Samaritan Daytop Village

04/26/2026

We’re excited to be presenting at this week’s NatCon 2026, the nation’s largest behavioral health conference. If you’re in Denver, join us for two sessions this Tuesday and Wednesday:

April 28 | 1:15–1:45 p.m.
“Poster 101 – Breaking Down Silos: A Proven Model Integrating Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers, Opioid Treatment Programs, and Residential Care to Transform Outcomes”

Featuring Chief Clinical Officer Carolann Slattery, EdD; Executive VP & Chief Legal Officer Alicia McFarlane; VP of Residential & Recovery Services James Hollywood; and Medical Director Maya Hambright, MD

April 29 | 9:00–10:00 a.m.
“Integrating Verbal Intervention Training for Addiction Professionals in Residential Settings”

Featuring James Hollywood; AVP of Residential Treatment Deirdre Rice-Reese; Melissa Earle, PhD (Clinical Associate Professor, Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare); and VP of Development & Communications Jill Poklemba

Register for NatCon: https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/natcon/

04/21/2026

An investment in affordable supportive housing saves taxpayers money -- and the benefits begin long before residents move in.

The $335M, 400+ unit project, in development with Mega Contracting Group, won’t open until next year. Yet, it has already brought $23M to the and hundreds of jobs, all of which support individuals, families, and businesses in the community.

Read the announcement: https://www.samaritanvillage.org/news/hb-economic-impact

View the full report: https://www.samaritanvillage.org/highbridge

04/20/2026

When surveyed, 66% of pregnant women said ma*****na use would not affect their developing fetus. Yet, scientific evidence suggests otherwise.

Research shows that cannabis exposure during pregnancy can impact a baby's growth and lead to lower birth weight. As children age, they may face additional challenges, such as cognitive impairment, memory problems, and behavioral concerns such as aggression and anxiety.

Our Medical Director Dr. Gregory Bunt recently led a Drug Free America Foundation webinar called "Cannabis Use Among Pregnant Women," exploring the gap between science and perception.

The webinar breaks down the science, clinical findings, current guidelines, and the effects of THC on fetal brain development and long-term outcomes.

Watch the webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM8dgJ3lA54.

04/17/2026

Suleiman Rifai, a beloved Social Worker at our Forbell Men's Shelter in Brooklyn, completed the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris this past Sunday!

Suleiman, who is visually impaired and walks the streets of NYC with a mobility cane, ran alongside two volunteer guides on the Achilles International team. He completed the race in just under 6 1/2 hours.

You may recall that last year we shared photos of Suleiman completing the TCS New York City Marathon - his 20th time. We are extremely proud of Suleiman and his latest in a long list of lifetime achievements.

04/16/2026

The Samaritan Daytop Village Alumni Association recently hosted its annual Spring Fling, bringing together 140 clients, alumni, and staff to celebrate recovery and strengthen connections within the alumni community.

This year’s keynote speaker, Angel Porter, Assistant Director of Operations at Veritas House, shared her touching story of growing up with a parent struggling with addiction. She witnessed her mother find a new life in recovery and as an addiction counselor. So inspired by her mom's transformation, Angel would later become a counselor herself.

During the event, the Recovery Coach Scholarship Award was awarded to Amanda Farrentello. The scholarship honors the memory of Matty Pennachia, former VP of Outpatient Services at Daytop Village. Matty was a dedicated leader at Daytop's Family and Alumni Associations. We are grateful to the Pennachia family for generously supporting this year's award!

Interested in joining the Alumni Association? Email [email protected].

To learn more about treatment services, call (855) 322-4357.

Individuals in recovery can contact PARC (Peer Alliance Recovery Center) in Queens (929-244-1445) or the Bronx (929-244-1500).

04/08/2026

We’re excited to be presenting at NatCon 2026 in Denver later this month. Join us to hear insights about integrated care and learn a few of our innovative approaches in behavioral health.

📅 April 28 | 1:15–1:45 p.m.
“Poster 101 – Breaking Down Silos: A Proven Model Integrating Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers, Opioid Treatment Programs, and Residential Care to Transform Outcomes”
Featuring Chief Clinical Officer Carolann Slattery, EdD; Executive VP & Chief Legal Officer Alicia McFarlane; VP of Residential & Recovery Services James Hollywood; and Medical Director Maya Hambright, MD

📅 April 29 | 9:00–10:00 a.m.
“Integrating Verbal Intervention Training for Addiction Professionals in Residential Settings”
Featuring James Hollywood; AVP of Residential Treatment Deirdre Rice-Reese; Melissa Earle, PhD (Clinical Associate Professor, Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare); and VP of Development & Communications Jill Poklemba

If you plan to attend, we’d love to connect.

🔗 Register for NatCon: https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/natcon/

04/05/2026

Happy Easter to all our employees, clients, Board members, partners, donors, colleagues, and friends.

04/04/2026

We know recovery requires healing the whole person.

That’s why we were proud to join our partners at the Bronx River Houses Nutrition Fair, where our recovery staff spoke with BronxNet Community Television about supporting people through their recovery journey.

When people have access to healthy food and the knowledge to use it, they can successfully progress in their recovery journeys.

Thank you to our partners Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation and Anthem Medicaid Foundation for supporting this “Food as Medicine” work and helping bring these resources directly into the community.

Watch the story here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVb5srItni4

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield partnered with Gotham food Pantry and BCA Global for NYCHA Bronx River Houses Nutrition Fair.🎥 SOCIAL 🎥For more informat...

04/02/2026

“She’s calling this her affordability budget, and she’s not even paying her own bills.”

There’s no safety net without human services nonprofits, and there’s no affordable NY without for their workers. Governor Kathy Hochul — we need a 4% investment for ALL State human services programs now!

Learn about our demands in this article featuring advocates at Human Services Council of New York - HSC and University Settlement Society of New York: https://nysfocus.com/2026/03/25/human-services-workers-cola-increase-contracts

04/01/2026

Chag Pesach Sameach to all our employees, clients, Board members, partners, donors, colleagues, and friends on this first night of !

✡️

04/01/2026

Clients from our Van Siclen Women's Shelter took part in a special Women's Empowerment Initiative event hosted by the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Adult Division, featuring financial experts from the Financial Times magazine.

Attendees gained valuable guidance on career and workplace readiness, received resume support, built financial literacy and budgeting skills, and connected one-on-one with experts.

Empowering women with the tools and confidence to achieve economic independence is a critical step toward long-term stability. We are grateful to DHS for creating this valuable learning opportunity for our clients, and to the Financial Times professionals who shared their time and expertise with them.

03/31/2026

Good work. Good people. 💛

Did you read our latest newsletter?

We’re celebrating the people who make recovery possible every day — like Suleiman Rifai, a social worker at our Forbell Men's Shelter who never lets anything stand in the way of showing up for those he supports.

We’re also continuing to advocate for people in recovery and create spaces where young people — like students at our Daytop Preparatory School in Long Island — can learn about new possibilities through a visit from a former NBA player.

Read the newsletter here: https://conta.cc/3NKbZDT