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Mission Statement

Family & Children's Service of Ithaca is dedicated to providing affordable, professional services that support children, families, and organizations in finding solutions to the challenges of life today.

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Striving to serve the whole family, we help our clients feel better, get better, and heal. We believe in the underlying notion that our clients have what it takes to have happier and more productive lives -- and with help, it is more quickly found.

Family & Children's Service of Ithaca, the oldest existing human service agency in Tompkins County, has been serving the community since 1885.

Our origins date back to the establishment of the Ithaca Children's Home, which was opened to care for orphaned and destitute children in 1885. During the 1930s, the Family Society of Ithaca, a welfare relief agency that distributed food, clothing, and financial assistance to the city's neediest families, worked closely with the Ithaca Children's Home.

In 1957, the two agencies merged to form Family & Children's Service of Ithaca, as it is constituted today -- providing mental health services, senior services, employee assistance, and youth services programs.

Family & Children's Service is approved by the State of New York as an adoption agency. Our clinical practice is licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health as an outpatient clinic.

The agency enjoys membership in the following organizations:

• United Way of Tompkins County
• Human Service Coalition
• New York State Association of Family Service Agencies
• Statewide Caregiving & Respite Coalition of New York
• Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce

Our Staff

Family & Children's Service of Ithaca employs staff professionally trained in a variety of disciplines. Our staff is comprised of clinical psychologists, New York State certified social workers, consulting psychiatrists, registered nurses, Respite Aides, and Youth Service caseworkers trained in counseling and adolescent development.

Our highly competent and skilled staff are devoted to meeting the needs of our community and providing consistence excellence in mental health services. All clinical personnel counseling clients are Master-level educated.

Family & Children's Service is an approved training center and provides specialized internships to students from Cornell University, Ithaca College, Binghamton University, SUNY Buffalo, Marywood School of Social Work, Tompkins-Cortland Community College, and Syracuse University.

Our Management Team

James G. Johnston
President & CEO

Karen Schachere, Ph.D.
Director of Clinical Services

Diana Levy, LMSW
Associate Director of Clinical Services

Kristen Nygren, MD
Medical Director

Jessica Gosa, MSW
Senior Services Coordinator

Marisa Matsudaira, LMSW
DAP Clinical Supervisor

Ray Durkin
Business Manager

Katie Foley
Director of Development

Karen Fritz, LMSW
Contract Manager/Mental Health Consultant - Employee Assistance Program

Jim Miller
Facilities Manager

Steven Callan
Information Systems Manager

Our Board

Family & Children's Service is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of local business leaders, human service professionals, and community volunteers, who set policy, provide fiscal and managerial oversight, and establish strategic direction.

The Board's leadership and involvement allows management and staff to vigorously and voraciously support our mission. Like our staff, our Board is caring and compassionate. They believe in the mission of the agency and help to carry it out with a sense of pride and purpose.

Our Board of Directors

Officers

Jennifer Biloski, Vice Chair - Development

Jennifer Bubel, Secretary

David Campbell, PhD – Executive Committee

Anne DiGiacomo, Board Chair

Steve Fontana, Vice Chair – Assessment

Paul Wheeler, Treasurer

Board Members

Laura Bronstein

Linda Crumb

James G. Johnston

Anne Kolodji

Andrea Mooney

Christin Munsch

Beth Prentice

Beth Putnam

Bob Sprole, III

Pamela Swieringa

Marty Turnbull

Lindy Williams