Por favor envíenos un correo electrónico a info@cliffordbeers.org si necesita ayuda para utilizar esta página de web o para acceso a nuestros servicios. Nosotros podemos brindarle apoyo!
Por favor envíenos un correo electrónico a info@cliffordbeers.org si necesita ayuda para utilizar esta página de web o para acceso a nuestros servicios. Nosotros podemos brindarle apoyo!
Our free emotional support line:
Reach Out Connecticut
844-TALK-4CT
844-825-5428
Contact our clinic:
(203) 772-1270
Meet Our Team
Clifford Beers would be nothing without our amazing staff.
Meet our leadership team who oversees each of our departments and programs below.
Alice M. Forrester, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
BA, Kean University; MA, New York University (1992); PhD, Fielding University (2002)
"I came to Clifford Beers as an intern over two decades ago. I realized pretty quickly that Clifford Beers is a special place filled with folks who serve children and their families with respect, integrity, and compassion.
I am honored to be the CEO of this very special institution, to guard our Centennial legacy, and to help grow and strengthen it for our next 100 years of leadership and service to the Greater New Haven Community."
Leadership
Melanie Rossacci
Chief Strategy Officer
BS, Social Work, Saint Joseph University (2001); MSW, Fordham University (2009)
“I worked in state government for 19 years prior to coming to Clifford Beers. During my time in state government, I learned of the great work being done with children & families at Clifford Beers and I wanted to be a part of it. You can feel the dedication and commitment to getting it right for families in every staff member you come across. The vision, passion, and commitment to not only the families we serve, but the organization itself, is one of the many things that makes Clifford Beers a special place. I feel honored to be a part of the leadership team here and look forward to our continued growth rooted in a strategic vision of continuing to respond to the needs of the families we are privileged to serve.”
Lauren Weibrecht
Chief of Behavioral Health Services
Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s in Community Psychology
"I started working at Clifford Beers with families affected by sexual abuse and domestic violence in 2001. As I grew in the profession and worked with more children and their families, I was struck by how resilient they were in the face of trauma and other stressful life events. My clinical lens has been through an ecological approach (a person is an individual, but part of families, communities, cultures that are all inter-related). The interplay among those systems and the Clinic's focus on the whole person, whole family care resonates with me. I want to be a part of the evolution of how we look at working with families, focusing on strengths and resiliency. I am committed to this approach to care and believe that the Clinic can support families at times when they are in need."
Marissa Mangone
Chief Development Officer
BS Political Science, Sacred Heart University (2003)
“I’ve been working for non-profits for the past seventeen years and have loved every minute of it. I value the connection, collaboration, sharing, and learning opportunities that are embedded in this incredibly important work. I joined Clifford Beers in April 2021 and am excited to work for an organization that is committed to addressing the unmet needs of children and families in New Haven and beyond. Clifford Beers is truly an asset to the community providing programs and services specifically designed to increase accessibility and health equity.”
Michael Riso
Chief Financial Officer
BS, Sacred Heart University; CPA, CT
"I began my career in the private sector, but about 15 years ago I saw the value of working in nonprofit -- in a place where my work can really impact people. I'm particularly drawn to the innovative nature of Clifford Beers, and the reward in my role as CFO is finding the most financially streamlined ways to help the Clinic meet its objectives of health and wellness in the community."
Naomi Libby, MD
Senior Vice President of Clinical Services and Medical Director
BS, Brandeis University (2005); MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (2012); General Psychiatry Residency and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, Yale School of Medicine (2017); Board Certified in General Psychiatry (2017); Board Certified in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2018)
"As a psychiatrist, I practice medicine within a "biopsychosocial" framework, which recognizes the equal importance of biological, psychological, and social determinants of health. I joined Clifford Beers because of its commitment to promoting mental wellness not only in individual children and families but in the Greater New Haven community at large. Clifford Beers has a well-earned reputation for innovation in systems of care, and I am privileged to be part of a team of dedicated people who are continuously striving to increase access to care for vulnerable populations."
