Refugee Youth & Family Program

Staff

Clearwater
Tampa
Miami
Delray Beach


Clearwater Office

Niki Kelly, Director of Refugee Youth Programs
nkelly@gcjfs.org
Niki oversees the Refugee Youth Programs in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. She spent 12 years working in community mental health and addictions services prior to joining the FCST in 2003. Niki has overseen the Survivors of Torture Program, the Refugee Youth and Family Program and the Victims of Crimes program for limited English speaking victims while serving as the agencies' Victim Services Practitioner. She has a B. A. in Criminology/Psychology from the University of South Florida and is finishing an M. S. in Management: Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness.

Alen Janjus, Team Leader
ajanjus@gcjfs.org

Alyssa Childs-McBride, Case Coordinator
amcbride@gcjfs.org
Alyssa is responsible for coordinating events, screening potential clients, and promoting enrollment and community outreach. She is also a part of the FCST team where her job duties include screening, conducting intakes, and researching the cases of potential clients. Alyssa also takes on the role of maintaining data and conducting the Immigrant Education classes for the Tampa Bay community. She has a B. A. in International Studies and Political Science from the University of South Florida.

Natalie Karinn Bicknell, Volunteer Coordinator
nbicknell@gcjfs.org
Natalie is responsible for the recruitment, training and supervision of RYFP program volunteers in Pinellas County. Her primary focus is the recruitment and support of volunteer ESL tutors. She previously taught ESL in France and coordinated an ESL/technology education program for adult learners in Seattle, WA. Natalie has a B. A. in Literature, French and Creative Writing from Eckerd College. She is currently pursuing a M. Ed in Curriculum and Instruction (TESOL) at the University of South Florida.

John Louis Argerious III,Youth and Family Specialist
targerious@gcjfs.org
John Louis is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. John Louis previously interned at the US embassy in Zagreb, Coratia. He also has experience in sales/customer services through his work with Twenty-Six Records, LLC. John Louis holds a B. A. in International Affairs and History from Florida State University and an M. A. in International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dan Niebler, Youth and Family Specialist
dniebler@gcjfs.org
Dan is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. Dan previously worked as a counselor for several youth groups. Prior to working with RYFP, he was with the United States Peace Corps in The Gambia, West Africa, teaching maternal and child health and leading community development programs. Dan holds a B. S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. During his time at Eckerd, he also spent time studying leadership and team building theories.

Branka Prodanovic, Youth and Family Specialist
bprodanovic@gcjfs.org
Branka is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. She has been working for the Refugee Youth and Family Program since January 15th 2007 with children ages 5-18 years old and their families who have fled their countries due to war, genocide, torture and persecution. Her job mission is to help integrate refugee youth into the community, to promote their academic achievement and to aid in the transition into the workplace. Branka has a B. A. in Arts and background in teaching and working with children since 1997.  

Connie Ramos, Youth and Family Specialist
cramos@gcjfs.org
Connie is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. Connie was previously Program Coordinator for Senior in Service and a Volunteer Coordinator for RYFP. She holds an Arts and Science degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida..

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Tampa Office

Sabina Dekanski, Program Manager
sdekanski@gcjfs.org
Sabina is responsible for the day to day management of the RYFP in the Tampa office. She oversees all aspects of the program including client services, data collection/reporting, staff supervision/development, and community collaboration. Sabina previously worked as a Family support Specialist in Healthy Families Pinellas serving high-risk mothers with young children. In 2006 she joined the GCJFS as Refugee Youth and Family Specialist in Pinellas and Pasco counties. As of 2007 she was promoted to the role of Program Manager. Sabina has a B. A. in Human Development from Eckerd College and is currently pursuing an M. A. in Cross-Disciplinary Studies at Nova Southeastern University.

Marcella Arons, Volunteer Coordinator
marons@gcjfs.org
Marcella is responsible for recruiting, training, supervising and retaining volunteers and student interns for the Tampa Bay area programs. Recruitment involves community outreach to spread awareness of our refugee programs via speaking engagements for local organizations/clubs, posting electronic flyers on list servers and general community networking. Her relevant experience includes working as an Event Coordinator for a non-profit helping low income children while living in Brazil. While there she also taught English to professionals and youth. As a Software Engineer for 8 years, Marcella's experience with problem solving enables her to explore all options and be creative with community outreach. Also, having the responsibility to mentor/supervise engineering interns as well as serve as project lead has helped her ability to train/supervise volunteers for our refugee programs. Marcella's travels to Africa, Asia and Europe have enhanced her cultural awareness and desire to be a global citizen. She holds a B. S. degree in Computer Engineering; Minor in music from USF.

