Mental Wellness Clinic & Resources
Mental health resources to support the well-being of children, families, and providers.
We anticipate our new clinic opening Summer 2025.
Child Care Council recognizes the pivotal role that mental wellness plays in the daily lives of individuals, communities, and families.
Connected to our commitment to strengthen families, our mental health clinic serves children, and adolescents (ages 3 to 18), and their caregivers. By working closely with the child, family, and others, we provide a wide variety of mental-health services, tailored to each person’s unique strengths and needs.
Comprehensive Team-Based Care
We use a team approach that brings together the expertise of multiple specialists to help our clients improve their social and emotional well-being. Our clinical team works together to help children and youth facing a range of issues, including:
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Behavior challenges
- Bipolar disorders
- Depression
- Divorce, separation, and change
- Emotional skills
- Grief and loss
- Neurodivergence
- OCD
- Relationship and family issues
- School concerns
- Trauma
Our Approach to Emotional Well-Being
Our team provides research-based, trauma-responsive, inclusive, and compassionate care – including affirming care to those in the LGBTQ+ community – to improve individual and family functioning.
Individualized Care Services
We offer outpatient individual, family, and group therapy in our clinic and via telehealth. In addition, our psychiatric services include initial evaluation for medication and ongoing medication support.
Meet our Team
Cadence Croucher, CAT-P
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Clinician
Cadence Croucher, CAT-P (she/her) is a Creative Arts Therapist specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents ages 3–18 in an outpatient mental health setting. With a background in both the arts and mental health, she integrates expressive modalities such as art and play into therapy to support emotional expression, self-esteem, and healing.
She believes that creative expression allows people to communicate in ways that feel natural and safe, especially when words are hard to find. Her sessions are warm, playful, and structured to meet each child where they are. She also values collaborating with caregivers and schools to promote consistent support across environments. Cadence is dedicated to fostering a safe, supportive, and creatively engaging environment where young clients can explore their feelings, build coping skills, and strengthen their sense of identity. She values collaboration with families, schools, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure holistic, individualized care.
Stacey Kulik, LCSW
Clinical Consultant/Supervisor
Since 2003, Stacey has been working with children and families in various mental health settings in both the Rochester and Boston areas. Stacey’s work includes direct service, behavioral consultation in childcare centers, and clinical supervision. Stacey is trained in multiple evidence-based modalities including Child-Centered play therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Throughout her career, Stacey has partnered with schools, pediatricians and the family court system to ensure the best possible outcomes for her clients. Stacey believes that “it takes a village” to help support children and families in their journey to emotional wellness.
In her role at Child Care Council, Stacey will act as a clinical consultant providing supervision and support to clinicians, facilitating training opportunities, and collaborating with community partners.
Tammy Barnum, LMHC
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Clinician
Tammy Barnum, LMHC is a licensed Mental Health Counselor. She has been a therapist for over 20 years and has the pleasure of working in a variety of settings including residential programs, mental health clinics, schools and private practice. She has worked with children, teenagers, adults, parents, families and couples.
Her therapy style is integrative, drawing from a range of evidenced based modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma focused CBT and child centered play therapy. She approaches therapy with empathy and warmth creating a safe and supportive space for clients.
Mica Gonzalez, MSW-P
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Clinician
Mica Gonzalez (she/her/ hers) earned her master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University. She also obtained a certificate in Trauma Response and Crisis Intervention from Rutgers University and is currently working on obtaining her Child and Adolescent Mental Health certificate from Rutgers as well. Her previous work included creating a children’s bereavement program at Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. where she obtained credentialing as a Certified Grief- Informed Professional.
With a deep commitment to the emotional well-being of children and adolescents through trauma-informed care, Mica brings an abundance of diverse experience in mental health care. Specializing in trauma-informed practices, emotional regulation, grief/loss and LGBTQ+ populations, she works collaboratively with individuals and families to create personalized strategies that foster resilience and growth. Mica believes that every young person deserves a safe space to express themselves and develop the skills needed to navigate life’s challenges. Through evidence-based interventions, empathetic counseling, and a strengths-based approach, she empowers youth to embrace their potential and build meaningful connections.
