Our Staff

Paul Dean, Executive Director

Paul Dean assumed the responsibilities of Executive Director at the start of 2011. With an impressive record of education and experience, Paul is well qualified to meet the challenges that come with leading a local social service agency. Paul earned a Master’s Degree in statistics and finance from Cleveland State University, holds a Master’s Degree in social work from the University of Chicago, and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Paul’s experience includes serving as a Staff Therapist, Program Director and Chief Financial Officer for Turning Point, the community mental health center for Niles Township. Paul also served as the Executive Director of H.O.M.E. in Chicago, an organization that like Family Service prioritizes providing in-home services to Seniors. He states he is “excited to be a part of continuing the mission to bring needed services to individuals and families regardless of their ability to pay, many of whom would have no other options for resources if Family Service was not there to help.”

Gail T. Hodges, Development Director

Gail Hodges joined Family Service in early November 2011. She brings over 30 years of not-for-profit and development experience to her position, as Executive Director of Operations and Development at Gorton Community Center, Lake Forest for over 16 years; as a freelance grant writer and writer and designer of textbooks and print and online media; and as a leader and board member of community organizations and nonprofits, including as Third Ward Alderman on the Lake Forest City Council and Chairman of the Building Review Board, President and Director of the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, and Director of the Lake Forest Open Lands Association. She holds a B.A. in English and Government from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and certificates in fundraising and marketing from the Kellogg Center for Nonprofit Management, Northwestern University. She is pleased to be part of an organization that cares so much about its neighbors.

Dennis Skolnik, Director of Finance and Information Systems

Dennis Skolnik has been with Family Service since 2001. Although the non-profit world was new to him, he finds it very rewarding and challenging. He enjoys working for an organization with multiple sites and diversity and appreciates the challenge of a multi-faceted position. Dennis provides expertise in accounting and information systems. Day to day, he upgrades his skills as the technology of the organization evolves to ensure information is more accessible to staff members.

Debbie Hege LCSW, Program Supervisor Individual and Family Therapist

Debbie joined Family Service in 1999. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her Master of Social Work from Loyola University.

Carol Fitzsimmons LCSW, Individual and Family Therapist

Carol has been a Clinical Social Worker for 44 years. The first part of her career she worked exclusively with adolescents and their families. She has been at Family Service since 1979, during which she has worked with individuals, couples, families of all ages. She started at Family Service on a part time basis when her children were very young, and came on full-time when they were in school all day.

Lois Silverstein LCSW, Seniors, Individuals and Families

Lois received her M.A. in social work from SSA, the University of Chicago in 1967 and has worked as a therapist specializing in older adults ever since. Lois came to work for Family Service 29 years ago and provides individual, couple and family therapy to adults of all ages, consults with the Highland Park Senior Center and facilitates educational support groups on topics appropriate for the senior adult population and their families.

Stephanie Loda LCSW, Seniors, Individuals and Families

Stephanie has been with Family Service since 2002. She has a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work. Prior to receiving her master’s degree, she worked for more than ten years in corporate settings. She has a broad range of clients, with an emphasis on work with older adults. This work includes individual, couples, and family counseling, educational presentations, and community outreach.

Joyce Wisniewski LCSW, Individual, Family and Group Therapist

Joyce joined the staff in November 1990. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Nationally Certified Group Therapist. She is a graduate of Loyola University School of Social work. She sees individuals, couples and families for therapy and have facilitated a number of psychotherapy groups in the Barrington Office. In an effort to better serve the communities in our area, Joyce has consistently represented Family Service on several local boards to assess the needs of our clients and design programs to meet those needs. She has supervised a number of Graduate Social Work Interns from the University of Illinois and Loyola University Schools of Social Work.

Janet Fryer LCPC, Social Service Coordinator

After a career in business, Janet received an MA in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School in 2000. At the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Center, Janet helps older adults overcome limitations by accessing financial assistance, finding caregivers, and identifying local resources. Janet meets with people in her office, or in their homes. Janet has been extensively trained in Medicare, which allows her to help older adults with claims, enrollment and the Medicare Drug Program.

Jean Odwazny LCSW, Therapist and Youth Advocate

Jean is a Youth Advocate, where she works with youth ages 12-18. Her position services the areas of Lake Forest , Lake Bluff and Knollwood. Jean works with youth in a variety of diverse settings and uses a strengths-based approach. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Bradley University , and her Master's in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Julie Learner, LCSW, MSW

Julie worked for Family Service from 2005-2007 as the Child and Family Specialist, and has returned as of September 2009. Julie works as a therapist and also, works in Development. She sees individual clients, couples, and family groups. In Development, Julie runs groups for the agencies community outreach, helps with fund raising efforts, and works to increase community connections and understanding of Family Service’s mission. Julie holds an MSW from Loyola as well as a Master in Teaching from National-Louis University.

Gale Harris LCSW, Senior Services

Gale has joined Family Service’s staff this month and will be developing a mental health program for seniors living in the northwestern area of Lake County. She has a MSW from University of Illinois’ Jane Addams School of Social Work, and over 20 years of experience providing individual, marital, and group therapy to adults in a variety of settings. In addition to seeing clients, Gale will engage in community outreach activities including educational workshops and presentations and will coordinate services with the County Health Department. Targeted communities include Antioch, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Round Lake and Wauconda.

