About: Board of Directors
- Priscilla Lincoln, RN, PhD (Co-President)
- Evelyn Blanck, LCSW (Co-President)
- Julia Travers, RN, MSN (Vice President)
- Carole J. Oshinsky, MLS (Treasurer)
- Manisha Tare, OTR/L, MPH (Secretary)
- Phyllis Ackman, PhD
- Lois M. Black, PhD
- Susan Chinitz
- Catherine Cowell, PhD
- Martha E. Edwards, PhD
- Evelyn Efinger, MS Ed
- Gilbert M. Foley, EdD
- Sima Gerber, PhD, CCC
- S. Gail Gordon
- Barbara Greenstein, ACSW
- Dorothy Henderson, MSW
- Jane D. Hochman, EdD
- Elizabeth Isakson, MD
- Marion Katzive
- Dina Joy Lieser
- Harriet McGurk, MD
- Susan L. Recchia, PhD
- Margaret Sampson
- Barbara Schwartz, PhD
- Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok, MSW, PhD
- Suzi Tortora Ed D., C.M.A., A.D.T.R., LCAT, LMHC
- Andronike C. Tsamas, PhD
- Arlene Uss, MS Ed
- Lana Woods
Phyllis Ackman, PhD
Description: Psychologist-Psychoanalyst/Consultant/Clinician
Current Position: Coordinator, Mother-Infant Program at Pace University, New York City
- Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pace University
- Faculty member of Institute for Infants, Children & Families, Jewish Board of Family and Children Services
- Member and training analyst of the International Psychoanalytic Association
- Member of the New York Freudian Society
- Practicing psychoanalyst treating adults, adolescents, parents and infants in infant-parent psychotherapy
- Expertise in interaction between mothers and their infants and young children
Lois M. Black, PhD
Description: Clinician/ Researcher
Current Position: Psychological and Neuropsychological Services, New York City/Oregon
- Specializes in comprehensive neuropsychological-psychodynamic evaluations and psychotherapy with children of all ages and their families
- Currently engaged in research on language disabilities and autism as senior associate scientist at the Oregon Health & Sciences University
- Her research on developmental language disorders and work on differential diagnosis and treatment has been presented at meetings across the country
- Publications include guidelines for "Neuropsychological Assessment of Developmental and Learning Disorders" in the ICDL Clinical Practice Guidelines, 2000
- Recipient of the Burton Pfeffer Memorial Award from the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health for the best work on child therapy issues in 1994
- Advisory Board member for the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders
Evelyn J. Blanck, LCSW
Description: Administrator, Social Worker
Current Position: Associate Executive Director, New York Center for Child Development
- Over twenty five years experience in the area of mental health, with a focus on the integration of mental health services in health, education and all child care settings.
- Co-Chair of the Federation Executive Committee, an advisory committee to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
- Founder and Chair of the New York City Early Childhood Mental Health Strategic Work Group for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
- Chair of the Citywide Children’s Committee for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
- Mayoral appointment to the Community Services Board Subcommittee on Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Catherine Cowell, PhD
Description: Nutritionist/Consultant
Current Position: Clinical Professor, Center for Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City
- Expertise in maternal and child health
- Serves on several national maternal and child health committees developing nutrition and physical activity policies and performance standards for out-of-home care of infants, toddlers and young children
- Advocate for integrating cultural food practices in training child care providers, consultants, and food service staff
- Co-author of books on nutrition assessment and nutrition guidance for health practitioners
- Member of the New York Academy of Medicine and the American Public Health Association that annually presents a public health nutrition award in her name
Martha E. Edwards, PhD
Current Position(s): Director, Developing Families Project, Ackerman Institute for the Family; Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Child Study Center, New York University Medical Center
- Longstanding interest in understanding child development within the intersecting contexts of the family system, culture, and intra-individual levels of neurobiology and psychodynamics
- Developed a universal prevention program for families with infants and toddlers at the Ackerman Institute called The Bright Beginnings Parent-Infant Program which is currently being implemented in NYC public schools and the Even Start Family Literacy Program
- Her article, "Attachment, Mastery and Interdependence: A Model of Parenting Processes" in Family Process describes the theoretical framework for Bright Beginnings
- As Co-Principal Investigator in the Woodward Initiative for Children with Bipolar Disorder at the NYU Child Study Center, is developing a family-focused treatment model for children with bipolar disorder
- Supervises psychology interns in family therapy
- Maintains a private practice for families and couples in New York City
- Member of the Board of Directors for the American Family Therapy Academy and currently serving as the Program Chair for the 2003 Annual Conference
Evelyn Efinger, MS Ed
Description: Child Development Specialist/Educator/Administrator
Current Position: Infant Toddler Project Coordinator, NYS Child Care Coordinating Council, Albany NY
- Currently coordinating the statewide network of Regional Infant and Toddler Resource Centers - best practice information and training centers aimed at improving the quality of child care for babies and toddlers across New York State
- Coordinating statewide cross disciplinary dialogue and networking amongst professionals who work with infants, toddlers and their families through activities such as the NYS Infancy Conferences in 2004 and 2005 and statewide Infancy Summits in 2007 and 2008
- Active member on NY Childrens Action Network (CAN) a broad based child advocacy network aimed at coordinating the public policy voice for children birth - 21
- 2007 national Zero to Three Fellow - project will develop a model curriculum for states to consider for the orientation and ongoing training of Infant Toddler Specialists
- 25+ years of experience in Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, Child Care Resource and Referral
- Experience with college and community based training and education for adults working in early care and education
- BS Clinical Psychology, MSEd. Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Infants and Toddlers.
