About Us
The BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness
Youth-serving organizations (YSOs) impact the lives of young people in a profound way. These organizations seek to shape who youth are and the people they will become. YSOs offer welcoming and inclusive environments where young people feel safe to share their emotions and feelings and are ripe environments for promoting adolescent wellness. To accomplish these goals, these organizations need to be mentally, emotionally, and physically safe spaces for youth. The BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness (BBYO-CAW) seeks to identify and provide best practices in adolescent health and wellness so that YSOs can be places where adolescents thrive.
The BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness is a project of BBYO. Learn more about BBYO here.
Meet the Team
Drew Fidler, LCSW-C
Drew Fidler, LCSW-C, is the Executive Director of the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness, where she helps ensure that BBYO and other Youth Serving Organizations are places where youth can thrive through institutional best practices in health, wellness, and child protection. Drew is dedicated to making youth-serving organizations safer and healthier for participants.
Prior to joining BBYO, Drew worked for Baltimore Child Abuse Center (BCAC) as a Forensic Interviewer, Policy and Program Development Manager, and then as the Director of Prevention and Education. Drew has trained thousands of professionals on how to protect children and their own organization from incident, and has received training from the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and the TEND Academy in building organizational resiliency. Prior to roles at BCAC, Drew worked with at-risk youth in the U.S. and abroad. She has spent her career helping youth-serving organizations and their staff in understand youth development, mental health, manage difficult situations, and learn how to best support and advocate for their needs. Drew has an MSW from New York University and a BA in Psychology from Skidmore College.
Michal Berkson Powell
Michal Berkson Powell is a contractor with BBYO-CAW and a licensed clinical social worker with experience working with children, teens, families, and teachers in schools, clinics, synagogues, and summer camps. With a career extending from public schools in L.A. to the Jewish Social Service Agency in D.C. to private practice, Michal focuses on ensuring kids and parents can succeed to the best of their abilities wherever they live, work, or learn. Michal received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago and her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Psychological Services from Northwestern University.
Rabbi Brandon Bernstein
Rabbi Brandon Bernstein has spent his rabbinate exploring ways to discover the intersection between what was and what is, between ancient wisdom and contemporary knowledge. He has a BA in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, and was ordained in 2014 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Since ordination, he has worked primarily with teens, college students, and young adults, previously serving as Campus Rabbi for multiple Hillels and the Director of Jewish Learning for Moishe House. He currently works as the part-time rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom in Dekalb, IL, a Retained Jewish Education Consultant for BBYO, and a contract trainer for the BBYO CAW.
Jennifer Ferris-Glick
Jennifer Ferris-Glick is a contractor with BBYO-CAW, and a dedicated Mindful Empowerment Mentor, aspiring counseling psychologist, and seasoned Jewish educator committed to guiding individuals through life’s transitions with resilience and self-compassion. As an EMDR Therapist in-training, Jennifer leverages her extensive teaching experience, surpassing 16,000 hours in yoga, meditation, Jewish mysticism, and mindfulness. Her academic journey is marked by profound exploration in psychology, holding degrees in Psychology and Art Therapy. She conducted research in Cognitive Neuropsychology at Carnegie Mellon University, and she is currently advancing her studies in Counseling Psychology at Chatham University.
JessAnn Smith
JessAnn Smith (she/any) is a Jewish educator, Licensed Master Social Worker, and storyteller committed to building inclusive and accessible Jewish communities. With experience at Stony Brook Hillel, Foundation for Jewish Camp, Keshet, and the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, JessAnn brings expertise in experiential education, community engagement, and trauma-informed, identity-affirming mental health programming. JessAnn received her MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and holds a postgraduate certificate in Adventure Therapy and CASAC-T certification. They are also a trained Mikveh Guide, Intimacy Coordinator, and Wilderness First Responder. Drawing on their background in education, performance, and experiential modalities, JessAnn brings curiosity, creativity, and intention to their work.
What People Are Saying
“It was wonderful to have you and Brandon on-site with us, and the staff found the session engaging, interactive, and valuable. I had multiple staff members approach me yesterday and today raving about the session. I appreciate the time and care you put into your presentation.”
Ramah Day Camp Director, Dina Greenberg
Our Partners
