Staff
Ron DeFeo
Chief Executive Officer of CFG Health Network
Ron DeFeo brings over 25 years of clinical and administrative leadership experience in the healthcare and behavioral health sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of CFG Health Network, he oversees the organization’s strategic direction, operational efficiency, and continued growth in delivering high-quality behavioral health services.
Before his current role, Ron served as Executive Director of Hospital Services, overseeing and managing all hospital-based programs, including sub-acute and acute care services. He then took on the role of Chief Executive Officer for Center for Family Guidance, PC a company within the health network. His expertise in behavioral health operations includes strategic planning, provider management, service expansion, financial acumen, fostering collaboration and ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
A passionate advocate for underserved populations, Ron has been instrumental in developing innovative programs, particularly for children and adolescents. He remains actively engaged in local and state hospital-based and behavioral healthcare committees, fostering collaborations that enhance patient care and community well-being.
Sean Fitzpatrick
Chief Financial Officer
Sean joined CFG as Chief Financial Officer in December 2024, bringing over thirty years of healthcare experience from national and regional not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He has spent the past thirteen years in CFO roles as an employee and independent contractor.
In addition to strengthening the bottom line, Sean’s track record includes guiding continuous performance and process improvement initiatives; integrating strategy, operations, and finance; serving as a trusted business partner to physician, clinical, and administrative colleagues across multiple disciplines and functional areas; and, managing relationships with external stakeholders such as trustees, community groups, vendors, auditors, and financial institutions.
Sean received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and is a Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania. He resides in Downingtown, PA.
Barry Robinson
Director of Human Resources
Jennifer Dowdell, MSW, LCSW
Executive Director, CFG Residentials, LLC
Ms. Dowdell’s entire history has one common thread, a categorical commitment to working with challenging adolescents. This dedication appears within every chronological marker whether it is her education, her accomplishments, her job history or her professional development.
After graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Ms. Dowdell earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University with an emphasis in Direct Practice with Children and Families. While obtaining her education she was also working part-time in residential programs, youth shelters, and youth crisis intervention programs.
She has worked extensively with emotionally and behaviorally complex adolescents in a variety of settings. These include psychiatric hospitals, mental health programs within correctional facilities, juvenile and family court systems and with the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.
Ms. Dowdell began working with CFG as a staff Social Worker, progressing to Director, culminating in her current executive title. Under her stewardship, CFG has completely designed and implemented four residential programs addressing the severe and behaviorally complex needs of children ranging in age from eleven to seventeen years. Her initiatives include the design and implementation of a multi-disciplinary training program for all levels of residential staff professionals, the leadership of a planning team for a recruitment and new hire evaluation system that has positively impacted staff retention, the establishment of systems that have assured years of Licensing and Fiscal regulatory compliance, the application and implementation of a team-based program that ensured successful accreditation under Council on Accreditation (COA) and the implementation innovative of technological therapeutic approaches using cutting edge mediums such as telemedicine and virtual reality platforms.
Ms. Dowdell continually looks for ways to improve all aspects of her organization and is highly regarded by her subordinates, peers, regulatory entities and most importantly, the children her programs serve.
Marlene Anderson, LCSW, JSOCCP
Program Director, KIT
Ms. Anderson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the State of New Jersey; she was a social worker at the Kids In Transition program for some years prior to assuming the role of Program Director. Ms. Anderson’s fundamental driving passion is aiding the youth, and their families, that she serves in advancing emotionally, spiritually, and physically whilst concurrently gaining their self-worth and self-value to enable them to thrive in life. Ms. Anderson’s innate conception of the need for nurturing and structuring to effect change in youth with severe emotional and behavioral struggles serves to competently impact and complement the therapeutic environment.
Ms. Anderson has an exemplary skill set in engaging youth and their families, thereby maximizing the opportunity to gain trust, guide investment, and increase productivity in treatment. She obtained her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University with a concentration in Violence Against Women and Children and a minor in psychology. She also achieved an Associates in Science in Addictions Counseling and holds a credential from the Juvenile Sexual Offending Counselor Certification Program (JSOCCP). Her professional experiences include working with individuals transitioning from long term psychiatric institutions, adult survivors of child sexual abuse, and youth in correctional facilities. Her extensive clinical training and knowledge focuses on sexually problematic youth, victims of sexual abuse, youth with complex trauma and the behavioral manifestations, Structural Family Therapy, Attachment, Trauma Focused CBT, and Motivational Interviewing.
Andrea Aston
Program Director II, Insight & Excel
Since 1991, Ms. Aston’s solid background in human services has always focused on improving the lives and experiences of complex and challenging youth. After graduating from Lincoln University in 2012 with a Masters in Human Services with an emphasis on administration, she began to further her education by pursuing a Doctorate in Education.
Ms. Aston has worked extensively in residential and outreach settings located throughout Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, working with emotionally and behaviorally challenging youth and adolescents. She began working at CFG Residentials in April 2012 as a Quality Assurance Coordinator and her breadth of knowledge of organizational operations and performance and quality improvement assisted them with effectively instituting a data-driven philosophy within all aspects of the organization. In July 2017, she became the Program Director II of the Insight and Excel Programs.
Ms. Aston is the consummate team player and continually strives to make both small and large changes within the organization; all with the intent to enrich the lives of youth the programs serve, as well as provide a safe and enriching environment for all youth and employees.
Kyle Jones
Behavioral Care Specialist Manager, Excel Program
Mr. Jones earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Wesley College. He has worked with adolescents for over 9 years as a Behavioral Care Specialist. In 2017 he became the BCS Manager of the Excel Program. Mr. Jones is also a certified trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach.
Sabrina A. Rudd
Behavioral Care Specialist (BCS Manager)
With a passion for supporting at-risk youth, I began my career in 2000, working within the Philadelphia school system. In April 2005, I joined CFG Residentials as a Behavioral Care Specialist (BCS) for the KIT program. Through dedication and hard work, I was promoted to Recreation Specialist for the newly established Intensive Residential Treatment Service (IRTS), now known as the Insight Program. My continued growth within the organization led to another promotion, making me the first and only BCS Manager for Insight since its inception.
Throughout my tenure at CFG, I have been honored with both the Manager of the Quarter and Manager of the Year awards for CFG Health Network, recognizing my dedication to excellence in leadership and patient care.
In addition to my managerial role, I served as a First Aid and CPR instructor for two years and currently act as the Handle with Care Instructor for CFG Residential programs, ensuring our staff are well-equipped to provide safe and compassionate care.
