Fridays 10:00am - 11:00am (EDT)
EPISODE SUMMARY:
They will learn about available services in Nassau and Suffolk Counties for underserved communities. They will learn about the history of the Hispanic Counseling Center and our mission.
Claudia M. Boyle serves as the CEO of the Hispanic Counseling Center (HCC), a multi-service agency in Long Island that provides bilingual and bicultural behavioral health and prevention services for underserved communities. Claudia joined HCC in 2007 as a clinician, delivering individual, family, and group counseling. Over the years, she advanced to roles such as Coordinator of the Kinship Program, Youth and Family Coordinator, and Associate Director, overseeing all HCC programs. In 2021, she was appointed CEO.
Originally from Colombia, Claudia earned her BA in Psychology from Universidad Del Norte and her MS in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Miami. Her professional experience includes counseling, program development, and research, with a focus on Latina women and families. Claudia is deeply committed to community collaboration and addressing the diverse needs of Long Island’s Hispanic population through culturally competent care and innovative leadership.
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00:00:46.360 --> 00:01:06.170 Tommy DiMisa: We're back. It's another week. It's philanthropy and focus time in the attic. So I'm 2 flights up from the kitchen just below the roof of my house, where I have been for many, many weeks and months and years. Up in the attic. The show was originated up in the attic, although I did talk about it for a bunch of years before I actually did it. It took me the
00:01:06.360 --> 00:01:11.640 Tommy DiMisa: the historic time, you know, in our lifetimes a pandemic time for me to actually launch the show
00:01:11.690 --> 00:01:24.459 Tommy DiMisa: back in January 2,021, which is just unbelievable. How time flies when you're having fun as they say. So my guest today is Claudia Boyle. Good morning, Claudia, before I jump into all the things I want to say. Good morning. What's going on. How are you.
00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:28.129 Claudia Boyle: Good morning. I'm doing great. Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
00:01:28.130 --> 00:01:56.260 Tommy DiMisa: I'm excited to have you here. And as the nonprofit sector connector, I say all the time, if it wasn't for the people in my network making relationships for me. If it wasn't for people in my network making introductions for me, then I don't know as many people right? So as maybe I'm some great connector, people might say, but I hang out with a lot of people who are looking out for me as well. So you and I actually met from our friend Hassan Maksud when he was we were at a golf outing for an organization. Was it
00:01:56.410 --> 00:01:59.180 Tommy DiMisa: organization of federation, of organizations.
00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:01.459 Claudia Boyle: Correct. Yes, he was being honored.
00:02:01.460 --> 00:02:08.830 Tommy DiMisa: He was being. He gets honored a lot. Hassam is a good man. He does a lot in the nonprofit sector. Was he an Honoree at your gala, or is he on your board?
00:02:09.020 --> 00:02:14.939 Claudia Boyle: He both. He was an Honoree at our gala 2 years ago, and now he's on our board of directors.
00:02:14.940 --> 00:02:20.689 Tommy DiMisa: That's awesome. So what do we talk about? We're talking about the Hispanic counseling center out here on Long Island. My hometown.
00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:45.130 Tommy DiMisa: you know I've never left Long Island for more than like 7 days in a row, you know, stayed home for college, went to school in the city for a little while Nassau College, and then the city for a little while, and then Suny, old Westbury out here on the island. And it's funny how life is, because I went to school at Suny, old Westbury, and I'm also on the board of Directors for Horseability, which is on the campus of Suny old Westbury. So home game for us today. Excited to have you here, Claudia, I mean, you talk about home game, I mean.
00:02:45.130 --> 00:03:06.199 Tommy DiMisa: you know, you've traveled around the planet a bit. We're going to learn some of that in your story today. But I'm on this whole trip as I've talked to you about. I think many others, hashtag ending the stigma together, we must, I say, must end the stigma around the conversation around mental illness. Mental health challenges. However, you want to phrase it. We need to have these dialogues, and I continue to
00:03:06.290 --> 00:03:17.930 Tommy DiMisa: push and be on the front lines of having these open dialogues and an organization like yours. As we mentioned right before the show started, is doing this important work, is doing the important work in communities that need the important work done.
00:03:17.970 --> 00:03:22.329 Tommy DiMisa: And I want to ask you like I've asked so many other folks who've come on this show.
00:03:22.370 --> 00:03:28.720 Tommy DiMisa: Tell us about your journey, I mean as the chief executive officer of the Hispanic counseling center here on Long Island.
00:03:29.380 --> 00:03:39.890 Tommy DiMisa: Where did it start, did you say one day I want to be in the States on Long Island running this organization. I'm sure it didn't start exactly like that. So tell us the story, please.
