The Outreach Report
Welcome to The Outreach Report monthly staff e-news!
Save the Date!
- January 26, 2026 New Walkingspree challenge begins! Open to all staff – see flyer below for more details!
February 2026 Payroll Calendar
February 6 & 20
Upcoming Holidays (Administrative Offices, Most Programs & Services Closed):
President’s Day – Monday, February 16
Celebrations in February:
February marks Black History Month and Ethnic Equality Month
- 2/1: National Freedom Day (USA)
- 2/2: Imbolc (Wicca/Pagan), Tu Bishvat (Jewish)
- 2/4: Rosa Parks Day
- 2/7: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
- 2/14: Valentine’s Day
- 2/15: Nirvana Day (Buddhist), Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
- 2/16: Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day
- 2/17: Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), Mardi Gras, Ramadan begins
- 2/18: Ash Wednesday
- 2/20: World Day of Social Justice
Recent Community Accomplishments & Celebrations:
- Congratulations to two outstanding team members at Outreach House II on their well-deserved promotions! Melanie Hlapatsos has been promoted to Assistant Director of Outreach House II. Melanie’s leadership, dedication, and commitment to supporting both our youth and staff have made a meaningful impact, and we are thrilled to see her step into this new role. Stephanie Dick has been promoted to Assistant Operations Manager of Outreach House II. Stephanie’s strong work ethic, attention to detail, and continued focus on program excellence have been instrumental to OH2’s success, and this promotion reflects the value she brings to the team every day. Congratulations again to Melanie and Stephanie on these exciting next steps in their careers! We look forward to all they will accomplish in their new roles at OH2.
- Our Outreach Recovery Center got into the holiday spirit by decorating their doors! Each space reflects creativity, joy, and the sense of community that makes Outreach so special! Look below to see some of the festive decorations!
- We’re excited to share that Outreach has once again been selected as a nonprofit partner in the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program! Throughout the month of February 2026, Outreach will receive $1 for every $2.50 reusable Community Bag purchased at our designated Stop & Shop location: 85 East Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. Please spread the word among your friends, family and contacts. Thank you for helping support our mission—every bag purchased makes a difference!
Best wishes to staff who celebrate Birthdays in January!
Erica Allen
Liza Almontero
Evangeline Aneke
Gabriella Auricchio
Jeffrey Tremayne Ball
Alannah Bilal
Timothy Cheslik
Victor Cruz
Alyssa Cuellar
Tiffy Cuellar
Mary Degiovine
Marc Denonn
Caitlin Duddy
Alexis Gadsden
Nytiah Germain
Walid Ghanimeh
Corine Granato
Amaka Gratia
Glenisha Helene Greaves
Jamila Havercome
Angel Hernandez
Muhammad Iqbal
Dylan Klansky
Johana Lizarraga
Mihai Lordache
Edward Mannine
Alexandra Mason
Alyse McCullough
Kevin McGuire
Maria McLean
Danielle Newlin
Steve Riad Rahaman
Sagarika Ray
Niyah Rivers
Keisha Nicola Rowland
Susan Sappleton
Jordan Schietinger
Kelly Smith
Emilia Souza
Alyssa Vastano
Darryl Williams
Shameika Williams
Welcome New Outreach Hires!
Jessica Aguilar, Weekend Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Erica Allen, Administrative Assistant, Young Adult Residence
Manuel Tomas Almanzar, Bilingual Counselor, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Vanessa Bonilla, Per Dieum Counselor, Outreach House I
Grezzette Jadera Borges, Cook, Women’s Residence
Kristopher Campos-Bonilla, Maintenance Worker, Outreach House II
Tanisha Collins, LPN, Outreach House II
Patrick Damore, Case Manager, Men’s Community Residence
Princes De Jesus, Per Diem Counselor, Outreach House I
Asia Gali-Parks, Floor Counselor, Women’s Residence
Brineka Goodridge, Intern, Outreach House I
Kailly Jimenez, Intern, REACT Center Outpatient Services
Jahmere Jones, Porter, Outreach Recovery Center
Jessica Jordan, PT Nurse, Young Adult Residence
Samantha Lange, Counselor, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Aryeh Litt, Intern, Richmond Hill Wellness Center & CCBHC
Edward Mannine, RN, Young Adult Residence
Leanne Motylenski, Manager of Community Partnerships, Richmond Hill
Hassan Nasr, Per diem Counselor, Outreach House I
Danielle Newlin, Senior Director of Finance
Carlos Parra, Per diem Counselor, Outreach House I
Kaya Robin, Per diem Counselor, Outreach House I
Vladimir Salomon, Administrative Assistant, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Joyeeta Sen, HR Talent Acquisition & Retention Specialist
Crystal Chevon Talbert, Intern, Bellport Outpatient Services
Romaine Anthony Thomas, Overnight Counselor, Outreach House II
Chiara Tufano, Vocational Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Orlando Urena-Cordero, Overnight Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Dennys Steven Vasquez Moreno, Per diem Counselor, Outreach House I
Danielle Marie Ward, Intern, Bellport Outpatient Services
Darryl Williams, Milieu Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Shameika Williams, Outreach Training Institute Senior Trainer
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities:
The OASAS Leadership Academy will be in person at Richmond Hill on March 13, April 17 and June 12 from 10:00 am-4:00 pm; there will be one virtual class as well. There is also a class beginning in March (date TBD) in Uniondale. The training is geared to those who are either already in a supervisory/management role or about to be. Staff can apply here.http://www.oasasleadership.academy/. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. Please let me Liliane Drago (lilianedrago@opiny.org) know, as the agency has a certain number of complementary registrations since we are the host of the training.