Gilbert M. Foley, EdD
Gilbert M. Foley, EdD
Description: Psychologist/Professor/Trainer
Current Position: Associate Professor of School/Clinical Child Psychology, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, New York City
- Published and co-authored: Mental Health in Early Intervention, The Supportive Play Model and The Cognitive Observation Guide as well as other widely recognized publications
- Developed and directed a federally funded model/demonstration and outreach project that provided training to over 3500 early intervention providers nationwide and was replicated in ten states as a service delivery approach for infants and preschoolers with developmental disorders
- Pioneer in establishing a full-time Department of Psychological Services in a publicly funded preschool program
- Faculty member of the Institute for Infants, Children and Families at the Jewish Board of Children's and Family Services
- Faculty member of the DIR Institute Bethesda, MD
- Former Senior Clinical Supervisor, NYU School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Bellevue Hospital Center, NY
- Consulting Clinical Director, Infant Mental Health and Consultation Project, Manhattan center for Early Learning
Sima Gerber, PhD, CCC
Description: Speech-Language Pathologist/Professor/Administrator
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics and Communication Disorders and Interim Graduate Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathology Program at Queens College, City University of New York
- Extensive experience teaching and supervising students in clinical speech and language in clinical and academic settings
- Particularly interested in the application of developmentally-based theories and social-pragmatic approaches to language intervention, pragmatic challenges across language stages, and the language and communication challenges of children on the autistic spectrum
- Ran a model pre-school program for young children with delayed language development at the Gertz Speech-Language-Hearing Center of Queens College
- Faculty member, Institute for Infants, Children & Families, Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services
- Senior Teaching Faculty and Advisory Board member of the Interdisciplinary Council for Developmental & Learning Disorders
- Active member and officer of professional organizations in her fields
Gail Gordon, MSW, MS
Description: Social Worker/Special Educator
Current Position: Director, Early Childhood Programs at the LSA Family Health Service, New York City
- Twenty-five years experience working with high risk mothers and their babies in the East Harlem community
- Coordinates a Home-Based Child Development Program, an Early Intervention Program, and a small center-based Toddler Nursery at the LSA Family Health Service
- Faculty member of the Institute for Infants, Children, and Families at the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, Inc
Barbara Greenstein, ACSW
Description: Social Worker/Psychoanalyst
Current Position: Deputy Executive Director, Queens Child Guidance Center, New York City
- Faculty at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, Institute for Infants, Children & Families of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, and New York University School of Social Work
- Founding director of New York's first Early Head Start
- Pioneer in early services for mentally ill, chemical-abusing women and their infants and toddlers, and school-based programs for teen parents and their infants
- Currently developing research issues for the National Early Head Start Program in partnership with the New York University and Yale University
Dorothy Henderson, MSW
Description: Social Worker/Educator
Current Position: Assistant Director, Infant-Parent Study Center of the
Institute for Infants, Children & Families of the Jewish Board of Family and
Children's Services
- Founding Director of the Harlem Center for Family Development
- Developed the Harlem Hospital's Division of Child/Adolescent Psychiatry's Infant Psychiatry Service for mentally ill parents and their infants
- Developed a group treatment model for women in recovery and their infants as a part of a ACS funded Family Rehabilitation Program for substance abusing families at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital
- Graduate Fellow of Zero to Three: the National Canter of Infants, Toddlers and Families
Jane D. Hochman, EdD
Description: Consultant in Policy and Planning for Special Needs Populations
Current Position: Consultant in Private Practice, New Jersey
- Leader and activist in the field of early intervention for over 25 years
- Lectured extensively on early intervention issues in the United States and consulted in Great Britain and Singapore
- Bachelor's degree specialization in child development, Master's degree specialization in educational psychology with a concentration in special education of the hearing impaired child, and Doctorate in educational leadership and administration
Priscilla Lincoln, RN, PhD
Description: Clinician/Administrator
Current Position: Supervisor, Columbia University Early Head Start Program
- Extensive experience working with high risk infants and their families.
