MCS has been providing support to people with intellectual disabilities for over 40 years. In addition to Family Support, MCS has a number of other programs, including Individual Supports, Adult Foster Care, Agency with Choice, ABA Services, Clinical Behavioral Supports, Translation Services, DESE/DDS, Family Bridges/Medically Complex, Residential, and Family Leadership & Training.
MCS opened its newest Family Support Center, MCS SOS in September of 2021. The MCS SOS site currently houses the Cultural/Linguistic Family Support Program: MCS SOS, the Family Bridges/Medically Complex Program, the DESE/DDS Program, the Family Leadership & Training Program, and the Clinical Behavioral Supports. The following guide offers a brief description of the services offered and a listing of current staff.
MCS SOS of Springfield is a Cultural Linguistic Family Support Center funded by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). The center assists families who have a family member with a developmental disability to navigate the sometimes confusing service system. In addition to connecting families to appropriate resources, the center focuses on culturally diverse families who are new to the area. We are Solution Orientated Services.
Isabel Castro
Director of Regional Family Support Services
Phone: (413) 200-7527
Email: isabelcastro@mcsnet.org
Isabel is in charge of the Cultural/Linguistic Family Support Center, MCS SOS, and the Regional Family Support Services which include the DESE/DDS, Medically Complex, Grandparent Support Network, and Family Leadership & Training programs. She has worked in the field of Human Services for close to 40 years and has been with MCS for over 25 years.
Joanne Cruz
Administrative Assistant, Family Support Navigator
Phone: (413) 200-7501
Email: joannecruz@mcsnet.org
Joanne has been working on and off with MCS as a Direct Support Professional since 2000. In 2016, she joined Family Supports as the Administrative Assistant for the MCS Westfield Satellite Office. She transitioned over to the MCS SOS site where she continues as the Administrative Assistant and also serves as an MCS SOS Navigator having the role of being the first point of contact for families to complete the intake and initiate services
Katelyn Lonczak
Family Support Program Supervisor
Phone: (413) 200-7504
Email: katelynlonczak@mcsnet.org
Katelyn has been a part of the MCS team since 2018. She started off as an intern while she attended school at Westfield State University. She graduated in 2019 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and officially started working as a Service Navigator for MCS. Currently, she serves families in the Family Bridges Program and the DESE Program.
Samantha Michelli-Rivera
Family Support Program Supervisor
Phone: (413) 200-7523
Email: samanthamichelli-rivera@mcsnet.org
Samantha joined the MCS Family Support program in 2017 when she sought services for her son who is diagnosed with Autism. In 2019 she was recruited to come work with MCS as a Service Navigator in the Family Bridges Medically Complex and DESE/DDS programs. Prior to coming to MCS, she worked in the Holyoke Public Schools as a teacher. She has expanded her responsibilities at MCS and is working as a Family Support Center Coordinator. Samantha is also working towards the completion of her Master’s Degree in Social Work
Karla Nieves-Padilla
Family Support Navigator
Phone: (413) 200-7408
Email: karlanieves-padilla@mcsnet.org
Karla has been with the MCS Family Support Program since 2016 when she pursued services for her son who has a disability and is Medically Fragile. She works with the MCS SOS program and Family Bridges. She brings a wealth of knowledge to MCS having worked as a Family Partner for BHN prior to coming to work with MCS as a service navigator. Karla continues her studies in pursuit of the completion of her bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
Yaril Castro
Family Support Navigator
Phone: (413) 200-7527
Email: yarilcastro@mcsnet.org
Yaril came to MCS about 15 years ago seeking services for her son who has a diagnosis of Autism. She has worked in the field of human services since 1999 and joined MCS initially working for the Holyoke MCS Family Support Center. She currently works for MCS as a service navigator in the MCS SOS and Family Bridges Programs. Yaril continues her studies in pursuit of the completion of her bachelor’s degree
Erika Ynguanzo
Family Support Navigator
Phone: (413) 200-7567
Email: erikaynguanzo@mcsnet.org
Erika rejoined the Family Bridges Program as a part-time Service Navigator in 2023. She works full-time with the federal program Head Start as an Enrollment Coordinator. Her knowledge of community resources & services available, connections with other provider agencies and knowledge of the community at large, make her a valuable asset to our SOS team. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology/Family Counseling from Bay Path University.
Nydia Sanchez
Family Support Navigator
Phone: (413) 200-7447
Email: nydiasanchez@mcsnet.org
Nydia joined the MCS SOS team as a service navigator in the MCS SOS Center and the Family Bridges Medically Complex Program. She also is the coordinator for the Grandparent’s Support Network and also works for the MCS Translation Services as an interpreter. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Elms College.
Robert Carmichael
Family Support Navigator
Phone: (413) 200-7524
Email: robertcarmichael@mcsnet.org
Robert has been with MCS as a Direct Support Professional since March of 2018. He transitioned to his role as Service Navigator for the SOS Program and Family Bridges in July of 2023. Although Rob holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Western New England College, he felt a calling to work in the field of Social Work and Human Services.
Sue Crosby
Coordinator, Family Leadership Program – West Region
Phone: (413) 200-7563
Email: susancrosby@mcsnet.org
Sue joined MCS in 2016 as the Family Leadership Coordinator, providing leadership training and mentoring for families in the Western MA region. Previously, she worked as an in-home therapy clinician at CSO and the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work from Springfield College, and is a licensed clinical social worker.
Haran Phaneuf
Coordinator, Family Leadership Program – Central Region
Phone: (413) 200-7339
Email: haranphaneuf@mcsnet.org
Haran joined MCS in 2022 as the Regional Coordinator of the Central Family Leadership Program, which provides mentoring and advocacy & leadership training to families in the Central MA Region. As an individual with ADHD and a parent of a medically complex child with autism, she relishes empowering others in navigating advocacy and systems change. She holds an Interdisciplinary Master’s Degree in Critical Theory, co-president of her Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), and a Charting the Life Course Ambassador.
Carina DeLeon
Coordinator, In-Home Clinical Support Program
Phone: (413) 200-7464
Email: carinadeleon@mcsnet.org
Carina began working at MCS as a Family Support Service Navigator in 2018. During that time, she worked within the Children’s Services program as well as the Autism Without ID program. She then obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work, acquired her LCSW, and began her role as Coordinator of the In-Home Clinical Supports program in 2021