00:03:40.850 --> 00:03:50.620 Claudia Boyle: So the story started in Colombia, in Barranquilla, Colombia, where I was born. I know from a very early age that I wanted to be a helper.
00:03:50.620 --> 00:04:15.379 Claudia Boyle: I just wanted to help people. That was just in my nature. I started very young, thinking, you know, what can I do to help others. It kind of got delayed a little bit because I was also really good at math. So I thought, you know, maybe I could be an engineer. I'm the last one very spoiled last one of 5. So I have 4 big brothers who are my world.
00:04:15.380 --> 00:04:40.169 Claudia Boyle: and I am there. So it was, you know, I think, that I that's where I learned it. My mom was also a helper. So anyway, long story short, I started engineering thinking that I would follow in the steps of my brothers that they're all engineers, the last one the 1st one that passed away when I was young, but the other 3 are all engineers, and they all work in their field.
00:04:40.190 --> 00:05:00.710 Claudia Boyle: So I said, You know what? Maybe I should do the same. I should follow in the steps of my brothers. But then, after a year and a half, I started taking linear design. And I was like, Yeah, this is not me. So I switched to psychology, and I started studying psychology at Universidad del Norte shout out to my hometown, Barranquilla.
00:05:00.710 --> 00:05:01.110 Tommy DiMisa: He!
00:05:01.110 --> 00:05:01.695 Claudia Boyle: And
00:05:02.280 --> 00:05:06.669 Tommy DiMisa: See now I got to interrupt you because I was practicing, and I know Barranquia. Is that good.
00:05:06.860 --> 00:05:10.829 Claudia Boyle: It is good, I mean it would be better if you go.
00:05:11.940 --> 00:05:14.140 Tommy DiMisa: Kia like that was a.
00:05:15.150 --> 00:05:18.229 Claudia Boyle: Yeah, but you did a good job for your 1st try, I can tell you that.
00:05:18.230 --> 00:05:18.700 Claudia Boyle: Thank you.
00:05:18.700 --> 00:05:43.070 Claudia Boyle: So over there it's 5 years undergrad not 4. So in my 5th year I was supposed to do my internship, and I told my dean you know what I don't really see anything here where I could learn like in a hospital or in a outpatient setting. We don't have that kind of things in Colombia. So I asked her, is there anything I can do? Different?
00:05:43.070 --> 00:06:07.019 Claudia Boyle: And she said, Well, we have a partnership with the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital for you to be able to do an internship with Dr. Which is the family therapy. It was family therapy for Latino families. So. But, she said, you have to make your own way, you know we can't give you any funding or anything like that. So I spoke to my parents, and they said, You know what go for it. We'll figure it out.
00:06:07.020 --> 00:06:07.860 Claudia Boyle: do you.
00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:15.999 Tommy DiMisa: It was an unpaid internship. Is that right? So you had to find housing. You had to find a way to feed yourself while you were doing the internship right? So that's not easy stuff.
00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:25.679 Claudia Boyle: Yes, it's not easy, but you know I've I'm I've always been very fortunate, Tommy. I've had my family, and they've always had my back, no matter what
00:06:25.730 --> 00:06:48.500 Claudia Boyle: they would figure it out. So I moved here. We had an apartment in Florida. My mom had purchased it a long time ago, so I moved there. It was about an hour from but I drove every day. I went there to work, and I worked with Dr. For about a year doing you know, research and working with Latina girls.
00:06:48.520 --> 00:06:50.719 Claudia Boyle: That's where my passion started.
00:06:50.890 --> 00:07:18.379 Claudia Boyle: That's when I realized that even though I wanted to help helping my community in a different country was like a dream come true. So I started working with them, and they recommended that I should do my Master's degree, and that they would send a letter to to recommend me for the program. The master's program. So I did. I got in. I got accepted, and I graduated with my master's in 1997.
00:07:19.225 --> 00:07:19.950 Claudia Boyle: So.
00:07:19.950 --> 00:07:23.540 Tommy DiMisa: So what was that? What was your master in social work, or.
00:07:23.760 --> 00:07:47.800 Claudia Boyle: No, my my master's was in science and mental health counseling, so I was a mental health counselor, and I got my license as a mental health counselor as well. I went back home for a little while because my mom got sick, so I wanted. You know I've always put family first, st so I went back home, took care of my mom for a while, and then I came back in 2,001 and started working at Pace Center for girls
00:07:47.880 --> 00:08:08.720 Claudia Boyle: is an alternative school for underserved girls. Whether it be Latino, you know, it can be white. It can be, you know, the African American population. They just have to be underserved, and they were involved in some way in the juvenile justice system, whether it be because they were at risk.
00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:21.759 Claudia Boyle: or maybe they were already in the juvenile justice system. But I worked at an alternative school so they would come there every day for schooling and also for counseling, and I had like 20 girls in my caseload.
