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About Us

Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc. is a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and fully accredited through the National Children’s Alliance.

Our Story

Kids’ Place was formed by the community, for the community.

Founded in 1993, Berkshire County Kids’ Place was formed as a grassroots nonprofit and became the first CAC in Massachusetts. Kids’ Place supports the Berkshire County community by providing a safe homelike atmosphere for child abuse victims and non-offending family members.

Our House

The Berkshire County Kids’ Place is recognizable by the home it’s built in–a beautifully remodeled Victorian house. Established to provide a safe, welcoming environment, the building is intentionally designed to soothe and heal with comfortable furnishings and inviting decor. Kids’ Place is set apart from the downtown, but still close for services in central Berkshires.

Avoiding all the stereotypes of hospitals, clinics, or police stations, Kids’ Place promotes comfort in the process of healing. From inviting decor to friendly staff, Kids’ Place offers children of abuse a safe place to receive care and begin their healing journey.

Our Mission

Berkshire County Kids’ Place and Violence Prevention Center, Inc. provides an interdisciplinary, cooperative team approach to address the needs of children subjected to violence as victims or as witnesses and to their non-offending family members. The center provides a safe, caring, home-like atmosphere that coordinates the combined knowledge of law enforcement, social service, medical, prosecutorial, and mental health agencies to ensure an effective response to childhood trauma.

Children who are victims of abuse must depend on the adults in their lives to pay attention to the warning signs, believe them when they tell us something is wrong, and respond responsibly.

Kids’ Place is here to help you recognize those signs and help your child make a comeback from the trauma they have experienced or witnessed. We are also here to help the non-offending parent or family members handle the trauma. By helping you, you can help your child.

Our Vision

At Berkshire County Kids’ Place, we aim to:

  • Provide a safe place to children who have experienced violence to heal
  • Seek justice for children who have been hurt
  • Offer hope to children who have known fear
  • Increase awareness so that our community knows the signs of neglect and abuse
  • Advocate for change from down the block to Beacon Hill
  • Create an inclusive and equitable environment for the diverse families we serve
  • Keep these services FREE regardless of access to health insurance or a family’s ability to pay

We firmly believe that we have the ability to give children a safer future. Help us accomplish our mission by donating today:

What Are CACs?

CAC stands for Children’s Advocacy Center. CAC’s provide a safe atmosphere for child abuse victims and support children throughout the healing process. Berkshire County Kids’ Place became the first CAC in Massachusetts in 1993.

Staff

Heather Williamson

Program Director

April Slater, LICSW

Director of Clinical Services

Lyndsey Turner, LICSW

Child Clinician

Megan Porter, LICSW

Child Clinician

Paula Baniotaite-Perry

Child Clinician

Hailey Reinhold

Family Resource Coordinator

Brian Berkel

Forensic Interviewer

Maribeth Cellana

Administrative Coordinator

Laurin Guilds

Receptionist

Colleen Nixon

Elizabeth Freeman Center, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselor/Advocate

Talia Magnani, RFK

Lead CSEC Survivor Mentor

Emily Zoltan

Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, MDT Coordinator

Shannon Marchiando, MSN, RN, APRN, FNP-BC

Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

Job Openings

Mental Health Clinician

Reports To: Director of Clinical Services

Come do meaningful work with support, balance, and heart 💙

Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center is a great place to work (and we don’t say that lightly). We are deeply committed to supporting children and families impacted by trauma and just as committed to supporting the clinicians who do this important work every day.

If you’re looking for a role where trauma-informed care, reasonable caseloads, professional growth, and work–life balance actually coexist, keep reading.

About the Role

The Mental Health Clinician provides trauma-informed mental health services to children and adolescents who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence, or other traumatic events. This role also includes supportive and therapeutic work with non-offending caregivers and family members.

You’ll work within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment where your clinical judgment is valued and your workload is structured to allow you to do thoughtful, ethical, effective work.