Christine Montgomery, LCSW
Vice President of Community & School-Based Services
BA, Southern Connecticut State University (1991); MSW, Boston University (1993); LCSW, CT (1996)
"I am at Clifford Beers because I knew when I first came here in 1995 it would be my professional home, and it has been. I have stayed at Clifford Beers for as long as I have because the work here is very much in line with my own personal beliefs: if given the chance, all children can succeed, and it's the responsibility of all of us to make sure that children have that chance. I am now in a leadership position, and we have a large staff; their work continues to inspire me. I feel a deep commitment to supporting the staff in their important work, and when I ask someone how they're doing I'm not just asking to be polite--I really want to know: how are you doing?! A big part of my job is to make and sustain connections--connections to the work, connections to the families, and connections to the community. It is my privilege to do so."
Tirzah Kemp
Vice President of Community Support Services and Engagement
MS, Albertus Magnus College, (2018) - Organizational Leadership
"As long as I can remember, I have been a student of people; my greatest passion is the community. I am aware that no single approach to supporting children and families is the right approach for every family. However, all families deserve access to all of the supports available to ensure their individual success. Clifford Beers supports this philosophy by infusing a holistic approach along with evidence-based practices into how we support and serve those in need of our services. I also recognized that Clifford Beers for more than 100 years is one of the largest community-based outpatient behavioral health clinics in the nation. By working here, I am able to empower, advocate, motivate, connect, and encourage resilience. To challenge stereotypes and avoid fallacies. As well as fight discrimination, oppression, and injustice, no matter the form. Clifford Beers has allowed me an opportunity to work within a community I am very passionate about as well as work with a group of professionals who are committed to enhancing the well-being and quality of life of individuals who may be impacted by these social disadvantages."
Trude Piscitelli, RN
Vice President of Integrated Care
BNS, Ursuline College (1994)
"I live in New Haven, so I first joined the agency because I wanted to serve the people who live where I live in a really meaningful, community-based way. Since then I've grown with the agency and I was able to help build the Marne Street Clinic where we work with a really underserved population -- those with autism, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities, -- in a comprehensive and whole-family way. I have a cousin with autism, so this work touches me in a very personal way. My hope is that the integrated care we deliver at Marne Street Clinic will become the template by which all organizations deliver care to those with disabilities."
Yohanna Cifuentes, PhD, LCSW
Director of Outpatient Services
BA, Hunter College (1998); MSW, Hunter College (2000); PhD Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Capella University (2013)
"Clifford Beers is recognized in the community as a ground-breaking agency that is seeking to provide new ways of working with families while improving the quality of life for families and the community. I joined Clifford Beers because I wanted to be part of an innovative organization that looks at the various factors affecting children and their families. It is also at the forefront of searching for alternative practices to improve the entire system. I was impressed by the holistic approach, the number of programs offered, and the use of so many evidence-based models that reach various populations. The role that I have allows me to contribute to the work that started so many years ago at CB. I'm part of something innovative, but it's innovation in action. There has been talk of whole-family care for years, but Clifford Beers is actually doing it and understanding people in the context of physical health, mental health, home environment, barriers to care -- and everything that impacts a life. The drive and passion for the work at CB is unique."
Rebekka Laskowski
Vice President of Finance
BS, Quinnipiac University (2009); CPA, CT
"I worked in public accounting as an auditor for nine years and I specialized in auditing non-profit organizations. During my time as Clifford Beers’ auditor, I grew to understand just how impactful the work here is. I was excited about the opportunity to not only join the organization but to join the leadership team. It is my hope to take an active role in leading Clifford Beers through their continued growth."
Josslyn DeCrosta-Grindle
Vice President of Human Resources & Managed Services
BA, Quinnipiac University (2005)
"I started working at Clifford Beers in 2015 because its mission of helping children and families is very near and dear to me. The work shows compassion and dedication. It is my main goal to support the staff that serve our community each and every day. While they take care of everyone else, I am committed to taking care of them."
