The Outreach Report

Welcome to The Outreach Report monthly staff e-news!   

Save the Date! 

• November – December Payroll Calendar
  November 29, December 13, December 27 
• Upcoming Holidays
  November 28 & 29 – Thanksgiving
  December 25 – Christmas Day
• Staff Holiday Party

• Professional Development Opportunities:
  • Annual Sexual Harassment Training Sessions:

1. 1. For All Staff 
      • Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
      • Time: 3:00 PM (1 hour)
      • Registration Link: Register Here
   2. For All Staff 
      • Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
      • Time: 3:00 PM (1 hour)
      • Registration Link: Register Here
   3. For Managers/Directors Only
      • Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024
      • Time: 3:00 PM (1 hour)
      • Registration Link: Register Here

• OASAS sponsored SOR Grant Trainings – December | To Apply Click Here: https://opiny.org/sor-trainings/

  • • Suicide Assessment and Intervention (3 Hours), December 10, 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
      Registration Deadline: December 3, 2024
    • Burnout Prevention and Self-Care (3 Hours), December 11, 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
      Registration Deadline: December 4, 2024
    • Writing a Billable Note (3 Hours), December 18, 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
      Registration Deadline: December 11, 2024

FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CASAC TRAINING FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY RESIDENTS AVAILABLE! 

Reminder: The Suffolk County Department of Health has established full scholarships for Suffolk County residents who wish to obtain CASAC certification at OTI. Scholarships will cover the full cost of all coursework for recipients. In addition, 40 students will receive paid internships at Outreach, with each receiving a stipend of $1,500. These Scholarships are targeted at individuals seeking to pursue their CASAC certification and who have demonstrated an interest and passion for helping people in the Suffolk County community. Please feel free to share this information with any eligible friends, family, or community members who might be interested. For additional information or to apply, please contact otioutreach@opiny.org or visit our website: https://opiny.org/casac-training/.

Staff Profiles

Outreach is fortunate to have many people who served in different branches of the military on our staff. They bring a unique quality and dedication to all aspects of the agency’s work. In recognition of Veterans Day this month, we are honored to profile a few of our incredible staff who are veterans.

Laura Hagmeyer

Where are you from?

Huntington, NY

What is your title and where are you based at Outreach?

I am a Primary Counselor at Outreach Integrated Opioid Treatment Program (IOTP).

What are your key job responsibilities?

Provide individual, group, and family counseling, complete all necessary documentation including legal progress reports, maintain relationships with collateral contacts, and conduct toxicologies.

When did you join Outreach?

June 2018

What branch of the military did you serve in?

United States Air Force

Does your prior military experience come to bear in anyway in your work at Outreach?

In the USAF, my primary responsibilities were to meet with patients who attended the Mental Health clinic for individual and group sessions. My experience with others while serving in uniform was similar. The experiences I’ve gained in the military about integrity, honesty, courage, not giving up the fight, being a good wingman, leading when needed, following when needed—I aim to use these tools everywhere I go. I never give up on my clients.

What do you like most about working at Outreach?

When clients tell me they feel important here, and that they haven’t felt that in other programs. Seeing my clients progress in their recovery and their overall mental health.

What do you like to do in your free time?

 Spend time with my family as long as I see them smile.

Martha McNeil

Where are you from?

I was actually born in the area of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, NY and later moved to South Ozone Park in Queens NY. Queens has been home the majority of my life; I was raised here with my identical twin Martine and our oldest sister Nicole.

What is your title and where are you based at Outreach?

I am the Accounts Payable Bookkeeper here at Outreach, based out of Administration at the Richmond Hill, NY site.

What are your key job responsibilities?

As the Accounts payable bookkeeper, I primarily process vendor invoices, utility bills, and employee/consultant check requests for payment. I respond to any questions and/or discrepancies about payment from vendors or staff. I code the charges of specific Agency credit cards and process them for payment.

When did you join Outreach?

