The Outreach Report

Welcome to The Outreach Report monthly staff e-news!   

Save the Date! 

  • August 26: 13th Annual Tree Lighting, “On the Wings of Hope,” Bayport Blue Point Library at 7:00 PM
  • September 3: Islip Goes Purple Kick Off, Islip Town Hall, 4 PM (https://www.islipgoespurple.com/)
  • September 13: John Brower, Jr. Memorial “Heroes Against Heroin” Walk, Jones Beach, 10:00 AM (Click here for more details)
  • September 13: Healing Strides Walk for Recovery, East Islip Marine Park, 10:00 AM
  • September 19: Vibe and Thrive, YES Council Center, Brentwood from 3:00-7:00 PM

September 2025 Payroll Calendar

September 5, 19 & October 3

Upcoming Holidays

    • September 1: Labor Day Observed
  • Celebrations in September:

    • August 31: International Overdose Awareness Day

    • September is Recovery Month

    • September 1: Labor Day observed

    • September 5: Mawlid al-Nabic

    • September 7: Ganesh Chaturthi

    • September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day

    • September 11: US Patriot Day

    • September 11: Nayouz

    • September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

    • September 15: Prophet’s Day

    • September 16: Mexican Independence Day

    • September 21:  World Gratitude Day

    • September 22-24: Rosh Hashanah

    • September 22: Mabon

    • September 22: Navratri

    • September 23: International Day of Sign Languages

    • September 26: Native American Day

  • Free Professional Development Opportunities

    Are you interested in becoming a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)? If you live in any county in New York State, you can be eligible to receive a full scholarship for CASAC training through OTI. Scholarships are available for both the full 350-hour and 100-hour programs. Applications are now being accepted for the September and October 2025 entry points. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to advance your career. Learn more and apply today: https://opiny.org/casac-training

    Outreach Training Institute is transitioning to a new Learning Management System, Digital Chalk. As part of the registration process, you will be asked to create an account. Please save your login credentials, as you will need them to access the training and future certificates or course registrations.
     
    OTI’s New Training Catalogue: September Professional Development Courses now available for registration including:
    • LMSW/LCSW Exam Bootcamp
    • SOR Funded Professional Development Courses
    https://outreachtraininginstitute.digitalchalk.com/catalogs/outreach-training-institute—sor-2025-2026

Celebrating National Recovery Month at Outreach

Each September, National Recovery Month invites us to celebrate the strength, resilience, and hope of individuals and families on their recovery journey. At Outreach, we see proof every day that recovery is possible, and happening, in our programs, in our communities, and in the lives of the people we serve.

This month is our chance to shine a light on those successes, challenge stigma, and spread the understanding that recovery is a process worthy of respect, encouragement, and support. It’s also a time to honor the courage of our clients, the dedication of our staff, and the vital role that treatment, peer support, and community resources play in making long-term recovery possible.

By participating in National Recovery Month, we recommit ourselves to our mission: empowering people to overcome challenges, embrace healthier futures, and know they are never alone. Together, we create a culture of compassion, understanding, and hope that can inspire recovery all year long.

If your department or program is recognizing National Recovery Month, whether through events, activities, or creative displays, please share your stories and photos with ellenbarker@opiny.org and michaelstewart@opiny.org so we can celebrate and inspire one another.

HR Corner

Here to Help You: Meet Our New HR Benefits Coordinator!

We’re excited to welcome Victoria Wilmarth to Outreach as HR Benefits Coordinator, a new role in the HR Department created to strengthen and streamline HR services for all staff. Victoria will be the go-to resource for questions about health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, leaves of absence, and wellness initiatives. She’ll ensure our benefits are easy to navigate, compliant with regulations, and designed to support you and your family’s needs. Victoria is here to help every member of our Outreach community make the most of their benefit plan; she will be based at our HR Office in Building 5 at 998 Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood but will also make rounds to all the agency’s other sites so that everyone will have access to her.

Victoria brings more than 25 years of experience in benefits plan administration and has been recognized for her exceptional customer service, strong employee advocacy, and ability to foster lasting relationships with both staff and vendors. Her career includes leadership roles with Brunswick Hospital Center, Prestige Employee Administrators, and Catholic Health Services. A SUNY Oneonta graduate with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Music, she also has a NYS Life/Accident/Healthcare License. Victoria is known for her commitment to quality, accountability, and operational excellence. We’re thrilled to have her on board!

Outreach Young Adult Residence is Opening – and We’re Hiring!

Later this fall, Outreach will proudly open its new Young Adult Residence on the Brentwood campus, providing a much-needed continuum of care for young adults (ages 18–25) with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. As the first program of its kind in downstate New York, this residence represents an exciting milestone for Outreach and a unique opportunity for both experienced and emerging professionals in the behavioral health field.