Gerry Baird
Director of Client Access & Mobile Crisis
MSW, Southern Connecticut State University (2005); LCSW (2008)
"Clifford Beers holds a special place in my heart. I believe in the diverse and innovative work we deliver and I enjoy making an impact on people's lives. Clifford Beers goes beyond the communities we serve, and I am honored to a part of that continuation of care. I can't say enough about the staff, as they are kind, compassionate and hardworking -- and it is apparent in their work. Helping families is what we do and being a part of that is why I am here."
Seth Poole
Director of Systems of Care
BA in International Studies, Trinity College
"As a New Haven native and product of the New Haven Public Schools, I have known Clifford Beers to be the premier mental health services provider for our community. Young people have relied on the staff at Clifford Beers to listen to them without judgement. Clifford Beers' holistic approach to the care and well being of our children and families is second-to-none, and I am proud to be a part of that legacy."
Ilaria Filippi
Director of Trauma-Informed Schools
BA, MFT, LMFT, Southern Connecticut State University
"I work at Clifford Beers for many reasons, but one reason that sticks out is Greater New Haven is my community. The community we serve are my neighbors -- the soccer mom, the grandmother picking up her grandchildren from school, or the dad bringing his child to camp. Clifford Beers helps children and families who suffer from bad experiences, and they offer the best skills and practices. I wanted to be apart of that."
Mikaela Honhongva
Director, Quality Analytics and Research
BA, Yale University (2009)
"I came to Clifford Beers after a volunteer experience with adults with chronic mental illnesses. I felt that, while there were wonderful and necessary programs treating adults, we as a community needed to do more to care for children early on. The agency's mission to serve children and families using integrated services and its commitment to recognizing the impact that social determinants have on health fit perfectly with my personal mission. Here, I have found my niche in using data to help improve the quality of care. I truly hope that one day I will not have a job because we've ended all trauma, but until that day I feel very fortunate to work with such a wonderful team to provide exceptional care to our community."
Shayla Moye
Director of Client Services
BS, Howard University; MS, University of New Haven
"I have been with Clifford Beers for almost 15 years and started as a Case Manager. Prior to coming to Clifford Beers I worked in Group Homes and Detention Facilities. All my life, my mission has been to serve the community and support the youth and families. When people ask "what keeps you at Clifford Beers?" it's very simple--community. I work to provide services that will improve our community's overall health and well-being. Our children deserve the chance to succeed and if I can do one thing to help that happen, I will. Clifford Beers provides the platform and dedicated staff to make this happen and I look forward to the continued success."
Elizabeth Donohue, Psy.D.
Director of Psychological Services
BA, University of Louisville; PsyD (Clinical Psychology), Hahnemann University
"For almost thirty years, I have worked to meet the needs of children, adolescents and their families in Connecticut, in positions ranging from forensic interviewer in cases involving sexual abuse to clinical director of a therapeutic day school. In coming to Clifford Beers, I am pleased to join an organization that has remained committed to serving the community through innovative and client-centered programs. And I am proud to have a role in our integrated care and evaluation services, as well as in helping to train future psychologists in our newly APA accredited internship."
Jennifer Cretella
Director of Development
BS, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1997)
"I have always had a passion for nonprofit work, spending close to seven years volunteering on countless community events, golf tournaments and road races, as well as assisting with the start-up of a nonprofit as a staff volunteer for two years. So when I decided to leave the corporate sector after 25 years, it was because of that volunteer work that I was drawn to changing career paths and shifting into the nonprofit sector. The innovative work that Clifford Beers is doing is one of the biggest reasons I love working here. Being a part of an organization that sees a need, comes up with a plan on how to meet that need, and then creating the program to satisfy that need is such an exciting thing. Working for Clifford Beers I have a feeling of the purpose behind the work I do -- that the end result of my efforts helps to make a difference in the lives of the children and families served by the agency."