February
Writing a Billable Note (3 hours)
- Date: Tuesday February 3, 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
- Trainer: Dolores Jewell, PhD, JD, Adjunct Instructor
Registration Deadline: January 27, 2026
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DBT Skills and Protocol Overview (3 hours)
- Date: Thursday February 12, 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
- Trainer: Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, Adjunct Instructor
Registration Deadline: February 5, 2026
• • • • • •
Cultural Trauma (3 hours)
- Date: Thursday February 19, 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
- Trainer: Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, Adjunct Instructor
Registration Deadline: February 12
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Working with the LGBTQIA Community (3 hours)
- Date: Wednesday February 25, 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
- Trainer: Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, Adjunct Instructor
Registration Deadline: February 18, 2026
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Beyond the Test: Empathy, Bias, and Advocacy in Toxicology and Substance Use Disorder Recovery (3 hours)
- Date: Thursday February 26, 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
- Trainer: Paige Fisk, LCSW, Adjunct Instructor
Registration Deadline: February 19, 2026
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March
Collaborative Documentation (3 hours)
- Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
- Trainer: Dolores Jewell, PhD, JD, Adjunct Instructor
Registration Deadline: February 27, 2026
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Improving Client Engagement and Compliance (3 hours)
- Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
- Trainer: TBD
Registration Deadline: March 4, 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.
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HR Column
New to HR: Joyeeta Sen, Talent Acquisition & Retention Specialist
Human Resources is pleased and excited to introduce Joyeeta Sen, who has joined the HR Department as our new Talent Acquisition & Retention Specialist! Joyeeta brings over 5 years of progressive Human Resources experience, with strong expertise in recruitment, employee engagement, and HR operations across multiple industries. She holds an MBA in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and is currently pursuing her SHRM-CP certification. With extensive experience in full-cycle recruitment, developing effective sourcing strategies, and partnering with leadership to align hiring practices with organizational goals, Joyeeta will be a fantastic addition to our HR team. Her proficiency in HR systems will also help enhance efficiency and support key initiatives moving forward. She will be working closely with staff across the organization to support HR priorities and recruitment needs. Welcome Joyeeta!
Step Into Wellness: Celebrating Our 2025 Walkingspree Winners!
Congratulations to all 2025 Walkingspree Winners! A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the 12 Days of Fitness Challenge—your commitment to wellness during the holiday season was truly inspiring. We saw incredible dedication, great energy, and some truly impressive step counts along the way! A special shoutout to our Top Steppers, who went above and beyond to crush their goals, earn badges, and receive well-deserved $50 gift cards: Rynell Wells (11 badges); Stacey Bridgeford and Kara Edwards (10 badges); Tzvia Waronker and Kathey Norman-Edwards (8 badges); Cedric Head, Dalvis Medrano, and William Morris (6 badges); and Shaela Fridell and Olivia Cardone (5 badges). Congratulations again to all our winners—you’ve set the bar high! And for those who didn’t win this time or weren’t able to participate, don’t worry—a new challenge starts this month, so be sure to check out the flyer below for details and join the fun!
Compliance Corner
Celebrating Our Team: Outreach Holiday Party & Longevity Awards
The holidays didn’t end in December at Outreach! On January 8, we hit pause on our busy schedules and came together to celebrate the people who make Outreach what it is—our incredible staff. From laughter and dancing to heartfelt gratitude, the day was a wonderful reminder of the strong community we’ve built together. The celebration also gave us the opportunity to recognize team members reaching important milestone years of service through our Longevity Awards, honoring staff who have dedicated 5, 10, 15, 20, and up to 25 years to Outreach’s mission of providing compassionate, high-quality substance use and mental health treatment. We are deeply grateful for their commitment, professionalism, and the meaningful impact they make every day.
25 Years:
David Vizzini, Chief Administrative Officer
20 Years:
Marsha Radulov, Director of Special Events & Fundraising
David Youngblood, Recreation Counselor, Outreach House I
15 Years:
Paul Hoyle, Maintenance Worker, Bellport Outpatient Services
10 years:
Sorany Acosta, Residential Nursing Supervisor, Outreach House II
Danielle Murphy, Intake Coordinator, Outreach House II
Donna Bornfriend, Program Director, Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services
Rachael Witkowski, DWI Counselor, Bellport Outpatient Services
Edward Hernandez, Counselor, Richmond Hill CCBHC
5 Years:
Benjamin Fitzgerald, Porter, REACT Center
Diana Rosana Brathwaite, Coordinator, REACT Center
Marshee Monique Barclift, Office Manager, REACT Center
Laurie Ann Jackson, Primary Counselor, REACT Center
Juana Anneris Maria, Primary Counselor, REACT Center
Ana Victoria Harris, Peer Counselor, REACT Center
Sarah I. Newhouse, Porter, Bellport Outpatient Services
Antonio Lauradin, Over Night Counselor, Men’s Community Residence
Bernadette Acosta Singh, Peer Mentor, Outreach Recovery Center
Karla Celeste Tovar, Assistant IT Director
Alexis Attardi, Community Support Specialist, Outreach House II
Nikki Beirne, Adolescent Counselor, Bellport Outpatient Services
Edward Bellamy, Case Manager, Outreach Recovery Center
Asha Vereen, Director of Payroll
Kathleen O’Neill, Clinical Supervisor, Outreach House I
Maria McLean, Administrative Assistant, Outreach House I
Photos taken by Eric Yagual