- Developed Early Head Start, Early Intervention and Family Support programs for families of children with chronic illness while serving as Director of the Department of Children's and Family Services at Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
- Developed the Families First Program at South Beach Psychiatric Center, a parent support program for new parents.
- Extensive experience and expertise in staff development.
Harriet McGurk, MD
Description: Pediatrician/Educator
Current Position: Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Columbia University, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of New York, New York City
- Training of pediatric medical residents in understanding and management of a wide range of developmental, behavioral and cognitive topics to prepare them for the practice of pediatrics. Normal and abnormal development are included, with an emphasis on parenting skills and on practical guidance to assist parents in obtaining services and advocating for their children.
- Currently involved in parent education at Early Childhood Development Center.
Carole J. Oshinsky, MLS
Description: Co-president, Consultant, Editorial and Communications, and Birth to Three State Advocacy Leader
Position: Manager, Publications, National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City
- Selected as a Birth to Three State Advocacy Leader in March 2008 as part of ZERO TO THREE’s Creating Connections for Babies project.
- Extensive information management experience gained working in medical and social science libraries, including as database editor, reference librarian, indexer and abstractor.
- Production and editorial management of print and electronic publications, including newsletters, reports, fact sheets, brochures, and policy briefs. Creator and manager of clearinghouses on key policy issues, such as Services Integration (for NCCP) and Geriatric Medical Education (for Mt. Sinai Hospital and New York State)
- Author of annotated bibliographies on children in poverty, services, integration, preventing substance abuse in young children, and other social issues, and “Publications of Note” column in newsletters.
- Counselor on breastfeeding and parenthood issues for La Leche League International
Susan L. Recchia, PhD
Description: Psychologist/ Program and Project Director/ Professor
Current Position: Director, Early Childhood Center; Director and the Center for Babies, Toddlers and Families, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Specializes in infant mental health and developmental disabilities in infancy and early childhood
- Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Faculty Member of the Parent Infant Psychotherapy Program of the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research
- Director of large clinical intervention program for infants and young children and their parents or caregivers and director of clinical externship program for graduate students in psychology, social work and special education
- Has obtained grants and administered projects that bring infant mental health and developmental services to child serving systems and community based programs including primary pediatric care centers, child care and preschool programs, foster agencies and Family Courts
- Editorial Board of the Journal of Early Childhood and Infant Psychology
- Member, NYC Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council and the Children's Committee of the Bronx Mental Retardation Council
Barbara Schwartz, PhD
Description: Educator/Researcher/Administrator
Current Position: Clinical Associate Professor/Coordinator of Graduate Program in Early Childhood Special Education, Department of Teaching and Learning, Steinhardt School Education, New York University
- Began career in the field of infancy issues in 1973 as a researcher and educator at the Preschool and Infant Development Program of New York University Medical Center, Rusk Institute - the first federally funded program to provide intervention from a developmental education perspective
- Joined the training and technical assistance support project at NYU-currently called the Quality Improvement Center for Disabilities Services (QIC-DS) in 1983
- As Director of the QIC-DS responsible for overseeing staff in their support of the inclusion of infants, toddlers and preschool children with disabilities from birth through five in Early Head Start and Head Start programs in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Instrumental, in conjunction with the Department of Teaching and Learning and the New York Zero-To-Three Network, Inc, in planning a series of annual events to address the unique needs of the birth to three population
- Mayoral appointee to the NYC Early Intervention Coordinating Council and member of many state and local advisory boards
- Presented at international, national and regional conferences on various areas of early childhood special education, inclusion, and play as the basis of learning
- Co-authored a chapter on "Head Start and Inclusion" for Early Childhood Inclusion: A Focus on Change
Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok MSW, PhD
Description: Clinician/Author/Educator
Current Position: Founding Director of the Institute for Infants, Children & Families (formerly Early Childhood Group Therapy Program and the Institute for Clinical Studies of Infants, Toddlers and Parents) of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services
- Training and experience in psychology, social work, early childhood education, psychoanalysis and infant mental health
- Oversees a multi-year, several site service, training, replication and research demonstration project under the auspices of Head Start, Administration for Children's Services in New York
- Co-leading the Ground Zero Trauma Screening and Intervention Initiative for children under five and their caregivers
