For More Information:

Janina Nadaner, MFT, Director, Center for Special Needs; JaninaN@jfcs.org; 415-359-2446

Center for Special Needs

The prospect of seeking professional help for your child almost invariably creates a great deal of anxiety. Many parents imagine or might have already experienced lengthy and intrusive procedures, detailed questionnaires, and multiple appointments, followed by a finding that the child has some form of a “problem,” without any specific “next-step” recommendations. We take a different approach at Parents Place. Our goal is to offer you a "road map," so you can choose a path that's right for you and your family.

Our Continuum of Services

1. Parent and Child Brief Consultation ( 1 - 6 sessions)
2. Assessment
3. Parent-Child Coaching
4. Consultation to Teachers and Schools
5. Mental Health Counseling
6. Socialization Groups
7. Parent Education, Advocacy, Support

All services are strictly confidential. Fees vary according to the services provided. Scholarships are available.

Our Team of Experts

Children with special needs and their families require professionals who have specific training and expertise. Our professionals are a cohesive and multidisciplinary team: highly skilled parent educators, licensed therapists, clinical social workers, and volunteers with appropriate training.

Janina Nadaner, MFT, Director, Center for Special Needs, Parents Place, San Francisco, has been working as an administrator, as well as a mental health clinician with children and families, for more than 25 years. Her emphasis has been on prevention and early intervention. She has worked extensively in both California and Oregon with children with behavioral, learning, and developmental special needs. She is a developmentally trained clinician with specialized expertise in autism spectrum interventions, early childhood trauma, and attachment-informed treatment. She has directed a number of innovative community-based programs and served as a consultant to schools and community professionals. Prior to joining Parents Place, Janina served as Regional Children's Services Coordinator for Southern Oregon.

Amy Weiss, MFT, is the Director of Parents Place, San Francisco. She holds an MS in rehabilitation counseling and is a licensed marriage family and child counselor with more than 30 years of experience working with children, families, adults, and couples. She has expertise in working with children with special needs and their families, infant parent mental health, bereavement, and trauma (EMDR). Prior to joining Parents Place, Amy was the Director of Clinical Services and Training at JFCS/East Bay. There, she developed a program serving Jewish disabled residents of the East Bay. She has also worked at Through the Looking Glass and the World Institute on Disability and has maintained a private practice since 1986.

Casey Heckman, MA, Behavioral Specialist. Casey holds a master’s degree in special education and early intervention from San Francisco State University and was part of Project Mosaic, which focuses on the diverse needs of children on the autism spectrum. Casey has specialized training in applied behavioral analysis (ABA), as well as developmentally appropriate, play- based, and social-competence interventions. She has supervised and implemented comprehensive programs for children with a range of special needs in a variety of settings, including home, school, and community.