Alice Schindel LCSW, Seniors, Individuals, Marital and Families

Alice is a graduate of Jane Addams School of Social Work and completed fellowships at Michael Reese Hospital and the Family institute of Chicago. Alice has been in practice for 25 years, 20 of those years at Family Service. Alice sees clients on a part time basis in the Highland Park office. Alice has been cited in Who's Who of American Women.

Judy Cohan LCSW, Seniors, Individuals, Marital and Families

Judy Cohan holds a MSSW from the University of Wisconsin and focused her early career on children, adolescents, and their families, particularly those coping with illness-related medical and emotional issues and with the lifelong impact of parenting a child with developmental challenges. Judy has worked at Lutheran General Children's and Good Samaritan Hospitals, as well as at alternative schools for children, and has coordinated the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence programs. She holds a Certificate in Bioethics from the University of Illinois and has completed post-graduate programs at The Institute for Juvenile Research in Structural Family Therapy and Supervision of Family Therapists. For twenty years, Judy also has been facilitating seminars in corporate settings on work-life balance. For Judy, a joy in being a therapist is continuing to learn new skills to benefit clients. She recently completed a Certificate in Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy, is currently working on a Coaching Certificate with Mentor Coach, and is pursuing the Soul Collage process of incorporating the arts into the therapy-healing process.

Digna Rivera, Bilingual Therapist

Digna was born in Puerto Rico and came to the United States in 1993 with a dream to provide counseling services for the Latino population. After receiving her MSW, she began working at Human Beginnings, an outpatient Mental Health Center in Gary , Indiana on issues of child protection, substance abuse, family dynamics and parenting. Digna enjoyed working with the African-American community for almost four years; however, she yearned to connect with her own Latino roots and began working at the Family Institute through Northwestern University . At the Institute, she helped Latino families deal with women's issues, school behavioral problems, couple/marital problems and parent-child relationships. Digna has worked at Family Service since 2002 and continues to help Latino families deal with immigration, substance abuse, domestic violence, parenting and the challenges of an English education.

Lisette Kohn Gale, Bilingual Therapist, Seniors, Youth and Families

Lisette was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she studied Psychology, receiving her degree in 1980. Her strong counseling experience was developed in both private practice and a local clinic. She came to the U.S. in 2002 and has worked for Family Service since 2003 as a bilingual therapist, counseling and working with first offender youth and their families through Lake County Juvenile Court system, providing therapy to senior citizens through a Senior Program, and handling other cases both in English and Spanish.

Elba Garnica, Resource and Referral Coordinator

Elba has been working for Family Service since 1998 as a Secretary & Information/Referral Coordinator. Elba received a certificate in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to better help our clients. Elba refers clients to the appropriate agencies when our services do not meet their needs and remains informed about the services offered by the other community organizations in our service area. Elba continues to further her education in order to better help the community.

Margie Fischer, Social Service for Older Adults

Margie serves the older adults of West Deerfield Township by linking them with community resources, applying for benefit programs, and providing advocacy, home assessments, and support. Her office is located at Deerfield's Patty Turner Center. Margie has a master's degree in Gerontology.

Elsi Rodriguez, Supervisor Nuestro Center

Elsi was born and raised in the Highland Park/Highwood area. She attended Lake Forest College and received her BA in International Relations and Latin American Studies in May of 2007. At Nuestro Center Elsi coordinates meetings and events for the Latino population served at the site. She oversees "La Escuelita", the after school homework club for first through eighth graders, as well as "Nuestro Verano", the summer camp held at the Center.

Erika Alcibar – Latino and Youth Program Coordinator

Erika joined Family Service in August 2010. Erika has 10 years of experience working in the social services field. Erika’s work has primarily been focused in providing advocacy for youth and families in the areas of fields of housing, and violence prevention. In her role as one of Family Service’s Latino and Youth Program Coordinator, Erika has a strong desire and commitment to working with youth and their families to help them fulfill their potential.

Cindy Camacho - Latino and Youth Advocate

Cindy graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in Sociology and received multiple awards for her research on the disparities in reproductive health care for Latinas. Growing up in Dallas Cindy worked extensively with The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) as a community organizer and advocate. Continuing her community involvement in college, she was the Site Coordinator for America Reads in Oberlin, OH, and the Client Services and Research Intern at Family Planning Services of Lorain County. Cindy joined Family Service in 2011 and is working with youth ages 12-18 and their families.

Mireya Boysselle Foraste - Latino and Youth Program Advocate

Mireya is a participant of the Council of International Programs (CIP) and will be working with Family Service for 18 months before going back to her native Mexico. Mireya has a degree in Psychology and will be working in the Youth Educational Support and Success program (YESS), to provide support to middle school students and their families. Mireya’s experience includes working with immigrants from a cross-Cultural approach, community development and research in migration affairs, as well as experience in the field of education.

Laura Pearson, RN

Laura has been an RN for 25 years and is currently working with seniors in Northwestern Lake County. Laura provides educational presentations and blood pressure monitoring. Laura also facilitates the "Ask the Nurse" program, which provides seniors with the opportunity to discuss issues related to their health.

Nallely Sotomayor, Program Coordinator Nuestro Center