The Outreach Report

Welcome to The Outreach Report monthly staff e-news!

Save the Date!

Extended Deadline NOW April 8: Staff TikTok Challenge Entry Deadline

What does it really look like to live Outreach’s mission of Building Healthy Lives every day?

We are extending the deadline for our “Day in the Life at Outreach” TikTok Challenge so all can see you and your team in action!

Show us the real moments that reflect who we are: the collaboration, creative problem-solving, strategy sessions, team huddles, quick coffee resets, and everything in between. This isn’t about being polished, it’s about being authentic, highlighting how we live our values through teamwork, innovation, accountability, and impact (and having a little fun along the way!).

How It Works:

Create a short video (30 seconds or less)
Include at least two team members
Film during a normal workday
Add text overlays or trending audio if you’d like

Capture Moments Like:

Collaboration in action
Creative thinking
Team problem-solving
The energy and dedication behind our work

Important Guidelines:

Please do not include clients, client names, or client materials
Avoid filming screens or confidential information
Keep content work-appropriate and aligned with our agency values

Prizes!

The first 5 teams to submit their TikTok will receive a prize — so don’t wait!

Deadline: April 8, 2026

Send your completed video to ellenbarker@opiny.org and michaelstewart@opiny.org to be featured in our March all-staff e-newsletter.

Grab your team, hit record, show how you bring our mission to life and inspire!

April 2026 Payroll Calendar

April 3rd & 17th

Upcoming Holidays (Administrative Offices, Most Programs & Services Closed):

No holidays in April 2026

Celebrations in April:

April is Arab American Heritage Month and National Stress Awareness Month
April 1–9: Passover/Pesach (Jewish)
April 2: World Autism Acceptance Day
April 2: Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday (Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic & Orthodox)
April 2: Theravada New Year (Buddhist)
April 3: Good Friday (Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic & Orthodox)
April 5: Easter Sunday (Christian)
April 10: Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)
April 12: Orthodox Easter
April 13: Vaisakhi (Sikh)
April 13–14: Holocaust Remembrance Day/Yom HaShoah
April 15: National American Sign Language Day
April 17: National Day of Silence Against LGBTQ+ harassment and discrimination
April 22: Earth Day

Recent Community Accomplishments & Celebrations:

Elva Aguilar, HER Coordinator and Quality Assurance Specialist, has been named Outreach’s new Diversity Director following the retirement of Chief Diversity Officer Alexis Gadsden. In this role, Elva will lead the agency’s Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives, including overseeing the staff-driven JEDI Committee. She will take on this important leadership role while continuing to serve in her current position. Please join us in congratulating Elva as she steps into this role and thanking Alexis for her dedicated leadership and contributions.
Congratulations to Joyeeta Sen, Talent Acquisition and Retention Specialist, on earning her SHRM-CP certification! This is a wonderful professional achievement and a testament to her dedication to excellence in the HR field. We are so proud of Joyeeta and thrilled to have her expertise supporting our team.

Assistant Vice President for Outpatient Services Jessica Shuren and Alexis Attardi, Manager of Community Partnerships for the Suffolk County Region, represented Outreach at the 2026 New York Association of Treatment Court Professionals Conference in Saratoga Springs earlier this month, connecting with leaders from across New York State and championing stronger pathways to treatment, recovery, and care statewide.

Amplify Outreach’s Mission in Your Emails!

Kudos to Richmond Hill CCBHC’s Clinical Coordinator, Steven Rahaman, for including Outreach’s mission statement in his signature, a great idea! This is a simple but impactful way to publicly share our mission and purpose while reinforcing the work we do every day. If you haven’t already, consider adding the mission statement to your signature to help amplify our message across all communications. If you need help setting up your email signature, contact our Communications Manager Michael Stewart at michaelstewart@opiny.org.

Best wishes to staff who celebrate Birthdays in March!

