Patty Contente, LICSW

Patty is a Clinical Social Worker and experienced trainer with a focus on leadership, criminal justice and mental health intervention and support. Her clinical experience includes working with adults, families and adolescents on a broad range of issues including: eating disorders, trauma, depression, substance use disorder, and sexual assault. From 2008 – 2016 she managed the Somerville Trauma Response Network a post vention support for youth and community after a traumatic incident.

In 2012 she worked with the Lt. in charge of Training and implemented an innovative Jail Diversion Program to focus on follow up and outreach. Since that time Patty’s focus has been to operationalize inter-disciplinary collaborations to best serve individuals and families impacted by behavioral health. In 2016 she developed and implemented the Somerville Police Department’s Community Outreach, Help & Recovery (COHR) unit, a clinical unit to provide outreach and follow to residents as well as training to both community and public safety to inform response and support of individuals experiencing emotional distress. Her work has included developing policy and procedure to collect data.

Patty is now a certified trainer in a number of programs for both community and law enforcement including 5 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) modules; Recovery Coach Academy; Multi-cultural wellness practices; Psychological First Aid and PTSM (Post Traumatic Stress Management) for schools and communities. Law Enforcement specific trainings include Blue Courage; Resiliency Advantage; Police Response to Individuals impacted by Mental Illness Part 1 & 2; Suicide Prevention and Intervention and Criminal Justice Trauma Informed Care.

Jennifer Korn, LICSW, CCHP

Jenn is a licensed social worker and certified correctional health professional who joined the COHR unit June 2019. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University in 2000 with a BA in Advertising and Psychology. After graduation, Jenn spent much of her free time volunteering for the Samaritans suicide hotline and the Needle Exchange Program in Cambridge before returning to school to pursue a graduate degree in social work at Salem State University. Jenn’s goal was to work with disenfranchised and marginalized populations with substance use disorders. Her first internship was at the Living and Recovery Community (LARC) located at the Shattuck Hospital. This opportunity reinforced her passion for working with individuals suffering from addiction but her second internship, at MCI-Framingham women’s prison, broadened her interest to working with individuals with co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders within a large and challenging system. Jenn was inspired by the resiliency, courage, and strength that these women displayed despite extreme adversity and felt compelled to stay in this work for more than a decade. Jenn moved from her internship to clinician then was promoted to Mental Health Director before moving on to be a Regional Mental Health Director. Through this experience, Jenn gained essential skills in the areas of diagnosis, crisis intervention, mediation, group facilitation. She was able to expand the Mental Health programming, work with a multidisciplinary Trauma Informed Care Committee, present at conferences, and supervise mental health staff. In addition, there were many opportunities to train and work with corrections professionals.

During the 12 years at MCI-Framingham, Jenn saw that more and more mentally ill women were coming to jail/prison. While the work of the Mental Health department within a correctional facility is to provide care and treatment to everyone who arrives on the doorstep, Jenn felt that there was an opportunity to intervene positively with these mentally ill individuals prior to incarceration. Jenn is excited to be the Co-Director of the Metro Boston Crisis Intervention Team and Technical Assistance Center within the COHR unit because this training and its underlying philosophy, along with the work of the COHR unit offer this opportunity. Jenn enjoys and is looking forward to working collaboratively with law enforcement and behavioral health providers with the shared goal of improving outcomes for mentally ill individuals and the community at large.

Cheryl Delafano, LADC

Cheryl is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) who has been with COHR from its inception. She has worked with the Somerville Police Department as the Jail Diversion Coordinator since 2013. In her role as the Coordinator, she often communicates directly with officers and is a vital part of the Somerville Police Department. Cheryl works with clients that are homeless, impacted by mental illness and/or suffering from Substance Use Disorder. Her clients often visit her while in recovery and thank her for her unwavering support.

Like many of us, Cheryl has personally seen and been touched by the negative effects of substance use disorder and mental illness. She started a local support group for anyone who has a loved one on mind altering substances or behavior issues - Families Anonymous. They meet weekly on Tuesday evenings. She has been running FA for over 15 years. Today, she is also a co-trainer for Recovery Coach Academy. Her work with families inspired her to enroll in the University of Massachusetts Boston's LADC program and earn her license.

"I love what I do and can’t imagine being anywhere else."

Sabrina Ozit, BS

My name is Sabrina Ozit and I grew up here in Somerville. I help with program evaluation here at COHR. We're always working hard to improve current programs and offer new ones. I'm always fascinated to hear the opinions of everyone. We all come from different backgrounds and have different ideas and I think that's something to be celebrated - so don't be shy.