Leadership Team
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Barbra Silver
Executive Director
Barbra Silver
Executive Director
Barbra Silver is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a proud Oakland resident. She has been with the agency since 1998 when she began as a clinician with the Families in Transition program and helped to develop the early documentation training for our then new EPSDT funded services. Barbra was then a Program Manager for the Oakland FIT team between 2000-2007. In 2008, Barbra was promoted to become Family Paths’ Clinical Director, during which time she grew the clinical training program to have a strong focus on the Strengthening Families Framework™ and Diversity-Informed and Trauma-Informed best practices. She has co-lead the organization’s Multicultural Organizational Development committee since 2013. In October 2015, Barbra became Family Paths’ interim Executive Director and then was hired by the Board in February 2016 to lead the organization. Barbra is also Vice President of the Alameda Council of Community Mental Health Agencies.
Misa Trotman
Clinical Services Director
Misa Trotman
Clinical Services Director
Misa Trotman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been a part of Family Paths since 1998. She started out as a direct service clinician, providing therapy and case management services to children and their families for 4.5 years in the Families in Transition (FIT) program before leaving the agency to raise her own family. She returned in 2007 as a Program Manager for the FIT program where she provided management and clinical support for her team of clinicians who provide community-based mental health services for children and families. She was named Clinical Director in April 2016. Prior to her employment at Family Paths, Misa’s previous experience included medical social work, school based services, and residential treatment. Misa has lived and traveled throughout the U.S. and abroad and these experiences have greatly influenced her commitment to working with diverse communities.
Erica Hilton
Family Services Director
Erica Hilton
Family Services Director
Erica Hilton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been a part of Family Paths since 2020. Erica is the Family Services Program Director, where she provides managerial and clinical support for the Family Services management team. Prior to her employment at Family Paths, Erica’s previous experience included over twenty years of Family Preservation work in Alameda County; primarily overseeing home visiting programs for at- risk and court involved families. Erica loves to travel and is a proud dual citizen with Canada.
Christopher Palmer
Management Information Services Director
Christopher Palmer
Management Information Services Director
Christopher Palmer has worked in technology services for more than 20 years. Formerly he was the Director of Technology for the Global Business Network, The Idea Factory, and the East Bay Conservation Corps. He is also a practicing artist and arts educator in the San Francisco Bay Area, runs a consultancy for tech arts, and is a member of the faculty at San Francisco Art Institute, where he teaches students how to combine technology with their art.
Shay Black
Administration/Facilities Manager
Shay Black
Administration/Facilities Manager
Shay Black comes from Dublin, Ireland and has been with the agency since 1995. His first career was as a Psychiatric Nurse, which developed into Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and lectured in Child Health and Development in Liverpool, England, before migrating to California in 1994. His first connection with the agency was as a hotline volunteer, progressing to after-hours staff, then worked temporarily as CMS (Case Management Specialist), Hotline Recruitment Specialist, and eventually moved into Admin. He is currently Family Path’s Administrative Support Manager and also has responsibility for the Facilities team. He has lived in Dublin, London, Canterbury and Liverpool, and currently resides in Berkeley. Shay’s passion is music, and performs regularly with his brothers and sisters in Europe and the United States.
Kimberly Cohn
Head of Development
Kimberly Cohn
Head of Development
Kimberly Cohn is the Head of Development and continues to oversee Victims of Crime (VOC) services. She joined Family Paths in 2005 as an MFT-Intern, then following MFT licensure, established dedicated VOC trauma treatment services in 2009. Previously, Kim worked with post-acute psychiatric patients; with deaf children at the California School for the Deaf using ASL and spent 20 years in the restaurant industry working her way up from Napa Valley diners to waiting tables at Chez Panisse. As a Registered Drama Therapist and Board Certified Trainer, Kim presents nationally, guest lectures at local graduate schools and directs Self-Revelatory Theatre. Kim can sometimes be found dancing to local bands, foraging east bay farmer’s markets or trying to improve her batting average.
Rene DValery
Family Support Manager – Parent Support Hotline
Rene DValery
Family Support Manager – Parent Support Hotline
Rene DValery is a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist, who was born in Nicaragua (Central America) and grew up in San Francisco. Rene has been at Family Paths since 2006, when fresh out of grad school joined Early Childhood Mental Health and later on the Families in Transition branches of the organization to start and eventually complete his required hours of internship toward licensure. After completing his licensure, Rene began working at Kaiser Permanente in the Early Start Program and began working as a private practice clinician. A few years later, Rene returned to Family Paths and became one of the managers of the Families in Transition Program. He has focused much of his energy into growing the support for Spanish speaking clinicians, as well as expanding the awareness of the Latino Culture within the agency. He is now one of the Family Support Managers in our Oakland office with a focus on growing and expanding our 24-Hour Parent Support & Resource Hotline. Rene received his undergraduate degrees in psychology and French literature from UC Berkeley and later his MA in psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Outside of work, Rene enjoys working out, traveling, dining out, spending time with friends and family, and “discovering.”
