The Outreach Report

Welcome to The Outreach Report monthly Staff E-news!   

October 2026 Payroll Calendar

October 2, 16 & 30

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

There are no holiday observances in October

Celebrations in August:

October is:

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Global Diversity Awareness Month
  • LGBTQ History Month
  • National Disability Employment Awareness Month
  • National Work and Family Month
  • Filipino American Heritage Month
  • German American Heritage Month
  • Italian American Heritage Month
  • Polish American Heritage Month

October 1: World Inclusion Day & International Day of Older Persons
October 2: International Day of Non-Violence
October 5: World Teachers Day
October 10: World Mental Health Day
October 11: National Coming Out Day
October 12: Indigenous People’s Day
October 15: Spirit Day
October 16: National Boss’s Day
October 31: Halloween

Help Us Connect with Local Schools!

As the new school year gets underway, we need your help connecting Outreach with schools in the communities where you live, work and where your children attend school.

On October 8 at Outreach House II on Long Island and October 9 at Outreach House I in Queens, Outreach will host “From School Concerns to Treatment Connections: Supporting Youth Together,” two special events for school administrators, social workers, counselors, nurses and other professionals who support young people and their families.

Attendees will learn about behavioral health challenges facing adolescents, available Outreach resources and referral pathways, and ways schools and Outreach can work together to better support students and families. They’ll also have an opportunity to tour our adolescent residential programs.

Here’s how you can help: Send their names and contact information to ellenbarker@opiny.org, and our Community Partnerships team will reach out directly.

The beginning of the school year is an important time to make sure schools know where to turn when a young person or family needs help. One connection from you could help open the door to support for a student or family who needs it.

Thank you for helping Outreach strengthen our connections with schools, communities, teens, and families!

Professional Development Opportunities

Free training for staff working in OASAS-licensed programs in New York State via OASAS-Funded State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant-Funded Training. All courses provide continuing education hours for CASAC, SW, MHC, and MFT!

Training for all staff working in OASAS-licensed programs in New York State are available at no charge under the OASAS SOR grant. SOR funded agencies throughout New York State will be prioritized, and others can also be admitted space permitting. Please see a listing of the trainings currently scheduled.

Important: Outreach Training Institute 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. 

SOR REGISTRATION LINK

October

Ethics & Professional Boundaries (3 hours)

This training provides a review of the OASAS Code of Professional Ethics governing the treatment of individuals with behavioral health disorders, which closely aligns with ethical standards followed by many professionals serving this population. Participants will examine common ethical dilemmas encountered in practice and apply a structured ethical decision-making model that can be used across a wide range of ethically challenging situations in service delivery.

  • Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm

Registration Deadline: October 14, 2026

• • • • • •

Psychological Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (3 hours)

This course will provide an understanding for all staff members who work in substance use disorder treatment and have client contact, regardless of role.  The goal of the course is to help sensitize participants to the impact trauma has on clients and how to interact with clients in a trauma-informed manner.   The definition of trauma, its signs and symptoms, and its pervasive impact on individuals will be explored.  Principles of trauma-informed care will be presented, and participants will discuss how to apply these to their work settings.

  • Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm

Registration Deadline: October 21, 2026

• • • • • •

November

Clinical Supervision Foundations II (16 hours)

This introductory course begins with the definition of clinical supervision, its goals and objectives, and the qualities and approaches of a good clinical supervisor.  The structure and benefits of various types of supervision are reviewed, and time management strategies are discussed.  Didactic presentation, group discussion, small group work and case vignettes are used.  In New York State, this training is required as part of the scopes of practice for clinicians who have supervisory responsibilities.

  • Time: 1:30 pm – 4:30pm

Registration Deadline: October 28, 2026

• • • • • •

Motivational Interviewing “Concepts to Practice” (M14) 2 Day – Training- In-Person (12 hours)

An interactive training that provides an introduction to Motivational Interviewing (MI), an evidence-based, person-centered approach for strengthening motivation and supporting positive behavior change. Participants will learn the core principles and skills of MI, including Open-Ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening, and Summaries (OARS). Through discussion and practical exercises, participants will develop strategies for engaging clients, exploring ambivalence, eliciting change talk, and supporting individuals in making meaningful and sustainable changes

• • • • • •

Motivational Interviewing “Concepts to Practice” (M14) 2 Day – Training- In-Person (12 hours)

An interactive training that provides an introduction to Motivational Interviewing (MI), an evidence-based, person-centered approach for strengthening motivation and supporting positive behavior change. Participants will learn the core principles and skills of MI, including Open-Ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflective Listening, and Summaries (OARS). Through discussion and practical exercises, participants will develop strategies for engaging clients, exploring ambivalence, eliciting change talk, and supporting individuals in making meaningful and sustainable changes.