I started at Outreach on Oct 15, 2003. I knew something great was about to happen because I interviewed for a little over an hour…… and then Tony Croce hired me on the spot that day!

What branch of the military did you serve in?

I am proud to say I served in The United States Air Force

Does your prior military experience come to bear in anyway in your work at Outreach?

It most certainly does. I worked in the 323rd Comptroller Squadron as a USAF Accounting Technician

I worked in Commercial Services and accounts payable for the base was my primary AF job. It taught me to pay attention to detail and deadlines, prioritizing, as well as following policy and regulation as I get the job done.

What do you like most about working at Outreach?

Outreach has always been a positive environment to work in. From the beginning, staff on every level have been easy to work with. I like that I have made some longstanding friendships right here at Outreach, some that continue to this day. I like that Outreach has always been family oriented.  They have always understood and been of support and assistance during my times of loss, maternity, and emergency. Most of all I like working at Outreach because it is an organization that I can be proud of even if I didn’t work here. Outreach and its staff are famous for the phenomenal work it does in many communities and at every site on a daily basis. Outreach is diligent in the ongoing journey of helping those in need of help with substance abuse. I am very proud to show up every day, for the last 21 years.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Free time when I can get it, seems so unreal at first! Lol…. let me explain. I am happily married for 25 years now to my husband Troy. Troy has given me a wonderful stepdaughter, Mary. Mary has blessed us with 2 grandsons. Troy and I also have 3 daughters together: Vare (a graduate of Buffalo College SUNY, 2023), Giselle (graduate of Howard University, 2024) and our 12-year-old Sophie. Blessings yes! But when I can get some “free time “in and amongst all of this…. I love to do jigsaw puzzles. I also love to do crossword puzzles. I love to sit and think about how I can match the pieces, and I can do it for hours. I love the 500-piece puzzles best. Both are very relaxing for me and keep my mind sharp.

Oswald Ramdoo, M.A., MASTER CASAC, NCAC II, SAP

Where are you from?

I am from the Twin Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

What is your title and where are you based at Outreach?

I am an Assistant Director at the Men’s CR (The ORC) at Pilgrim, Brentwood NY.

What are your key job responsibilities?

I assist the Program Director in the development and maintenance of appropriate substance abuse treatment services. I oversee clinical aspects of treatment, including admissions, assessments, transfers, referrals, and the completion of an appropriate treatment program. I supervise staff to ensure appropriate services are administered effectively and efficiently towards helping clients attain a healthy and productive life. I ensure treatment complies with the specific standards of the contracting agencies and the requirements of governmental regulatory bodies. I provide leadership and manage the day-to-day operations of the facility.

When did you join Outreach?

May 1^st, 2017

What branch of the military did you serve in?

U.S. Army

Does your prior military experience come to bear in anyway in your work at Outreach?

Absolutely…I use many of my experiences from Basic Combat Training, and Advanced Individual Training in presentations and group sessions.

What do you like most about working at Outreach?

The opportunity to serve veterans and civilians …helping them to overcome their addiction and build healthy and productive lives.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am a musician and an artist, all my children and grandchildren are musicians, so I spend my free time working on music. I built a home recording studio and have been dabbling in that when I am not with my children.

Jessica Shuren, LCSW, CASAC

Where are you from?  

Except for my USAF time, I was born and lived on LI my whole life.

What is your title and where are you based at Outreach? 

Assistant Vice President of Outpatient Services, main office in Bellport, but oversee sites in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens and Brooklyn

What are your key job responsibilities? 

Oversee overall programming for the modality, encourage and foster growth through the development of community relationships, and act as liaison between sites and executive leadership.

When did you join Outreach? 

April 2008

What branch of the military did you serve in? 

United States Air Force

Does your prior military experience come to bear in anyway in your work at Outreach? 

The “attention to detail” that I learned in the military was a large part of my career as an Air Traffic Controller in the Air Force, and now plays a role in ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations such as OASAS and Medicaid. Additionally, my military experience provided a basis for the growth of the services we provide to veterans. As a “closed” group, veterans can be difficult to reach, though having peers, professionals who also served, working at Outreach provides a sense of belonging and a non-judgmental environment.

