About Us

Providing support to youth and families since 1976.

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Our Background

Haven began as a youth outreach program and has continued to expand and evolve over the years. Programs include crisis response and preventative activities, as well as the counseling program, which has become one of our most popular ways of serving the community. Haven provides individual, group, and family counseling, 24-hour crisis intervention, daily outreach to area schools, psycho-educational workshops, youth leadership roles, and service-learning opportunities to meet the physical and emotional needs of youth and their families.

Clinicians and Employees

Our counselors, case managers, and administrators are here to help you along the way. No matter what concerns or challenges you’re facing, our skilled and experienced staff is here to assist you.

Locations

Haven is located at 825 Green Bay Road, Suite 200 in Wilmette, IL and Haven’s Illinois Youth Investment Program is located at 900 North Shore Drive, Suite 185, in Lake Bluff, IL.

Community Partners

We are honored to work with so many amazing community groups, schools, and individuals. Click the link below to learn more about our collaborations and how to become a Haven partner.

Meet the Haven Team

Administrative Team

Charley Smith

Charley Smith, LCSW

Executive Director

As Executive Director, Charley supports the mission of the agency by overseeing and directing planning, management and organizational direction for Haven’s operations and programs.

Contact Charley

Jimena

Jimena Escurra, LCPC

Clinical Director

As Clinical Director, Jimena leads a dedicated team that addresses the mental health needs of the community, offering trauma-informed counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her leadership ensures compassionate, high-quality care for individuals facing diverse mental health challenges.

Contact Jimena

Clinical Team

Vanessa

Jordan Colonna

Crisis Coordinator

As Haven’s Crisis Coordinator, Jordan is committed to working with youth and families facing life challenges and needing extra support. Jordan strives to create a collaborative, empowering process where youth can learn to manage conflict, embrace their strengths, and achieve their goals.

Chetana

Chetana Rao, MS

Counselor

Chetana is passionate about working with children and adolescents to help them cope with mental health challenges and improve their quality of life. She uses a client-centered approach and blends mindfulness strategies, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and play-based activities to help clients achieve their goals.

Contact Chetana

Jimena

Jill Zakon Leonard, LCSW

Intake Coordinator/Counselor

As Haven’s therapist and Intake Coordinator, Jill is committed to being a supportive resource for clients. She promotes client collaboration and blends mindfulness, self-care skills, and a strength-focused approach into her practice, Empowering , supporting and educating youth, adolescents, and adults on managing mental health challenges.

Contact Jill

Illinois Youth Investment Program and Drop-In Manager

Vanessa

Xavier Martillo

IYIP Manager

As Haven’s IYIP Program Manager, Xavier works with 16- to 24-year-olds to assist them in finding first-time employment within their community in Lake County to achieve their long-term goals. Xavier also provides ongoing support and mentoring services to create a supportive environment for youth and their families while in programming. 

Contact Xavier

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Sydney Brock

IYIP Case Manager Lake County and Evanston

As an IYIP case manager, Sydney is devoted to providing specialized support services to youth throughout Lake County and Evanston. Through respect and open communication, Sydney guides youth in accentuating their strengths to help better manage life’s challenges and achieve their future goals.

Headshot of Jake Bobrow.

Jake Bobrow, LSW

IYIP Case Manager Lake County and Evanston

As an IYIP Case Manager, Jacob is dedicated to delivering compassionate youth development services to communities throughout Lake County. With heartfelt commitment, he supports individuals in navigating challenges and helps them achieve their goals through empathy and mutual respect.

Contact Jake

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Matthew Jaley

IYIP Case Manager Evanston

As an IYIP case manager, Matthew works to meet people at their own level and provides critical support to youth in Evanston. Through a person-centered perspective, they seek the best in people and illuminate hidden strengths to help others pave their way forward.

