-profit mental and behavioral health organization serving children, adults and families in Northeastern CT. Mike has over 25 years of experience working in various IT capacities, across server/network/telephone/security systems administration, application development & support as well as programming, product development and project management. Mike studied electrical engineering at the University of Hartford and completed coursework in math and computer science at Eastern CT State University and Northeastern University. Mike holds certifications as a Health Information Technology Professional, Cisco Certified Network Engineer and a Microsoft Certified Network Engineer.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Senior VP of Finance, Yale New Haven Health
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Sylv adra Ellis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the Mental Health field for several years, providing therapy in in-home, outpatient and congregate care settings. Sylv adra began with the agency as a Clinical supervisor in the Outpatient Clinic in December of 2018 and was promoted to to Director of Mobile Crisis Intervention Services in March 2021. Sylv adra brings with her, 12 years of managerial experience, as well as experience in and a passion for crisis work, to her new role. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, parents, and families experiencing challenges, related to stress, anxiety, trauma, crises and inter-relational conflicts.
Job Titles:
- Director, Family Support Services
Biography
Virginia Lopez, LMSW, is the Director of the Family Support Services Unit at The Child & Family Guidance Center. Virginia has served children and families at CFGC for over a decade as a former Care Coordinator and Crisis Clinician. She is the co-chair of the statewide Multicultural WRAP CT Learning Collaborative, which was developed to empower, validate, and equip multicultural staff to provide individualized care. Virginia is a certified Wraparound trainer in both English and Spanish, and took the lead in translating and presenting Wraparound training in Spanish for the first time in the state. She continues to collaborate with supervisors statewide to provide consultation and support to bilingual staff.
Virginia was born in Puerto Rico and made Bridgeport, CT her home at the age of 14. She graduated from Harding High School and attended Sacred Heart University, where she obtained her Bachelor's in Psychology. Virginia later received a Master of Science in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University.