Michelle Bodin-Hettinger, LICSW
Geriatric Care Manager
Michelle Bodin-Hettinger holds a BS from Cornell University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and has 12 years of professional experience helping families and individuals to identify and confront the barriers to living safe and satisfying lives. She especially enjoys helping elders negotiate the web of issues and services and connect with the resources they need to live as independently as possible.
Maryann Cardani, LICSW
Clinical Specialist/Coordinator of Friendly Visitor Program
Maryann Cardani earned her BA from Connecticut College and holds a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University. A licensed independent clinical social worker, Maryann directed an Adult Day Health center for six years and served as a social worker in an Alzheimer’s unit in a nursing home. In addition to this experience, she has worked as an associate to a Professional Geriatric Care manager and as Assistant Director of Wellness at an assisted living facility. Her current role includes managing all aspects of the guardianship program, coordinating the Friendly Visitor program, and providing supervision and consultation to multiple other programs at the agency.
Dámaris Medina Hernández
Homecare Coordinator
A twelve-year veteran of Jewish Family Service, Dámaris Medina Hernández studied mental health and computer software at the CUC University of Puerto Rico and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. She especially enjoys the opportunity to give back to the community and the chance to work with many different cultures and to learn from them.
Shashona Novak, BSN, RN
A graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Shashona Novak has worked in the home care field for the past five years and has worked in the Boston Jewish community since 1995. She loves working with the elderly population and serving the local Framingham community.
Diana O’Brien, LCSW, M.Ed.
Director of Family Assistance
A licensed certified social worker with 30 years in the field, O’Brien graduated from the University of Florida and received an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts. Her career experience has focused on empowering individuals and families through direct service, program and curriculum development and training, and the forging of community partnerships.
Malka Young, LICSW
Director of Community Impacts
Malka Young has worked with elders and their families for the past 30 years. Whether as a hospice social worker or Coordinator of Bereavement Services at MetroWest Homecare and Hospice in Framingham, she is highly experienced working with elders and their families who are confronting major life transitions. She started Healing Partners in 2000 and has grown JFS' strength based prevention programs that support elders to age independently in the community through programs such as Healthy Partners, JFS Healthy Aging and Chronic Disease Self Management (Diabetes). Malka was the first social worker in the geriatric evaluation unit at the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain, and holds degrees from Brandeis University and Boston University School of Social Work.