Marlene Amorocho, Youth and Family Specialist
mamorocho@gcjfs.org
Marlene is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. She previously worked as a Teacher and Guidance Counselor in her native country of Colombia for 20 years. Since in the US, she has worked with special needs students in an ESE classroom providing ESOL tutoring in Math, Reading, Writing, and Language Arts. Marlene holds a B. A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Pamplona in Colombia and diplomas in Preventative Substance Abuse and Educational Research as well as CPA certification.

Joseph Mendoza, Youth and Family Specialist
jmendoza@gcjfs.org
Joseph is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. He spent some time in China working with students in an English summer camp program. Joseph has been working with teens and adolescents most of his life within church organizations. He received a BA in counseling from Trinity College of Florida and presided as the student government president for two consecutive semesters.

Astrid Torres, Youth and Family Specialist
atorres@gcjfs.org
Astrid is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. She previously worked as a Director in I.C.B.F. She also worked as a spanish teacher at English School and Westlake Christian School. Astrid holds a B. A. in Education from the University Monserrate in Bogota, Colombia. She has also studied Constrictivism Education from the University Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia.

Cindy Mendez, Youth and Family Specialist
cmendez@gcjfs.org
Cindy is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. Previously, Cindy worked in data entry with the Essilor of Latin America and as a teacher at The Ashton School of Santo Domingo. She holds a B. S. in Psychology and a Dipomate in Education from Instituto Technologico de Santo Domingo.

Andrea Knauber, Youth and Family Specialist
aknauber@gcjfs.org
Andrea is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. Andrea previously worked as a VPK Teacher, for the Work Observatory and the Free Women Organization. She holds a B. A. in Sociology from Saint Thomas University in Bogota, Colombia.

Maria Johnson, Youth and Family Specialist
mfarfan@gcjfs.org
Maria is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. She previously interned with the Gulf Coast Mental Health Center (Hacienda) and spent a summer working with young teen victims of physical and sexual abuse in Peru. Maria has a BA in Counseling from Trinity College of Florida.

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Miami Office

Ashley Lieser, Program Manager
alieser@gcjfs.org
Ashley is responsible for the day to day management of the RYFP in the Tampa office. She oversees all aspects of the program including client services, data collection/reporting, staff supervision/development, and community collaboration. Ashley previously worked in various inner city schools in Louisiana in secondary education and with an urban ministry youth program in the 9th Ward of New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina. Since moving to Florida she has worked with a family program for farm workers and as a RYFP Youth and Family Specialist in the Delray Beach office. Ashley has a BA in Urban Community Studies an Secondary Education from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA..

Kathy Torres, Administrative Assistant
ktorres@gcjfs.org
Kathy is responsible for clerical, communicative, and administrative support to the RYFP in the Miami office. Kathy has over three years of customer service experience. She holds a B. A. in International Relations and French with a minor in Geography.

Maria Cristina Caro, Team Leader
mcaro@gcjfs.org
Maria Cristina is responsible for assisting the Program Manager with the day to day management of the RYFP in the Miami office. Her duties include client services, data collection, reporting, staff supervision/development and community collaboration. She is also a Youth Family Specialist, responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. Maria Cristina has 11 years of experience working with immigrant families and supervising federal funded programs. She holds a degree in Education/Child Development.

Yleinia Galeano, Support Specialist
ygaleano@gcjfs.org
Yleinia is responsible for prescreening/tracking of all referrals, making eligibility determinations on new referrals, coordinating cultural recreational events, and providing administrative and service support for the RYFP. Prior to joining RYFP, she volunteered as an English tutor for migrant farm workers in Quincy, Florida, was an America Reads mentor at Florida State University, worked as a student coordinator with he Center for Community Involvement at Miami Dade College and as an employment specialist with Emergency Care Help Organization in Tallahassee, Florida. Yleinia holds a B. A. in Social Work and Women Studies from Florida State University.

Laura Bello, Client Records Sepecialist
lbello@gcjfs.org
Laura is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all documentation in the client's case file to include both physical and computer records for the program outlined by the funder contract. She previously held a clerical position at a MDCPS high school and was assistant to the President of an events agency. Laura has an A. A. in Mass Communications/Journalism.

Alexandra Agenor, Youth and Family Specialist
aagenor@gcjfs.org
Alexandra is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States.

Alberto Garcia, Youth and Family Specialist
agarcia@gcjfs.org
Alberto is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States.

Nardege Laforest, Youth and Family Specialist
nlaforest@gcjfs.org
Nardege is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. She previously worked as a Case Manager working with abused and neglected children under Hillsborough Kids-Tampa, Fl, a program of GCJFS. Nardege holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences.

