Our Staff

In 2012, Intervention Associates spun off its direct caregiving function to create a new entity, Caring Friends Home Care—a nonmedical home care agency. As sister organizations and subsidiaries of the Friends Life Care System, Intervention Associates and Caring Friends continue to share key management and resources. Senior staff works hands-on with our care managers to create the best solutions for our clients. The two companies work together seamlessly to provide complete continuity of care for all but our guardianship cases, unless our clients request otherwise.

Friends Life Care System Oversight

Elise N. Lamarra, RN, BSN

Vice President of Clinical Operations

Elise Lamarra joined the Friends Life Care System in March 2007. She was promoted to vice president of clinical operations in 2009. In this position, Elise oversees Intervention Associates and Caring Friends Home Care. She also supervises the Care Coordination and Admissions Departments of Friends Life Care, a membership-based provider of continuing-care-at-home plans (another Friends Life Care System subsidiary). System-wide, Elise serves as corporate risk manager.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health, Elise is a registered nurse with nearly 30 years of clinical, administrative and managerial experience in acute care, home health care, hospice care and managed care. She has devoted a majority of her career to home care and hospice work and has held executive positions for the last 18 years. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Home Care Association and serves on its public policy committee.

Dianna J. Rienstra, CPA

Chief Financial Officer/Corporate Controller/Treasurer

Dianna Rienstra serves as chief financial officer/corporate controller/treasurer of the Friends Life Care System and its subsidiary corporations Intervention Associates, Caring Friends Home Care and Friends Life Care. She oversees, coordinates and supervises all finance and technology needs for Intervention Associates.

Dianna joined Friends Life Care System in 2007, after a long, successful career in public accounting where her primary expertise was in the area of audit, tax and consulting services for nonprofit organizations.

A graduate of Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, Dianna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a major in accounting, and is licensed as a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania. She is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA).

Management

Sheila Weiner, MSW, LCSW

Executive Director

Sheila Weiner joined the organization in November 2012 as executive director of both Intervention Associates and Caring Friends Home Care. In this leadership position, Sheila oversees and coordinates all of the operations and services provided by both organizations. She is also responsible for implementing business development and marketing initiatives.

Sheila received her Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey. She has more than 25 years of clinical and managerial experience in social services, mental health, acute care, health-care-related nonprofit organizations and geriatric care management. Committed to advocating for diverse populations to ensure that they receive the necessary support services, she has maintained a focus in the area of health care services throughout her career. Sheila is a longtime member of the National Association for Social Workers.

Margaret C. Finnegan, BA

Client Services Manager

Maggie joined the organization in September 2012 and serves as initial contact for all referrals to Intervention Associates and Caring Friends. In her role as client services manager, Maggie helps clarify clients' immediate needs, collects key information, and hand picks an Intervention Associates care manager, as needed, to arrange and oversee all our clients' care. Clients who need home care services are matched with the appropriate caregiver by Sandra Grant, home care coordinator of Caring Friends.

Maggie graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in human services; she minored in psychology and sociology. Before joining Intervention Associates, Maggie served for nine years in a variety of capacities at a large community area agency on aging (AAA). Her positions there included assessor for home and community-based services and care manager for the Aging Waiver Program. Well versed in the broad scope of available community resources, Maggie helps ensure that our clients are connected with all the supports they need to live with dignity in their communities.

Care Managers

These brief biographies tell you little about our care managers' experience, but can't convey the sensitivity, compassion, dedication and results they demonstrate. We urge you to read our family stories and professional testimonials to see what actual clients have to say about their experiences with our staff.

Judy Siderer, MSW, LSW

Senior Care Manager

Judy Siderer holds an MSW from Temple University and has worked for Intervention Associates since 1990. Judy's clinical experience, combined with her sensitivity, insight, and interpersonal and organizational skills, makes her uniquely qualified to understand and manage the most challenging circumstances. In her senior role, Judy supervises and trains our new care managers, facilitates regular clinical team meetings, and oversees and helps improve internal and external communications.

Linda Koven, MSW, LCSW

Linda Koven earned her MSW from Adelphi University School of Social Work in Garden City, New York. She joined Intervention Associates in January 2008. Previously, she worked for Jewish Family and Children's Services in Philadelphia. A licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience, Linda has worked in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings, and with special needs, mental health, and geriatric clients and their families. Linda specializes in assisting families in crisis.

Glenda Phipps, BS

Glenda is a National Certified Guardian who joined Intervention Associates in 2012. Previously, she served as guardianship coordinator at The Arc of New Mexico, where she honed her expertise advocating for adults with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Glenda has also worked as a community psychiatric specialist, performing clinical assessments, coordinating community resources and developing treatment plans for mentally ill adults. She is earning her MSW from Rutgers University.

Susan Walcoff, BS

Susan Walcoff received her bachelor's degree in social welfare policy from Temple University. Prior to joining Intervention Associates in 1989, she worked in both inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. Susan enjoys working with diverse populations, including mentally ill, developmentally disabled and geriatric patients. She excels in liaising with families, caregivers and referral sources, making her a trusted resource for our clients.