Meet Our Team

Interim Project Director

Jacquelyn Goebel is the Project Director at Bright Start Connect, where she leads strategic planning, project development, and community partnerships to advance health equity and improve outcomes for families. She is passionate about building meaningful connections, fostering collaboration, and creating programs that drive long-term impact. With a career spanning public health, harm reduction, and nonprofit leadership, Jacquelyn has managed complex programs, secured funding, and built collaborative networks across New York State.

Jacquelyn thrives on teamwork, open and mindful communication, and tackling challenges with both strategy and heart. Outside of work, Jacquelyn carries that same spirit of curiosity and adventure into her everyday life — always seeking new ways to grow, connect, and be of service.

When I was younger, "I was quite ambitious and wanted to be an Aerial Firefighter and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist."

Project Evaluator
Jordan brings extensive experience to Bright Start Connect from his background spanning health and human service delivery, including direct care social work, academic research, policy advocacy, and data analytics. Jordan has worked on multiple federally funded SAMHSA grants in a similar capacity as Project Evaluator. Jordan’s emphasis on clearly communicating complex concepts makes him an effective collaborator, bridging the gap for those with varying levels of experience working with data.

Jordan is passionate about understanding and improving systems to help make life better for the people affected by those systems. 

His dream job as child was to become a paleontologist.

Chief Program Officer
Kyla Carter is a passionate and forward-thinking leader dedicated to transforming the healthcare landscape to ensure equity and access for all. With extensive experience in health equity initiatives, strategic partnership development, and project management, Kyla has consistently championed efforts to address systemic disparities in healthcare. She has led the charge in designing and implementing innovative, sustainable strategies that turn the values of diversity, equity, and belonging into action. Her career is marked by a relentless drive to build bridges across diverse sectors, fostering collaboration and creating lasting impact.

Kyla’s work is deeply influenced by her role as a mother to three daughters, who inspire her daily to advocate for a more just and equitable world. Her passion for maternal and child health is woven into her professional endeavors, as she understands firsthand the importance of accessible, compassionate, and culturally competent care for families. Whether she is developing health equity frameworks, leading community-driven initiatives, or guiding organizations through strategic partnerships, Kyla’s unwavering commitment to social justice and community well-being shines through.

Fueled by a belief that patient-centered healthcare should be a right, not a privilege, Kyla continues to use her voice, expertise, and dedication to sow the seeds of change in the communities she serves, ensuring that everyone can thrive. Kyla is currently pursuing her M.B.A at Syracuse University. 
When Kyla was younger, "I  wanted to be a veterinarian."

Social Media Consultant
Jon joined Bright Start Connect after several years of honing his expertise in tech and e-commerce startups, where he played a pivotal role in helping brands build their identities through social media, email marketing, and paid advertising. His work in the fast-paced startup world gave him a unique perspective on how to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

As a father of two young children, Jon has firsthand experience with the stress and confusion that can accompany early childhood. His personal journey through these formative years is what drew him to BSC. He understands the need for clear, accessible resources that can help parents navigate the challenges of raising young kids, especially for those without a healthcare background.

At BSC, Jon aims to bring that much-needed layman’s perspective to the content, making sure the information is straightforward and easy to understand. Additionally, he is eager to contribute to the distribution strategy, ensuring that these valuable resources reach as many parents and caregivers as possible, helping to ease their journey.

From an early age, Jon was an avid reader, spending countless hours lost in books. This love of reading naturally led to a childhood dream of becoming a writer, a passion he’s carried into adulthood. In many ways, Jon is now living that dream, blending his skills in communication, strategy, and storytelling to help make a difference in the lives of parents and children alike.

Provider
Dr. Stephanie Godleski is a New York State licensed clinical psychologist, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and a mother. She is one of the Co-Directors of the Health and Addictions Research Center as well as a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. She is passionate about helping families. Her work focuses on family support and interventions throughout the lifespan, particularly during critical developmental transitions such as the transition to parenthood. Dr. Godleski has been involved in the development and evaluation of interventions and programming to support children and families. 

She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. While obtaining her doctorate, she pursued research experiences in developmental and clinical laboratories as well as clinical training with children and adults. In particular, her graduate training focused on early childhood development and interventions to improve outcomes for children and families, especially for children with emotional and behavioral concerns. Dr. Godleski completed her residency with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta working in a variety of pediatric settings and then completed a National Institute of Health postdoctoral fellowship at the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions in Buffalo, NY. 

Dr. Godleski has been working to clinically support families for over 20 years and is active in clinical and developmental research. Her research incorporates both investigation of child development as well as intervention and prevention work – interweaving her research and practice.

When Dr. Godleski was young, “I wanted to be a doctor and ballerina when I grew up.”

