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Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca Names Interim President & Chief Executive Officer

ITHACA, NY, Oct. 26, 2018 – “The Board of Directors for Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca has named Karen Schachere, LCSW, Ph.D., Interim President & CEO of the agency. The decision comes following the departure of David Shapiro, who previously held the position for seven years. Karen brings with her more than 20 years of experience working with the agency, most recently as the Clinic Director and Associate Executive Director. Her experience is matched with grace, empathy, and passion for our community’s mental health, and we are proud to stand behind her leadership as she takes us into the next chapter.

At Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca, we are committed to providing the highest quality mental health services to our entire community. This past year, the clinic was able to see a record number of patients with the same trauma-informed counseling services we have always offered and we continued to expand our support services that put children and families at the center. From our on-the-ground community outreach work to partnering with local colleges and increasing our capacity to see their students, to our specialization in zero to five and geriatric mental health counseling, we are strengthening the lives of those around us, and creating a place to live that is both welcoming and inclusive. As we close out 2018, we will celebrate all we’ve accomplished and take this momentum of growth and change into the New Year. Our priority will be, as it has always been, to make a difference in the lives of all who call Tompkins County home.

Our vision where all families, children, individuals, students, and seniors have access to the social and emotional supports they need to lead fuller, more meaningful lives remains at the core of our work. Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca remains open and functioning as normal during this time of transition. We’re grateful to our community for their continued support and partnership.”