We are currently hiring for the following positions:

  • Social Worker, LCSW
  • Case Manager, CASAC
  • Full-Time & Part-Time Milieu Counselors
  • Full-Time & Part-Time LPNs
  • Full-Time RN
  • House Manager, LMSW/Advanced CASAC
  • FT Porter

If you or someone you know are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young adults, we encourage you to apply! Please contact elliotkloper@opiny.org for more information.

Congratulations!

  • Congratulations to Melissa Chavez, Administrative Assistant at the Richmond Hill CCBHC! Melissa has successfully completed the OTI program and earned her CASAC-T credential. We can’t wait to see the incredible impact she’ll continue to make at Outreach!
  • Congratulations to Nalika Soreng, Compliance Officer, on the arrival of her baby boy, Gabriel Jean Soreng, born on May 14, 2025, weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. Please join us in sending Nalika and her family all our warmest wishes as they welcome this wonderful new chapter!

  • Congrats to Kashmira Andre from Richmond Hill on the birth of her son, who arrived on August 14, 2025, weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. We celebrate this joyous occasion with Kashmira and her family as they embrace the joys of parenthood!

Welcome to New Employees Hired between July 15 and August 15, 2025

Marietta Brodhurst
Jennifer Butler
Maria Caballero
Victor Cruz
Mary Hall
Christina Haubeil
Jennifer Iglesias
Dylan Klansky
Adrian Mullins
Emily Murray
Hana Tran
Bethany Vogel
Tysen White
Victoria Wilmarth

Best wishes to staff who celebrate Birthdays in August

Maria Bak
Tysen White
Alexis Attardi
Mia Ivancovich
Frances Johnson
Stephanie Centrone
Jadeline Mallol Nunez
Ana Maria Scola
Ashley Simon
Shuron Jackson
Dakchyata Thapa
Przemyslaw Szkiladz
Malik Miller
Donna Winding
Myasia McClinton
Katharine Gonzalez
Stephanie Allison Aviles
Karla Celeste Tovar
Danielle Laurenti
Bernadette Acosta Singh
Keleyna Romoleroux
Giovanni Jose Santiago
Chelsea Forstel
Allison Jacoutot
Maia Tupaz
Annamarie DiMarco
David Youngblood
Josephine DeRuiter
Markeeda Goodwin

2025 Staff BBQ: A Day of Fun, Food & Recognition!


Photos by Eric Yagual

This year’s annual Staff BBQ at Outreach House I was a huge success filled with lots of great things to do, wonderful company, and plenty of delicious food. New and exciting activities (A Magician! Caricatures! And more) brought staff together for some well-deserved fun, making the day one to remember.

A highlight of the event was the annual Building Healthy Lives Awards, where colleagues celebrated one another for going above and beyond in living our mission. The ceremony began with a short video created by Communications Manager Michael Stewart (watch here), showcasing the spirit of the awards and the outstanding honorees recognized this year (see full list below).

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who made the day possible—especially the events team, with special recognition to Dave Vizzini, Kristin Cox, and Catie McGuire, as well as our incredible maintenance team and the dedicated staff and cooks at Outreach House II. Everyone’s hard work and teamwork made this year’s BBQ a true celebration of our Outreach family!

Building Healthy Lives Award Video

Honorees

Bernadette Acosta Singh
Valerie Allen
Alexia Attardi
Stephanie Aviles
Diana Brathwaite
Stacey Bridgeford
Ayanna Dorsett
Caitlin Duddy
Tiana Ferebee
Farrah Francois
Allison Jacoutot
Stephanie Munoz
Gabriella Panetta
Courtney Ross
Megan Ryan
Kizzy Springer
Beverley Stewart
Kelsea Surace
Cassandra Thompson-Spence
Asha Vereen
Eric Yagual

Fall into Wellness

As we bid farewell to summer’s long, warm days and welcome autumn’s crisp air and vibrant foliage, it’s the perfect time to renew our commitment to health and wellness. This change in season brings fresh opportunities to care for both body and mind, so let’s head into fall feeling our best.

  • Embrace the Outdoors: Cooler weather makes it ideal to enjoy fresh air and movement. Take short walks during breaks, around your site’s grounds, or by exploring nearby parks, or gather with coworkers for a stroll among the colorful leaves. Staying active not only boosts fitness but also lifts mood and energy.
  • Boost Your Immunity: With flu season approaching, now is the time to protect yourself and those around you. Get your annual flu shot, keep up regular handwashing, and use hand sanitizer, especially if you work closely with others. These small habits go a long way in keeping our community healthy.
  • Nourish Your Body: Autumn brings a bounty of seasonal produce like apples, pumpkins, and squash, all packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Add them to your meals, host a healthy fall harvest potluck, or share nutritious seasonal snacks with colleagues.
  • Care for Your Mental Well-Being: Shorter days can sometimes affect mood. Make time for activities that bring you joy, reading, music, mindfulness, or connecting with loved ones. And remember, our HR department offers a variety of wellness resources to support you whenever you need them. To contact them, please email hr@opiny.org.

Together, let’s enjoy the new season filled with renewed energy, connection, and well-being!