RICHARD STRAND
OTI CLASS OF 2000 GRADUATE!

Assistant Director of OTI, CASAC
BS Empire State College:
Human Services Management
Dept. of Transp. Certified SAP
15 years in the Substance Abuse field
8 years working with Outreach Project 
4 years as an Advisor with OTI

I have close to 15 years of passionate work in the field of Addictions. I have worked with various populations: Latino Immigrants, HIV/AIDS, DWI and Adolescents. I continue to provide direct client care twice a week. I owe my enjoyment and enthusiasm for this field to the training I received at Outreach Training Institute. I also understand the necessity to teach and train our future generation of CASAC colleagues in a way that they can be prepared and understand the responsibilities of helping someone recover from substance abuse dependence. I just want to say that OTI is more than an education in the Substance Abuse field; it is an experience that might change your own life. Hope to see you soon.  

TATIANA BEDOYA

Evaluator/ Research Assistant
BA University of Hawaii: Criminology
MA St. John’s University: Criminology
Part of the Outreach Team since 2006

Since 2006, I've tracked current students and OTI alumni through an evaluation process that utilizes a series of questionnaires. As students begin reporting internships involvement and securing employment at OASAS approved facilities as well as when they report advancing in their current career with promotions and raises I feel an overwhelmingly sense of joy. It's a privilege to be a part of so many success stories. Keep'em coming!

DAVID GREENBERG

 Coordinator of Student Placement Services
18 years with Outreach Project
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
BA Brooklyn College: Political Science
MA Long Island University: Counseling
Recipient of the Special Services Award from the NYS Division of Substance Abuse Service
Received a Commendation from the President’s Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped
Serves as Co-Chair of AVRASA

For 21 years David worked at Citibank in personnel and counseling functions throughout the corporation. In the early 1970's Mr. Greenberg developed a hiring program at Citibank for recovering alcoholics, ex-substance abusers and ex-offenders. At New York University's School of Continuing Education, David taught classes in resume writing and interview training. Resulting from the above experience, David designed and conducted workshops on job search at many prominent drug and alcohol treatment programs throughout the New York Metropolitan area. David worked as a Loaned Executive from Citibank to the New York State Division of Substance Abuse Services. Since 1986 he has also been teaching job search workshops for inmates at New York State Correctional Facilities in New York City.

Since 1987, Mr. Greenberg has been president of David Peters Associates, an outplacement consulting firm which provides counseling services to employees of corporations who have been laid off from their positions. Additionally, Mr. Greenberg is a consultant to the New York State Department of Education where he prepares disabled individuals to seek employment by writing resumes and conducting interviewing/job search workshops. David is the author of the book, “Off Drugs, In Recovery and Still Unemployed” and currently has a private counseling practice.

JANICE HANNIGAN

OTI Administrative Assistant

My name is Janice Hannigan and I have been working for the Outreach Training Institute for seven years in the Richmond Hill, Queens and Greenpoint, Brooklyn training facilities. My position allows me to be very interactive with all our students from the first time they call and request a package of information, through the interview process, acceptance into OTI, and throughout the eleven months of the CASAC program, to their graduation. We provide each student with the tools that they will need to have a productive career working in the field of alcohol and substance abuse.

The first thing that I would want to stay to a potential student who was contemplating entering our 350 Hour CASAC Diploma Program is that the Outreach Training Institute is not only an institution of learning for people who want to direct the paths of their life's work to helping others in the field of alcohol and substance abuse, but that it is a life changing experience of personal growth, strength and development. There is an intangible quality "we call it magic," that occurs in the school to each potential counselor. Our OTI family includes the lecturers, student advisors, staff members and the diverse student body itself, that as a whole, brings about this tremendous individual change in mind, body and spirit to all who attend and are working toward being potential counselors.

Give us a call or visit our website and begin your journey with us.

LORRAINE STEWART

Long Island Training Coordinator
AS Suffolk County Community College
OTI East Training Coordinator since 2004
Over 22 years in the Substance Abuse field
Over 15 years working with Outreach Project

Welcome to our new webpage! Let me take a moment of your time and introduce myself.  I am the Training Coordinator at our Long Island site located in Brentwood. As you can see, I’ve been in this field for a long time and am anxious to hear from anyone interested in becoming a CASAC or anyone who would like to learn more about our program.  If you are interested in a career and not just a job, why not complete our application and begin a journey of self-discovery that will change your life and others around you.  If you have questions, just call me.  I look forward to meeting you as you begin the first step in obtaining your goal.

