Empowering Thom Child and Family Services Staff Through Fazzio Scholarships

Thom Child and Family Services is thrilled to announce the recipients of the Phyllis A. Fazzio Scholarship Program for fiscal year 2026.  Seven dedicated employees will receive funding to pursue specialized training, enhancing their skills and ultimately impacting the lives of children and families we serve.

Empowering Therapists to Address Feeding Challenges:

• Alanna Floyd (Speech-Language Pathologist, Thom Charles River EIP):  Alanna is interested in honing her clinical skills in pediatric feeding to support her ability to mentor others in this area.  She will be attending the Advanced Pediatric Feeding Mentorship Program.
• Elizabeth Sullivan (Occupational Therapist, Thom Pentucket EIP):  Elizabeth wants to expand her expertise in infant feeding by completing the Lactation Counselor Training Course, enabling her to provide comprehensive support for breastfeeding, address parental concerns, and enhance overall early intervention services for families.

Implementing the DIR® Framework:

• Sarah Glennon (Speech-Language Pathologist, Thom Charles River EIP):  Sarah will expand her existing knowledge base in the DIRFloortime® model and bring new skills to three Floortime® based playgroups she leads at her program.
• Justyna Falat (Occupational Therapist, Thom Pentucket EIP):  Justyna seeks to advance her skills in the DIR® framework to effectively coach parents and caregivers in building meaningful connections with their children, thereby fostering healthy relationships and addressing developmental challenges.

Strengthening Support for Families:

• Jessica Schmaelzle (Mental Health Clinician/Team Leader, Thom Westfield Infant Toddler Services):  Jessica will enhance her expertise in infant and child mental health and the parent-child relationship, enabling her to provide clinical support to families and serve as a more informed leader and educator for program staff.  She will attend the Zero to Three LEARN Conference.
• Suzanna Antonopoulos (Developmental Specialist, Thom Neponset Valley EIP):  Suzanna will attend the Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator Training to better understand the best methods to partner with parents and caregivers in supporting their efforts to meet their child’s social-emotional and developmental goals.

Enhanced Clinical Specialization:

• Mary Burgwinkel (Music Therapist, Thom Marlboro Area EIP):  Mary will learn about Neurologic Music Therapy and how it is helpful for children with significant physical and neurological needs.  She hopes to improve co-treatment effectiveness with colleagues and adapt these strategies for early intervention families.

Thom congratulates these exceptional employees.  Their commitment to ongoing learning ensures the delivery of high-quality services and a more comprehensive support system for the children and families we serve.