- Longtime clinical consultant to the Rita Gold Infant and Early Childhood Center at Teachers College, Columbia University and currently an Advisory Board member
- Active board member of Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families for over twenty years
- Founder and current Co-President of the New York Zero-to-Three Network
- Sees children, birth through early adolescence with their parents, in private practice and is known for work with children who have developmental delays and their families
- Formerly a Contributing Editor for Parents magazine, serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Developmental and Learning Disorders and of the Journal of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
- Published numerous articles on adult development; parent development and intervention; interventions with delayed young children and their parents; peer play psychotherapy; outreach in community-based settings; and on reflective supervision and practice in the birth through preschool field
Manisha Tare, OTR/L, MPH
Description: Consultant, Occupational therapist
Current Position: Health/Disabilities Specialist, Head Start Technical Assistance Network
- Provide training and technical assistance to Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the areas of health, nutrition, mental health, and disabilities
- Previously served as an administrator in the New York City Early Intervention Program
- Provided home based occupational therapy services and evaluations through the New York City Early Intervention Program
- Provided occupational therapy services to adults and children in a hospital based setting at UMDNJ, Newark, NJ
Julia Travers, RN, MSN
Description: Infant/Toddler Specialist/Clinical Nurse Specialist
Current Position: Coordinator of New York City Infant Toddler Technical Assistance Resource Center, Childcare, Inc.
- Counseling experience as member of Community Mental Health Team
- Developed and coordinated hospital-based "New Parent Warmline". Co-authored journal article: "Warmline Services for New Parents: One Center's Evaluation".
- Managed Early Intervention Program
- Consultant/workshop facilitator for Early Head Start through the Quality Improvement Center for Disabilities Services at New York University
- Graduate of the Institute for Infants, Children and Families at the Jewish Board of Children's and Family Services
- Currently coordinate regional infant/toddler resource center, provide supervision for Center Infant/Toddler Specialists and provide training and technical assistance for Early Care and Education Programs.
Andronike C. Tsamas, PhD
Description: Administrator/Social Worker/Educator
- Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 1962; Masters in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work in 1966; and Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Social Work in 1991
- Thirty-five years of professional work including clinical practice with families and children, program development and training, administration of public and private programs
- Career highlights include:
- Assistant Commissioner, Division of Family Permanency, New York City Administration for Children's Services (Child Welfare)
- Associate Executive Director, March of Dimes (pre/post natal programs)
- Program Director, The Children's House, Spence Chapin Services to Families and Children (mother/child programs 0 - 5 years)
- Director, Adoption and Foster Care, The Children's Village (emotionally disturbed children, drug exposed infants) and
- Adjunct Professor, New York University School of Social Work, Social Work Policies and Programs
Suzi Tortora Ed.D., C.M.A., A.D.T.R., LCAT, LMHC
Description: Administrator/Psychotherapist r/Educator/Author
Current Position: Founder and director of Dancing Dialogue Healing and Expressive Arts, a center for movement, music & dance based arts that support healing & self- expression, in Cold Spring, New York
- Doctorate from Teachers College Columbia University with a specialization in infancy development, psychology and education
- Master degree in dance therapy from New York University; and her undergraduate degree from the Elliot Pearson Department of Tufts University in child development, psychology, and education with teaching certification for typical and special needs early childhood and elementary education.
- Teaches creative and meditative dance to all ages in her clinical dance movement psychotherapy practice in New York City and in the Hudson Valley Region of upstate New York
- Certified Laban Movement Analyst and Kestenberg Movement Profiler.
- Additional studies include Body Mind Centering (BMC) with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen; the discipline of Authentic Movement with Janet Adler; and extensive study and training in the field of infancy and early childhood research, development, education, communication and intervention through the Zero to Three Institute.
- Over 23 years experience working with infants and young children (and their parents and caregivers). A dance/movement psychotherapist
Arlene Uss, MS Ed
Description: Administrator/Early Childhood Special Educator/Clinician
Current Position: Coordinator, Center for Early Care and Education, Bank Street College of Education
- Expertise in developing comprehensive child care and educational, therapeutic programs
- Extensive knowledge of curriculum and supervised introduction
- Expertise in developing and implementing staff development for educators and allied disciplines
- Has designed environmental facilities for corporate child care settings and therapeutic intervention programs
- Has initiated work and family programs for major corporations
- Extensive experience in the area of organizational culture and climate
Lana Woods
Description: Business Executive
- Former Vice President, International Business Development, General Electric
- Parent of two young children receiving early intervention services