Gisselle Acevedo is the President and CEO of The Child and Family Guidance Center. Acevedo brings more than 20 years of experience in mental health services and organizational leadership across the nonprofit, for-profit and education sectors.

Among her many accomplishments as a licensed marriage and family therapist, she has spent the past four years teaching at Fairfield University and previously served as president and CEO of Para Los Niños in Los Angeles and the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City.

Having served as an intern, clinician, and then board member for CFGC, she brings a firsthand understanding of the agency’s mission.

John Skelly has assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the Child and Family Guidance Center. Skelly brings an impressive background in healthcare finance and board leadership, having previously served as the CFO of Yale New Haven Hospital and Bridgeport Hospital. His demonstrated expertise in financial management and strategic planning, alongside a proven track record of fiscal responsibility and collaborative leadership, positions him to drive financial stewardship and operational excellence within the organization. Skelly’s dedication to community health aligns with the organization’s mission of providing children and families with comprehensive mental health and social services.

With Skelly at the helm, the Child and Family Guidance Center can anticipate a transformative era characterized by sound financial strategies and an unwavering commitment to its mission.

Ken Lacilla, LCSW is the Unit Director of Outpatient and Emergency Services at the Child & Family Guidance Center.   Ken has nearly 30 years’ experience working within the Child Behavioral Health and Child Welfare fields.  .  Ken also has been a senior leader for several DCF funded evidenced informed models and programs to include Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Intensive In -Home Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services (IICAPS), Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) Out Patient Child Clinics (OPCC) and Emergency Mobile Crisis (EMPS).  Ken has had a career spanning interest in the treatment of trauma in adults, adolescents and children.  CFGC’s continuum of trauma services is a major focus of his leadership here. A 1998 Graduate of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, Ken has a deep commitment to actively addressing Mental Health and educational disparities that exist in the workplace and among the impoverished.  He is a natural collaborator and strives to build inclusive, holistic social service delivery systems offering a range of data informed quality treatment options.

Danielle Marchione (she/her) joined CFGC in April of 2024 in time to plan for the Champions for Children Gala in June. Prior to joining the CFGC team she worked at the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation, Sacred Heart University, and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation leading the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and Fairfield County’s Giving Day. Additionally, Danielle spent nearly eight years handling communications and government relations for a child advocacy organization. She has BA from Wesleyan University and an MPA from NYU.

Danielle is looking forward to sharing more about the great work of this organization as we plan for CFGC’s Centennial Celebrations!

Margo L. Fugate MD is the Medical Director of the Child and Family Guidance Center.  She is board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as well as Adult Psychiatry.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University, Brooklyn Center where she graduated from the General Honors program, and her Medical Degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

 Dr. Fugate completed her Adult Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital and joined the faculty of Cornell Medical School and New York Presbyterian Hospital Westchester Division from 1999-2018.   Dr. Fugate co-founded New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Cultural Diversity Committee (later renamed “Diversity Council”) which was established as a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to recognizing and addressing the cultural needs of patients, families. clinicians and support staff.    Dr. Fugate is a member of The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The American Psychiatric Association and The Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture.

Guy Bocchino is the Director of Human Resources at the Child & Family Guidance Center and is responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the human resources function.  He has a broad range of experience and expertise in the full cycle of human resources management covering recruitment, employee relations, coaching, performance management and workforce planning.Prior to joining The Child & Family Guidance Center, he worked for 12 years as Corporate Human Resources Manager at Hexcel Corporation.  At Hexcel, he managed the human resources function for the corporate headquarters, international assignees and a separate manufacturing facility in northern CT. He received his Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Bridgeport and his Bachelor of Science degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

Hyacintha V. Jameson Bernard, MS, is the Director of several programs at The Child and Family Guidance Center, including Reunification and Therapeutic Family Time, Intensive Family Preservation, and the Visitation Center. Prior to supervising these programs, Hyacintha provided therapy to children and families referred to CFGC. She has worked with youth with mental health issues, children infected and affected by AIDS, and children in crisis via our Emergency Mobile Crisis Unit. Before coming to CFGC, Hyacintha worked at The Kennedy Center (Bridgeport) as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Coach for children and adults with developmental disabilities, and at Optimus Health Care.

Hyacintha received her Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Connecticut State University. She has worked with the HIV/AIDS population for the past 17 years; especially with children infected with the virus. Additionally, she has run groups with women, children, and the transgender community.

Jennifer Mailhot, LPC, Is the Director of the Substance Screening, Treatment and Recovery for Youth program.   SSTRY is a family-focused outpatient (office-based) substance use treatment that uses the Community Reinforcement Approach-Assertive Continuing Care (CRA-ACC) model.  

Jennifer’s previous experience included working for an in-home substance use program, outpatient treatment programs, and managing recovery support programs.  She has a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Western Connecticut State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Lynchburg. 

Teneika Brown, MSW is the Program Director and Clinical Supervisor of both the Maternal, Infant & Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) and Early Childhood Consultation Partnership in the Family Support Services Unit at CFGC. Prior to her leadership, she worked 13 years as a CFGC Home Visitor, achieving the position of Senior Home Visitor. Teneika obtained her Bachelor’s in Human Services from Springfield College, and a Master’s in Social Work from Walden University.

Sylvadra Ellis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the Mental Health field for several years, providing therapy in in-home, outpatient and congregate care settings.  Sylvadra began with the agency as a Clinical supervisor in the Outpatient Clinic in December of 2018 and was promoted to to Director of Mobile Crisis Intervention Services in March 2021. Sylvadra brings with her, 12 years of managerial experience, as well as experience in and a passion for crisis work, to her new role.  She specializes in working with children, adolescents, parents, and families experiencing challenges, related to stress, anxiety, trauma, crises and inter-relational conflicts.

Charles Maillard, LCSW, is the Director of Functional Family Therapy, an evidence-based, in-home counseling model designed primarily for at-risk youth who have been referred by the juvenile justice, mental health, school, or child welfare systems. Prior to FFT, Charles was a program coordinator and clinician for CFGC’s Mobile Crisis Intervention Services — a role he held from 2018-2021. 

Before joining CFGC, Charles worked as a peer prevention specialist and clinical social Work intern with AIDS Project Greater Danbury. He received his master’s in social work and his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Connecticut State University.