What do you like most about working at Outreach? 

The continued attention to quality care and services and the positive reputation Outreach has within communities.

What do you like to do in your free time? 

In my free time, I like to crochet in cooler months, watch movies, find new restaurants, travel, and spend time with family.

Outreach Events

John Venza, Vice President of Outreach trained 100 Western Suffolk BOCES faculty members at their superintendent’s day conference at the Brennan School in Babylon.

Yardi, the global real estate software company and Outreach sponsor, invited our team to attend their staff Thanksgiving celebration with other charities they support.

Staff attended the 2024 Open Minds Technology & Analytics Institute in Philadelphia. Assistant Vice President of Quality and Data Analytics, Kelsey Silver, presented on Using Data to Drive Technology Adoption and Continuous Quality Improvement.

IUA, chaired by Outreach’s President and CEO Debbie Pantin, closed its first annual conference for providers across NYS.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. presented 22 Citations of Honor to this year’s Queens General Assembly delegates. Thanh Pham, Community Specialist part of the EQuITY team at Outreach, was one of the QGA delegates for the 2024 term and was presented with a Citation of Honor through the Queens Borough President’s Office.

Richmond Hill Wellness Center and CCBHC’s Case Manager Linda Woodard who has garnered donations and is distributing turkeys to our Western Queens client community for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Best wishes to staff who celebrate Birthdays in November

Fanila Alexandre
Ellen Barker
Samuel Bello
Kayla Berretta
Regina Burris
Sandra Butler
Meghan K. Byrne
Jonathan A. Caputo
Marissa Cummings
Santos T. Delcid Sorto
Talia A. Dellamarco
Hanaa Elfiky
Martin L. Feld
Michael Grant
Michael Lendl Herelle
Gabriella Kemmerer
Antonio Lauradin
Denise Jessica Lloyd
Meaghan McGuire
Yasmin Olivares
Suzanne Orellano
Thanh Pham
Jennifer Rios
Cayla T. Salti
Morgan Seenaraine
Kenneth Sergiacomi
Janet Simone
Julianne Smith
Charlene Thelemaque
Cassandra Thompson Spence
Rynell Perry Wells
Rachael Witkowski
Melisa Wright

Welcome to New Employees Hired Between October 15-November 15, 2024

Jay Aquino, Outreach House I
Stacey Bridgeford, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Anthony Bridgeman, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Maricela Cabrera, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Daniel Cakouros, Women’s Recovery Residence
Melissa Centeno, Outreach House II
Windy Goglas, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Evelyn Hugo-Torres, Outreach House II
Nicholas Keller, Richmond Hill Wellness Center & CCBHC
Dawn Kutner, Women’s Recovery Residence
Natalie Martinez, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Tori Melbourne, Women’s Recovery Residence
Johanna Michel, Outreach House I
Jeffrey Neal, Outreach Training Institute
Latoya Nelson, Outreach House II
Raven Roberts, Outreach House I
Sydney Rountree, Outreach Recovery Center
Susan Sappleton, Outreach House II
Elvis Sarita, Outreach House I
Kara Sonos, Outreach House II
Janiris Vasquez, Outreach House I
Phylicia Walters, Outreach House I

Outreach is Hiring!  

Full-time and part-time career opportunities are available throughout the organization. If you are interested in any position, please speak with your immediate supervisor, and/or feel free to apply directly to the position by linking here: ADP Workforce Now – Career Center or, here: www.opiny.org/careers.  If you have any challenges in applying for open positions listed on Workforcenow, please call the HR Department at ext. 2230 or email HR@opiny.org.

Outreach Fun Fact

In May 2017, Outreach expanded its continuum of care by assuming management of a men’s community residence, adult outpatient program, and a specialized Veterans treatment track located on the campus of the Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center in Brentwood.