Tony DelMastro, M.B.A.
Chief Executive Officer
203-248-2116, ext. 203
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Tony has been in the role of Chief Executive Officer since 1999. He has oversight responsibility for the functioning of the organization. Through the Chief Operating Officer, Tony is responsible for the provision of treatment and special education services in accordance with state and national standards. He has a more direct role in overseeing business services, information technology, personnel and fundraising. Tony is also the primary liaison between The Children’s Center and state elected officials as well as cognizant state agencies. Prior to his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, Tony functioned as the Agency’s Chief Administrative Officer. Tony started his career at The Children’s Center in 1978 as Administrator for Financial and Support Services.

Dan Lyga, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Chief Operating Officer
203-248-2116, ext. 202
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Dan joined The Children’s Center in 1985 as a clinician and has served as clinical supervisor in residential and substance abuse treatment programs and as Clinical Director for all treatment programs at the Agency. Dan currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. He provides oversight to all programmatic and support functions, insures compliance with all licensing, regulatory, and accrediting agencies and provides leadership to the Administrative team.

Sarah Lockery, L.M.F.T.
Administrator of Community Services
203-248-2116, ext. 283
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Sarah joined The Children’s Center of Hamden in May 1991 as a Therapist and Intake Coordinator. She has since worked as a Program Director for both the Extended Day Treatment and Substance Abuse Treatment Departments. Sarah is currently the Administrator of Community Services. In this position she provides leadership to the Extended Day Treatment, Crisis Stabilization Bed unit, New Choices and our 2 outpatient clinics. Additionally, Sarah co-chairs the agency Safety Committee and is Chairperson of the Professional Staff Organization. She is also the agency’s HIPAA Privacy Officer. Sarah is an Approved Supervisor by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

Cheryl Smith, L.C.S.W.
Administrator of Residential Programs
203-248-2116, ext. 269
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Cheryl joined The Children’s Center in 1995 as Director of the Residential Treatment Program. In this capacity she was responsible for leading treatment teams in their work providing care and therapeutic services for 62 youth ranging in age from 8-18. In her current position as Administrator for Residential Programs she oversees the Residential Treatment Program, Gate House Therapeutic Group Home, Kid’s Cottage Safe Home, and the START Program (Psychiatric Residential Treatment facility).

Joe Olender, M.S.P.A.
Administrator of Financial Services
203-248-2116, ext. 315
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Joe joined The Children’s Center in 1999, as Administrator of Financial Services, after 20 years of non profit service. He is responsible for financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, contract/grant administration and reporting, banking, insurance and payroll. Joe also oversees the repair and upkeep of equipment and facilities.

Eugene Roddy, Ed.D.
Administrator of Education
203-248-2116, ext. 221
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Gene joined The Children’s Center in 1996. In his role as Administrator of Education he oversees all educational services for children served in the various instructional programs (residential treatment, substance abuse treatment, acute residential treatment and clinical day school special education services). Gene is responsible to be in compliance with all Federal and State regulatory agencies and supervision of all educational personnel assigned to the school within the Agency. These include special education, remedial education and Title 1 programs. He also holds a 6th Year Diploma in Education Administration & Supervision.

Todd Johnson, L.C.S.W.
Administrator for Program Support Services
203-248-2116, ext. 298
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Todd joined The Children’s Center in 1987. He has served the Agency in many capacities such as childcare worker, aftercare discharge coordinator, intake coordinator, clinical therapist, admissions, Director of Training and Recruitment and currently serves as Administrator for Program Support Services. He is responsible for the oversight and supervision of a range of services that provide direct support to the programs offered at The Children’s Center. These include; Nursing Services, Recruitment and Training, Dietary Services, Agency Research, and Agency Childcare Scheduling and Overtime.

Dan Blackmon
Director of Brewster
203-248-2116, ext. 258
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Dan joined The Children’s Center in 1999 as Safe Home Program Supervisor. He served as Director of Residential Services and is currently Director of Brewster residential program. Dan oversees cottage staff scheduling and work performance, provides supervision to the cottage supervisor and is responsible for participating in the admission process and coordination of treatment for each youth in the program. He ensures an appropriate therapeutic milieu and safe environment within the Brewster program.

Nick DeMaio, M.A., MSW
Director of START
203-248-2116, ext. 282
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Nick joined The Children’s Center in 1993 as Clinical Therapist. He has served as senior clinical therapist, program director for Safe Home (Kid’s Cottage) and currently as Director of START (Psychiatric Residential Treatment facility). Nick oversees the admission process and the coordination of services for each child in this program and interacts with all administrative and treatment staff as well as numerous outside agencies and other professionals including DCF personnel, physicians, hospitals, private consultants and managed care companies.

