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Hello Roseann:
This month's edition is packed! We have July's holidays and observances, employee news, upcoming events, another great giveaway, and more.
Before you scroll down, let's take a moment to highlight a few big news items.
Town Hall Meetings
Last Thursday, June 27, Samaritan Daytop Village held its first set of virtual Town Hall meetings, hosted by President & CEO Mitchell Netburn and Executive Vice President Alicia McFarlane. About 525 employees attended through Zoom.
With help from our external consultants, Mitchell and Alicia unveiled the agency's new Core Values: TO DREAM.
T - Teamwork
O - Openness
D - Diversity (including equity and inclusion)
R - Respect and Caring
E - Employee Recognition
A - Accountability
M - Making a Difference
These values are the guiding principles for all the decisions we make and actions we take. They help drive our mission and are reflected in the work we do and the staff we hire.
Employees in attendance asked questions and provided feedback. In fact, there were so many great questions - we plan to follow up with a list of FAQs!
If you have ideas, suggestions, and feedback about the new Core Values, email values@samaritanvillage.org.
Other Big News
The quarterly Town Hall meetings are part of the agency's commitment to expand communications with staff. In addition to the Core Values presentation, Mitchell also announced that salary adjustments would be coming soon!
New Employee Assistance Program
Check out the Benefits section (below) for details on our new and improved Employee Assistance Program. The EAP offers a lot more than counseling!
Reminder: Staff Appreciation BBQ is July 25
Samaritan Daytop Village’s 2024 Staff Appreciation BBQ is July 25, 12-4 pm, on our Rhinebeck campus. There will be plenty of food, games, music, and fun. Rain date is July 26.
For those needing transportation from NYC, buses will take staff to Rhinebeck and back. Other programs will use their vans or carpool. Staff needed at their program sites that day will have a special treat available to them.
To attend, you must register. Click here to register.
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Hope you enjoy this edition and have a great July!
The Human Resources Team
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"Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much."
- Helen Keller
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Plan your team, client, and patient engagements around these national observances and holidays during the month of July. | |
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Healthy Vision Month
Make your eyes a priority this month. Have your vision checked. Schedule a dilated eye exam with a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist, Protect your peepers by wearing safety glasses or goggles, as needed, on the job, and sunglasses while outdoors. Here are more tips.
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UV Safety Awareness Month
Ultraviolet rays are at the root of most skin cancers. Even sitting next to a sunny office window can be dangerous this time of year. Protect yourself. Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Choose sun-protective clothing in and outside the water. Stay in the shade as much as possible.
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National Picnic Month
Samaritan Daytop Village's 1st Annual Employee Appreciation BBQ is Friday, July 26th in Rhinebeck. Celebrate with your programs too!
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Independence Day - July 4
The nation is celebrating its 248th year of independence. Whether you're celebrating with friends and family or co-workers and clients, stay safe. Here are some safety tips from the American Red Cross.
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National Workaholics Day -
July 5
Did you know there was a day for all us workaholics? Here are some tips to help maintain a healthy work/life balance.
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Global Forgiveness Day - July 7
Plan this day with your programs and co-workers. It's a day to forgive others as well as ourselves, and to put aside differences to seek ways to heal. This year's theme is "Every Child, Every Right."
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Chronic Disease Day - July 10
Chronic diseases last for three months or more and may need medical attention or limit daily activity. Hope Care Management in the Bronx works with patients who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and diabetes. Learn some self-care tips on the Chronic Disease Day website.
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International Self-Care Day -
July 24
Make yourself a priority because self-care is healthcare! But don't limit it to just one day of the year. Make it a part of your healthy lifestyle, 24/7. Are you looking for some self-care tips to share? Check the infographic below for more.
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National Hire a Veteran Day -
July 25
For our Vocational Counselors and Talent Acquisition teams, National Hire a Veteran Day is right up their alley! You too can help veterans find stability and financial independence through employment. Connect them with our TA team, introduce them to other veterans on staff, and network on their behalf.
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Parents' Day - July 25
On this day each year, Americans recognize outstanding parents, celebrate the teamwork involved in raising children, and support the role of parental guidance in building a strong, stable society. There are Parents' Day events, organized by local committees, in nearly every state. And there is even a national Parents of the Year Awards Banquet, held by the Universal Peace Federation. Awards are given to parents who exemplify parental love, service, and dedication to their family and their local community. Consider ways to celebrate the parents in your programs.
