Staff

Jann Beeston MA Leadership
Executive Director

Jann completed her Master’s thesis on collaboration for community benefit and completed post-graduate studies in social innovation. She brings extensive experience in non-profit leadership and management, focusing on innovation, change, partnerships, community engagement, and collaboration around a common purpose. Jann’s extensive experience includes working in the post-secondary system with Campus Alberta central as well as serving on the board and in staff positions of many non-profit organizations, such as Volunteer Alberta, Alberta Reads Network, Community Learning Network, Rural Alberta Development Fund, and the Alberta Nonprofit Network Steering Committee. Jann champions equity and inclusion. She enjoys the outdoors, reading art, dance, and live theatre.

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Alyona Lanyme
Operations Supervisor

Alyona joined Jewish Family Services in August 2017. She provides essential administrative support to Board, staff and programs. Alyona immigrated to Canada from Kazakhstan in 2016 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. She speaks English and Russian.

 

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Machelle Curtis
Office Administrator

Machelle joined Jewish Family Services in 2019 as an administrative assistant. She provides assistance to both counselors and office staff with day to day operations. Machelle moved to Alberta in 2015 from Newfoundland and Labrador. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and has
several years of experience in various administrative roles.

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Leah McKinney
Administrative Assistant

Leah provides administrative support as the Administrative Assistant for the various programs offered at JFSE including the coordination of grief support groups. Leah has a background in administration within bereavement counselling services as well as working with seniors. She has worked within non-profit , assisted living and long-term care seniors facilities. In her spare time Leah enjoys painting, reading, and spending time outdoors.

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Home Support Services

Alberto Genis
Home Support Manager

Alberto has gathered over 10 years’ experience working with non-profit organizations. In 2011, Alberto began working with Holocaust Survivors at JFSE. As Home Support Manager, Alberto developed program operations for senior Holocaust survivors, providing services in their homes and fulfilling their basic needs.

In his spare time, Alberto travels and spends time with his friends; he also likes outdoor activities and is an avid volunteer.

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Alena Sasnouskaya
Home Support Supervisor

Alena has an Administrative Assistant diploma from Campbell College, Alberta. She has worked for Jewish Family Services since 2012. She has significant experience in working with marginalized and underrepresented populations. 

Alena is passionate about traveling, sports, and art. She speaks English, Russian, and Belarussian.

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Natallia Kazlova
Home Support Assistant

Natallia joined Jewish Family Services in August 2021 as a Home Support Assistant. She has a Bachelor of Teaching degree and an Administrative Assistant diploma from Campbell College, Alberta.
Natallia speaks English, Russian and Belarussian. She likes traveling, gardening, and outdoor activities.

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Olesya Voytovych
Home Support Assistant

Olesya Voytovych joined Jewish Family Services in 2023 as a Home Support Assistant. She provides assistance with payroll, recordkeeping, reporting, and also helps with our recruiting and hiring process for Home Support workers. Olesya has extensive experience in the administrative field which has become an asset in managing scheduling and correspondence within our Home Support program. She obtained her Digital Marketing certification in Alberta and has experience working as an entrepreneur by running a small business. 

Olesya enjoys travelling, gardening, and painting in her free time. She speaks Ukrainian, Russian, and English.

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Older Adult Services

Tatiana Kastner MSW RSW
Older Adult Services Program Manager

Tatiana started working at JFSE in 2015 after moving from Montreal. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from McGill University and has significant experience in working with immigrants and older adults. At JFSE, she has worked as a Case Manager for the Holocaust Survivors Support program, then as a Case Management supervisor, and as of July 2023 as Older Adult Services Program Manager. Her current role involves managing the Holocaust Survivors Support Program, Coordinated Outreach and Social Prescribing projects for older adults, as well as oversight of Home Support program.  

Tatiana loves nature and volunteers as a hiking lead for Edmonton Trail Community. She speaks English, French, Russian, and Hebrew.

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Anastasiia Kozhevnikova
Case Worker

Anastasiia joined Jewish Family Services in 2020. She holds a Master’s degree in  Economics and Management in Social Work from Siberian State Industrial University. She works as a Case Worker for the Holocaust Survivors Support program, Social Prescribing, and Coordinated Outreach projects. In her current role she assists the clients with referrals, connection to resources, filling forms, settlement process, mediation, and many other needs.   

Anastasiia enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, baking and gardening. She speaks Russian and English.