Registration Deadline: November 10, 2026

• • • • • •

December

DBT Skills and Protocol Overview (3 hours)

This presentation will provide an introductory training on the fundamentals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills and protocols, designed to provide a foundational understanding and general practical application techniques.

  • Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm

Registration Deadline: November 25, 2026

• • • • • •

Medications for Addiction Recovery (3 hours)

This training will provide participants with knowledge and skills needed to counsel individuals on the use of addiction medications.

  • Date: Wednesday December 9, 2026
  • Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
  • Trainer: Gina Stafford LMFT

Registration Deadline: December 2, 2026

• • • • • •

Writing a Billable Note (3 hours) 

This course will teach participants the elements of a good progress note that includes the criteria required by Medicaid and other payers. Participants will learn to write exactly what is needed for reimbursement and to be more efficient in their documentation by eliminating unnecessary verbiage.

  • Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00pm

Registration Deadline: December 9, 2026

• • • • • •

Important: Outreach Training Institute 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. 

SOR REGISTRATION LINK

• • • • • •

Recent Community Accomplishments & Celebrations:

  • The Outreach Recovery Center’s Comprehensive Opioid Treatment Program (ORC OTP) has earned its second consecutive three-year CARF accreditation! Awarded in August, this three-year accreditation is the highest level granted by CARF and reflects a program’s commitment to meeting rigorous standards for quality, accountability, and person-centered care. This continued recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the ORC staff and, most importantly, the care and compassion they bring to the individuals we serve each day. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement!
  • Hats off to Julie Weissman on her promotion to Assistant Director of Outreach’s Men’s Community Residence in Brentwood! Julie has served as House Manager of the Women’s Recovery Residence for the past year and a half, providing strong leadership, administrative oversight, and support to the program. An Advanced CASAC, Julie also recently became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and is continuing to work toward diagnostic privileges. Her experience, dedication and strong connection to Outreach’s residential programs will serve her well in this new role. All the very best, Julie, on this exciting and well-deserved next step!
  • Compliments and cheers to Alyssa Vastano, Counselor at Bellport Outpatient Services, who earned her CASAC credential in August! This important professional achievement reflects Alyssa’s dedication to her work and continued growth in the field. Way to go, Alyssa!
  • Congratulations to Stacey Bridgeford, CASAC-T, of Suffolk Avenue Outpatient Services, who was named Employee of the Month for August 2026! Thank you, Stacey, for your dedication to Outreach and the clients we serve, and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

  • Well done Walking Spree Labor Day Challenge winners: Francisco Bejarano, Doug Sloan, Daniel Ebron, Robert Dandrea, Charlie Rickle, Elva Aguilar, Tanisha Collins, Alyse McCullough, Shaela Fridell and Meghan Montgomery! Challenges like Walking Spree are a fun way to encourage movement, support physical and mental well-being, and build some friendly competition and connection among colleagues. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to our top steppers!
  • On September 23, Outreach welcomed government and community leaders to the 400 Crooked Hill Road Brentwood campus for our Long Island Legislative Breakfast, bringing together representatives from state, federal, county, and local government, OASAS and public health for a conversation about behavioral health needs across Long Island. Guests included NYS Senator Monica Martinez, Assemblymember Keith Brown, Governor Hochul’s Suffolk County Regional Representative Thalia Olaya, and representatives from congressional offices, Suffolk County and the Town of Babylon. The discussion led by Interim President and CEO Paul Vitale, highlighted some of our agency’s priorities for 2027, including expanding integrated mental health services and access to medication for addiction treatment, strengthening services for young adults, and building the behavioral health workforce.
  • The Business Development Department, led by Christal Montague, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, welcomed colleagues from the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to Outreach House II for a special Building Bridges event focused on strengthening connections and collaboration in support of youth and families. During National Recovery Month, the event gave ACS and Outreach staff an opportunity to learn more about Outreach’s services, exchange ideas and explore ways to better connect young people and families with needed care and resources. Special thanks to the OH II team for generously hosting, Chef Doug for the delicious food, and Vice President of Training Liliane Drago, who led a continuing education workshop, “Listening Differently: Engaging Adolescents through Motivational Interviewing.” Thank you as well to our Executive Team and all the staff who helped make the event such a success!