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2024 Summer Olympics (Paris)
July 26-August 11
Friday, July 26, marks the Opening Ceremony for the XXXIII Olympiad. There will be athletes from around the world competing in 35 different sports. Learn more about the sporting events, get the event schedule, and more.
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World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly - July 28
"Do not cast me off in my old age." It's the theme for this year's recognition day. In 2021 the Roman Catholic Church created the day to help connect generations to each other. The official flower is the "forget-me-not" flower, seen in the picture above.
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Seeking intercultural observances to celebrate with your team, clients, and patients? The DEI Committee recommends adding these dates to your calendar. | |
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National Minority Mental Health Month
Racial and ethnic minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes because of cultural stigma and lack of access to mental health care services. Help fight the stigma with open conversations in the community. Ensure your clients are accessing the mental health services each of our programs offers. Share fast facts from the NAMI toolkit or the Mental Health America website.
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International Non-Binary People's Day - July 14
Midway between International Women's Day and Men's Day is International Non-Binary People's Day.
Non-binary describes an individual who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary individuals may identify as being both a man and a woman, neither, or as transgender. Learn more here.
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Do you have ideas to share with the DEI Committee? We want to hear your thoughts on how Samaritan Daytop Village can best support and promote the value of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at work. Send an email to DEI@samaritanvillage.org. | |
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Fast Facts: DEI Committee
Mission Statement
To intentionally promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through active learning and growth to ensure sustainable change in the agency’s services, policies, and culture.
Vision
The vision of the DEI Committee is to create a climate where everyone has a voice and can work together to dismantle systemic, conscious, and unconscious biases, leading to a healthy, equitable community within our organization, which can permeate into our collective society.
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The employees at Samaritan Daytop Village are constantly striving for excellence. We take a moment to recognize accomplishments and milestones. | |
Roger Walker, Program Director for the Ed Thompson Veterans Center, recently provided testimony to the New York City Council's Committee on Veterans. He shared the program's history with veteran-specific treatment for substance use disorder and mental health disorders like PTSD. You can hear his testimony (at the 2:27:05 mark) by visiting the NYC Council's website and clicking "Meeting Video" at the top of the page. | | |
Sarah March, Program Director for the Young Mothers Program, provided testimony at a recent New York City Council meeting for the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities & Addiction and the Committee on Women and Gender Equity. She spoke about the ongoing need to fund programs like YMP, which treats pregnant and parenting moms with substance use disorder. You can watch her testimony at the 2:26:10 mark on YouTube. | | | |
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The Central Admissions staff participated in the National Wear Blue Day on June 14. They wore blue clothing to show support for men’s health and promote better health choices. #WearBlueDay
(l to r) Admissions Specialists Malaika Roach-Brown, Sylvia Sparks, Leigh Coulter and Monique Williams. Honorable mention goes to Gail Ousley who wore blue and took this photo!
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Our Recovery Services team from PARC in Queens and the Bronx traveled to Denver, Colorado to attend the Friends of Recovery - New York (FOR-NY) Recovery Leadership Summit.
(l to r) Annette Evans, Assistant Director of PARC Bronx; Angelia Smith, FOR-NY Executive Director; Patricia Benecke, Assistant Director of PARC Queens; and Jessica Feliciano, Sr. Director of Recovery Services for Samaritan Daytop Village.
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PARC recently launched a bus shelter ad campaign in Queens and the Bronx. The ads are designed to build awareness about PARC and its availability to individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.
There are two versions of the ads: one featuring the Bronx team and the other with the Queens staff.
You can find the ads at five bus shelters in Queens and the Bronx until the end of July.
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Congratulations to the staff at the Suffolk Outpatient Treatment Program in Huntington Station, Long Island. The program launched its new "Samaritans Without Limits" calendar by taking patients on a nature walk in Heckscher Park. The schedule is filled with peer-run activities, allowing staff to bring counseling sessions outdoors while introducing participants to sober activities. There are plans to meet at a soup kitchen, historic park, and ecology center, and to host an in-house poetry and crafting workshop.
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We are thrilled to announce that the Richmond Hill Opioid Treatment Program has been awarded a prestigious three-year CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation! This significant achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard of care and support to our clients. Under the dedicated leadership of Program Director Erica Rosa, the team worked diligently to meet CARF's rigorous standards. This accreditation is a testament to our staff's hard work and dedication and a mark of excellence recognized on an international level.
