Cherie Conte, LMSW
Cherie Conté, LMSW Cherie Conté is a licensed social worker and currently works with Monroe County Office of Mental Health (MCOMH). In addition, Cherie is the Coordinator for The Consortium on Trauma, Illness and Grief in Schools (TIG), a county-wide, multi-agency effort to prepare school districts to have appropriate mental health support in place during incidents of trauma, violence, illness and death. She also evaluates and monitors the effectiveness of children’s programs. With over thirteen year’s experience, Cherie has worked with children, adolescents, and families in both clinical and administrative capacities in residential, foster care, and in-home community-based settings. Cherie serves as a member of the Monroe County Disaster Mental Health Team.

Barbara J. Ertl, MS, NCC, CTS
Barbara Ertl has been employed as a school social worker for the past 14 years. She has responded to numerous Critical Incidents within a variety of shcool districts and school buildings. Barb has provided workshops and trainings to school district personnel across Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio on the development of crisis plans and intervention/post-vention strategies.

Trina Laughlin, LCSW-R
Trina Laughlin is the Clinical Supervisor for the Family Violence Program at the Society for the Protection and Care of Children in Rochester, New York. She directs a private practice group specializing in trauma and has co-authored The Power of Story: A Process of Renewal for Therapists Who Treat Trauma (Whole Person Press, 2005) with Bonnie Collins

Arlene Levit, MS.Ed.
Arlene has over 30 years of experience in counseling and education, including individual, group and family therapy. Arlene`s expertise is in mental health and family therapy: transition, loss and grief, chronic illness, anxiety, depression, stress management, addiction,learning disabilities and conflict resolution. She currently is the Counseling Consultant for Cobblestone School, facilitates bereavement groups for Lifetime Care and transition groups for women. She has worked as a school counselor for both Hope Hall School and Irondequoit High School. She has also led trainings and groups at Partners in Health, Family Services of Rochester and AIDS Rochester.

Elizabeth Meeker, Psy.D.
Elizabeth Meeker is a licensed clinical psychologist and Program Manager of Youth Emergency Services (YES) and The Consortium on Trauma, Illness, and Grief in Schools (TIG). Dr. Meeker has over fourteen years experience of working with children, adolescents, and families in both clinical and administrative capacities in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings. At Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI) Dr. Meeker is responsible for the oversight and management of the YES system and the TIG Consortium. She provides training on a range of topics related to youth in crisis including Youth Suicide, School Violence, Self-Injury, Grief and Loss and Bullying Prevention. She is a certified instructor for OMH Disaster Mental Health training. In addition to her work at CCSI, Dr. Meeker has a private clinical practice. Dr. Meeker is the Past President of the Genesee Valley Psychological Association. She completed her pre-doctoral training at Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse, NY and received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Indiana State University.

Theo Munson MPH
Theo Munson is the Manager of Caregiver and Bereavement Services at Genesee Region Home Care and Hospice which provides one-to-one grief counseling, support group facilitation, community workshops, staff support, grief education programs and supervision of bereavement volunteers. Theo has a background in Oncology Information and Support and served as a consultant to the Rochester City School District`s Grief Resource Project.

Michael Scharf, MD
Dr. Scharf is the Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Rochester and the Director of the Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Liaison Service at Children`s Hospital. Professional interests include education, psychosomatic medicine, violence, and mental health assessment and treatment in primary care. Dr. Scharf is a core member of the Victim Intervention Coalition, a University Hospital based program partnering with multiple community agencies to examine and improve how our health care system and community responds to children and adolescents who are victims of violent assault. Dr. Scharf is also active in the American Association, currently serving as the Chair of the Early Career Psychiatrists Committees for both the New York State Psychiatric Association and the Genessee Valley Psychiatric Association.

Fred Van Orden
After over 30 years, Fred Van Orden has recently retired from the Rochester Police Department. He has served as a School Resource Officer in the RCSD and worked for the Community and Educational Services Section. Fred is a nationally certified trainer for Olweus Bullying Prevention, Gangs and Schools, and is a NYS trainer for School Resource Officers. He has also conducted security audits in schools across NYS. Fred has a BS in Education. Fred is founder, President and Counsultant for Safer Schools Security Consultation, Inc.

Bonnie Strollo, MSEd, MS, RN, NPP
Bonnie Strollo is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Strong Memorial Hospital. She is the coordinator of the Pediatric Consultation and Liaison Service at Golisano Children’s Hospital. For approximately thirty years she has worked with both medically and psychiatrically ill children/adolescents and their families. She is certified as a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her areas of interest include mental health wellness, parenting instruction, youth suicide, adolescent violence, chronic medical illness in children, and eating disorders. Bonnie is also a member of the Monroe County Disaster Mental Health team.

Kathleen Wissler, MS
Kathleen Wissler is the Educational Liaison for Pediatric Hemotology/Oncology Divison, Golisano Children`s Hospital at Strong.