00:08:21.760 --> 00:08:25.000 Claudia Boyle: and it was life changing, doing that work, you know.
00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.310 Tommy DiMisa: And I just googled it. That was in Florida that was in Jacksonville. Is that right?
00:08:28.310 --> 00:08:49.600 Claudia Boyle: No, no, the Jacksonville is one of the centers. There's 19 centers in Florida. One of them is in Broward County. It was called Wilton Manors. And it's still there. I mean, it's still functioning. And still it they do amazing work. So I was there until 2,007 when I moved to New York with my husband.
00:08:49.600 --> 00:09:13.969 Claudia Boyle: My husband works for New York Life Insurance Company, and he got promoted. So we moved to New York in 2,007, and you know you get here. You don't know anyone you're like, you know. What am I gonna do now? So my husband put me in contact with some of his friends that knew of counseling centers in New York, in Long Island, and the 1st one on the list was the Hispanic counseling center.
00:09:13.970 --> 00:09:14.950 Tommy DiMisa: So I
00:09:15.170 --> 00:09:33.520 Tommy DiMisa: you know. 1st of all, that's awesome. It's the 1st one on the list, but I mean I have to say it probably was the best fit. I don't know what else was on the list, but it just makes the most sense from your background. Your interest, especially, you know, serving the community, as you say here in the States, you know. Was it like a no brainer for you when.
00:09:33.520 --> 00:09:53.389 Claudia Boyle: Well, at the time I didn't know that it is a no brainer, but at the time I didn't know that, because I didn't really know anything about the Hispanic counseling center until I did my research, and I came here for the interview. But as soon as I walked in and I did my interview with Irene, which was the associate director at the time. I knew that this was where I needed to be.
00:09:54.048 --> 00:10:01.220 Claudia Boyle: So I interviewed on. Yeah, I think it was the beginning of May, and I got hired on May 14, th 2,007.
00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:01.610 Claudia Boyle: Can I be.
00:10:02.300 --> 00:10:05.610 Tommy DiMisa: How long have you been up in New York at that point at? Was it a long time ago?
00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:09.839 Tommy DiMisa: 3 months pretty quick, and it sounds like
00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:13.899 Tommy DiMisa: you, said your husband started introducing you to friends of his up here.
00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:17.889 Tommy DiMisa: Was he? Where was he from? Florida? Was he from New York, or.
00:10:18.170 --> 00:10:29.396 Claudia Boyle: So my husband is originally from New Jersey. He was born in in Whippany, New Jersey, and and he was very familiar with the New York area, plus he he grew. He grew around here so
00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:30.220 Tommy DiMisa: We saw what I mean.
00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:32.029 Claudia Boyle: It was more him territory than mine.
00:10:32.030 --> 00:10:38.290 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, it was more his territory, but he also then started networking for you. Right, said, Look, maybe talk to this person, talk to that person, that whole thing.
00:10:38.330 --> 00:11:05.220 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. So so that's we're going to get into the programs of what the organization does and and how it makes an impact. So we'll see how much of a no brainer, you know. Obviously it turned out to be. But you're with the organization for 17 years now, right going into 18 years. So and we're going to talk about, you know your journey through the organization and what happened and the impact that the organization is making, we're going to have a lot of fun conversations about this stuff. I got one quick question before we go to a break in a second. Here.
00:11:05.920 --> 00:11:10.980 Tommy DiMisa: did you when you were growing up in Barranquilla Colombia, did you.
00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:11.570 Claudia Boyle: Yeah.
00:11:11.570 --> 00:11:26.229 Tommy DiMisa: How'd I do good, did you? Did you ever think like, you know? See, look, I'm from Long Island. I've never really left Long island like this, my hometown like you on vacation for a week. That's it. I don't know that I would have ever moved to Long Island, but this is where I'm from. So this is where I am right.
00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:36.060 Tommy DiMisa: Did you ever have the desire growing up in Columbia to say I want to be in the States one day like, is that important? Was it important to you to be here? Or it's kind of happened with some of the opportunities.
00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:52.380 Claudia Boyle: I think it just kind of happened. I you know I was very happy where I was a wonderful place to be, but you know I wanted more. I didn't know that it wasn't going to be in the United States, but I wanted more. I wanted to practice my my profession. I wanted to do clinical work.
00:11:52.830 --> 00:11:57.930 Claudia Boyle: and you know this was the opportunity that got presented to me. So I took it.
00:11:57.930 --> 00:12:09.449 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, listen. Isn't that a great thing for people to listen to and opportunities in front of us? And we take advantage of it. That's really the stuff we have to consider and think about. You know, it's it's critically important. What do you think?
