Meet the Staff
Serving the New Haven & Waterbury, CT Areas
Joseph E. Futschik, LCSW, LADC, SAP.
PRESIDENT of Family Intervention Center
Joe is a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and a substance abuse professional. Joe started the agency as the Central Naugatuck Valley Consortium for Alcoholism Services, Inc. on May 1, 1975, and he has guided the agency through multiple changes to our present system of alcohol, drug and food addictions and mental health services. He pioneered the Assertive Early Intervention Approach to Addictions and has trained extensively in the addiction field. In addiction to providing direct clinical services, he is versed in Planned Family Interventions and is an adjunct faculty member of a number of university graduate programs.
DEBORAH HARRIS, Office Manager.
Deborah has been with the agency since September 1988 and is responsible for handling our financial system, working closely with insurance companies and keeping the agency on target with state and federal mandates. She makes sure that we stay afloat.
JENNIFER DEWITT, Executive Director.
Jennifer has been the Executive Director of the Regional Action Council for the Central Naugatuck Valley Area since 1999. She is responsible for organizing the region in terms of PREVENTION of alcohol, drugs, gambling and smoking. She works closely with municipalities and community citizens to develop a healthy atmosphere and approach to addressing health issues. Jennifer recently earned her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern CT State University
JAMES ZAGRES,
SANDY VARGAS, MNSW.
Sandy joined our agency full time on February 1, 2013, as coordinator of the Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program. She has a master’s degree in social work and is working on her licensure. She interned with our agency in September 2010, and had been working as a part time clinician until joining staff full time.
SONIA MESQUITA, MSW.
Sonia joined us as an intern in Social Work in October 2010 and in May of 2011 she began working as a fee for service clinician.
EDWARD DURETTE, DARC.
Ed joined us as an intern in the DARC program in September 2010, and began working as a fee for service clinician in May 2011. He is now working with the Intensive Substance Abuse Outpatient Program and facilitating the Anger Management/Domestic Violence Group.
STACY PINO, Receptionist.
Stacy has been our receptionist since 2001. She handles her appointments and coordinating everyone's schedules and on rare occasions someone messes with the calendar.
DANIELLE ACKLEY, DARC.
Danielle joined us as an intern in the DARC program in September 2012, and began working as a fee for service clinician in May 2013.
SARA TROLAND, MFT.
Sara joined us as an intern in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in August 2011 and began working as a fee for service clinician in June 2013.
KAREN SFORZA, MSW.
Karen joined us as an intern in Social Work in September 2009 and began working as a fee for service clinician in August 2010.
PATRICIA HINRICHS, MSW.
Patti has a Masters Degree in Human Services, working part time providing individual and family therapies. She recently joined our staff following her internship with us.
LAURIE DUNCAN, APRN.
Laurie joined us in May 2012 providing psychiatric evaluations and medication management services.
LEONARD STERN, MD.
Dr. Stern began acting as our staff psychiatrist in 2007, providing evaluations and medication management for clients who are actively involved in treatment. He consults with clinicians on clinical issues.
DANYELLA PEREZ, DARC.
Danyella joined us as an intern in the DARC Program in September 2012 and began working as a fee for service clinician in June 2013.
CHANANYA ABRAHAM, MA, DARC.
Abe joined us as an intern in the Human Services Program in October 2010 and began working as a fee for service clinician in May 2011.
SMYRALDA GEORGE, MSW.
Smyralda joined us as an intern in Social Work in September 2010 and began working as a fee for service clinician in June 2011.
JILL RUISI, MSW.
Jill joined us as an intern in Social Work in September 2012 and began working as a fee for service clinician in June 2013
DAWN WILDA, MSW.
Dawn joined us as a Prevention Specialist in September 1997 and has been working as a fee for service clinician since October 2000.
LATIFA SHARIF-RANGANADAN, MS.
Latifa has a Masters Degree in Human Services and is a Board Certified Practitioner. She first came to the agency as a graduate student in 2007. She provides Individual Therapy, Addiction Group Therapy, and Domestic Violence Group for offenders.
MANDY DUPONT, AS.
Mandy joined us as Program Coordinator of Elderly Services in September 1996. She has an associate degree in Social Work.
BONNIE BASILE, BA.
Bonnie has held a number of positions in the agency since she first began as Prevention Specialist in 2001. Presently she is providing mental health workshops in various senior citizen housing complexes along with prevention outreach and training in area school systems.
RAFAEL AQUINO, DARC.
Rafael joined staff in May 2012 working as a fee for service clinician.