Our Staff

Robert Wolf, Executive Director

Since 1968, Bob has worked as a social work practitioner in the fields of child welfare, outpatient and inpatient mental health, residential treatment of children, community youth work and school based services. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker he has served as a peer reviewer for both the North Central Association of Schools and the Council of Accredited Services for Children and Families. Bob was the past Treasurer of the Illinois Chapter of NASW and currently chair NASW's Chicago, Birmingham (UK) and Hamburg Tri-city Professional Exchange Program which fosters international training and research into effective services for youth and families. He has been the Executive Director since 2000.

Jane McCarthy, Development Director

Jane joined Family Service in 2008. After using her energies to grow a career in Human Resource management and Executive search, Jane was drawn to the not-for-profit sector and the mission of Family Service. Having focused on human dynamics and developmental needs, Jane has seen how the business and social community is strengthened through healthier and productive individuals and family relationships. As the Development Director she now focuses on finding the resources to support the important work of Family Service. She earned a BA from Marquette University.

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.

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.

Stephanie Loda LCSW, Seniors, individuals and families

Stephanie has been with Family Service since 2002, and has been the supervisor of the senior counseling program since 2005. 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.

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.

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.

Debbie Hege LCSW, 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.

Frank Wagner LCSW, Director of Senior Service and Supervisor of the Barrington office

Frank has 19 years experience in clinical social work as a psychotherapist, supervisor and researcher. Frank has worked with individuals, couples and families in both long-term and time-limited settings. A member of the Loyola University School of Social Work's graduate faculty the past ten years, Frank is also a Ph.D. candidate at Loyola. His research explores the ways couples persevere through difficult times.

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.

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.

Digna Rivera, Bilingual therapist

Digna was born in Puerto Rico and came to the United States ten years ago 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 of South Lake County for two years and continues to help Latino families deal with immigration, substance abuse, domestic violence, parenting and the challenges of an English education.

Elba Garnica, Resource and Referral coordinator

Elba immigrated from Mexico 12 years ago with her family. She has been a secretary at Family Service since 1998. After years of taking phone calls of Family Service's clients in need, she received her certificate in domestic violence to better help the Latino population. She enjoys referring clients to local agencies when our services do not meet their needs and remains informed about many diverse and helpful community organizations, particularly for the Latino community. She has also worked as a secretary at Kellogg Cereal and General Motors.

Lisette Kohn Gale, Bilingual therapist for 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.

Margie Fischer, Case Aide

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.

Nallely Sotomayor, Program Coordinator Nuestro Center