00:12:09.630 --> 00:12:16.020 Tommy DiMisa: If you you know, if you look back. I never asked anybody this question, but for some reason it's coming up for me, so I'm going to ask it.
00:12:16.850 --> 00:12:21.690 Tommy DiMisa: If you looked at little Claudia back in Baron Kia and asked her, you know
00:12:22.010 --> 00:12:27.470 Tommy DiMisa: what she thinks of the trip, what she thinks of this journey that you've been on. What do you think she would say.
00:12:29.020 --> 00:12:42.070 Claudia Boyle: I think she would say, man, I don't think I could move anywhere else and be away from my family. I think that's what she would say, because to this day, still very difficult to be so far away from all of them, you know very close.
00:12:42.070 --> 00:12:45.389 Tommy DiMisa: Your brothers are, your brothers are still. There are both. Both. Your parents are gone now.
00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:55.449 Claudia Boyle: Yeah, both my parents are gone. But one brother is in Florida, the other 2 are in Colombia, so I go back and forth a lot, and and we see each other often.
00:12:55.450 --> 00:12:57.999 Tommy DiMisa: How long does it take to fly to Columbia from New York?
00:12:58.934 --> 00:13:05.229 Claudia Boyle: If it's straight from from New York, it's 5 h and from Florida is about 2 and a half.
00:13:05.230 --> 00:13:13.529 Tommy DiMisa: About 2 and a half hours. Okay, alright. So so this is good stuff. So I I just, I've never been to Columbia. I've heard. It's a beautiful.
00:13:13.530 --> 00:13:14.250 Claudia Boyle: Should go.
00:13:14.250 --> 00:13:26.710 Tommy DiMisa: Should go. I've heard I've heard I have heard we got a lot we're going to go into. We're going to take a quick break. Now we're gonna take a break a little early, because I want to use the time as we go into our next segment. So we're going to break down. We come right back. We're going to talk about
00:13:26.890 --> 00:13:47.409 Tommy DiMisa: Hispanic Counseling Center. We're going to talk about your journey at the Hispanic Counseling Center, really, where you started out doing the work, doing the clinical work, providing, you know the excuse, not education, but the services to individuals, to families and and group counseling. And then how that eventually turned into the point where now you're leader of the organization as CEO. How's that sound.
00:13:47.800 --> 00:13:48.760 Claudia Boyle: That sounds great.
00:13:48.760 --> 00:13:52.220 Tommy DiMisa: Break right now, philanthropy and focus.
00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:07.990 Tommy DiMisa: We are back. Go check out the website, everybody! Hispanic.
00:16:08.450 --> 00:16:11.390 Tommy DiMisa: counseling.org Hispanic
00:16:11.450 --> 00:16:21.569 Tommy DiMisa: counseling.org throughout the show. I'll share the website so you all could check it out. My guest is the CEO of Hispanic counseling center, Claudia Boyle.
00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:33.109 Tommy DiMisa: Claudia, you know we started with your story. We started with the work you you've done. We started with Miami. We started with you. Go to your master's. You get your master's in science and mental health counseling.
00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:41.229 Tommy DiMisa: you know you. You said you wanted to be to be a helper. Right? That was, that was what was important to you from the beginning to be a helper.
00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.270 Tommy DiMisa: What
00:16:44.330 --> 00:16:50.239 Tommy DiMisa: have you become that helper in the work you do and what you're doing right now. Do you feel like you're a helper?
00:16:51.420 --> 00:17:15.739 Claudia Boyle: I do. I do. I mean, I certainly have to admit that I felt more of a helper when I was doing the work directly as a therapist, because you really feel it. You see it every day you work with people you try to meet them where they're at, and then you try to kind of normalize their situation so that they know that it's okay for them to feel that it's not okay. And then you help them through it.
00:17:15.750 --> 00:17:36.439 Claudia Boyle: I do have to say. My favorite population was the adolescents. I really enjoyed working with them, helping them through their confusion, their struggles, their anger, their frustration. It was. It was really, really wonderful for me. But yeah, I do feel like I still help
00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:56.590 Claudia Boyle: because I help my employees, and by helping them. I help the clients right? It's like, if I take care of my employees, I take care of the agency. I take care of of feeling the way that we feel as a family, then they feel good in what they're doing, and then in turn, they take care of our clients, which is ultimately our goal.
00:17:56.590 --> 00:18:13.470 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. So I want to address that piece right there, because I have a lot of friends who run and lead organizations. Excuse me not necessarily similar to yours, but serving similar populations to yours. You know I was out with my friend Yolanda Robino Gross, from options for community living. Early this week we were meeting
00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:18.710 Tommy DiMisa: and a lot of questions I ask these friends is.
00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.280 Tommy DiMisa: how do you make sure that you're taking care of your staff?
