Meet Our Staff

Members of the Disability Lifespan Solutions (DLS) team offer a wealth of expertise and professional connections that help them serve families of people with developmental, intellectual, behavioral, and physical disabilities.

The DLS team combines professional savvy with the understanding that comes with the personal experience of working and living with people with disabilities.

Deborah Samet, LISCW – Lead Clinician

Deb is a licensed independent clinical social worker, who has worked for many years providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Her work has included the full range of services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, therapy, collaboration with other providers and agencies, and knowledge of community resources. In addition to providing services to this specialized population, Deb has extensive experience providing clinical supervision to staff. Prior to joining JF&CS, Deb worked in developmental pediatrics, helping to diagnose children with autism spectrum disorder and related disorders. Her experience also includes working in the field of general psychiatric services, both on inpatient units and outpatient clinics. She has a wealth of experience working with individuals who have a dual diagnosis of developmental and psychiatric conditions. She continues to have a private practice, offering individual psychotherapy to adults.

Elysse Nava, LISCW – Director, Clinical Case Management

Elysse is a licensed independent clinical social worker and has spent the past ten years working with individuals with a variety of challenges, including complicated mental and medical health issues. In 2012, Elysse joined the clinical case management team of JF&CS, working with clients with mental illness and autism spectrum disorder and helping them to attain self-identified goals. In addition to direct client service provision, Elysse is also involved in the program’s intake process, conducting phone screenings with new referrals and coordinating initial assessment meetings. She also supports the Clinical Case Managers in operational supervisions and participates in the grant application processes, as well as helps to manage program documentation requirements. It has been especially rewarding for her to witness the many positive impacts our program has had on the lives of our clients and their families.

Christy Bourinot – Clinical Case Manager

Christy graduated from Regis College with a bachelor's degree in sociology. She started her career working at Springwell as a case manager, coordinating in-home services for older adults. While at Springwell, she was promoted to Assessment Specialist, where she assessed the needs of the elderly for in-home services and implemented initial service plans. Christy also has experience providing private care for the elderly in their homes. In 2010, Christy joined the JF&CS Clinical Case Management team, working with individuals with mental illness. Christy is inspired every day by the courage and strength her clients show in spite of the extreme challenges and adversities they face. When she is not working, she spends her time doing what she loves most – taking care of her brother, who has down syndrome, and creating new adventures and memories with her niece.

Claire Burke, LCSW – Clinical Case Manager

Claire is a licensed certified social worker with several years of experience working in community, medical, and residential settings. Most recently, Claire has worked closely with older adults and their families to address issues around health, housing, family relationships, navigating service systems, and locating community resources. Claire enjoys meeting with people in the communities where they live and learning about what is important to them. As a clinical case manager, Claire aims to support experiences of success, connection, and self-efficacy with the people she meets with.

Mary Dumler, MSW – Clinical Case Manager

Mary graduated from Fordham University with a master’s degree in social work with a clinical concentration. Mary’s experience broadly ranges from inpatient and emergency room discharge planning, to outpatient individual psychotherapy, to her current work as a clinical case manager for individuals who have mental illness and/or are neuro-diverse. In addition to social work, Mary holds a bachelor’s in psychology and has worked in cognitive science laboratories investigating the linkages between music, creativity, and linguistic ability. In her spare time, you can find Mary at home making electronic pop music or sculpting clay jewelry pieces for her friends!

Jobe Hamblin – Clinical Case Manager

Jobe started working for JF&CS in 2001 as a residential program manager. In this role, he managed a program for three adults living in the Coolidge Corner area of Brookline, all of whom transitioned to more independent living situations within a year. Jobe played a large role in opening the Long Glen residential program in 2006, which helped provide low income rent and support services to Jewish adults with disabilities living in Allston. In 2008, Jobe was promoted to Senior Residence Manager, which involved supervising multiple residential programs, as well as coordinating services for several clients living independently in the community. In 2014, Jobe joined the Clinical Case Management team, during which time he has assisted clients in a number of areas, including securing both state and federal benefits as well as finding affordable, low income housing in the community.

Hanna Homan, LCSW – Clinical Case Manager

Hanna has been helping adults with developmental disabilities since 2014. During that time, she earned her bachelor's and master's of social work from Westfield State University and became a licensed certified social worker. From her work as a nursing home social worker, an outpatient therapist, and developmental service worker for Developmental Disability Services (DDS), Hanna has developed numerous skills which she uses to help clients achieve their goals as a case manager for JF&CS. When working with clients, Hanna has found that it is critical to develop and incorporate a client’s strengths and interests into their service plan. In her spare time, Hanna enjoys being with her family and baking up sweet treats.

Joan Munnelly – Autism Navigator

Joan joined DLS following a successful career as an independent special education advocate and consultant. Her knowledge and expertise cover the full range of services and benefits for people with autism spectrum disorder, including early intervention, neuro-psych testing, the individualized education plan (IEP) process, various therapies, autism-friendly activities, school choices, transition planning, guardianship and financial planning, and options for financing needed services. Joan is formally trained as a special needs advocate and consultant through the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

Keren Sammett, MEd – Family Advocate

Keren is a recently retired certified special education teacher and administrator with over 35 years of experience in public schools and private day and residential programs at the secondary level. In addition, Keren trained as a special needs advocate through the Federation for Children with Special Needs. As a DLS family advocate and navigator, she shares her knowledge of and expertise with at-risk youth, behavior management, learning disabilities, and ADHD to support families with young adults through adulthood as they navigate the post-high school transition planning process, access benefits including MRC, DDS, DMH funding, financial planning and residential living. Keren always seeks to support the family while collaborating with other agencies in forging meaningful working relationships.

For more information, call 781-693-1216 or email us your questions via our contact us form.