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Samaritan Daytop Village staff attended the 22nd Annual New York Supportive Housing Conference in New York City on June 20th. Among them were several members of the Permanent Supportive Housing team, led by Program Director Amy Greco (pictured far right).
Did you know...?
The permanent supportive housing program provides tenants with long-term, affordable housing and access to supportive services such as mental health treatment, counseling for substance use, healthcare, and employment support. The goal is to help individuals achieve and maintain housing stability while improving their overall quality of life.
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Staff from the Boulevard Family Residence accompanied high school graduate Kimberly Curiel Silverio and her family to the 2024 Future Leaders Scholarship ceremony. Kimberly, a Boulevard resident, received a scholarship at the ceremony. The team said it was extremely rewarding to watch Kimberly walk the stage to receive her award; they had witnessed firsthand all of Kimberly's hard work and dedication throughout the school year. It shows how resilience during difficult times can lead to gratifying achievements.
(l to r) Recreation Coordinator Denisse Lozano-Abarca, Education Coordinator Antoine Johnson, NYC Department of Homeless Services Administrator Joslyn Carter, Kimberly Curiel Silverio, and Security Counselor Jamel Mckithen.
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Ellenville DREAM Team
Ellenville Residential Treatment Program staff got right down to business with celebrating - and promoting - the agency's new Core Values. Teams were each assigned a value. They were then tasked with promoting and educating their value to colleagues. Kudos Program Director Quetcy Alexander-Young and to the employee who DREAMed up this very creative idea!
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We joined InUnity Alliance in the Rally to Fund Mental Health! At the event, we asked the City of New York to continue investing in the behavioral health services so critical to New Yorkers impacted by substance use disorder.
You can see our team on the steps of City Hall (in green T-shirts) in this Instagram video posted by Council Member Erik Bottcher.
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On June 13, we held a Bronx Opioid Overdose Awareness Ceremony with Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson at Joyce Kilmer Park. Speaking at the event were our President & CEO Mitchell Netburn, Borough President Gibson, State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, and Assemblymember Landon Dais.
Joining them in the ceremony were Peer Recovery Professionals Jesus Hernandez (PARC Bronx/Citywide Addiction Support Network), Taylor Smith (PARC Queens/Citywide Addiction Support Network), and Antoinette (PARC Bronx) who all did a fantastic job!
Learn more in these news stories by the Bronx Times and News12 Bronx.
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Former NBA basketball player Michael Sweetney visited the students at The Daytop Preparatory School. The private alternative high school is located at the Suffolk Outpatient Treatment Program in Hungtington Station, Long Island. Sweetney shared his mental health struggles and their impact on his athletic career. After his talk, he held a basketball clinic with the teens. Kudos to Business Education Manager Diane Gabriel for putting together the event! | |
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PARC held its 2nd Annual Jamaica Community Fair at Rufus King Park last month. The event featured live performances, a DJ, giveaways, inspirational talks, and poetry readings. Nearly 30 vendors shared a wide range of health and mental health resources. Our Talent Acquisition team was there too looking for new applicants and referrals. | | |
The Samaritan Daytop Community Festival took place in June this year at its prime location in mid-town Manhattan. It was a beautiful weekend day to build awareness, recruit new employees, offer free Narcan training, sell art from the Woodside Senior Center artists, make arts and crafts, and more. There was even a duck! Congrats to the Samaritan Daytop Foundation on a great event! | | |
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IN BRIEF
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Congratulations to Dr. Carolann Slattery who was promoted to Chief Clinical Officer. Dr. Slattery will ensure compliance with our clinical model, oversee quality improvement, and continuously integrate evidence-based practices. She was previously VP of Outpatient Services.
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Learning and Development Coordinator Alicia Marie Rivers received her MBA in Media Management from Metropolitan College.
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Bronx Outpatient Treatment Program Program Director Katelyn McDonagh proudly announced that two staff members have passed their licensing exams this year. Therapist Raquel Gersten passed in March to become an LCSW. Mental Health Specialist Tashawna Moore passed in April to gain an LMHC.
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Rockland Outpatient Treatment Program Director Daniel Sullivan announces that Counselor Maria Monteiro has passed her CASAC exam and will receive her certificate from NYS OASAS. Maria joined Samaritan Daytop Village five years ago as an Administrative Assistant.