00:18:21.350 --> 00:18:26.859 Tommy DiMisa: Because, you know, I believe that we all have mental health issues that we're working through.
00:18:26.970 --> 00:18:31.519 Tommy DiMisa: And when the population that an organization is serving are people with
00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:43.849 Tommy DiMisa: mental health issues or more severe mental health issues that could be draining and tough on staff. So is it. How often do you, as an organization, check in on staff.
00:18:44.470 --> 00:19:09.460 Claudia Boyle: Well, I mean, 1st of all, to your point. There's no way that you work with populations like ours, and not have some kind of vicarious trauma. That's what it's called when you're, you know, burnt out. And so it's very important for people to have self care. So I put that first.st I think that that's the overall answer that I can give you, because I think that we put the staff first, st and we check in when we need to
00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:22.859 Claudia Boyle: check in. There are weekly meetings that each coordinator has with their staff, and then I have meetings with the coordinators as well. So that's kind of the way that we check in. But you know we put the the employee 1st
00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:47.639 Claudia Boyle: in many aspects. You know, whatever it is that they need. We meet them where they're at. We have a comprehensive pto package that we can give them so that they can use that time for emergencies, for family time, for Mental Health Day. We have an outing every year. I wish we could do more than one, but we have one outing every year where we do like a team thing. We go to the beach.
00:19:47.640 --> 00:20:11.450 Claudia Boyle: and we just hang out and and talk, and and, you know, spend our day. So I think that happened. Having an open door policy in our agency is extremely important for both the coordinators and the associate director and myself. We have an open door policy, so we don't know everything. But we definitely offer that support and additional to that, Tommy. I think that.
00:20:11.450 --> 00:20:30.499 Tommy DiMisa: Your comment about that our employees are people as well, and that they also have mental health issues that they have to deal with. You know, during the pandemic, that was extremely evident. Because, you know, we were thinking, okay, we have to have a pantry for the clients. We have to have, you know, videos for the clients. But then I realized.
00:20:30.540 --> 00:20:52.309 Claudia Boyle: What about the employees? I mean? The employees are people, too. They are going through struggle just because they work at a mental health clinic or at a serving organization doesn't preclude them for having mental health issues right or for feeling a certain way. So it definitely touched home. And I realized that we need to focus.
00:20:52.632 --> 00:21:17.479 Claudia Boyle: If I focus on my staff and I make their priorities important, they're gonna do the same with the clients. So it's kind of a pay it forward kind of situation, right? And and in turn they take care of me, too. I mean, they're wonderful. They they're there. If I need them, they support me if I need, you know, if I need whatever they're always yes, boss, whatever you need, we're there for you. So.
00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:27.590 Tommy DiMisa: It's interesting, you know. I don't usually talk much about our business here on the program. We this benefits agency that we own called vanguard benefits, and we we sell and service
00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:52.009 Tommy DiMisa: employee benefits for businesses. But with a major focus on the nonprofit sector, and the reason I bring it up is because I convinced myself a long time ago that the more we as an agency, are able to work with inside the nonprofit sector that if we're able to help these individual people from a benefits perspective. So they're not worried about insurance. They're not worried about claims. They're not worried about explanation of benefits for their insurance needs.
00:21:52.010 --> 00:21:59.239 Tommy DiMisa: Well, then, I believe that's 1 less stressor that this employee who's either a mom or a dad or a daughter or son, and who
00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:23.710 Tommy DiMisa: can then focus more clearly on the work at hand. So it's interesting. It feels like, you know, you mentioned Pto. You mentioned going out into the beach and doing things like that, you know. To me that goes to culture. We talk a lot in about the Hr. Space, and as it relates to benefits as culture. What is the culture of the organization? So I think just kudos to you and your team for having that open door policy. It's it's critically important, and
00:22:24.230 --> 00:22:32.049 Tommy DiMisa: I don't know if now, so more than ever, I think now, so more than ever we realize how important these things are. I think these needs were always there, and so.
00:22:32.050 --> 00:22:32.610 Claudia Boyle: Right.
00:22:32.610 --> 00:22:35.138 Tommy DiMisa: Do, and some companies didn't. And now,
00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:43.600 Tommy DiMisa: you know, putting it out on the front lines is is just important to keep having the discussion, and people realize it's something else came up for me while you're talking.
00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:48.839 Tommy DiMisa: Some of our friends who run other organizations, you know. Many of their employees
00:22:49.070 --> 00:23:11.400 Tommy DiMisa: don't earn enough wages in this nonprofit sector, and you know you said you and I said a cute thing before we got the show started. So I just want to make sure I don't say anything I'm going to regret. So I'm just going to say something that I'm not going to regret it. But you know it might be controversial. Hey, gang? The nonprofit sector connector is not paid appropriately. There are people that make minimum wage that are taking care of your your senior parents.
