Who We Are
A nonprofit human service agency, established in 1969, serving Pittsford youth and families for 50 years.
Who We Serve
On average, PYS staff provides 1800+ individual counseling sessions each year, together with service to hundreds more through our educational programs, consultations and support groups.
Our Vision
Pittsford Youth Services will seek to build a community where every child feels valued and empowered. To that end, PYS will be the respected leader and provider of professional social work services for Pittsford youth and their families.
Why We Are Here
As parents we all want the best for our children, to smooth the way for them to develop into happy, healthy, well-adjusted adults. However, the reality is that there will be obstacles and struggles along the way and we may simply not have the resources to handle them. Young people in our community face a number of challenges while growing up. Dealing with issues such as peer pressure, abuse, parent separation/divorce, academic stress, bullying, anxiety, depression and alcohol/drugs can be overwhelming.
Five decades ago, a group of concerned citizens came together to help our Pittsford youth cope with these difficult issues. Their efforts continue today through the programs offered by Pittsford Youth Services. PYS is an integral part of the Pittsford community, providing affordable, confidential counseling services to young people and their families to help them navigate through difficult times.
By providing confidential social work services through the public and private Pittsford schools, as well as individual and family counseling at our offices in the Village of Pittsford, our professionally licensed social work staff fill a critical need for our community children and teens.
Jill Lennox
Executive Director of Administration
264-0604
jlennox@pittsfordyouthservices.org
Jill joined Pittsford Youth Services in August 2013 as Executive Director. She has over 25 years of volunteer experience in the community, having served as President of the Junior League of Rochester, a six year member of the Pittsford School District Board of Education, Vice President and Fundraising Chair of Pittsford Crew, and Coordinator of the Pittsford Youth Court. Jill received her J.D. from Albany Law School and previously worked as a general practice attorney.
Loraine Young, LCSW-R
Executive Clinical Director
Social Worker
Family Counseling
280-6610
lyoung@pittsfordyouthservices.org
Loraine joined PYS in January 2002, and became the Executive Clinical Director in 2014. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R). In addition to her supervision duties, she provides individual and family counseling in the PYS office. Loraine received her master’s in social work from Adelphi University and has been a licensed social worker since 1983.
Hannah Reynolds
Administrative Assistant
264-0604
hreynolds@pittsfordyouthservices.org
Hannah has just joined Pittsford Youth Services and is excited to be a part of such a worthwhile organization. She is responsible for the office operations, including financial reporting and recordkeeping, as well as Pittsford Youth Services special events.
Jacob Abraham, LMSW
Social Worker
280-6623
Calkins Road Middle School
Jacob_Abraham@pittsford.monroe.edu
Jacob joined PYS in 2020 and provides social work services to Calkins Road Middle School, as well as providing services to children and families, offering individual and group counseling services in the PYS office. Jacob is a graduate of SUNY at Buffalo and received his Masters Degree and LMSW in 2017 and has been a practicing licensed social worker since that time.
Allison DeMay-Byron, LMSW
Social Worker
280-6630
Mendon Center Elementary
Allison_Demay-Byron@pittsford.monroe.edu
Allison joined PYS in 2005 after many years in the field dedicating her practice to working with children and families. While at PYS, she spent ten years providing special education services to children and families in the elementary schools. More recently, Allison developed and co-founded Camp Heartstrings, a grief and loss camp for children in the greater Rochester area. Allison continues to develop additional services to better support children as they grieve the loss of a special person.
Whitney Hand, LMSW
Social Worker
280-6124
Allen Creek and St. Louis School
Whitney_Hand@pittsford.monroe.edu
Whitney, a licensed social worker and board-certified music therapist, came to PYS in 2023 following time spent in the special education setting. Whitney received her music therapy degree from Nazareth College in 2016 and her Master's in social work from SUNY Brockport in 2020. She provides social work services to Allen Creek Elementary and St. Louis School.
Bridget Larimer, LCSW
Social Worker
280-6629
Park Road Elementary School and Special Education Services at Park Road and Jefferson Road Elementary Schools
Bridget_Larimer@pittsford.monroe.edu
Bridget joined PYS in January of 2016 and provides special education services at Jefferson Road and Park Road Elementary Schools, as well as general social work services at Park Road. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and has been a licensed social worker (LMSW) since 2002.
Suzanne Luce, LMSW
Social Worker
280-6632
Barker Road Middle School
Suzanne_Luce@pittsford.monroe.edu
Suzanne, a licensed Social Worker, joined PYS in September of 2002 and provides social work services to Thornell Road and Barker Road schools. She has over 33 years of experience working with youth and families and brings her expertise with those populations to her role at PYS and PCSD. Suzanne also co-founded and helps run Camp Heartstrings, a grief camp for children that PYS is proud to be a part of.
Moira O'Connor Stewart, LCSW
Social Worker
899-0570
Jefferson Road Elementary and Thornell Road Elementary
Moira_Stewart@pittsford.monroe.edu
Moira, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, joined PYS in 2021. She provides special education and general social work services to Thornell Road Elementary, general social work services to Jefferson Road Elementary, as well as special education Services to Calkins Road Middle School. Moira received her Master's in Social Work from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1991.
Our Partners
Our partners share our mission and vision of building a community where every child feels valued and empowered. They provide additional information and resources. Click on the icon to visit each site.
Become A Partner
To learn more about partnering with PYS, please contact us at info@pittsfordyouthservices.org
Jill Harter Lennox
Executive Director of Administration
Loraine Young, LCSW-R
Executive Clinical Director
Hannah Reynolds
Administrative Assistant
Social Work Staff
Jacob Abraham, LMSW
Allison Demay-Byron, LMSW
Bridget Larimer, LCSW
Suzanne Luce, LMSW
Katie Oinen, LMSW
Moira O'Connor Stewart, LCSW
Loraine Young, LCSW-R
Board Of Directors
Sareer Fazili, Esq.
President
John Weymann
Vice President
David Berkebile
Treasurer
Mark Whitford, Esq.
Secretary
Laura Hefner
Linda Kelly, Esq.
Deborah Osterberg
Mary Russo
John Weas
Lisa Zielinski