Staff

Program Director
Donna Sharff LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University. Donna is responsible for overseeing all aspects of our program delivery. She supervises the volunteers and staff who work with the children and families. In addition, Donna works directly with the children and adults in our peer support groups as a facilitator. Donna has been with The Children’s Room since 2003.Donna’s previous clinical experience includes individual counseling and group facilitation with children, adolescents and adults through Strattus Mental Health Centre and Housing Families, Inc. Prior to working in the mental health field, Donna worked as a small business manager in the training industry. See Donna’s bio on LinkedIn.

Program Staff

We are pleased to announce that Nancy Lubin-Levy, former program manager, has joined our board of directors.

Deborah Rivlin, Director of Education and Training.  Deborah has over 20 years experience helping grieving children, teens and families.  She was an integral part of Boston Medical Center’s Good Grief program from 1988 until 2007.  She joins The Children’s Room as the Director for Education and Training, bringing with her an abundance of experience providing training, workshops and consultations for schools, corporations and individuals.  She also manages our Framingham program.  Deborah is available for consulting, workshops and trainings.  See Deborah’s bio on LinkedIn.

Mark Redmond LMHC, Bereavement Program Manager.  Mark  joined the program staff in the summer of 2005, bringing experience in both program management and therapeutic work with children, teens, and adults.  Mark previously worked in area not-for-profit organizations Family Housing Inc., Horizons for Homeless Children, and The Samaritans.  In addition to his role at The Children’s Room, Mark is currently on staff at the Lesley University Counseling Center, where he works with individual undergraduate and graduate students.  Mark holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University.  See Mark’s bio on LinkedIn.

Katie Tetuan LCSW, Bereavement Program Coordinator.  Katie joined the program staff in September 2006. She came to The Children’s Room from Dallas where she worked for American Hospice as a medical social worker. She has also worked for Gilda’s Club North Texas, providing support to children that had experienced the death of a family member to cancer. She also worked at a summer camp for bereaved children through Hillcrest Community Hospice in Waco, TX. Katie also works for Wediko Children’s Services as a school-based therapist in the Boston Public School system. Katie holds a MSW from Boston College and a BSW from Baylor University in Waco, TX. See Katie’s bio on LinkedIn.

Anne Favaloro, Communications Director. Anne has been a writer and producer of multimedia, television, and print projects for 20 years. She spent ten years in public television at WGBH in Boston. Anne was managing editor of the first magazine about the internet for kids, and contributed to its award-winning MaMaMedia website filled with learning activities. She has many years of experience in educational publishing as a writer and editor. Anne became a volunteer facilitator at The Children¹s Room in 2004, and joined the staff in 2007. Anne holds a BA from Princeton University, and a Masters in Education from Harvard.  See Anne’s bio on Linked In.

Colleen Shannon, MSW,  Bereavement Program Coordinator, Expressive Arts Specialist.  Colleen Shannon joined The Children’s Room staff in August 2006. She is one of our bereavement program coordinators, and an expressive arts specialist. Colleen holds a bachelors degree from Lesley University in art therapy and psychology and a masters degree in social work from Salem State College. Her past experience includes facilitating therapeutic art programs in hospitals, schools, and mental health settings. She has completed art therapy internships at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the Jimmy Fund Clinic as well as Franciscan Children’s Hospital in their Residential Assessment Program. In addition, Colleen has worked for over 8 years in educational art programs including Kids Arts! Arts Based After-school Program in Jamaica Plain and at the YWCA of Central Massachusetts.  See Colleen’s bio on LinkedIn.

Kate Killion, Administrative and Development Coordinator. Kate graduated from Lesley University in 1994 with a Masters in Counseling Psychology. She has been a support group facilitator at The Children’s Room, working with both adults and children, since 2004. In 2006 she joined the staff as the office administrator and development coordinator. Kate is a trained hospice volunteer for VNA Care. Past experience includes working in a day treatment center, counseling adults coping with chronic mental illness, and working with children living in a Home for Little Wanderers residence. See Kate’s bio on Linked in.