Abby Leaty, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Abby Leaty, PMHNP-BC (she/her) is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specializing in the care of children and adolescents ages 3–18. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from St. John Fisher University and brings experience from a variety of inpatient and outpatient mental health settings.
Abby provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and individualized treatment planning grounded in evidence-based practice. She is dedicated to fostering a supportive, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate environment that empowers clients and their families. Abby values a collaborative approach to care-engaging clients, families, and community supports to ensure holistic, high-quality outcomes.
Caroline Cowles, RN
Registered Nurse
Caroline Cowles is a Registered Nurse (RN) who joined Child Care Council in 2024 as a Healthcare and Education Consultant. Caroline earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She began her career in pediatric nursing at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for 5 years before moving to Rochester, NY and continuing her passion in pediatric nursing. As a healthcare and education consultant she provides valuable health-related services and education to daycares throughout Monroe, Wayne and Livingston County. In addition to her consultant role, Caroline joined the Mental Health clinic team in 2025 as an RN and will be working closely with the mental health team to provide nursing services. Caroline brings lots of different experiences to the team and looks forward to helping clients and their families by providing the best care possible.
Sara Pokracki
Practice Manager
With over 30 years of experience in Health and Human Services, Sara has dedicated the majority of her career to supporting individuals and families with developmental disabilities through the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Sara’s passion lies in understanding behavior and recognizing that all behavior serves a purpose—a philosophy that has guided her approach to care and support throughout her career.
Five years ago, Sara transitioned from operations to a role focused on Quality Improvement and Advancement. This shift allowed Sara to channel her experience into shaping client-centered policies and procedures that enhance access to essential services. In this role, Sara discovered a deep appreciation for systems-level change and its power to positively impact those we serve.
Today, Sara serves as the Practice Manager for the Child Care Council Clinic, where she is excited to collaborate with our dedicated clinical team. Together, we are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate services to the children in our community, ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive.
Jennifer Shook
Director of Professional Development
Jennifer Shook (she/her/hers) is an educator with over 30 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education. Her career spans various roles within childcare centers and public schools, where she has cultivated a deep understanding of child development and early learning methodologies. Jennifer holds multiple certifications, including the New York State Teacher Certification for grades N-6 and 7-9 English, and a master’s degree in Literacy for K-12. She is also a certified Child Development Associate Trainer and Professional Development Specialist, as well as possessing the New York State Training and Technical Assistance Credential. These qualifications reflect her commitment to fostering educational excellence and supporting the professional growth of fellow educators.
Currently, Jennifer oversees the Professional Development Department, where she leads a team of education specialists and course enrollment specialists. Her leadership focuses on enhancing training programs and ensuring that educators have access to the resources and support necessary for effective teaching. Jennifer is proficient in several key early childhood programs and assessments, including the Pyramid Model and the Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool, as well as the Environmental Rating Scales for Family Child Care, Infant Toddler, and Preschool settings. She is also a Health and Safety Trainer.
Throughout her career, Jennifer has been passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing educational environments that promote holistic child development. Her expertise and dedication have made her a respected figure in the field of early education, inspiring countless educators and positively impacting the lives of children and families.
Christen Coco Guzman, LMFT
Clinical Director
c.cocoguzman@childcarecouncil.com
Christen Coco Guzman, LMFT (she/her/hers) is a Marriage and Family Therapist and passionate mental health advocate who joined Child Care Council in 2024 as Clinical Director for the mental health clinic.
Christen earned her Bachelor’s degrees in English and Psychology from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family therapy from Pepperdine University in California. Over the last fifteen years, she has worked in the field of mental health as a clinician, supervisor and leader in non profit mental health, with a primary focus on children, adolescents and families. She believes that everyone should have access to exceptional care, and is committed to providing access to quality care to the Rochester community, regardless of income, race or gender.