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Favour Okafor BSW
Outreach Services Case Manager

Favour is an immigrant from Nigeria who recently rounded up her Bachelor of Social Work program at University of Manitoba. She was opportune to complete her practicum at Jewish Child and Family services Winnipeg where she worked specifically in the senior support services. She supported seniors with mental health, grief, housing, and addictions issues utilizing the Harm reduction approach. Favour also has experience working with the Newcomers Employment and Education Development Winnipeg, where she supported immigrant youths with finding employment as well as facilitating trauma-informed sessions. Further, she had previously worked as a direct support professional with individuals with complex range of disabilities including dementia and schizophrenia.

Favour’s education and practical experiences has provided her with a solid foundation in social work and case management. She is known for her empathetic approach to clients’ situation and her jovial nature in general.

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Danielle Shaposhnikov 

Case Management Assistant

Danielle is currently in her bachelor’s degree in psychology and philosophy at the University of Alberta. In the summer of 2023, she joined Jewish Family Services as a Case Management Assistant. Danielle brings several years of experience working with immigrants and refugees and is deeply involved in the Jewish community. Within Jewish Family Services, Danielle works with the Holocaust Survivors Support program, where she assists the case management team in their daily interactions with the clients and care partner.

Danielle enjoys the outdoors and being active and is a yoga instructor. She speaks English, Russian, and Hebrew.

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Deborah Miville RSW
Case Worker

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Crisabel De Vega RSW

Link Worker

Crisabel graduated Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines and worked in the hospital for 12 years. She finished her Social Work Diploma at the NorQuest College and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Calgary.

She is an immigrant and is passionate about helping the older adult population in the community.

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Home Supports Coordinator

T: 587-594-7884

 

Home Supports Coordinator

T: 780-860-2931

Amanda Runka
Home Supports Coordinator

T: 780-995-8072

Kathy Watters
Home Supports Coordinator

T: 780-995-2908

Outreach Services

Meital Siva-Jain BA RSW
Manager, Outreach Services

Meital Siva-Jain immigrated from Israel to Edmonton in 2006. She worked at the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton for over seven years, leading the Diversity and Inclusion program. Under this role, she collaborated with community groups to address multiple barriers to support services and promote healing. In 2021, Meital joined Jewish Family Services as a case manager, supporting senior and newcomer individuals with case management and advocacy. Since 2022, Meital supervises the JFSE Outreach program that provides support services to community members of all backgrounds, with specialized programs for 2SLGBTQ folks and newcomers. Meital provides case management services in Hebrew and English and leads community collaborations in the areas of antisemitism education and gender-based violence prevention.

Meital holds a BA Degree from Tel Aviv University and a Social Work diploma from MacEwan University. She currently studies for her Master’s degree in clinical social work.

Meital speaks Hebrew and English.

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Rhonda Eidelman, BSc (N) BA
Community Outreach Worker 

Rhonda has worked for JFSE since 2003. She has been an active member of the Jewish community since 1981 when she and her husband moved to Edmonton from Toronto via Saskatchewan. The Eidelmans have five children and Rhonda worked as a nurse prior to their birth, returning to work at JFSE when they were teenagers. Under her role, Rhonda supports seniors adjusting to the changes that occur with aging.

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Jeni Adler
Intercultural and English class Facilitator

Jeni is an immigrant from South Africa who also lived in Israel. Jeni has worked in non-profit for over thirty years, including the Sexual Assault Centre, Canadian Mental Health, and Planned Parenthood.  She has been with JFSE for twenty one years.  Jeni has a special interest in English Instruction, and in supporting people through their immigration experiences and personal transitions. The loves of her life are her daughter, new son-in-law, Israeli husband and Coba the mutt. Jeni speaks English and basic Hebrew.

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Rita Motta Martinez RSW BSW
Outreach Services Case Manager

Rita was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and has diverse social work experience with a variety of populations. She holds her Bachelor of Social Work from MacEwan University and is currently completing her Master of Social Work through the University of Calgary. She began her time at JFSE in September 2019 as a practicum student in the Community Support program and has since then worked in many different roles and programs within the agency. Rita created and coordinated the Case Management Project that is tailored to JFSE’s diverse needs and existing programs. She has worked as an intake worker and case manager for the last two years.

As she completes her MSW, Rita is working part-time on 2SLGBTQ+ community work and as a co-facilitator of the JFS’ 2SLGBTQ+ Support Group.