What You’ll Do

  • Provide evidence-based trauma-focused therapy to children and adolescents impacted by abuse and domestic violence

  • Support a reasonable and sustainable caseload

  • Offer clinical support and therapy to non-offending caregivers and family members

  • Complete comprehensive clinical assessments, including written reports with treatment and safety recommendations

  • Collaborate with educators and other service providers as part of the assessment and treatment process

  • Participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) case consultations as needed

  • Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical programs
  • Provide outreach and educational programming in schools and the community

  • Engage in ongoing professional development and trauma-focused continuing education

  • Pitch in with other duties as part of a supportive, team-based organization

What We’re Looking For

  • Master’s degree in a mental health–related field

  • Licensed or license-eligible in Massachusetts (LICSW, LMHC, LMFT, or equivalent)

  • Clinical experience working with children and families impacted by trauma, preferred

  • Commitment to the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach

  • Ability to complete clinical assessments and develop individualized, trauma-informed treatment plans

  • Compassion, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit

Why You’ll Love Working at Kids’ Place

✨ Generous time-off package – because rest matters

✨ Smaller caseloads – so you can do the work well, not just quickly

✨ Professional development is a priority – training and growth are encouraged and supported

✨ Mission-driven, human-centered culture – serious work, supportive people, and room to breathe

✨ A team that truly cares – about clients and each other

Interested?

Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Email your resume today to hwilliamson@kidsplaceonline.org and/or aslater@kidsplaceonline.org

 

Reports To: Director of Clinical Services

Come do meaningful work with support, balance, and heart 💙

Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center is a great place to work (and we don’t say that lightly). We are deeply committed to supporting children and families impacted by trauma and just as committed to supporting the clinicians who do this important work every day.

If you’re looking for a role where trauma-informed care, reasonable caseloads, professional growth, and work–life balance actually coexist, keep reading.

About the Role

The Mental Health Clinician provides trauma-informed mental health services to children and adolescents who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence, or other traumatic events. This role also includes supportive and therapeutic work with non-offending caregivers and family members.

You’ll work within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment where your clinical judgment is valued and your workload is structured to allow you to do thoughtful, ethical, effective work.

What You’ll Do

  • Provide evidence-based trauma-focused therapy to children and adolescents impacted by abuse and domestic violence

  • Support a reasonable and sustainable caseload

  • Offer clinical support and therapy to non-offending caregivers and family members

  • Complete comprehensive clinical assessments, including written reports with treatment and safety recommendations

  • Collaborate with educators and other service providers as part of the assessment and treatment process

  • Participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) case consultations as needed

  • Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical programs

  • Provide outreach and educational programming in schools and the community

  • Engage in ongoing professional development and trauma-focused continuing education

  • Pitch in with other duties as part of a supportive, team-based organization

What We’re Looking For

  • Master’s degree in a mental health–related field

  • Licensed or license-eligible in Massachusetts (LICSW, LMHC, LMFT, or equivalent)

  • Clinical experience working with children and families impacted by trauma, preferred

  • Commitment to the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach

  • Ability to complete clinical assessments and develop individualized, trauma-informed treatment plans

  • Compassion, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit

Why You’ll Love Working at Kids’ Place

✨ Generous time-off package – because rest matters

✨ Smaller caseloads – so you can do the work well, not just quickly

✨ Professional development is a priority – training and growth are encouraged and supported

✨ Mission-driven, human-centered culture – serious work, supportive people, and room to breathe

✨ A team that truly cares – about clients and each other

Interested?

Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Email your resume today to hwilliamson@kidsplaceonline.org and/or aslater@kidsplaceonline.org

Why Join Us

  • Flexible daytime schedule: Ideal for clinicians balancing family, private practice, or teaching.
  • Collaborative culture: Work closely with skilled clinicians, advocates, and forensic interviewers.
  • Mission-driven impact: Make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families impacted by trauma.
  • Commitment to growth: Ongoing supervision, CEU support, and access to training in trauma- informed care.

How to Apply

Interested candidate, whether seeking full-time or part-time work, are encouraged to apply. Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your qualifications, interest, and preferred schedule or weekly hours to:

hwilliamson@kidsplaceonline.org

asroche@kidsplaceonline.org

Berkshire County Kids' Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.

Contact Us

If the situation is an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Berkshire County Kids’ Place is open Monday through Thursday from 8am–6pm, and Fridays from 8am–4pm.

Contact our team at 413-499-2800, fax us at 413-496-9327, email us at info@kidsplaceonline.org, or fill out the contact form below.

For support on nights, weekends, or holidays, call the Child At Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200.

Name

Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s important to note that Kids’ Place is not a trauma clinic. If you or your dependent are in need of trauma care, call 911 to receive medical care and law enforcement support immediately.