Christen brings her authentic self to work where she strives to create an environment that meets clients and clinicians alike with honesty, vulnerability, transparency and unconditional positive regard.
Suzette Smith
HR Director
Suzette Smith joined Child Care Council as its first human resources director in 2023. During the past three decades, she has served and grown her expertise in multiple industries, including finance, manufacturing, nonprofit and medical. She brings a diverse perspective on employee needs and what makes them successful. She strives for a culture-driven environment, empowering each employee to be their best selves.
Smith’s personal and professional passion is to improve mental-health outcomes for children. She attended Roberts Wesleyan College and received her certification in strategic human resource management from Cornell University.
Bethany Williams
Special Needs Services Director
b.williams@childcarecouncil.com
With a passion for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments, Bethany Williams has devoted most of her professional career to bridging gaps and championing equitable access for children with disabilities.
Williams strongly believes in the potential of every child when given the appropriate resources and support. Through her extensive experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders as a teacher and coordinator, she has developed innovative strategies that cater to the unique needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities to ensure they are successfully included and thrive in child care settings.
Williams earned a master’s degree in special education at St. John Fisher University, an advanced graduate certificate in autism from Penn State University and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from The University at Buffalo.
Laurie Haley
Nutrition Services Director
Laurie Haley has worked with child care programs for more than 30 years. She started her career at the Council in the Education department then moved to Nutrition Services, which includes Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings (EWPH), Farm to Preschool (F2P), and Creating Healthy Schools and Communities. “I hope all child care programs that participate in our various nutrition programs have been inspired to provide the most nutritious meals and snacks as possible to the children in their care, while also integrating nutrition education into their weekly programming and activities.”
Brian Waldmiller
Chief Financial Officer
b.waldmiller@childcarecouncil.com
Brian Waldmiller has more than 26 years of finance and operations management experience with nonprofit agencies. As CFO, he is instrumental in increasing the financial stability of the agency, overseeing all finance and the allocation of funds supporting the operations of the Council, including budgeting, financial reporting, data administration and human resources functions. He also supervises and directs the work of the HR manager, data specialist and billing specialist.
Before joining the Council, Waldmiller served as the finance/business manager for a large suburban parish and as the budget manager for Rochester Urban League. Earlier in his career, he worked as a financial analyst for First Federal Savings and Loan.
Waldmiller earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Rochester Institute of Technology. He resides in Fairport N.Y., with his wife and four children. In his spare time, he also serves as a music director for a local parish community.
Augie Espenmiller
Inspections Director
a.espenmiller@childcarecouncil.com
As director of Inspections, Augie Espenmiller supervises a team of inspectors tasked with regulating registered child care programs across Monroe, Livingston and Wayne and counties. Espenmiller and his team work with a range of 375-425 registered programs throughout the course of a year, promoting the health and safety of children and ensuring compliance with New York state child care regulations. Prior to becoming director, he performed onsite inspections as a Family Daycare and School-age child care inspector.
Espenmiller earned his bachelor’s degree from the College at Brockport with a concentration in recreation management. He has always had a passion for human service and early childhood development. During college, he interned with the Recreational Services department, assisting with student program operations and mentoring young children as a summer camp volunteer. His service to youth continued by working at the YMCA of Greater Rochester as a before and after school care coordinator.
Outside of work, Espenmiller spends time with friends and family, explores the Erie Canal and Genesee River Pathways, and he also enjoys basketball, golf, fishing and trying new recipes.
Dana Bialaszewski
Registration Services Director
d.bialaszewski@childcarecouncil.com
Passionate and committed to supporting the child care community, Dana Bialaszewski has been engaged in the child care and human service field for more than 24 years. She joined the Council in 2013 as a registrar and became director of Registration Services in 2015. In addition to her responsibilities as director, Bialaszewski oversees the Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program.
Bialaszewski earned her bachelor’s degree in health and human services with a concentration in early childhood from the University at Buffalo. A wife and busy mom to three children, she enjoys spending time outdoors.