00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:35.840 Tommy DiMisa: your children, or adult children with intellectual developmental disabilities, and they're making minimum wage. And at times they need to go get a second end or 3rd job to make ends meet. That's wrong. It's inappropriate. It doesn't work. Something needs to be resolved there. I don't have the answer, but I will stand up on the soapbox and complain about it, and say we need to talk about it, because it's not right. So when you have you mentioned the pantry. So that's just kind of a funny thing. Sometimes
00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:43.280 Tommy DiMisa: direct care workers, right? Direct service professionals, right? They are considered professionals. And I was having this conversation with a friend of mine
00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:44.539 Tommy DiMisa: just the other night.
00:23:44.550 --> 00:24:02.390 Tommy DiMisa: and he runs a Major Long Island nonprofit organization. So these individuals sometimes actually needed to go to the pantry. They're serving the folks at the pantry or the right, and they need to utilize the services. We got to remember this gang. We got to be compassionate. I I don't know if you have a comment on that, Claudia.
00:24:02.450 --> 00:24:27.399 Claudia Boyle: No, I agree with you 100%. I really think that our professions in general, social workers, mental health counselors, you know the people that do the work. Community health workers. You have, you know, sud counselors, case acts, all those different types of people that help others all the time. I don't think they are paid enough. There's not enough resources to do that.
00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:44.890 Claudia Boyle: And as a nonprofit it's very difficult to do that. We try, because you know not for profit leaders get together and talk about that. How can we? How can we improve this? But it's just very difficult, because it's there's a lot of need out there. A lot of need. I mean, Tommy. We get
00:24:44.890 --> 00:24:55.829 Claudia Boyle: for the Mental health clinic and the substance use clinic. We get 25 calls a day 20 calls a day. So this is about a hundred 25 people calling in a week
00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:58.149 Claudia Boyle: multiply that by 52.
00:24:58.150 --> 00:24:58.530 Tommy DiMisa: Yes.
00:24:58.530 --> 00:25:21.859 Claudia Boyle: Like, you know, that's a lot. It's a big burden. And you know, during the pandemic one of the things that really stroked me the most was that, you know, essential workers. Yes, definitely, the nurses and the doctors that were doing the work on on, you know, in the field they were definitely essential, but also mental health workers. Also, people that work with, you know, dealing with your substance, use
00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:30.580 Claudia Boyle: talking to someone and making sure that that person is able to at least express themselves. You know, we're essential workers, too. So we have to keep that in mind.
00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:32.809 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, yeah, you know.
00:25:34.590 --> 00:25:48.610 Tommy DiMisa: the pandemic certainly was challenging in a lot of ways. And I think it also uncovered a lot of opportunities, you know, and sometimes it feels uncomfortable to say that, but it uncovered a lot of opportunities, and it made people more aware of certain things. And
00:25:48.630 --> 00:25:53.670 Tommy DiMisa: and you know, that's some of the benefits of that time period in history where
00:25:53.690 --> 00:26:04.809 Tommy DiMisa: you know where we're more aware and more focused on being part of the solution and creating things that people need. I'm sure you saw much of it in your own in your own organization, like you, said.
00:26:05.210 --> 00:26:11.630 Claudia Boyle: I agree. I agree 100, because you know, I believe firmly that after every storm
00:26:11.630 --> 00:26:35.249 Claudia Boyle: something gets uncovered. You know what I mean. Like all this craziness that happens, things get turned around. And then you realize that you can learn from that experience. And, you know, kind of like a half full glass situation. So yes, pandemic was horrifying. A lot of people lost loved ones. There was a lot of things going on, but the reality is that it brought to the surface.
00:26:35.250 --> 00:26:45.339 Claudia Boyle: Which is the way that I want to explain it, because it's always been there in the deep end. But now it's brought up to the surface that mental health is essential.
00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:45.990 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:26:45.990 --> 00:26:55.399 Claudia Boyle: Now I'm not talking about mental illness, because that's different. I'm talking about mental health, taking care of your mental health is essential, and when you ignore it.
00:26:55.600 --> 00:27:05.759 Claudia Boyle: and you don't want to talk about it, and you don't want to realize that it's there you are doing a disservice to yourself. So the the pandemic also accelerated telehealth.
00:27:05.830 --> 00:27:30.709 Claudia Boyle: you know, before the pandemic we were trying to get telehealth to be kind of like a way of serving the community as well, and it was always very difficult. It was a long process, 500 million applications. But after the pandemic they said, This is an emergency state. Let's make it available to everyone. And now, even though I don't feel that it should be the only way I like. I don't believe that you should only have
00:27:30.710 --> 00:27:38.669 Claudia Boyle: telehealth as as a service. You know, the in-person part is extremely important for mental health and substance use clients.