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Olivia Robinson

Drop-in Support Staff

As drop-in center support staff Olivia, is dedicated to ensuring the Yo is a safe, collaborative, and a supportive environment for youth 8th -12th grade. Olivia provides structure for daily activities, volunteer and community services, and empowering youth. Olivia creatively and passionately works with youth in the New Trier township to provide resources and a space youth can rely on.

Administrative Assistant

Chetana

Stacy Mirro, MSW

Administrative Assistant

As Haven’s Administrative Assistant, Stacy is committed to implementing systems in order to provide quality services to youth and families. Stacy organizes and assesses program data to evaluate the success of Haven’s programs.

Contact Stacy

Community Partners

Haven Youth and Family Services is proud to partner with the following state-wide and local organizations:

Corporate Donors

JC Licht Logo
Logo for Morgan Stanley

Elco Mutual Life

Arthur Gallagher

NorthShore University Health System

Dramatic Colors

McMaster Carr

Fidelity

Everi

AFG Guidance Center

Andrew and Alice Fisher Charitable Trust
Illinois Department of Human Services
Christ Church Winnetka
The Edith Marie Appleton Foundation
Erika’s Lighthouse
First Congregational Church of Wilmette
First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette
Glencoe Police Department
Glencoe Youth Services
Kenilworth Police Department
Kenilworth Union Church

Kenilworth Community Fund

Marie Murphy School
New Trier High School
New Trier Township
Northfield Police Department
Northfield Township
Optimist Club of Wilmette
Rice Foundation

Rosecrance

Saints Faith, Hope and Charity

SBB Research Group Family Foundation

Shelter Inc.
Sunset Ridge School

Text-A-Tip

The Harbour
The Warming House
Village Treasure House
Washburne Junior High School
Wilmette Harbor Rotary
Wilmette Junior High School
Wilmette Police Department
Winnetka Congregational Church
Winnetka Police Department
Winnetka PTO
Women’s Club of Evanston
Wilmette Optimist Club
Celebrate Highwood
Zadek Family Foundation
Stauber Foundation
Sargent Family Foundation
Lila H Borgstrom Foundation
Michelle Leonardo Foundation

Board of Directors

Haven’s Board Members come from a variety of backgrounds and use their expertise to aid the Haven executive and clinical directors. Board members meet monthly and are highly involved in the fundraising efforts at Haven.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Board of Directors, contact Charley Smith at charley@havenforyouth.org.

Kimberly

Kimberly Boscow

President

Kimberly Boscow lives in Wilmette and has been a North Shore resident for the past 10 years. She and her husband have three children, two of whom are New Trier graduates. She has worked in both the publishing and legal fields in various positions but has always been a community volunteer as well. Her passion and concern for the health and well-being of children brought her to the Haven board. After serving as Secretary and Vice President she now serves as board President.

Jennifer

Jennifer Fiegen

Vice President/Secretary

Jennifer Fiegen is a long-time resident of Wilmette. She and her husband, Jonathan, have three children. She earned her Master’s Degree in the Art of Teaching from Northwestern University after graduating with a BS from the University of Illinois. For the last twenty-eight years, Jennifer has been a committed educator, and she currently works in Winnetka School District. Jennifer joined the Haven Youth and Family Services Board in the Fall of 2017. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of the Haven Board of Directors. She enjoys collaborating with fellow board members and the community, bringing a school system and child’s perspective to Haven’s programs and work.

Christopher

Christopher Slagg

Treasurer

Christopher Slagg and his family live in Northbrook. Chris is a banker with Wintrust Community Bank and is a community-minded individual who supports local organizations. He has enjoyed serving as treasurer for the past 10 years as Haven has evolved and grown and been a board member for 11 years. In addition to his work on the Haven Board, he has been involved with Literacy Works, The Housing Organization for Women, and Magnificent Mile Association.