Hector Santiago
Chief Operating Officer
h.santiago@childcarecouncil.com
As director of the Administration Department, Hector Santiago oversees aspects of the agency’s day-to-day operations and manages the Livingston and Wayne County offices. He also supports in-home child care programs by providing training and technical assistance, and he has worked as a regulator for family child care programs. Passionate about child care, he has worked in the field for more than 15 years.
Santiago has served on the board of the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting high-quality child care by strengthening the family child care profession. He was recognized with NAFCC’s Accreditation Facilitation Project Award in 2017.
He earned his master’s degree in education with a major in curriculum and teaching in Spanish from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce Campus. He also completed college graduate credits in international human resources and completed a course in human resources administration offered by the University of Palermo in Argentina.
Kristin Perrone
Senior Program Officer
k.perrone@childcarecouncil.com
Kristin Perrone has more than 30 years of experience in the early education field, including public schools, Early Head Start, Head Start, Universal Pre-K and child care centers. She has taught all ages of children and adults and served as an administrator. She started as a trainer at the Council and spent many years promoting and encouraging growth within the agency.
She currently oversees the nine-county Region 2 Infant Toddler Resource Network and a team of Education and Infant Toddler Specialists. She has been trained in, and experienced with, the following early childhood programs and assessments: Pyramid Model-Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool, Teaching Pyramid Infant Toddler Observation Scale, Classroom Assessment Scoring System for Infant Toddler and Preschool, Environmental Rating Scales for Family child care, Infant Toddler, and Preschool, High Scope, Creative Curriculum, and Zero to Three. She collaborates with other agencies and advisory groups related to serving young children and families.
Certifications include NYS Teacher Certification PK-12, NYSAIHM Infant Mental Health Endorsed, Child Development Associate Trainer & Professional Development Specialist, Program for Infant Toddler Care PITC Certified Trainer, NYS Training and Technical Assistance Credential. Perrone earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and psychology and her master’s degree in education from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Linda Lane
Legally Exempt Services Director
Linda Lane joined the Council, Inc in 2007 as a legally exempt enrollment specialist and advanced to director of Legally Exempt Services in 2014. She continues to support efforts to increase the quality of care in all child care modalities, but especially in the legally exempt modality. In addition to her responsibilities as a director, Lane has coordinated agency special events, such as the annual Start Bright Gala, donation drives and holiday and staff appreciation celebrations.
Lane earned her bachelor’s degree in general studies with an emphasis on finance from the University of Dayton. Her focus switched to child care when she was home with her own children, and she previously worked as a preschool teacher and as a paraprofessional in the Pittsford Central School District.
Rose Shufelt
Senior Community Officer
r.shufelt@childcarecouncil.com
Rose Shufelt, MA, IMH-E®, serves as director of Health and Social Emotional Wellness, which encompasses a whole child approach to wellness including health care, special needs training, technical assistance, referrals, and equipment grants, Pyramid Model work, grief support and regional mental health consultation. She also oversees the Regional Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultants in a nine-county region, ensuring that this preventative work is embedded within child care programs of all modalities. As the regional Pyramid Hub Coordinator, Master Cadre Pyramid trainer and leadership coach, Shufelt helps programs implement the Pyramid Model.
Shufelt has worked in the early childcare field for more than 30 years, including in elementary school teaching, as a toddler and preschool teacher, child care center program director, and infant toddler specialist. Her credentials include NYS Early Learning Trainer; TTAP Coach Credential Program for Infant Toddler Care Trainer; and NYS-AIMH Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® as an Infant Family Associate. Shufelt earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education and her master’s degree is in adult learning.
Jeff Pier
Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Pier became CEO of Child Care Council in 2020. With nearly three decades of experience working in human services, Pier has held leadership roles in areas impacting the community, such as domestic violence, rape crisis, juvenile justice and mental health. Pier believes in collaboration and working with the community to create solutions, and he enjoys working with providers and caregivers to ensure they have the resources they need. He holds a bachelor’s degree in human services administration and a master’s degree in public administration.
Additional Information
Interested in learning more about the Mental Wellness Clinic and other mental wellness resources available for providers and families?