Provider
Dr. Dustin Haraden is a clinical/community psychologist, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and a father of two children. He is invested in understanding the dynamics of sleep and circadian rhythms and their impact on youth depression and anxiety. Dr. Haraden aims to support parents and caregivers through intervention and preventative measures to promote positive well-being for families. 

He received his doctorate in Clinical/Community Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While obtaining his degree, he pursued research experiences with developmental and clinical focuses as well as clinical training with children and adults. Throughout his training, he sought experiences to further work with youth and families. Dr. Haraden’s experience includes from assessments for autism spectrum disorder, being a group leader for youth on the autism spectrum focusing on developing social skills, using trauma informed approaches in therapy and utilizing evidence-based practices to provide tailored approaches to individual therapy. Dr. Haraden completed his residency at Genesee Mental Health within Rochester Regional Health, working with youth and families in the greater Rochester, NY area. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Priority Behavioral Health Clinic at Rochester Institute of Technology. 

Dr. Haraden understands firsthand the joys and struggles of parenting and this personal experience fuels his commitment to helping families thrive, especially when it comes to dealing with challenging situations. He aims to continue to integrate evidence-based practices with the expertise of the family he works with to provide the appropriate support.

As a kid, "I wanted to be a professional athlete when I was growing up. I wanted to play hockey or golf professionally.”

Provider
Dr. Kathryn Karch is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York State. She earned her B.S. in Human Development at Cornell University, and then worked for three years at the Mt. Hope Family Center conducting research on the impact of maternal depression on child development. She then earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University at Buffalo where her research focused on ADHD and the impact it has on learning and on families. She completed her residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) in the Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness program within the Department of Psychiatry. She also completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for the Family at URMC during which time she worked within the family clinic as well as within a pediatric practice located at Rochester Regional Health Hospital. She further earned a post-degree certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy during her fellowship. 

In addition to being a mother of three young children, Dr. Karch runs a private practice in Rochester, NY.  She works with children and families around many issues from anxiety, depression, and ADHD to divorce and co-parenting to problems at school and much more.  Dr. Karch is also a Senior Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She has also provided numerous lectures to psychology interns, psychology fellows, and primary care residents on various mental health issues related to working with children and families.    

When Dr.Karch was a child “I wanted to be a pre-k teacher when I grew up.”

Provider
Dr. Natalie Nordlund is a licensed psychologist in New York and Wisconsin and nationally certified school psychologist who specializes working with children, teens, families, young adults, and systems that serve, support, and educate youth. Dr. Nordlund has a background working in schools, clinic-based settings, and non-profit organizations providing individual and group therapeutic services, wellness/mental health-focused programming, supervision, and consultation. Dr. Nordlund received her doctorate in School Psychology from The Chicago School in Chicago, IL and completed her predoctoral and postdoctoral training in Rochester, NY at Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI) and the Rochester Institute of Technology's Priority Behavioral Health Clinic. Prior to returning to graduate school to complete her doctoral degree, Dr. Nordlund worked as a school psychologist for four years in Milwaukee Public Schools in Wisconsin, primarily with young children in Head Start (ages 3-4) and grades K-5. While working as a school psychologist, Dr. Nordlund often consulted and collaborated with families, educators, mental health providers, and community members/organizations and led and supported systems-level initiatives focused on health and wellness and equity-focused, trauma-informed practices.

Dr. Nordlund is passionate about prevention/systems-level initiatives and systems change work, aiming to help make conversations about mental health and wellness normalized early on with youth in an engaging, kid-friendly way, and to create and provide mental health resources for families, educators, and providers that are accessible, culturally relevant, and as beneficial as possible in meeting needs. When working with youth, Dr. Nordlund often incorporates play, storytelling, educational media/technology, and creative expression tools and activities including art for learning about and practicing social-emotional concepts/skills, to help with self-expression and self-exploration, and for cultivating connection, aiming to ensure youth can feel truly seen and heard in a way that works best for them. When working with families, providers, and systems that serve, support, and educate youth, she aims to help make talking about mental health topics, concepts, and skills as accessible, helpful, and meaningful as possible.

Growing up, Dr. Nordlund's career aspirations varied and changed, including wanting to be an astronaut, interior designer, and art or music teacher.

Provider
Dr. Samantha Maguire is a school psychologist, providing intervention, assessment, and consultation services to support children and their families. She has experience across school, hospital, and outpatient settings and is dedicated to bridging communication between families and the various systems that serve their children. Dr. Maguire is passionate about ensuring best practices are used in schools, combining her clinical work with ongoing research to inform and enhance outcomes for students.

Her research focuses on student absenteeism, with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention to promote long-term academic and social success. Dr. Maguire is committed to fostering collaboration among educators, families, and communities to create supportive, inclusive environments where children can thrive.