00:27:38.670 --> 00:27:54.100 Claudia Boyle: but telehealth can be a tool. It can be something that can help you. Right? I can't come to you. I have a transportation, you know. We could spend hours talking about the social determinants of health, and how that interferes, too. But you know, if a client calls me and says I can't come.
00:27:54.100 --> 00:28:09.730 Claudia Boyle: I don't have a way to get to your office. Okay, let's switch it. Let's do a telehealth session and just check in with you. Right? So definitely, the pandemic showed us how important ending. The stigma of mental health is.
00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:12.509 Tommy DiMisa: You know, and that's a
00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:25.820 Tommy DiMisa: what I say. Silver lining in the cloud of of the pandemic. And you know telehealth is is a great service, not just for mental health, but for other health. Health needs, too, I mean, not everything needs to. You don't need to go and travel somewhere.
00:28:25.850 --> 00:28:40.020 Tommy DiMisa: So when we come back where I want to, just one thing you said, and then we're gonna take a break. When we come back, I want to go through what the organization is all about, like we talked about a little bit about your journey in the organization, and and what a day in the life of the organization looks like. But you said, it's okay
00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:44.410 Tommy DiMisa: for you to say you're not okay. So did I get that right?
00:28:44.410 --> 00:28:45.439 Claudia Boyle: Yes, you did.
00:28:45.440 --> 00:29:03.580 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, it's okay for you to say, you're not okay. Gang. That's okay, you know. And self-care is not selfish like, that's these are things. We must know. You know there's that old cliche about the oxygen mask, and when the oxygen mask puts you put your oxygen mask on first.st If you're an adult, so you can take care of other people.
00:29:04.490 --> 00:29:26.879 Tommy DiMisa: It's become cliche. But it's a real thing, you know you have to. You have to take care of yourself, and I'm speaking to you all. But I'm speaking to me right now, too, because you must take care of your own physical health and mental health. You can't be a service for anybody else. So we'll take a quick break. We come back. I want to talk about programs. I want to talk about what the organization is doing on a daily basis. So we're going to take a quick 30 second break right back philanthropy and focus.
00:31:30.470 --> 00:31:41.879 Tommy DiMisa: That's right, cut through the static baby. Let's go all right. So I was sharing the website again, hispaniccounseling.org hispaniccounseling dot org for everybody if you're listening. Only.
00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:51.349 Tommy DiMisa: you know, I shared a lot of the programs. I mean, this is a robust organization, you know, serving many, many needs of individuals. So why don't we talk about when you know?
00:31:51.560 --> 00:32:03.299 Tommy DiMisa: I guess, like I said earlier, like a day in the life of the organization, you said, we get 25 new phone calls every day. Let's talk a little bit about what this feels like, you know, from an organizational perspective, like the calls come in what goes on here.
00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:13.410 Claudia Boyle: So I mean, before I go into that, I just wanted to clarify for you like I I feel that the Hispanic counseling center I I don't feel, I know, that the Hispanic counseling center is a 1 stop shop
00:32:13.410 --> 00:32:36.420 Claudia Boyle: for people. So the 1st thing I wanted to tell you is we are the only license bilingual Bicultural agency in Long Island. We have offices in Hempstead and in Bayshore. So a day in the live off, you're gonna have. Okay, my light went off. So let me turn it back on it so we have like, I said, phone calls coming in all day long
00:32:36.430 --> 00:33:01.409 Claudia Boyle: of people that need help so that might look different for different people. It can be. They just need, you know, direct services. They need pantry. They need. We have a program called Community Mental health, promotion and support, which its only goal is to end the stigma of mental health and educate the community about it. So we get a lot of calls for people like with specific needs. They don't even know what they want or what they need.
00:33:01.410 --> 00:33:15.999 Claudia Boyle: They just know that they need help. So the phone calls are routed to people who take the screening. Take their information, ask a few questions about you, know, what do you need? What is it that we can do for you? And then they direct that to whatever program
00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:37.039 Claudia Boyle: it fits those needs so it can be mental health, it can be substance, use. It can be prevention services, it can be education and outreach. You know, we have the domestic violence program that provides education for batterers of domestic violence. So we serve the clients in the clinic, and we serve the batterers in this specific program.
00:33:37.040 --> 00:34:05.879 Tommy DiMisa: Well, let's stop fit. Let's pause right there. So I was sharing a flyer from the website. Everybody, you know, the community mental health, promotion and support. If you're in Nassau County, and you need help. (516) 317-6737. If you're in Suffolk County 516-31-8108, one. If you're Nassau, (516) 317-6737. And if you're in Suffolk, 516-31-8108 one. Something I heard that I haven't really heard before from other agencies is
00:34:06.020 --> 00:34:12.590 Tommy DiMisa: education for the perpetrator of Dv. Of domestic violence. So
00:34:12.620 --> 00:34:18.689 Tommy DiMisa: I mean, I'm just gonna pretend, like, I don't know anything. Why would we be even focused on that? Why is that important? Tell me about that?