Bill Everett
Director of Maintenance
203-248-2116, ext. 320
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Bill joined The Children’s Center in 1997 as shop steward in the maintenance department. Since 2006 his role has been Director of Maintenance where he oversees the maintenance staff and makes decisions regarding the daily functioning of the department. He inspects the campus daily, deals with vendors and outside contractors and develops and monitors policies and strategies to provide ongoing assessment and maintenance of a safe environment for youth and families served in the programs. Bill is a carpenter by trade.

Robert Fortune
Director of Food Services
203-248-2116, ext. 281
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Bob joined The Children’s Center in 1980 as Director of Food Services. He oversees dietary staff, menu planning, budgetary control and compliance with state nutritional and health laws and DCF regulations. Bob works closely with the registered dietician to provide a variety of nutritional balanced meals for our clients and staff.

Elizabeth Hernandez, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Clinical Program Manager, Trowbridge
203-248-2116, ext. 362
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Elizabeth joined the Agency in 2005 as Intake Coordinator for male and female residential programs and has served as clinical therapist before her current responsibility as Clinical Program Manager for adolescent females in Trowbridge Cottage. She oversees the coordination of treatment of each resident and ensures an appropriate therapeutic milieu and safe environment conducive to the treatment of the residents in the program.

Martin Jackson, M.Ed., L.A.D.C.
Director of Substance Abuse Treatment
203-248-2116, ext. 431
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Martin joined The Children’s Center staff in 2002 as Director of Substance Abuse Treatment. He manages the day-to-day operations of both the Outpatient Substance Abuse program, as well as the New Choices short-term residential program. Martin facilitates the weekly Multi-family Group meetings, informing families of how to overcome hardships experienced when someone engages in substance use.

Mike MacDonald, M.Ed.
Assistant Director of Education
203-248-2116, ext. 352
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Mike has been with The Children’s Center since 1984. As Assistant Director of Education he has been responsible for providing staff direction and supervision of educational and support staff assigned to Whitney Hall School, admissions, setting up PPT’s and coordinating educational discharge plans. Mike has been involved in the designing of the new school, its redesign, the adding of a new gymnasium and the expansion of our Clinical Day School program. He also holds and a 6th year Diploma in Administration.

Julie Nesteruk, M.S., L.M.F.T.
Director of Outpatient Psychiatric Services
203-248-2116, ext. 276
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Julie has worked at the agency since 1992. She began her employment as a therapist and has steadily taken on more responsibilities in the ensuing years. The continuum of her current position provides her with a leadership role with the Extended Day Treatment Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, C.A.R.E. program, and Outpatient Mental Health Program. She is dedicated to helping children receive services while living in their own communities.

Robin Rittinger, LPC-ATR
Director of Safe Home (Kid’s Cottage)
203-248-2116
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Robin joined The Children’s Center in 2001 as Clinical Therapist, splitting her time between residential boys and the START program eventually moving full time to START where she provided individual, group and family therapy along with case management. Robin transferred to Kid’s Cottage in 2006 as the Clinical Therapist and is currently the Director of that program. She is responsible for the admission process, the coordination of services for each child in the program ensuring an appropriate therapeutic milieu and safe environment and the hiring, training and scheduling of staff.

Robert Shields
Director of Heaton
203-248-2116, ext. 366
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Rob joined The Children’s Center in 2008 as Director of Heaton residential program. He oversees cottage staff scheduling and work performance, provides supervision to the cottage supervisor and second shift supervisor and is a liaison between the safety committee and supervisors forum. Rob promotes a positive work relationship and environment for all staff in Heaton Cottage. Rob holds a BS in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University.

Lora Small, L.C.S.W.
Program Director of the Gate House Therapeutic Group Home
203-248-2116, ext. 265
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Lora joined The Children’s Center in 2001 as clinical therapist for Kids Cottage Safe Home. She provided case management and counseling services for youth age 3 to 12 years old that had been removed by the Department of Children and Families from their homes due to allegations of abuse and/or physical neglect. Lora currently serves as Program Director of the Gate House Therapeutic Group Home. In this role she oversees all aspects of program development and implementation for the group home. Lora is also certified as a Risking Connection Associate Trainer through the Trauma Research, Education, and Training Institute (TREATI).

Diane Surprenant
Director of Personnel & Development
203-248-2116, ext. 266
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Diane started with The Children’s Center in 1996 as Executive Secretary. In 2001 she assumed the role as Director of Development and shortly after Director of Personnel. Diane coordinates fund-raising activities including solicitation of financial support; communications; special events; public relations; and overseeing formulation, interpretation and implementation of personnel and employment policies and procedures.