Jewish Family & Children’s Service welcomes Vickie Fontaine, Geryl Baer and Zolie Prior as new specialists for the Child Abuse Protection Program.

Vickie Fontaine comes to JF&CS from the Normandy School District, where she had 12 years experience as a sixth-grade teacher. She holds undergraduate degrees in administration of justice and special education from University of Missouri-St. Louis and a master of science in management coursework from National-Louis University.

Fontaine will also be working under the auspices of the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund contact as a full time employee.

Baer comes to JF&CS from Jewish Federation, where she was a development associate with the Young Professionals Division for the past two years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, has a master’s degree in Jewish Communal Service from Baltimore Hebrew University and a master’s of business administration from the University of Baltimore. Through her studies in Jewish Communal Service, she participated in a program that educated students about the Holocaust.

That fostered her interest in working with children. Since then, she has volunteered with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and has several years experience as a Hebrew school teacher.

Prior has a unique and diverse blend of practical work experience, which includes two years of classroom teaching, art therapy and counseling that will make her a valuable asset to JF&CS and the CAPP team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from National Louis University and a master’s of art therapy from the Adler School of Professional Psychology.

“Art therapy has long been a useful tool in helping abused children cope as well as identifying children who are in potentially abusive situations,” said Prior. She will be working under the auspices of the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund contact as a full time employee.

The Child Abuse Prevention Program offers interactive presentations in schools, daycare facilities and community organizations, and teaches children skills they can use when faced with inappropriate physical contact. For more information about JF&CS, call 314-993-1000 or visit www.jfcs-stl.org.