Brightside for Families & Children

 

Key Staff

Charles Ned Whitman, M.S., Vice President of Residential Services

Ned Whitman has over 30 years experience in the field of youth services.  Most recently, he served for over ten years as the Assistant Director of Commonworks/Regional Resource Center in Western Massachusetts.  As manager of the Regional Resource Center, Ned was responsible for the coordination of placement of all Western Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) clients in congregate care treatment settings as well as direct supervision of the placement specialists.  Ned was also a caseworker and supervisor with the Department of Youth Services (1978-1986).  He was the Director of Casework Services at DYS (1986-1996) where he oversaw the case management services of 300-400 youth committed to DYS by the juvenile courts.  Ned also has experience in Outreach and Tracking services and has served as a child care worker in New York State.  Ned received his BA Degree in Sociology at Plattsburgh State University of New York, and his masters in Criminal Justice from Westfield State College.

Kyle Murray, M.S., Program Director of Residential Services

Kyle Murray has been working in the mental health/behavioral health field for over 15 years in a variety of clinical and administrative capacities including over 8 years of residential experience.  Most recently Kyle served as the Clinical Director for a residential agency that served individuals diagnosed with both a mental health diagnosis as well as a developmental disability.  In addition, Kyle has experience working with a myriad of populations of all ages including those with substance abuse diagnoses, mental health diagnoses, and those diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum disorders. Administratively Kyle has assisted in program development, maintaining appropriate programmatic licensures, and in obtaining a reaccredidation by JCAHO.  Kyle received a BA in psychology from Quinnipiac University and received a Master's degree in Human Services with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University . 

Joan Groden O'Connell, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Director

Joan received her MSW at UCONN School of Social Work and is an LICSW in the state of Massachusetts.  Joan brings 19 years of professional experience providing clinical services and performing managerial duties in outpatient and residential settings.  In the mid 1990's, Joan served as the Program Manager for Brightside's Acute Residential Treatment (ART) Program where she was responsible for management and supervision of all aspects of operations and clinical treatment.  She has also held supervisory positions at DSS, River Valley Counseling Center, and Baystate Medical Center's Child Outpatient Department.  We are pleased that Joan has chosen to return to Brightside and direct our clinical operations. 

Vinnie Regan, M.Ed., Education Administrator for Brightside Campus School

Vinnie Regan  has been working in the field of Behavioral Healthcare and Residential Treatment for over 5 years in various roles, including Counselor, SPED Teacher and Vice-Principal. Vinnie co-developed the first Therapeutic Day School in the Berkshires, and has provided service to many students with a variety of social, emotional, behavioral and developmental special needs. Vinnie is a licensed SPED Administrator and Teacher of students with Moderate Disabilities in grades 5-12, as well as History 8-12. Vinnie holds a Master's Degree in Urban Education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and is currently completing a CAGS from Westfield State College in Educational Administrator. Vinnie also attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and earned his Bachelor's Degree in History and Economics.

Barbara Gallagher Jarry, M.Ed., M.S., L.M.F.T., Manager of Spiritual Development

Barbara has over 30 years experience as a teacher, director of religious education, pastoral associate bereavement counselor, health education coordinator, substance abuse counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist. In 1998, Barbara participated in intensive training with Dr. Herbert Benson at the Harvard Medical School Mind/Body Institute. Barbara is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

Jana McClure, M.Ed., Director of Training and Evaluation

Jana McClure has worked with children and families in several leadership capacities and has over 15 years of administrative and organizational management experience in the human service and non-profit industry.  Jana has held several leadership positions in human services, including Residential Manager, Program Director, and Director of Quality Improvement.  As Director of Quality Improvement, she was committed to researching best practice methodology to ensure quality service delivery excellence.  Jana is highly qualified in training both executive and front-line staff in organizational change management and operational functioning.  As an assistant research scientist at New York University, Jana co-managed a NIMH grant funded research laboratory focusing on infant cognitive development, under the direction of Dr. Catherine Tamis-LeMonda, where she trained graduate and undergraduate students.  Jana received a BA in Psychology from New York University and a M.Ed. from Antioch New England Graduate School.