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
Senior Mental Health 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
Operations Coordinator
Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center is seeking an Operations Coordinator to join our team. This position supports the day-to-day operations of our Children’s Advocacy Center and works closely with the Program Director, staff, and community partners. The position focuses on grants, data, reporting, administrative coordination, and multidisciplinary team (MDT) activities.
The Operations Coordinator will also have the opportunity to receive forensic interviewer training and join Kids’ Place’s forensic interviewing program.
Key Responsibilities
Operations, Grants & Data
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Support the Program Director with administrative and operational needs.
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Coordinate grant requirements, including data collection, tracking, reporting, and deadlines.
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Assist with grant applications, progress reports, and communication with funders.
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Maintain confidential databases and ensure accurate and secure information.
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Collect, organize, and analyze program and MDT data.
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Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
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Assist with accreditation, program evaluation, and quality improvement projects.
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Maintain confidentiality and follow trauma-informed practices.
Forensic Interviewing & MDT Coordination
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Complete forensic interviewer training and ongoing professional development.
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Support the Kids’ Place forensic interviewing program.
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Work with forensic interviewers and MDT partners to support a coordinated process.
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Facilitate monthly Berkshire County Forensic Interviewer Peer Review meetings.
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Participate in statewide forensic interviewer meetings and trainings.
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Attend weekly District Attorney Child Abuse Unit meetings.
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Work with law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, medical providers, mental health professionals, and other community partners.
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Coordinate professional development opportunities for the Berkshire County MDT and community partners.
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Prepare and present quarterly data reports to MDT Leadership.
Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in human services, criminal justice, public administration, social work, communications, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in place of a degree.
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Strong organizational and time-management skills.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
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Experience with data, reporting, databases, or administrative systems preferred.
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Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
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Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and spreadsheets.
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
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Ability to work effectively with community and multidisciplinary partners.
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Ability to maintain confidentiality when working with highly sensitive information.
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Knowledge of trauma-informed practices or the Children’s Advocacy Center model is preferred.
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Willingness to complete specialized forensic interviewer training.
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Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and automobile insurance required. Travel throughout Berkshire County is required. Mileage for approved work-related travel is reimbursed.
About Kids’ Place
Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc. is a nationally accredited Children’s Advocacy Center serving children and families impacted by abuse and violence throughout Berkshire County. We provide forensic interviewing, family advocacy, evidence-based mental health treatment, prevention education, and multidisciplinary coordination to promote healing, safety, and justice for children.
To Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter to Heather Williamson, Program Director, at hwilliamson@kidsplaceonline.org.
Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.
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.