Andrea Makunje
Clinical Operations Manager
Andrea Makunje
Clinical Operations Manager
Andrea Makunje is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who started at Family Paths in 2007 as a clinician in the TIPS and FIT programs. After realizing how much she enjoyed the paperwork aspect of her clinical work, she forged the path in helping to create a more unified Quality Assurance program, and is currently the Clinical Operations Manager. Prior to Family Paths, Andrea worked at other non-profits in program management and was an editor with a large publishing house (likely where her keen eye for detail and annoying yet useful desire for perfection were developed). Andrea grew up in Southern California, but loves the East Bay so much, she’ll never go back. Due to being a working mom of young twins, Andrea has no time for hobbies, but enjoys staring out the window and drinking coffee when the rare opportunity presents itself.
Nancy Morosohk
Treatment, Intervention and Prevention Services (TIPS) Manager
Nancy Morosohk
Treatment, Intervention and Prevention Services (TIPS) Manager
Nancy Morosohk is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has lived in the Bay area since 1978. She is the TIPS (Treatment, Intervention & Prevention Services) Program Manager and has been with the organization since 2001 when she began working for Family Paths as a Treatment Specialist in the TIPS Program. Prior to her work at Family Paths, Nancy worked as a child and family therapist at Jewish Family & Children’s Services on the Peninsula as well as at the Edgewood Children’s Center Day Treatment Program in San Francisco. When she isn’t working, Nancy is an avid hiker and amateur photographer.
Zainna Reed
Human Resources Manager
Zainna Reed
Human Resources Manager
Zainna Reed’s roots are right here in Oakland where she was born and raised. Zainna first joined the Family Paths family as a Biller/Admin Assistant in 1999. She moved on in 2006 to pursue her career path in Human Resources. With 11 years’ experience in Human Resources, Zainna has joined Family Paths once again as HR Manager and is excited to be at an agency where she can do the work she loves and provide support to the people who give strength and hope to the community where she grew up. In Zainna’s free time she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, exercising and loves finding new places to eat!
Julianne Rositas
Family Support Manager-Parent Education
Julianne Rositas
Family Support Manager-Parent Education
Julianne Rositas is the Program Manager for Parent Education and Foster Parent Community Advocate Programs. She has a Masters of Public Administration and a Master of Science in Education. Julianne is a certified Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) Practitioner and a certified Nurturing Parent Facilitator. She also has training as a Fatherhood Group facilitator as well. Prior to her work with Family Paths, Julianne worked for the Kinship Support Services Program in East Contra Costa County, where she was the Program Coordinator for 5 years and the Program Manager for 7 years. Julianne also has experience as a Community College Educator/Trainer, Program consultant, and Grant writer. When she is not working, Julianne enjoys learning new things and exploring new places with her grandchildren, listening to Latin Jazz, playing her congas, and writing.
Lyman Hollins, President
Adjunct Instructor/Facilitator, The Wright Institute
Lyman Hollins, President
Adjunct Instructor/Facilitator, The Wright Institute
Lyman Hollins, M.A., received a B.A. in History and a Minor in Women’s Studies from California State University at Hayward. He earned his M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley in 2009. He has been a treatment specialist at Family Paths in Oakland, CA, where he provided services to multi-stressed, children, families and adults of diverse backgrounds. He has also been a member of the Alameda County Fathers Corps, a county-wide team of male service providers trained to help strengthen families by fostering constructive engagement of fathers in the care and upbringing of their children. Their mission is to promote and support fathers and father figures to be meaningfully engaged with their children and families, and to advocate for family service providers to provide father friendly services and to assist fathers in strengthening their parenting skills.
He has held a position as an Adjunct Faculty member, since 2011, in the Wright Institute’s Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program, instructing the Multicultural Clinical Awareness Course. He has been a program manager and therapist at Brothers on the Rise in Oakland, CA, where he coordinated the Brothers Helping Brothers Counseling Program providing gender-responsive individual, group and family counseling, crisis intervention to male youth experiencing social-emotional and behavioral issues with a focus on boys who have witnessed or experienced violence, as well as facilitating groups for African American fathers. He currently offers services in facilitation and training, engaging in issues of difference, inclusivity, and cultural humility.
Melissa Zucker, Vice President
Senior Human Resources Consultant
Melissa Zucker, Vice President
Senior Human Resources Consultant
Melissa Zucker, SPHR, has over 20 years of experience developing, implementing, and leading successful domestic and global staffing, training, and strategic human resources programs for Bay Area companies representing a variety of industries. Now, semi-retired, she provides consulting and coaching services to local non-profits and socially responsible start-ups. Melissa was born and raised in the Oakland area and is passionate about this community. She is highly appreciative of the vital services Family Paths provides and is honored to serve on its Board.
