Staff
Danielle Dolgoy PMP
Executive Director
Danielle Dolgoy is a devoted servant leader empowering communities through heritage and engagement. As an advocate for change, she amplifies Edmontonians’ voices and advances well-being through cultural initiatives rooted in loving kindness. Guided by fairness, respect, and healing, Danielle excels in team management and stakeholder relations, embodying kindness, compassion, and social justice. Taking the helm of Jewish Family Services, she brings integrity and community connection, steering the organization towards impactful, future-ready programs. With a commitment to servant leadership and wellbeing, Danielle leads JFSE into a new era of relevance, empowering those served with renewed energy and compassion.
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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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Deepika Pillay
Administrative Assistant
Deepika joined Jewish Family Services in 2024 as an administrative assistant. She provides assistance to both counsellors and office staff on a day-to-day basis. Deepika holds a BA degree and Diploma in Human Resources Management and has worked in the non-profit sector for a few years.
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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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Aleksandra Holod
Intake Supervisor, Older Adult Services
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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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Insun Kim BSW RSW
Link Worker in the Older Adult Services Program
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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Deborah Miville RSW
Case Manager
Deborah’s first career was in medical laboratory technology. She came to social work in mid-life when she graduated the Social Work diploma program at Grant MacEwan college in 1996.
She has worked in various Social Worker positions in the HIV sector until 2008. Then found an amazing opportunity to work with older adults in 2009 and has been in this sector ever since. Has helped and contributed to outreach to older adults in many organizations in Edmonton including: SONS, Sage, North West Seniors, Strathcona Country FCSS, Start Here Seniors Support, SEESA and now JFSE.
She loves the diversity of the clients and staff and embraces the challenges that the work provides.
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Ruth Assoue
Outreach Support Worker and Case Manager
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Kaychelle Soliman
Outreach Support Worker
Kaychelle is an immigrant from the Philippines who spent several years working as a community nurse, where she cultivated a deep passion for caring for others. After moving to Canada, she decided to pursue a career in Social Work, motivated by her desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Recently graduating after years of dedication, Kaychelle is eager to apply her combined healthcare and social work knowledge to support and advocate for those in need. She is enthusiastic about this new chapter and look forward to embracing challenges, continuous learning, and personal growth.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with family and exploring Canada’s beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures. Whether she’s taking scenic hikes in the mountains, visiting vibrant cities, or immersing herself in local traditions, she finds joy in experiencing all that Canada has to offer.
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Kathy Watters
Service Connector
T: 780-995-2908 North West
Jenny Faryna
Outreach Support Worker
T: 587-594-7884
Barbara Newell
Service Connector
T: 780-860-2931
Outreach Services
Meital Siva-Jain BA RSW
Manager, Outreach Services
After immigrating from Israel in 2006, Meital accessed JFSE’s services as a client, a volunteer, and a practicum student. In October 2021 she joined Jewish Family Services as a team member. In her current role, Meital leads the JFS Outreach Services team, provides case management, and develops support programs for individuals and community groups.
Before joining JFS, Meital worked at the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton for over seven years, collaborating with community partners to address service barriers.
Meital holds a BA Degree from Tel Aviv University and a Social Work diploma from MacEwan University. She is currently studying for her Master’s degree in clinical social work.
Meital speaks English and Hebrew.
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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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Liron Shteynpres
Outreach Case Manager
As an Outreach Case Manager, Liron combines her passion for client-centered front-line work with her educational background. Under this role, she assists members of the Edmonton community under 55 years old with accessing relevant resources. Before joining JFSE, Liron accessed JFS services as a newcomer client and later became a dedicated volunteer of JFS and other non-profit agencies. She also worked for the Settlement program at Action for Healthy Communities, where she was inspired by the dedication, collaboration, and innovative work of her colleagues. Liron holds an honorary diploma in Settlement Studies from NorQuest College.
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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 as 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
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Kayla is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. 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. Her work is informed by social justice and anti-oppressive principles. Kayla has additional training in narrative therapy, trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, somatic approaches, and hypnotherapy.
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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Averi Howse
Intern Therapist
Averi is excited to complete her practicum with Jewish Family Services while completing her Master of Counselling degree with Athabasca University. Averi graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Calgary in 2016 and has since worked in various community crisis roles. She has volunteered on crisis phone lines and with facilitating grief counselling groups. Averi also has experience counselling youth and parents with complex mental health concerns.
Averi practices from a trauma-informed and narrative therapy lens and values building a strong therapeutic relationship. Averi strives to be authentic, compassionate and focused on the client’s needs to foster growth and change in a collaborative way. Averi values diversity and advocacy practices that are inclusive and anti-oppressive.
Averi enjoys swimming, cozy drinks, walking outside and having fun with her young daughter and husband.
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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
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Rita Motta Martinez MSW BSW
2SLGBTQ+ Support Group Facilitator
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 her Master of Clinical 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 Outreach Case Management Project that is tailored to JFSE’s diverse needs and existing programs.
In 2022, Rita’s passion and commitment to 2SLGBTQ+ community work led her to create and co-facilitate JFSE’s 2SLGBTQ+ Support Group, which currently runs on Tuesday’s from 5:30-6:30 pm on Zoom. To register, please click this link: Jewish Family Services Edmonton (JFSE) 2SLGBTQ+ Support Group (google.com).
Her clinical approach is informed by her training in second and third wave cognitive approaches (CBT, DBT & ACT) all with a mindfulness-based focus, motivational interviewing, attachment and humanistic theories, and trauma-informed approaches including EMDR (level 1 & 2 training completed). In all her clinical work, she maintains an anti-oppressive, strength-based, and client-centred mindset to empower and collaborate with her clients.
Rita speaks English, Spanish, and conversational French.
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Madison Dabbs-Petty, MEd
2SLGBTQ+ Support Group Facilitator
Madison (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. She holds her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean and her Master of Educational Psychology in Counselling Psychology through the University of Alberta (UofA). Madison is currently in her second year of a PhD in Counselling Psychology, also at the UofA. Madison has worked for JFSE in a variety of roles since coming on as a practicum student in 2020. She co-created and co-facilitates JFSE’s online 2SLGBTQ+ which currently runs on Tuesday’s from 5:30-6:30 pm on Zoom. To register, please click this link: Jewish Family Services Edmonton (JFSE) 2SLGBTQ+ Support Group (google.com).
Madison is biracial and a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and is particularly passionate about working with those who hold marginalized identities. Madison’s therapeutic approach borrows from feminist, narrative, and solution-focused therapies. Her main priorities in a therapist space are to ensure safety and a strong rapport from which clients can move forward in their healing.
Madison is fluent in English, French, and Italian.