  • During Recovery Month, Outreach was proud to be part of Steps for Hope and Healing: A Walk for Remembrance & Recovery, which brought the Long Island community together to honor those lost to substance use disorder and support individuals and families in recovery. The event culminated in the dedication of a new permanent overdose memorial at Tanner Park in Copiague, created as a place for remembrance, education and connection to treatment and support resources. John Venza, Outreach’s Vice President of Residential Services, helped plan the memorial and served as a keynote speaker at the event, which also included a special tribute to his son, Garrett, who was lost to a fentanyl-related overdose in 2016. John shared his perspective both at the event and in a Newsday feature about the memorial, emphasizing the importance of remembering those lost for the lives they lived, while continuing to raise awareness and offer hope to others affected by substance use disorder. Read the Newsday article

  • Outreach was proud to play an important role in this year’s TCA-OASAS Residential Summit, the most successful to date! The event was chaired by John Venza, Outreach’s Vice President of Residential Services, who helped bring together professionals and leaders from across the field to share ideas, strengthen collaboration, and explore the future of residential treatment and recovery services. The Summit also included a special recognition for Alexis Gadsden, Outreach’s former Chief Diversity Officer and current Board member, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award honoring her decades of dedication and contributions to the behavioral health field. Congratulations to John, Alexis and everyone who helped make this year’s Summit such a success!

  • Outreach was proud to once again participate in the 11th Annual John Brower Jr. Memorial Heroes Against Heroin 5K Walk at Jones Beach, a meaningful day of remembrance, recovery, hope, and community. Outreach has shared a longstanding and special relationship with the Brower family, and we are grateful to continue supporting an event that brings so many people together to honor lives lost, celebrate recovery and raise awareness about substance use disorder. A special thank you to Marsha Radulov, Director of Special Events and Fundraising, for coordinating Outreach’s participation; to our Business Development team, who provided Narcan training to walkers; and to all of the Outreach staff and clients who came out to walk, support one another and represent our agency.

Shhh… It’s a Secret! Celebrating John Venza

This year marks John Venza’s 35th anniversary with Outreach, making our Vice President of Residential Services one of the agency’s longest-serving employees! To celebrate John’s decades of service, leadership and dedication to our clients and the behavioral health field, we’re creating a special keepsake book to present to him at our staff holiday party. We need your help! Please send photos of John through the years, favorite memories, or messages of congratulations and appreciation to ellenbarker@opiny.org and michaelstewart@opiny.org by November 1. And remember… to please keep it a secret so we can surprise John!

Social Media Corner

Are you interested in building a more professional presence on LinkedIn but not sure where to start? Join us on October 22 for a friendly, practical training session where we’ll cover LinkedIn best practices, privacy settings for those who prefer to keep a lower profile, and easy ways to use tools like ChatGPT to help write professional posts and content ideas. This is a supportive, judgment-free session designed for all comfort levels — whether you actively use LinkedIn or are just getting started.

Follow this link to register for this training: https://forms.gle/MBU77A9jt4TRN5BTA

Stay connected and keep up with everything happening across the agency by following Outreach’s social media:

Need assistance signing up? Contact Michael Stewart for more information. (michaelstewart@opiny.org)

Open Enrollment Is Coming Soon!

It’s almost time! Open Enrollment for medical, dental and vision benefits begins October 5, with elections taking effect November 1.

This year’s Open Enrollment is mandatory for all benefit eligible employees, including those who recently enrolled in benefits. Everyone will need to log into ADP and complete the Open Enrollment process, even if you are waiving coverage.

Adding a new spouse or eligible dependent? Be prepared to provide a marriage or birth certificate if one isn’t already on file.

More details and instructions are coming soon, so keep an eye on your email—and enroll early once the portal opens!

Please note: Flexible Spending enrollment for 2027 will take place separately in November and is optional.

Best wishes to staff who celebrate Birthdays in September!