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Larry Perulli, Program Director of Fox Run Residential Treatment Program, has announced that Peer Specialist Sean Tobokia passed the CRPA test to become a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate.
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Fox Run's Clinical Director Greg Coston is retiring after 44 years in the human services field, 24 of which were with Daytop Village and Samaritan Daytop Village.
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Jacqueline Samuels, Program Director of the Cape Road Residential Treatment Program, is happy to announce that the Cape Road swimming pool is officially open! The pool is available to any SDV program wanting a day of swimming and lunch. To reserve time at the pool, please contact June Hanley at 845-647-6575, ext. 3359.
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The latest edition of the Mosaic newsletter* was just released last week. It features profiles of three inspiring employees: Case Manager Miranda Lopez, General Education Teacher Ben Tallman, and Recovery Coach William Eddins. * Note: All articles in the Mosaic newsletter link to the Samaritan Daytop Village website. You can view them anywhere except on the Samaritan Daytop Village Wi-Fi network. To view at work, change the URL in the navigation bar to start with: "HTTP://www."
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Win some swag - AGAIN!
Last month we asked: "How much is Samaritan's 401k match?" The answer: 0.25% for every 1% the employee contributes up to 4% of your paycheck.
So many employees sent responses last month. We just had to do it again.
This month, we're giving away five more tumblers with the agency logo (right).
Be among the first five employees* to send a correct response to this month's question. Email your answer to John.Best@samaritanvillage.org.
Question:
How much tuition reimbursement is available to eligible Samaritan Daytop Village employees? And for which levels of education or degree types?
Hint: The answer is in last month's Perspectives employee newsletter!
* Members of the Executive team and Human Resources Department are not eligible to participate in this contest.
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Congratulations to last month's winners!
- Kelsie Case
- Amy Greco
- Jay Gumaer
- Janna Hakim
- Byron Legardye
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NEW BENEFIT ALERT!
Employee Assistance Program: What You Need to Know
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We are excited to share an overview of the newest employee benefit -- the National Employee Assistance Program.
We may plan for every possible challenge life throws our way. But sometimes, we hit a wall and need an assist to help remove the barrier. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a national service, is here to help!
As of today, July 1st, the national EAP service is providing free and confidential services to all Samaritan Daytop Village (SDV) employees and their household members. EAP offers expert counseling services and more on topics affecting you personally or your family. They include:
- Stress and crisis management
- Family challenges
- Legal and financial issues
- Substance use, physical and mental health concerns
- Grief and loss
There is no cost to use the EAP service. SDV is paying for this benefit in full, giving you 24/7 access to a reliable and knowledgeable resource.,
Additionally, receiving EAP services is completely confidential. We will never know if you have used or are using the service, and you will never be required to tell us.
EAP services include:
- Legal; financial; behavioral, physical, and mental health; and personal/financial matters counseling
- 30 minutes of financial counseling
- 30 minutes of legal counseling, including access to discounted representation
- Help with identity recovery and identity theft protection
- Assistance in finding childcare and elder care
- Confidential help for supervisors with workplace challenges
These services are available nationwide, so help is accessible even if your loved ones live out of state.
HR will be scheduling introductory Zoom meetings later this month. Keep an eye out for that!
Looking for additional financial assistance? The HR Department can help you find scholarship opportunities. Here are a few that are available now.
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Scholarship Applications
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TO DREAM: Our Core Values
Look for the new TO DREAM poster in your program or office.
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Check out some upcoming recruiting and agency events for employees, clients, and the public.
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Fundraisers
Samaritan Daytop Foundation 17th Golf Invitational & Dinner
July 18, 12-4 p.m.
Richmond County Country Club
Golf Registration & Brunch: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Golf Shotgun Start & Lunch: 12 p.m.
1122 Todt Hill Road, Staten Island
The Clubhouse, 135 Flagg Place, Staten Island
Cocktail Hour: 5:30 p.m.
Awards Dinner: 6:30 p.m.
CLICK to purchase tickets and sponsorships.
Employee Events
Staff Appreciation BBQ
July 25, 12-4 p.m.
(Rain date: July 26)
Samaritan Daytop Village Rhinebeck Campus
Register HERE
Ongoing Trainings (FREE)
Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training (Zoom)
July 8, 2024, 12-1:30 p.m.