Rita speaks English, Spanish, and conversational French.

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Insun Kim BSW RSW

Link Worker/ Case Worker

Insun immigrated to Canada from Korea in 2014. Then, she learned English, and studied Social Work at MacEwan. After graduation, Insun worked as a Program Facilitator for seniors at ElderCare Edmonton, and that widened her practical knowledge about gerontology and Dementia Care. She is very curious about the human mind and aging. Insun speaks English and Korean.

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Edmonton Healing Centre

Sarah Karesa  Registered Psychologist  
Counselling Program Manager / Mental Health Therapist

Sarah is a Registered Psychologist with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alberta and a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Lethbridge. She is a published researcher, professional speaker, and mental health advocate who uses her professional and personal experience to provide the best possible support for her clients.

Prior to coming to the Edmonton Healing Centre, Sarah worked at Pilgrims Hospice Society – providing counselling for individuals struggling with grief and loss, caregiving, and palliative/life limiting illness across the lifespan. Sarah currently works an Associate Professor with City University of Seattle’s Edmonton Campus. In this role, she instructs future counsellors in the areas of grief and loss, group counselling, and professional practice.

Sarah’s approach to counselling is based on the philosophy that everyone has the ability to heal: they just need the right tools and a supportive environment to be able to do so. Sarah integrates self-compassion, mindfulness, and strengths-based practice into her work with children, teens, and adults of all ages. While Sarah enjoys helping clients with diverse presenting problems, her specialties are addressing issues related to grief and loss, palliative and life-limiting illness, caregiving, dementia anxiety/fear, depression, self-worth/self-esteem, and life transitions.

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Anna Jongeleen MPS AT CCC
Canadian Certified Counsellor, Registered Psychotherapist and Art Therapist

Anna started at JFSE in 2018. Anna’s approach as a therapist is not only informed by her extensive education, training and professional experience; it is first rooted in her own life experiences and a deep love and care for human beings.

Anna has a Masters in Psychotherapy, Spirituality and Art Therapy, and is certified in Counseling and Children Counseling. Anna is also trained in Complex Trauma Therapy, Trauma-Informed Art Therapy, Somatic and Focussing Psychotherapy, Grief Counseling  Play, and Sandtray Therapy. She facilitates Art Therapy for adults, children, and families, to explore and heal deeper levels and to find expression for experiences that are difficult to verbalize. 

She has over 20 years of experience as a multicultural therapist in Europe, Israel, and Canada and works with adults, families, couples, youth, and children and is a strong advocate for marginalized populations and people. Her thesis specialized in Eating Issues, and she developed a new treatment model based on attachment theory, somatic experiencing theory and art psychotherapy models.  

Her areas of focus are 2SLGBTQ+ clients, clients experiencing social justice issues, family, child and couple therapy, grief and loss (health, career, job, community, faith), bereavement, trauma, sexual abuse, childhood trauma, spiritual dilemmas, attachment wounding, and emotional regulation issues (e.g. anxiety/depression/mood disorders, dissociation, borderline personality, alexithymia, eating issues and disorders, etc.).

Anna speaks English, Hebrew, Dutch and some conversational French.

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Kayla McLachlan
Mental Health Therapist

Kayla is thrilled to complete her master’s of counselling internship at Jewish Family Services and feels very privileged to be in this role. Since 2013 Kayla has worked and volunteered in several non-profits that focus on supporting people impacted by trauma and ending gender-based violence.

Kayla believes that counselling is a collaborative process and that people are the experts in their own lives and experiences. Kayla aims to create a warm, safe, and gentle space to explore the challenges that have brought people into counselling. She has additional training in trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, somatic approaches, and narrative therapy.

Kayla enjoys spending time in nature, playing cards, cross-stitching, and live theatre.

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Heather Ruhl 
Mental Health Therapist

Heather is currently completing her Master of Counselling, reconnecting with her passion for mental health after over a decade of working in financial services. Before joining JFS, Heather completed her internship at Pilgrims Hospice Society, working with individuals experiencing loss and grief and facilitating group program delivery. Her hope is to help clients find ways to heal and discover their own strengths along their journeys and believes her role as a therapist is to shine a light into the darkness so you can choose your path forward. Heather is an advocate for mental health awareness and inclusion, and she works to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and inclusivity in a variety of settings. Heather is a Certified Trauma Professional and uses trauma-informed and narrative therapy approaches in her work.