 What are you waiting for?  Pick up the phone and let the process begin!

MARK M. ARMIENTO

For over 25 years, Mr. Armiento has been providing training, clinical and consultation services for professionals in the areas of personal development, alcohol and drug misuse, sport performance, organizational management and general health & wellness. Mr. Armiento was the Vice President of Outreach Project, a 15 million dollar non-profit agency which has been providing drug & alcohol treatment services in the New York Metropolitan area for over 25 years and Executive Director of the Outreach Training Institute, instructing yearly over 300 counselors aspiring to become N.Y.S. credentialed counselors. Outreach Training Institute has been awarded the 2005 IPDA New York State award for program excellence in addictions education and training.

In addition, Mark Armiento is a sports psychology & counseling consultant for St. John’s University’s athletic department and holds advanced certificates in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis, Reiki, Auricular Acupuncture, Trauma Reduction (EMDR), and Transcendental Meditation (TM).

Mr. Armiento currently has a private practice in Westchester.

GAIL COMPTON

CASAC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
B.A. SUNY Buffalo: Psychology
M.A. University of South Florida:
Rehabilitation Counseling
30 yrs in substance abuse treatment,
administration and counselor training
OTI Student Advisor and Lecturer since 2000
Clinical and supervisory experience in detoxification, inpatient, residential & outpatient settings

I have seen our treatment field grow and change over the past 30 years.  As our ability to help people suffering from addictions has advanced, the Outreach Training Institute curriculum had continued to reflect the most sound, comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge and skills, enabling our students to easily grow in their careers.  I am delighted to be part of the OTI progressive and dynamic learning environment.

Gail’s specialized training topics include: Individual and group counseling skills; pharmacology; prevention, intervention and treatment modalities; ethics and legal issues; CASAC exam preparation; pharmacology and diversity considerations in tobacco treatment. Gail is also a Peer Assistant in NY State OASAS Counselor Assistance Program

RICK COTTINGHAM

Rick is an advisor at our Greenpoint, Brooklyn facility and is currently the Director of Main Treatment for the Queens Village Committee for Mental Health for the Jamaica Community Adolescent Program (J- Cap).

Rick has been in the field forefront the past 15 years working with Residential Treatment, Methadone to Abstinence Residential, Adolescent Residential, and Community Corrections Residential Treatment populations.

NANCY J. DIAZ
OTI CLASS OF 2000 GRADUATE!

CASAC
Over 22 years in the Domestic Violence Field
OTI Lecturer since September 2006
Retired Auxiliary Lieutenant of the 107th precinct ‘91-‘07
Awarded Heroic Women in Queens from the 103rd precinct ‘00
Awarded Heroic Women in Queens from the 107th precinct ‘01
Awarded the Peace Keeper Plaque ‘07

Founder and President of No More Abuse, an organization providing bi-lingual individual counseling to victims of domestic violence, Nancy has also been involved in providing professional training and facilitation of the Domestic Violence Educational Series to a variety of NYC Community Service Providers for the past 20 years, i.e., The NYC Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit, NYC Public School Staff, NYC Hospital Staff, Correctional Facility Staff,  Substance Abuse Providers & Adolescent Residential Programs.

 Starting her career as a counselor and court advocate for the Queens County Criminal Court and Domestic Violence Shelters she assisted in the development of the Domestic Violence Program at the Queen’s Women’s Network Displaced Multi-Services Program in 1990. As an active member of the Queens Borough Presidents Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Maltreatment of Children, and Elder Abuse Task Force Committee she continues to serve her community by bringing awareness to the forefront. Nancy has also co-founded a domestic violence shelter and nursery in Puerto Rico.