Learn how to become a gatekeeper and take citizen action to deter suicides.
To register, contact Jessica Feliciano, Patricia Benecke, or call 929-244-1445 (Queens) or 929-244-1500 (Bronx).
Motivational Interviewing (CASAC; 6 CEU credits)
Internal training - clinical/direct care staff only
Wednesday, July 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Samaritan Daytop Village Headquarters
138-02 Queens Blvd., Briarwood, NY 11435
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented communication approach designed to elicit and strengthen individuals' motivation for positive behavioral change. It is an evidence-based practice that uses a person-centered strategy to challenge yet strengthen the client’s commitment to a specific goal(s). Additionally, this course provides an in-depth exploration of the principles and applications of MI. It also utilizes its techniques to elicit and explore the person’s reasons for change (through the Stages of Change Model) within an atmosphere of compassion and acceptance. This training introduces the skills associated with MI, including OARS, expressing empathy, rolling with resistance, and avoiding common roadblocks to change.
Register at training@samaritanvillage.org and list the staff name and course.
Virtual Narcan Training (Zoom)
July 12 or 26, 2024, 12-1:30 p.m.
Learn the signs of an opioid overdose, what Narcan is, and how to administer it. Classes are online; in-person, group sessions can be arranged. Upon completion, students receive a free Narcan rescue kit.
To register, contact Jessica Feliciano, Patricia Benecke, or call 929-244-1445 (Queens) or 929-244-1500 (Bronx).
Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training (Zoom)
July 26, 2024, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges and substance use disorder.
To register, contact Patricia Benecke or Annette Evans, or call 929-244-1445 (Queens) or 929-244-1500 (Bronx).
Is your event missing from this list? Send your event info with any flyers or links to michelle.demott@samaritanvillage.org.
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July Open House & Hiring Events
Do you know someone who would be a great addition to the Samaritan Daytop Village team? Share the Talent Acquisition team's recruitment schedule for July.
Tuesday, July 2, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Delight Stay Hotel
53-05 Queens Boulevard, Queens, NY 11377
Hiring Manager: Lehsly Espinoza
Wednesday, July 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tompkins Men's Residence
119 Tompkins Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10304
Hiring Manager: Susan Bernstein
Wednesday, July 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hiring Event at Fortune Society Business Partnership
2976 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11101
Hiring Manager: Tanya Reina-Gomez
Wednesday, July 10, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Northern Boulevard Douglaston
243-02 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY 11362
Hiring Manager: Robin Glenn
Thursday, July 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sweet Home Suites, 38-07 Hunters Point Avenue
Queens, NY 11101
Hiring Manager: Tyra Brooks
Tuesday, July 16, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Clermont
65 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Hiring Manager: Kevin Figueroa
Tuesday, July 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Delight Stay Hotel
53-05 Queens Boulevard, Queens, NY 11377
Hiring Manager: Lehsly Espinoza
Wednesday, July 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tompkins Men's Residence
119 Tompkins Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10304
Hiring Manager: Susan Bernstein
Wednesday, July 17, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Northern Boulevard Douglaston
243-02 Northern Boulevard Douglaston, New York 11362
Hiring Manager: Robin Glenn
Friday, July 19, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Clermont
65 Clermont Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11205
Hiring Manager: Kevin Figueroa
Wednesday, July 24
Westchester Avenue
2008 Westchester Avenue Bronx, New York 10462
Hiring Manager: Rebecca Siracusa
Wednesday, July 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sweet Home Suites
38-07 Hunters Point Avenue Queens, New York 11101
Hiring Manager: Tyra Brooks
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Looking for an email or phone number? Here is the HR team's most valuable list of contacts.
Human Resources Department
Main Number: 718-487-5840
Peter Gonzalez, Director of Human Resources, ext. 1234
Gregg Cavaluzzi, Director of Talent Acquisition, ext. 1336
Sandy Leon, Benefits Manager, ext. 1233
Quality Assurance Compliance Department
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24/7 Hotline: 888-695-1567
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Vulnerable Person's Central Register Hotline: 855-373-2122
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Perspectives is an email newsletter written by and for the employees of Samaritan Daytop Village and Samaritan Daytop Foundation. All information presented in this publication is meant for internal use only and should not be forwarded or shared externally to any individual or entity that is not employed by any programs or service departments within the Samaritan Daytop Village network.
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