The Professional Parenting Program Staff
Dave Freeman, LCSW is the Connecticut Project Director of the Institute’s Professional Parenting Program. Dave has spent most of his career working in the mental health field specializing in children and adolescent treatment. He held the position of Director of Adolescent Services at Elmcrest St. Francis Hospital for twelve years prior to his assuming the role of Project Director at The Institute in 2004. Dave received his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut and was licensed in 1985.
Michael AuYang, LMFT is the Program Supervisor for the Connecticut Professional Parenting Program, a position he has held since 2005 after a three year tenure as a Residential Instructor in the Institute’s Community Services Program. He is responsible for processing referrals to the Professional Parenting Program, including overseeing the completion of the intake process, completing Risk Assessments of children referred to the program and participating in the Matching Team process to place children with appropriate families. Michael received his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Connecticut State University and is currently a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Martha Wick-Glaser, B.A. is the Recruitment and Training Supervisor of the Professional Parenting Program in Connecticut. She is responsible for recruiting and training foster parents for the program. Martha’s professional experiences include working with at risk youth with The Wraparound Milwaukee Project for seven years and working at Teipner Treatment Homes, Inc, where she began her work in specialized foster care. Martha graduated from Arizona State University in 1990 with her undergraduate degrees in Social Work and Women’s Studies.
Susan O'Shea, Ed.S., BCBA is the Clinical Program Supervisor of the Professional Parenting Program. She is responsible for the overall oversight of clinical support services. Susan has been in the field of developmental disabilities for more than 25 years, working with both children and adults who experienced a variety of challenges. Her tenures with the American School for the Deaf and Connecticut Institute for the Blind has lead to a strong interest in verbal behavior and the use of augmentative and alternative communication systems. Susan received her undergraduate degree and teacher's certification in Special Education at Southern Connecticut State College, a MA in Special Education from UCONN and an Ed.S. degree in Behavioral Education from Simmons College, becoming certified as a BCBA in 2004.
Tammy K. Lago, M.A., BCBA is a clinical coordinator for the Professional Parenting Program. She is responsible for performing functional behavior assessments, and developing behavior support strategies as well as providing parents with continued training and support in ABA techniques. Tammy is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and received her Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Westfield State College. She has worked for the May Institute in both their Adult services and Specialty departments. Her work experiences include, providing behavior supports to adults with developmental disabilities and infants and toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder through direct home-based therapy as well as parent and staff trainings.