Kathiann

Kathiann Bavaro

Board Member

Kathiann joined the Haven Youth and Family Services Board in June 2021. She has worked in the banking industry in the North Shore area for the past 15 years and is currently Branch Manager at North Shore Community Bank & Trust, a branch of Wintrust Bank. She is thrilled to be on the Haven Board, as her values align with the company’s mission to promote mental health. Kathiann is passionate about supporting mental health and wellness for families in the community.

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Mathew Boscow

Board Member

Matthew joined the Haven Youth and Family Services Board in August 2023. He currently works for Invenergy, a leading renewable energy developer based in Chicago. Drawing inspiration from the positive transformations Haven has brought to his family and friends, Matthew is enthusiastic about contributing to this exceptional organization. His commitment extends beyond board participation; he is dedicated to elevating awareness around mental health, recognizing the profound impact organizations like Haven can have on communities.

Heather

Bill Cremin

Board Member

Bill Cremin grew up in Northfield and graduated from New Trier High School in 2015. After graduating from DePauw University, Bill now is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. Joining Haven’s board in 2021, Bill is thrilled to be able to give back to the community he grew up in and work with such an amazing group of individuals. He also volunteers for InvestWrite, a financial education writing competition for students ranging from 4th to 12th grade.

Kate

Roselyn Gilbert Don

Board Member

Roselynn Don has served on Haven’s Board for more than a decade. She lives in Wilmette and was raised there. She and her two adult children are New Trier graduates. Roselynn is a family law/divorce attorney and mediator who has also represented children with divorcing parents. Her interest in family dynamics and the development, health, and safety of children and teens led to her interest in Haven which she believes is an invaluable resource for families.

Amy

Lori Heger

Board Member

Lori Heger joined the Warming House board of directors in 2015, serving a number of years as Board Secretary. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a BA in English, and shortly thereafter started her career in finance. She is currently a Client Service Manager at Merrill Lynch in Chicago. Lori and her husband Erich have lived in Wilmette since 2009, and have two daughters Mary and Heidi who attend New Trier High School and Wilmette Junior High School. She is excited to now be a part of the Haven Board as it is such a vital part of the Wilmette community and the families within it. 

Michele

Michele Hunter

Board Member

Michele Hunter grew up in Winnetka and graduated from New Trier in 1982. She graduated from the Architecture program at IIT and is a principal at Architrave, Ltd. in Chicago. The firm has recently added projects providing equitable and affordable housing in Chicago. Michele and her firm believe that everyone has the right to work and live in a safe and dignified environment. Haven’s values align and Michele has spent the last 4 years supporting their efforts.

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Mary Kiscaden

Board Member

Mary grew up in Evanston. A graduate of Regina Dominican High school she later raised her children in Winnetka. She and her husband have recently returned to Winnetka from living in Virginia for 10 years. She brings a seasoned background in community and public relations in both health care and internet industries. She is also currently a hospital volunteer. Mary believes strong communities provide strong resources for families in both physical and mental health arenas.

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Amy Koplow

Board Member

Amy has been a Haven Board member since 2023, after helping lead the integration of Haven with The Warming House, a long-standing Wilmette teen drop-in center. As board president of The Warming House and now a proud member of the Haven Board, Amy is thrilled to continue her deep involvement in helping to support our community’s mental health. She is an LCSW and experienced clinical therapist, working with children, teens, and adults, and lives in Wilmette with her husband and three children.

 

Amy

Amy Yulish

Board Member

Amy graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a major in Psychology and a minor in Theater. She then received her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and currently holds a core faculty position for the Master’s Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northwestern where she teaches, supervises beginning clinicians and maintains a clinical practice. She is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful organization, supporting the work she does herself, but in her very own community.

Donate

Thank you for your support and consideration!

To make an online donation or for a printable mail-in form, please click on the button below.

Your contribution is tax-deductible.

​If you are mailing your donation, please make checks payable to Haven Youth and Family Services.

All mail in donations can be sent to:

Haven Youth & Family Services
825 Green Bay Road
Suite 200
Wilmette, IL 60091