Our Founder

In loving memory
Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok LCSW-R, PhD

Rebecca was the founding CEO and Academic Director of Collaborations For Growth. She was trained and deeply experienced as a clinical psychologist, social worker and early childhood educator, and was a visionary who had founded and co-founded several nonprofit organizations before Collaborations For Growth, including the Abraham Joshua Heschel School. She was also a Founding Director of the New York Zero to Three Network, and a Founding Member of the Harris Professional Development Network.

Rebecca had extensive experience in psychoanalysis, infant mental health, sensory processing, mindfulness, and child/parent psychotherapy for trauma and developmental challenges. She was deeply sensitive to diversity and committed to self-compassion practices and was a facilitator for the Diversity-Informed Tenets for Infants, Children and Families group that offers workshops across the USA.

Rebecca was a beloved leader, mentor and friend to so many, and had an extraordinary ability to inspire and enroll people in her vision for a better world, where vulnerable children and families have the support they need to thrive. Her love and energy felt boundless, and her laughter infectious. She will be deeply missed by those of us who were lucky enough to know her.

Visit our resources page to see some of Dr. Shahmoon Shanok’s published work.