Staff Bios

S. Michele Cohen

Vice President, Exceptional Needs

Michele Cohen was appointed the Acting Vice President of the agency’s Exceptional Needs Division after serving as the department Manager for the past year. Michele has twenty years of social service experience in both the public and private sector, including direct client services and developing plans for the implementation of several federal, state and locally funded community programs. Michele has been responsible for creating multiple tools to organize mental health, disabilities, and education systems, policies and procedures. Michele is currently writing her dissertation in pursuit of her Doctorate in Psychology with a focus on program development for underserved populations who struggle with mental health and developmental disabilities. She is a certified Narrative Therapist and has co-authored publications and presented workshops on flattening hierarchies in communication.

Dafna Berman

Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker.  Joined JFS in 2007 as a Case Manager in the Exceptional Needs Division, serving adult clients with severe and persistent mental illness and with developmental disabilities.  Previously conducted individual, family and group counseling, in various settings, both in Israel and in the US.  Holds a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Social Work from Hebrew University in Jerusalem.  Areas of specialization: adults with severe and chronic mental illness, elderly Holocaust survivors, post traumatic stress.

Marybeth Murphy

Marybeth has been with Jewish Family Services for thirteen years and is currently a case manager in the Exceptional Needs Program.  She acts as an advocate and liaison for clients, facilitates the Breakfast Club, a socialization group for individuals with chronic and persistent mental illness and oversees Lee Apartments, a living facility for people with mental illness.  She also coordinates the JFS Adoption Services Program, which reaches out and provides services to potential adoptive parents in the Jewish community.  Marybeth holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Greg Parrish

Greg Parrish joined Jewish Family Services in 2007 and currently holds the position of Case Manager in the Family Care Exceptional Needs Division.  In addition to this, Greg provides mental health services for adults and older adults in the Clinical Department.  Greg co-manages the Habush House and works with individuals with developmental disabilities.  Prior to Jewish Family Services, Greg counseled individuals and facilitated groups in both out-patient and in-patient settings.  Greg has a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University in Chicago, and a Bachelor degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Carin Pittleman

Carin Pittleman is a Case Manger, working with individuals with exceptional needs to support their ability to live as independently as possible.  Carin holds a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and has worked as a counselor for the Wisconsin Cancer Information Services, a Client Advocate with the Medical Assistance Program of Wisconsin and as Director of Education for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.

David Prodoehl

David is a Case Manager in the Exceptional Needs Division, serving adult clients who have severe mental illness or who are developmentally delayed.  David participates in outreach programs operated by Jewish Family Services such as the Sandy Naimon Breakfast Club, a socialization group that has been meeting continuously for nearly twenty years.  David holds a bachelor degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Beth Shapiro

Beth joined the staff of Jewish Family Services in 2001.  She is the Intake Coordinator for the agency and the first point of contact for most clients of the Clinical and Exceptional Needs Divisions.  She also facilitates the Kosher Mobile Meals Program which delivers prepared Kosher meals to older adults and patients in area homes and hospitals.  Prior to coming to JFS, Beth worked at Planned Parenthood as clinic manager.  Beth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Julie Shlensky

Julie Shlensky joined Jewish Family Services in December 2007 as a Case Manager in the Exceptional Needs Division and Manager of the agency’s Young Adults Independence Project.  As Manager of this program, Julie plans socialization activities which promote independent living skills for young adults with exceptional needs.  Julie also provides education, support and counseling for parents and families of exceptional needs young adults.  Ms. Shlensky has over 20 years of experience working in the field of education, has served as a counselor to survivors of hurricane Katrina, and has done crisis counseling for victims of domestic violence and abuse.  Julie has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master’s in both social work and exceptional education from UW-Milwaukee.

Keshet

Jody Margolis

As Educational Director of Keshet, Jody Margolis oversees and coordinates the efforts of the Keshet teachers and aides, the classroom teachers and the school principals and works very closely with the parents of the Keshet children.  She began as a learning specialist educator in the 1980s in the Chicago area, focusing on learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.  She continued her educator's role in 1989 after moving to Milwaukee, where she started a resource classroom at Hillel Academy for students diagnosed with learning disabilities.

Rachel Nelson

Rachel Nelson holds two bachelor's degrees and a master's in social work from the University of Illinois.  She has been involved in Jewish education since 1988, where she became a specialist in educating students with learning disabilities.  She has been involved with curriculum development and implementation, and also recruitment.  Rachel worked at Keshet in Chicago for six years, as the Judaic Coordinator for four sites, where she developed a life cycle program, prepared children for their bar or bat mitzvoth, and developed strategies for familial growth.  She has now worked at Keshet in Milwaukee for one year, starting as a YES substitute teacher.  This year she was named Assistant Director, and began developing the high school-vocational program for Keshet.  Rachel also has extensive social work experience in crisis intervention and domestic violence.

Lynn Broch

Lynn holds a bachelor's degree from Mount Mary College in Education and Psychology and also has a certificate to teach Judaic subjects from a seminary in Israel.  This is Lynn's seventh year working for Keshet.  She was an aide for two years, then took a year off and came back to work as the Jewish Studies Teacher at Yeshiva Elementary school.  She grew up in Milwaukee and is proud to be giving back to the community.

Kathy Marks

Kathy Marks has a B.S. in Exceptional Education from UW-Milwaukee.  Currently, she teaches special education at Yeshiva Elementary.  This is her fourth year working for Keshet.  Previous experience includes teaching for Grafton Public Schools and New Berlin School district.  She has worked with children that have a variety of disabilities, including Asperbeger's, emotional and/or behavioral problems.