Damaris Martins, Youth and Family Specialist
dmartins@gcjfs.org
Damaris is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. Her background is in early childhood. She received her diploma as a Kindergarten Teacher/Early Childhood in Guatemala City and enjoys working with children.

Carlos Vargas, Youth and Family Specialist
cvargas@gcjfs.org
Carlos is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. Born and raised in Colombia, Carlos has been living in the U.S. for about 9 years. He worked in the MDCPS system as a Reading teacher and the MDC community education as a Drama teacher for three years. He has been working with Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services for a little over a year. Carlos holds a B.F.A. with a major in Acting.

Nicole Yassa, Youth and Family Specialist
nburge@gcjfs.org
Nicole is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk youth and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States. She has previous experience as a teacher of English and French in the U.S. and in France, an evaluator of standardized testing for various states, in mental health settings and at various early childhood centers including Head Start as a Family Service Worker and Field Supervisor. Nicole completed her social work practicum and subsequent employment in a Church World Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries sponsored refugee resettlement program as a case manager and Match Grant Employment Specialist, also managing volunteers/interns from local universities. Nicole has a dual B. A. in French and Social Work from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and graduate work in teaching English as a Second Language and Public Management. She plans to continue her education towards a Masters degree in International Relations and Diplomacy with a special focus on human rights, immigration and refugee issues.

Mayra Ceballos, Transporter
mceballos@gcjfs.org
Mayra is responsible for providing transportation with the use of agency vehicles for program clients and family members in the RYFP. As assigned, transports clients and family members to various program activities, which can be during the day, at night or on weekends.

Aramis Dieguez, Transporter
adieguez@gcjfs.org
Aramis is responsible for providing transportation with the use of agency vehicles for program clients and family members in the RYFP. As assigned, transports clients and family members to various program activities, which can be during the day, at night or on weekends.

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Delray Beach Office

Nadia Stewart, Program Manager
nstewart@gcjfs.org
Nadia is responsible for the day to day management of the RYFP in the Tampa office. She oversees all aspects of the program including client services, data collection/reporting, staff supervision/development, and community collaboration.

Murlene St. Louis, Administrative Assistant
mstlouis@gcjfs.org
Murlene is responsible for clerical, communicative, and administrative support to the RYFP in the Delray Beach office. Previously, Murlene worked as a Chiropractic Assistant. She graduated from FCC with a state certification in Medical billing and coding.

Kedy Laurent, Team Leader
klaurent@gcjfs.org
Kedy is responsible for assisting the Program Manager with the day to day management of the RYFP in the Delray Beach office. His duties include client services, data collection, reporting, staff supervision/development and community collaboration. Kedy is originally from Haiti and has lived in the U.S. for 19 years. He speaks Creole, French, English, and some Spanish. Prior to joining the RYFP team he worked in various positions in hospitality management and served as a humanitarian staff for the United Nations for his undergraduate study. As an immigrant himself he feels fortunate to be a member of the RYFP team and looks forward to serving the immigrant community. His educational background is in Political Science and Sociology. He is currently getting his maters in Mental Health and Family Therapy at Barry University

Arlande Massena, Client Records Specialist
amassena@gcjfs.org
Arlande is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all documentation in the client's case file to include both physical and computer records for the program outlined by the funder contract. For the past ten years he has spent most of his time working in the medical field as a Nurse Assistant. Arlande also worked as an Administrative Assistant at Grace East Wing for two years before joining Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services in 2008. Arlande has an Associate in Art in Science of Education from the University of Paul Valery in Montpellier, France. He also has completed the following classes in the medical field: Nursing Assistant, Home Health Aid, Domestic Violence, Occupational safety and Health Administration. Arlande is currently enrolled at Keiser College in the Medical Assistant program.

Terrie Sheard, Support Specialist
tsheard@gcjfs.org
Terrie is responsible for prescreening/tracking of all referrals, making eligibility determinations on new referrals, coordinating cultural recreational events, and providing administrative and service support for the RYFP. She previously worked with the Department of Children and Families for over 10 years helping families achieve self-sufficiency. She also volunteered as a teacher's assistant and a coach. Terrie's educational background is in Criminal Justice.

Alphonse Lindor, Youth and Family Specialist
alindor@gcjfs.org
Alphonse is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk you and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States.

Barbara Martinez, Youth and Family Specialist
bmartinez@gcjfs.org
Barbara is responsible for the provision of refugee youth screening, family assessment, academic/career services, cultural/recreational services, educational programs, and case management to help at risk you and families achieve success in their adjustment in the United States.

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