Heather values spending time with her friends and family, reading, playing with her cat Sam, sewing, crochet, knitting, kayaking, and baking, and appreciates a good cup of coffee.

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Jessica Van Der Aa
Intern Therapist

Jessica is excited for the opportunity to complete her internship for her Master’s of Counselling at Jewish Family Services!  Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts degree with an Applied Psychology focus from Concordia University of Edmonton, where she was able to solidify her interest in the mental health field.    After over a decade of working with diverse populations in municipal government settings, she has found her way back to mental health and is completing her Master’s of Counselling degree through City University of Seattle.

Jessica believes that counselling is a collaborative process, and that clients have the ability to work through their concerns – they just might need some help navigating the way to get there!  She works from a client-centered and solution-focused framework.  Jessica hopes to create a warm and inviting environment in which to connect with her clients. 

In her spare time, Jessica enjoys the performing arts, travelling and spending time with her family.

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Janelle Borders-DeNault 
Intern Therapist

Janelle served a secondary English teacher before transitioning into the field of counselling. After years of journeying with people through grief and end of life as a Hospice volunteer, she is honoured to extend her helping experience to people across the lifespan at JFSE.

Janelle believes that each of us years to feel seen in our suffering, and that healing happens in relationship. Through empathy, radical acceptance, and attunement, she helps clients encounter their innate ability to heal in a way that feels comfortable for them.

Janelle’s training draws her to people experiencing grief/loss, life-limiting illness, death anxiety, and emotional dysregulation, but she is always up for learning something new. She is trained in Emotion Focused Individual Therapy and integrates somatic and mindfulness practices.

Animals, walks, music, and stargazing bring her joy.  

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Libby Kostromin MPS 
Group Facilitator

While completing a Masters of Psychotherapy and Spirituality at St. Stephen’s College Libby initially joined JFSE in January 2019 as a group facilitator before stepping into the additional role of Group Therapy Co-ordinator in June 2021.

Libby brings extensive experience and education in facilitation, program development and relationship-building from her previous ‘life’ as an organisational development consultant and leadership coach in Melbourne, Australia.

The core of Libby’s approach to coaching and counselling involves collaborating with clients to locate and respond to the wellspring of inner wisdom; working together to find the most authentic way of being with, and responding to, the challenges presented in this life.

As a counsellor and facilitator, Libby brings a warm, genuine, mature presence, along with a capacity to empathize and challenge and a willingness to journey into the unknown with others. She is especially drawn to working with adults experiencing interpersonal or professional challenges, a significant or difficult life transition, or some kind of loss—loss of a loved one, of hope, of health or wellbeing, or of connection with others.

Libby feels it is a privilege to journey with clients seeking to grow and deepen—personally, professionally, relationally and spiritually. She enjoys encouraging and supporting others to move forward with greater clarity, ease and authenticity in life.

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Charlotte Cooper MSW, RSW
Group Facilitator

Charlotte started her journey with JFSE as a client of the Edmonton Healing Centre. Her appreciation for the compassionate and knowledgeable approach shown while helping her through her grief journey inspired her to become part of the team.

Charlotte is a registered, clinical social worker in Alberta. She has an MSW (McGill University) in Montreal and a BSW (University of Calgary). She started her career working in as many hospitals across Canada as she could in order to experience all sides of this great country. The result was that she was able to work as an individual and group counsellor in hospitals in Calgary (Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry), Peterborough (Complex Long-Term Care, Intensive Care, ER, Pediatrics Maternal Child units) Toronto (Adult medical oncology) Montreal (Forensic Psychiatry) and Edmonton (Pediatric Oncology and Forensic Psychiatry). Working with babies, children and adults, during illness and hospitalizations, necessitated many areas of intervention: crisis counselling, grief and loss support, engagement with violent offenders, persons experiencing acute mental illness and/or requiring help with adjusting to illness, death and dying, physical, mental, and emotional changes due to trauma, illness, or changes in their social environment. Like her clients, she has navigated the health care system as a both a patient and caregiver. As a result, she continues to learn ways to advocate for clients and staff.

Hobbies and fun pastimes include golfing, curling, reading and baking. She writes children’s books, songs, short plays, and screenplays. She has created and produced 2 television documentaries and 1 animated short. All of her works have a social justice theme – to emphasize gaps she saw during her life as a hospital social worker.

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Daniella Kersey
Group Facilitator