Our Staff
Our staff consists of six caseworkers working under the supervision of Director Laura Reichsman. FOA operates as a program of CHD. As a small program of a large agency, we share in the savings and benefits of sophisticated fiscal, personnel, technical and other support services, while maintaining the advantage of being a grassroots, community-based program.
Laura Reichsman, Program Director, is passionate about helping struggling families learn the skills they need to take control of their lives and raise healthy, happy children. With a background in Women's Studies, she began her work in human services twenty five years ago working at a battered women's shelter. She has been with Family Outreach of Amherst for over twenty years, serving as its Director since 1997. In this capacity she has developed new programs in Literacy, Juvenile Court Diversion, Domestic Violence Response, and Home Visiting, while also growing the staff. With the help of an advisory board she is responsible for raising close to $100,000 in agency funding each year.
Francine Rodriquez, Caseworker: Francine joined FOA in August 2005 serving as a Program Manager since September 2010. She is of Hispanic descent and is fluent in both English and Spanish. She loves working with dedicated people who thrive on building stronger communities. With over 10 years of experience in the human services field, Francine is wonderful at working with families and children. She is a single mother to a grown son.
Rich Cummings, Therapeutic Mentor: Rich joined FOA in March 2010 as a therapeutic mentor, working as a life coach for boys and young men in the community to help them learn and grow with their disabilities. With the help of their clinicians and families, he helps these clients get through their times of need and function better in the community. Rich grew up in Springfield, MA, and graduated from UMass-Amherst with a double BA in sociology and criminal justice. Prior to joining FOA, he worked for two-and-a-half years for the CHD Assessment Program at the Westfield Youth Services Center as a supervisor and councilor. He feels at home with the FOA team and enjoys working and learning from their passionate ideas and guidance to help our clients in the community.
Gariné Roubinian, Caseworker, Therapeutic Mentor: Gariné joined FOA in October 2010 as a family caseworker and therapeutic mentor. Prior to joining FOA, she acted as the mobile resource specialist for Community Action’s First Call for Help program, working to make community services and supports accessible to individuals and families throughout Hampshire County. She has extensive experience working with victims and survivors of domestic violence through her previous work with Safe Passage. Gariné also engages in grassroots community organizing and social justice work every chance she gets.
Hannah Elliott, Caseworker, Therapeutic Mentor: Hannah began working at FOA after graduating from Hampshire College in the Spring of 2011. Hannah splits her time working with families in the community and children with behavioral health needs in our Therapeutic Mentoring program. She also works as a kitchen leader at Not Bread Alone.
Amy Newshore, Caseworker: Amy joined the FOA team in July 2010. She has had an extensive background in social services at local agencies, including being a family stabilization team member for families in crisis, community outreach worker, therapeutic mentor, home visitor for teen mothers and an Intensive Care Coordinator for children with serious mental health needs. She has designed and taught college classes on the topic of values at three state prisons. As a caseworker, she presently works with families who come from all over the globe.
Gennie Brothers, Therapeutic Mentor: Gennie began working with FOA in April 2010. Prior to joining FOA, Gennie worked with teens as an assistant supervisor at an adolescent girl’s residential program. She also spent time volunteering at the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center in CA where she worked with Autistic children.
Tina Wojtkowski,Theraputic Mentor: Tina has been working in the Human Services field for 18 years and has a great deal of experience in different areas of concern with children. She worked with juvenile male sex offenders at Stetson School for 16 years, and spent time working with emotionally disturbed and autistic children at the Devereux Foundation. She has great experience with both male and female clients ranging in age from 6 to 22. Tina’s goal is to help the children she works with believe in themselves and value their importance and success in life. She is dedicated to her clients’ happiness and committed to their success.
Rachel Barker, Office Manager: Rachel began volunteering in the community since moving to the area in 2003 and for Family Outreach of Amherst beginning in 2007. Impressed with the work of FOA and their commitment to struggling families, Rachel joined the Advisory Board in September 2009 and is now the office manager. She has a background in Environmental Studies and is the mother of two daughters.
Rachel Condry, Administrative Assistant: Rachel began working at FOA after graduating from UMass Amherst in June 2011. She also works as a kitchen leader and volunteer coordinator at Not Bread Alone. Prior to joining FOA, Rachel served an intern at Big Brother/Big Sisters of Hampshire County, also a program of CHD.