Jessica Aguilar
Lindsay Augustine
Marshee Monique Barclift
Gabriel Chisholm
Robert Edward Dandrea
Jesse Dela Cruz
Farah Francois
Camille Grissett
Linda Harvey
Melanie Hlapatsos
Tarissa Jones
Jonathan Paul Kortmann
Rebecca Kustin
Cassandra Lehman
Laura Mullen
Akber Naqvi
Ora Nussbaum
Jose Pugliese
Vanessa Saunders
Kelsey Silver
Crystal Chevon Talbert
Linda Ventura
Vito Virgilio
Tzvia Waronker
Richard Wexler
Charles Lamont Williams

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities:

April

Working with the LGBTQ+ Youth in the Field of SUD and MH* (3 hours)

Date: Wednesday April 15, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
Trainer: Shameika Johnson, Ed.D., Senior Trainer

Registration Deadline: April 8, 2026

• • • • • •

Psychological Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care** (3 hours)

Date: Thursday April 16, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
Trainer: TBD

Registration Deadline: April 9, 2026

• • • • • •

Medications for Addiction Treatment (3 hours)

Date: Wednesday April 22, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
Trainer: Gina Stafford, LMFT, Adjunct Instructor

Registration Deadline: April 15, 2026

• • • • • •

Improving Client Engagement and Compliance* (3 hours)

Date: Tuesday April 28, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
Trainer: Kelly Smith, DSW, LMSW, Adjunct Instructor

Registration Deadline: April 21, 2026

• • • • • •

Mastering Crisis Responses: Comprehensive In-Person, Community and Phone Strategies (3 hours)

Date: Thursday April 30, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
Trainer: TBD

Registration Deadline: April 23, 2026

• • • • • •

For more detailed descriptions of each of these trainings, please visit: https://opiny.org/sor-trainings/

Important Reminder: OTI has transitioned to a new Learning Management System, Digital Chalk. As part of the registration process, you will be asked to create an account. To apply for any of the courses, you will need to complete a separate registration form for each course. You will receive a response to confirm your enrollment. Please save your login credentials, as you will need them to access the training and future certificates or course registrations.

• • • • • •

HR Column

As a reminder, if you are out sick for three or more consecutive days, please provide a doctor’s note directly to HR. This documentation is kept confidential and does not need to be shared with your manager or others. Please continue to keep your manager informed of your absence and that you’ve submitted the required documentation to HR. Thank you for helping us keep everyone supported and informed.

Welcome New Outreach Hires!

Fartun Aliduux, Intern, Outreach House II
Michelle Brandel, Social Worker, Women’s Recovery Residence
Sara Ferrer Parra, Administrative Assistant, Richmond Hill CCBHC
Tanaya Foster, Counselor, Outreach House I
Viodelda Hope, Office Manager, Richmond Hill CCHBC
Yolanda Johnson, Counselor, Bellport Outpatient Services
Thaddius King, Overnight Counselor, Outreach House II
Celeste Lewors, Overnight Counselor, Outreach House II
Vincent Mastromarco, Intern, Bellport Outpatient Services
Reed Miller, Population Health Data Analyst, QA/QI Improvement Services
Samantha Rauch, Counselor, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Yaneidy Michel Reyes Holguin, Intern, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Jessica Salch, Peer Specialist, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Paul Jordan Samms, Intern, REACT Center Outpatient Services
Austin Thode, Administrative Assistant, Outreach Recovery Center
Erin Tittmann, Milieu Counselor, Outreach House II

Compliance Corner

Honoring Those Who Make a Difference

This March, in recognition of National Women’s History Month, we highlighted several of the dedicated women of Outreach across our social media platforms. We also recognized the contributions of women working in the behavioral health field, helping to advance important conversations around mental health.

Outreach News Interviews

We launched a new series on our YouTube channel, Outreach News. In our most recent video, we featured Catie Maguire, Emily Murray, and Stephanie Laureano, who shared insights into the important work they and their team do.

Click here to see the full video

Women’s History Month Article Series

Throughout March, Outreach proudly celebrates the women who have shaped and continue to advance the fields of mental health, psychiatry, psychology, and recovery support. Our Women’s History Month article series highlights contemporary voices whose work embodies our commitment to compassionate, culturally responsive care.

This year, we recognized:

Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D.
Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.
Dr. Jenny Tzu-Mei Wang, Ph.D.
Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, M.D.
Dr. Jessi Gold, M.D.
Dr. Lauren Cook, Psy.D.
Dr. Alexandra Solomon, Ph.D.
Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, Ph.D.
Dr. Courtney Tracy, LCSW, Psy.D.
Dr. Diana Hill, Ph.D.
Dr. Ayanna Abrams, Psy.D.
Minaa B., LMSW

Each weekly article connected their leadership and advocacy to the work we do at Outreach — supporting mental health, substance use treatment, and long-term recovery through dignity, equity, and community-centered care.

If you haven’t yet explored the full series, we encourage you to visit opiny.org/whm to read the articles and learn more about the impact of these leaders.