Daoud Abeid
Elva Aguilar
Oscar Bejarano
Gregory Dale Berger
Jessica Callaghan
Kyria Dubique
Vannessa Francois
Christina Gagliardi
Ankit Gautam
Delia Giambone
Denise Hard
Melissa Herrmann
Ashley Mack
Anthony Marshall
Reed Miller
Ricky Ocasio
Kathleen O’Neill
Heather Onishea
Luis Ortiz
Carlos Parra
Nina Parrish
Takhim Pierre
Taylor Prezioso
Tiffany Amber Recio
Antholin Richards
Jewel Robinson
Jennifer M Serrano
Jessica Shuren
Justina Turner Bey
Desiree Wallace
Danielle Marie Ward
Malgorzata Witek

Welcome New Outreach Hires!

Sophia Isabelle Borg, Intern, Bellport Outpatient Services
Gabrielle Bronson, Overnight Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Tabitha Burgess, Intern, Richmond Hill CCBHC
Howard Cabrera, Chef, Outreach House II
Ruquaiyah Caldwell, Counselor, Outreach House I
Luis Aparicio Campos, Intern, Outreach House II
Karla Cando, Administrative Assistant, ORC
Carissma Cannon,  Licensed Practical Nurse, Young Adult Residence
Michael Anthony Castellani, Intern, Outreach House II
Joanne Charles, Intern, Outreach House I
Catherine Cheffo, Intern, Outreach House II
Nicola Dyce, Counselor, Outreach House I
Laura Feeley, Adolescent Counselor, Bellport Outpatient
Alando Finney, Chef, Outreach House I
Jackelyn Godec, Per Diem Nurse, ORC
Kayla Gorgone, Intern, Outreach House II
Ethan Gries, Milieu Floor Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Adrian Hall, Overnight Counselor, Outreach House I
Zeenat Hatami, Intern, Outreach House II
Marthe Hippolyte, Milieu Floor Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Lashawn Hubbard,  Overnight Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Emily Jette, Intern, Outreach House II
Lorraine Johnson, OTP Nurse, ORC
Roba Kaid, Intern, Outreach House I
Jennifer Kenney, Intern, Outreach House II
Gabriella Grace Kryoner, Intern, Outreach House II
Kathleen Kunz, Intake Counselor, ORC
Jaime Mclehose, Intern, Outreach House II
Joseph Frank Mead, Intern, Bellport Outpatient
Brittin Milenkovic, Intern, Richmond Hill
Kei Miyaguchi, Intern, Outreach House II
Angelina Nieves, Milieu Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Jason Orr, Overnight Counselor, Outreach House I
Natasha Pauciullo, Per Diem Nurse, ORC
Muzammil Rasul, Registered Nurse, Young Adult Residence
Catherine Reyes, Per Diem Nurse, ORC
Antholin Richards, Overnight Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Charlie Rickle, Floor Counselor, Outreach House I
Rodolfo Roque, Overnight Counselor, Young Adult Residence
Maria Roth, Counselor, Outreach House II
Isabella Seda, Intern, Outreach House II
Jennifer M Serrano, Intern, Richmond Hill
Dannielle Karise Small, Family Therapist, Outreach House I
Helen Sosa, Administrative Assistant, Richmond Hill CCBHC
Elizabeth Strebel, Intern, Outreach House II
Krista Sullivan, Intern, Outreach House II
Chanel Tyson, Licensed Practical Nurse, Young Adult Residence
Francely Valverde Sibaga, Primary Counselor, Outreach House II
Hailey VanZeyl , Intern, Bellport Outpatient Services
Celines Vasquez, Intern, Outreach House II
Shamonique Wynter, Client Benefits Associate, Outreach House II

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Each October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of the importance of education, early detection and supporting the individuals and families whose lives are touched by breast cancer.

At Outreach, where our mission is about Building Healthy Lives, it is also an important reminder that caring for ourselves means paying attention to both our physical and behavioral health. We encourage our staff, clients and families to learn about breast cancer risk, talk with their healthcare providers about appropriate screenings, and encourage the people they care about to do the same.

Cost or lack of insurance should not necessarily stand in the way of getting screened. The New York State Department of Health Cancer Services Program (CSP) provides no cost breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings, and diagnostic services to eligible New Yorkers. The program is available to people who live in New York State, meet age and income requirements, and either do not have health insurance or have insurance with cost sharing that may prevent them from obtaining needed screening or diagnostic services. Link here to learn more about the Cancer Services Program and eligibility requirements.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, consider taking one important step for yourself, or encouraging someone you care about to do the same. Awareness matters. Screening matters. And taking care of your health matters.