When she was younger, Dr. Maguire dreamed of becoming a teacher, which sparked her lifelong interest in supporting children’s learning and well-being.

Provider
Dr. Samara Toussaint is a passionate advocate for neurodivergent children and their families, dedicating her career to empowering them through education, advocacy, and culturally sensitive care. Her journey as a Haitian-American woman deeply informs her work as a clinical school psychologist, driven by her commitment to breaking barriers and increasing awareness about mental health within diverse communities.

Dr. Toussaint holds a Master’s and Doctoral degree in School Psychology from St. John’s University. During her doctoral studies, she delved into the effects of PTSD in Haitian women who survived the 2010 earthquake, a groundbreaking dissertation that shaped her expertise in generational trauma and inspired her mission to support families from all backgrounds.

Provider
Dr. Pointer is a board-certified pediatrician, public health expert, family and provider educator, and children’s health advocate. She values parents’ expertise about their children and strives to be a partner in keeping families healthy and strong.  Some of her interests include childhood development, early mental health and behavior, building resilience, immigrant and refugee health, and families experiencing trauma. As a general pediatrician, she has experience with a wide range of families and health issues. When working with newborns through young adults, she will frequently say “I love this age!” and it is always true. 

Dr. Pointer has served as Health Commissioner for Orange County, NY and as Chief of Pediatrics for a federally qualified health center, where she created and ran a pediatric medical home for children in foster care. She has presented in a variety of formats including conferences, radio, written material, and virtually. She is an American Academy of Pediatrics Trauma Informed Care Champion and participates in several committees and coalitions working to improve children’s health.  

She received her medical degree and Master’s in Public Health from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Baystate Medical Center. She has two children who give her lots of practice in parenting imperfectly with an under-appreciated sense of humor. 

When she was little, she wanted to be president when she grew up.

Provider
Megal Magdaleno, MS, CCC-SLP is a Mexican American, Spanish-speaking pediatric speech-language pathologist. She is skilled in bilingual speech-language assessment and treatment in culturally and linguistically diverse populations within the school and private practice settings.

Megal received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Portland State University with a concentration in Spanish bilingualism. Her clinical interests include bilingualism, family-centered services, neuro- affirming practices, and working with the Autistic community. She actively participates in practicing and listening to Autistic people, appreciating their intersectional identities.

Megal holds Illinois licensure and is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She completed the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program at the University of Illinois in Chicago. As a LEND graduate, Megal was part of an interdisciplinary cohort specializing in better supporting the historically marginalized disabled communities in Chicago.

When she was younger, she dreamed of being an artist in all capacities: a chef, a photographer, a painter, even an architect. 

Provider
Jackie Avione is a New York State and NASP certified School Psychologist. She has certifications through PRePARE and Life Space Crisis Intervention to provide trauma-informed crisis intervention. Jackie has a long history of research, advocacy, and support for students on the Autism spectrum and their families. She works diligently as a parent trainer to help support and educate families about the processes of special education and home-based systems of support.

Jackie holds a Master’s degree in School Psychology from Queens College and has contributed to research poster presentations related to music therapy, growth mindset in schools, and emotional control.

Provider
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou. I want to help guide you to doing your best and assist with identifying what it takes to cope with past and present life experiences. My goal is to implement self advocacy, self upliftment and self love leading to positive mental health.

I am a former NYC School Counselor. I graduated from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania majoring in Psychology which led me to Lehman College receiving my Masters in Education with a focus in Counseling. I worked with grades 6th through 12th for 12 years allowing me to work with diverse families guiding young people through their educational journeys. My twelve years in the education system has taught me no one person is alike and every person deserves kindness. I am trained in child abuse, bully prevention, violence prevention, mediation and specialize in students with Individualized Education Plans.

I believe mental health is essential to a healthy life which led me to receiving my degree at Buffalo University to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. As a therapist, I aspire to give you the most professional implementation of counseling theories and techniques in a friendly, confidential, empathic and collaborative environment. I have experience with depression, anxiety, grief,  and trauma.  I have worked with adolescents, young adults, adults, couples, families and LGBTQ+. I am trained in using Solution-Focused therapy, CBT, Person Centered approach and mindfulness strategies. I look forward to going on this journey together. 

Provider
My name is Alisha Jaikaran, and throughout my work with families as an LMHC-LP, I’ve learned that the most meaningful and lasting progress comes when parents are fully engaged in the process. My approach combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and psychoeducation to help parents see patterns, gain insight, and learn practical tools they can use in everyday life. I specialize in working with parents of children and teens with autism, OCD, anxiety, depression and behavioral challenges. Together, we focus on building skills for emotional management, improving communication, and strengthening the parent–child relationship. In this way, parents don’t just support their child’s growth, they often find themselves learning new ways of managing emotions and stress for themselves, too.