Evangeline Brown, Secretary
Attorney
Evangeline Brown, Secretary
Attorney
Evangeline Brown is an attorney. She studied law at University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall). She worked as a criminal defense lawyer in the Contra Costa County Public Defenders office for 26 years. Prior to joining that office she worked in Legal Aid and in Children’s Rights advocacy. During her years as a criminal defense lawyer she spent a number of years working on cases in Juvenile Court. She spent substantial time children and parents in cases involving abused and neglected children where she had the opportunity to advocate for both parents and children, as well as representing children in delinquency cases. She also had some experience representing clients who were in conservatorship or were seeking release from residential mental health supervision.When Evangeline was a young lawyer, she and a colleague dreamed of a law practice which in many way followed the pattern that Family Paths models: a service that addresses the needs of people as whole beings with a variety of needs and strengths that can be addressed.
Katy Brown, Director
CPA and Tax Partner at Armanino LLP
Katy Brown, Director
CPA and Tax Partner at Armanino LLP
Katy Brown, CPA is a Tax Partner at Armanino LLP, where she leads the firm’s West Coast Nonprofit Tax Practice, working exclusively with nonprofit organizations. She works with hundreds of nonprofits each year, helping them make smart business decisions that protect their tax-exempt status and perfecting their public reporting. She earned a BA in French from George Mason University, an MA in French Literature from the University of Arizona, and an MS in Taxation from Golden Gate University. She also serves on the board of the Armanino Foundation and the Clifford Brown Jazz Foundation. Katy and her family have lived in Alameda County for over a decade. In her family life, she enjoys music, learning languages (currently working on Spanish and Japanese), movies, and travel, but she’s always game to talk about nonprofit tax law.
Christine Cueto, Director
Communications Manager, Hack the Hood
Christine Cueto, Director
Communications Manager, Hack the Hood
Christine Cueto is an all-around creative who does art, photography, and writing. She’s been working in the advertising industry for over five years – creating, managing, executing and optimizing digital marketing campaigns for various organizations and clients. Aside from advertising, Christine has worked as a freelance photographer for over 8 years and also has experience in events & PR, and as a photography mentor for a design school in the Philippines. She loves building communities through visual storytelling and has a soft spot for non-profits. Christine currently works as the Communications Manager for Oakland-based nonprofit called Hack the Hood. Aside from her day job, she actively volunteers for TEDx events and serves on the board of AD2SF. She’s excited to continue contributing to the Oakland community by joining the Family Paths board.
Deborah Sack, Director
Retired HR Manager
Deborah Sack, Director
Retired HR Manager
Deborah Sack worked for Family Paths from 2001 to 2017, and was Family Paths’ Human Resources Manager when she retired. She graduated from the University of Oregon receiving a BS in Community and Public Health Administration. Debbi came to the agency with over 20 years of management experience including working as the Clinic Manager at Over 60 Health Center in Berkeley. She began her management experience in Hawaii in 1977, and feels her many varied experiences managing people and systems from retail to restaurant to nonprofit gave her a broad view at how to provide fair and balanced HR support to every employee at Family Paths during her tenure. Outside of work, Debbi’s passion is gardening and does much of her mental health therapy there.
Alice Shumba, Director
Supervising Senior Auditor, SOAProjects
Alice Shumba, Director
Supervising Senior Auditor, SOAProjects
Alice Shumba was born and raised in Zimbabwe. She relocated to United States soon after graduating high school to attend the University. She studied Accounting at Utah Valley University, got married, relocated to San Jose California and completed her bachelors degree at John F. Kennedy University. She is a Financial Auditor and worked for KPMG and PwC prior to joining other firms. Currently she is a Supervising Senior SOX Auditor at SOAProjects Inc. Alice is also a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) of the San Francisco Chapter.
Dawn Sung, Director
Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland
Dawn Sung, Director
Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland
Dawn Sung grew up in the East Bay, and currently work as a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland. My background is in community mental health, medical education, and working with diverse and underserved populations. I used to work at Children’s Hospital Oakland with many children and families who greatly benefited from the counseling, case management, and helpline services at Family Paths. Thus I am so excited to be a board member for Family Paths to help support the amazing work of this organization!
Martha Winnacker, Director
Retired Executive Director, Academic Senate, University of California, and Former Public Defender for Contra Costa County in child welfare cases
Martha Winnacker, Director
Retired Executive Director, Academic Senate, University of California, and Former Public Defender for Contra Costa County in child welfare cases
Martha Winnacker is an attorney and retired University of California administrator. Her interest in serving on Family Paths’ board grew directly out of her time as a public defender, when she represented parents and children in cases alleging child abuse and neglect. In that role, she encountered parents and children whose lives were profoundly constricted by poverty. The substance abuse and mental health issues that were frequently involved in bringing these families under court supervision were made intractable by the parents’ poverty and the lack of support and empathy available to them. Walking beside her clients and their families as they struggled to stay together made Martha passionate about the need for mental health services offered with respect and compassion. She is privileged to support the work of Family Paths’ gifted clinicians.