ALEXIS GADSDEN

CASAC
 Vice President of Outreach Project
Licensed Mental Social Worker
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Master of Arts in Social Work:  Fordham University
Completed Columbia University Graduate
School of Business Management Training Program
Peer Reviewer for the Administration of Children & Family Services

With 30 years of experience in the provision of chemical dependency treatment and behavioral health care Alexis is responsible for the development and implementation of specialized services and innovate program models to address the needs of women with children and other special populations. Ms. Gadsden has worked in government relations and served as a liaison for a Mayoral Immigration Task Force. She has had extensive experience in assisting programs stateside and in the Caribbean in program improvement and developing systems of accountability.

Alexis serves on various committees including: Co-Chair of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers of NYS Youth/Adolescent Committee; Board of Directors Co-Chair of the NYS OASAS Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling Unit; member of Regional and National TCA, and has also served as a member of the Governor’s Advisory Board on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. She has also served as a member of the ASAP of NYS Conference Steering Committee and Program Committee for several years. Ms. Gadsden is currently involved as an active member of the OASAS Recovery Task Force, serves as Vice President for the ASAP of NYS C3 Board, and is chairing the ASAP of NYS 2009 Conference

Alexis is an active spokesperson for the field, has presented at numerous conferences and participated on several national and local conference committees focused on the needs of special populations. She has also developed a specialization in providing diversity training for stakeholders in the corporate, not-for-profit and voluntary sectors.

STACY GEIST
OTI CLASS OF 2002 GRADUATE!

CASAC
BA Adelphi University: Psychology
MA Adelphi University: Psychology
MSW Adelphi University: Social Work
OTI Student Advisor since November 2007
Member of the NASW since 2006

Hi!  I am the newest addition to the Student advisement team in Brentwood.  I would like to say how lucky I feel to have been given such a wonderful opportunity. I am an OTI graduate of 2002 and to this day I will never forget the experience I had. I feel blessed that I not only got a wonderful education but I learned a lot about myself. That experience helped me grow as a person which has helped me professionally as well. I am grateful to be able to have the opportunity to help others down such a wonderful path. I can honestly say that becoming apart of the OTI family will change one’s life forever.

ROBERT GRAHAM
OTI CLASS OF 2000 GRADUATE!

A 2000 OTI Graduate! Robert has come back to Outreach Training Institute as a student advisor for the past three years. He has used his experiences with Outreach Training Institute to become a change agent within communities by joining area efforts and starting his own not for profit, Divine Concepts, Ltd.

 JOAN LOHNES

B.S. St. Joseph’s College: Bellevue Nursing School
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Appointed Co-Chair, First OASAS Nursing Advisory Panel, 2009
Awarded Distinguished Alumna 2008
Over 23 years working with Outreach Project
Member of Nurses in AIDS care
Member of the Mayor of New York’s HIV Health and Human Planning Council ‘1998 & Member of HRA Housing Advisory Committee 2007
Awarded Who's Who in American Nurses '96

With over 45 years in the Nursing Field Joan Lohnes firmly believes in the concept of people helping people. She owes her success to the education she received at the Bellevue Nursing School and positive choices made along her way. Lohnes started with Outreach Project in 1988 and since has accepted many positions. As Director of H.O.P.E (Helping Our People Excel) Lohnes was able to reach out and touch the lives of many amazing people who were infected with the HIV virus. As Outreach Project’s RN, OTI lecturer, Tobacco Coordinator and as a recent addition to the OTI student advisor team she is delightedly overwhelmed by the amount of positive energy present within community. Ms. Lohnes is also an Auricula Accupuncturist & Reiki practitioner.

SHAWN LYNN

Licensed Master Social Worker
Psychoanalyst
MSW Hunter College: School of Social Work
Postgraduate Certificate & Certificate in Psychoanalysis: Training and Research Institute for Self-Psychology: 
Relational Self Psychology

Currently Program Director of Outreach Project Greenpoint, a multilingual, multicultural outpatient addictions treatment program in North Brooklyn, Mr. Lynn previously directed a federally-grant funded specialized treatment program in the South Bronx for addicted women and their children with Promesa, Inc. and was both the coordinating therapist for a Latino addictions treatment program and a bilingual staff therapist for an outpatient mental health center with Mental Health Providers of Western Queens, Inc. Mr. Lynn is also professionally affiliated with the Training & Research Institute for Self Psychology and the Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology.   

Mr. Lynn also maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan focused on the self-psychological treatment of adults, adolescents, and families.