Mission
The mission of the Family Room is to provide supportive and educational programs for families with children under the age of four. The Family Room creates a community that nurtures healthy family development and parenting. Providing support at this early stage helps build a secure foundation for the future.

The Family Room is the creation of professionals with many years of experience in the field of child development.  Our professional experiences made clear the importance of early support to families.

Co-founders
Lynn Altschul, LMFT. For nearly thirty years Lynn has demonstrated her commitment to the lives of families who have young children through a range of experience and training. These include Early Childhood Educator at The School For Little Children, Program Coordinator and Program Director at Family Focus, Staff Therapist at Portage Craigin Counseling Center, Prevention Program Coordinator and Therapist at The Virginia Frank Child Development Center, Associate Therapist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University.  Lynn has two Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and one in Family and Community Counseling as well as a Post Graduate certificate in Marital and Family Therapy.  She is a board member of the Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health and a clinical member of The American Association of Marital and Family Therapists.  She has served as a trainer and presenter on topics related to Early Childhood issues on a local and national level.  A resident of Evanston for thirty years and a mother of three grown children, Lynn is intimately knowledgeable about the services and programs in the Evanston area. 

Paula Biliter, LCSW, earned her Masters degree at Loyola University.  She has many years of experience working with families both as a therapist and as the director of school-age childcare programs in District #65. She worked as a core social worker at The Virginia Frank Child Development Center where she did individual, couple and family therapy.  She trained in play therapy at House of the Good Shepherd, a shelter for battered women and their children. As an administrator in the District #65 School-Age Child Care Program in the 70’s and 80’s, she set up new after-school day care programs at schools throughout Evanston and hired and trained staff to work in them.

Staff
Sue Sklansky, Executive Director, MS has worked with parents and children during her entire career in Social Services.  She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling in 1992 from National-Louis University in Evanston.  Her work experience began at the Rice Child & Family Center, where she worked her way up from a Child Care Worker to the Program Director, over a period of fourteen years.  She treated hundreds of abused and neglected children, and helped many reunite with family. While beginning her own family, she began a private practice in Lactation Education and Support, which she did for several years while her children were small.  She has worked on several Wilmette boards, primarily in fundraising.  She is also an artist, and finds pleasure creating for kids by illustrating children’s books.

Paula Biliter, Ass't Director.
See Paula's bio above under "Co-founders".

Terri Drews, MSW, has been in the field of Early Childhood Development and Family support for twelve years.  As a family-infant developmental specialist at the Perinatal Family Support Center of Evanston Hospital, she served as parent group coordinator and facilitator of The New Mom’s Group, a support group for new parents and their babies.  In addition, she led a monthly support group for parents of two-year-olds who were preparing to welcome a new sibling into the family. She earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and is a member of The Illinois Association for Mental Health.

Lisa J. Fowler, LCPC, is a Consultant and Psychotherapist with fifteen years of experience working with children and parents in the fields of both education and psychotherapy. Lisa’s professional experience includes Daycare Center Director for Children’s World Learning Center, Pre-School Teacher at Beth Emet, Educational Therapist at Virginia Frank Child Development Center, Consultant for Childcare Network of Evanston and Parent Educator. She also has a private practice in Skokie.

Lisa Friedland, has a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education with several classes completed towards a Masters Degree.  She has more than twenty years of experience working with young children in the preschool environment as both assistant and lead teacher.  Lisa is an Evanston resident and a dedicated and active school volunteer.

Kathleen Reddy has a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked many years as a teacher for 3 to 5 year olds in the preschool setting and with kindergarten to third grade in the public schools. She has two grown children and appreciates the added insights gained from raising them. She continues to study the developmental stages of children's growth, the different kinds of intelligences and sensitivities they display, and to learn how to best support them and their parents.

Lenore Weissmann, Ph.D. is a Developmental/Educational Psychologist with a specialty in infancy and early childhood.  She has taught and directed in child-guidance pre-schools, served as head teacher-therapist in the Therapeutic Nursery of Reed Zone Center, directed the Therapeutic Day Care Program in District 65, directed the Learning Evaluation Center in the Pediatrics Department of Loyola University Chicago Medical School, and taught and conducted research in infancy in the Center for Children and Families of Loyola University Chicago, where she developed the Baby ‘N Me program. The program and the research have been presented at many national and international conferences.  She is the Past President of Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health, and conducts a consultation practice.  She has lived in Evanston for over 40 years, where she served on the board of League of Women Voters in the 70’s.

Lee Franceschi, B.A. Psychology, Lee has worked for 10 years in various preschool settings as a preschool teacher. She is currently at the Evanston Day Nursery.

Board of the Family Room
Louis Weiss, President
Noel Blackburn, Vice President
Janet Winslow, Secretary
Susan Fox/Treasurer
Lynn Altschul, Director
Michele Duprey, Director
Joanna Hakimi, Director
Lincoln Janus, Director
Sharon Robinson, Director
Nancy Segall, Director

Advisory Board
Martha Arntson
Delores Holmes
Susan Knight
Nancy Phillips
Bernice Weissbourd