00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:43.629 Claudia Boyle: So. 1st of all, I want to tell you that this is something that the Da's office is helping us with. It was a initiative. We started a few years ago, and the purpose of it was, you know, if we treat the victim only we're only treating the symptom right. Of course we're going to help the victim, and we're going to help them through it, and we're going to figure out how to help them feel better. But we're dealing with the source.
00:34:44.049 --> 00:34:56.439 Claudia Boyle: Right? Domestic violence is not a 1 dimensional situation. Being a domestic violence. Perpetrator doesn't immediately make you a bad person. So what we're doing is
00:34:56.619 --> 00:35:15.279 Claudia Boyle: treating the disease at the source. If you were to compare it with physical illness, right? So if you do, if you, the domestic violence intervention. It's called domestic violence batterers intervention program. And it's based on the Duluth model. The Duluth model is an evidence-based model
00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:29.099 Claudia Boyle: for for perpetrators of domestic violence. And what it does is it helps a perpetrator. Realize, what is it that I'm doing that is contributing to this situation? And what can I do
00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:35.159 Claudia Boyle: to stop it. What can I do to for it? This not to become my go to
00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:47.329 Claudia Boyle: when it, when when I'm frustrated, when I'm angry, when I'm under the influence like, what? What can I do? Right? So if you compare it to a physical element, it's like finding the source
00:35:47.629 --> 00:35:50.859 Claudia Boyle: of an illness and then treating it.
00:35:51.080 --> 00:36:06.160 Tommy DiMisa: We? So we let's think about this folks without figuring out that this is a behavioral issue, right? And without educating the people with other options on behaviors. And maybe this. Listen, what do they? That thing hurt? People hurt people
00:36:06.530 --> 00:36:07.310 Tommy DiMisa: right?
00:36:07.470 --> 00:36:13.920 Tommy DiMisa: There was probably, I mean, you're the clinician, not me. But there was probably some level of abuse in the abusers
00:36:13.970 --> 00:36:20.980 Tommy DiMisa: past, right where they realize that this is. Again, I'm making a blanket statement about millions of individuals.
00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:28.869 Tommy DiMisa: But behaviors come from experience. Behaviors come from reactions and things like that. Right? So folks might think
00:36:29.120 --> 00:36:32.840 Tommy DiMisa: or I. You know you fly off the handle. You get upset and
00:36:33.050 --> 00:36:36.209 Tommy DiMisa: tragically, somebody gets hit or hurt. Even worse than that.
00:36:37.550 --> 00:36:47.790 Tommy DiMisa: the perpetrator or the batterer, as you say, doesn't know other behaviors, maybe, or doesn't realize that they could have other choices, right? So we have to go and get this stuff out. The source.
00:36:47.790 --> 00:37:12.740 Claudia Boyle: So there is that component? Yes, so yes, trauma, I would say more than than experience the way you express it. I would call it. Trauma trauma is the source for a lot of deviant behavior. A lot of nontraditional, you know, situations. So trauma is usually always at the head of it right now. I can't say like you, said a blanket statement that
00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:36.740 Claudia Boyle: every batterer necessarily had a traumatic experience or was a victim of domestic violence themselves, but most of the time that is the case. You know what I mean. So yes, trauma is at the head of the situation. So when you deal with that, and when you bring that to the forefront that also helps the batterer understand
00:37:36.740 --> 00:37:42.260 Claudia Boyle: that? Maybe you know, I can deal with it different. And then we go to the second part of it, which is coping skills.
00:37:42.800 --> 00:38:09.969 Claudia Boyle: So batters have 2 things. It's internal. It might be an internal thing because it comes from trauma. But it's also environmental right? Something is going on in their environment. Something is going on with their parents. Something is going on with their family, some trauma affected the situation. So it's both. So what you're doing with the batters intervention program is kind of trying to bring that to the forefront and realize. What can I do with this that I can't change?
00:38:10.120 --> 00:38:17.030 Claudia Boyle: Because let's go back a little bit. So if you can't change the situation, the only option is to change yourself.
00:38:17.130 --> 00:38:41.189 Claudia Boyle: That's kind of the premise of the domestic violence matters intervention program. You can't change what happened, whether it be trauma, whether it be the way that I deal with trauma, whether it be the coping skills that I have. So what do I have to do? Change myself? So before I can change myself. I have to realize what's going on. What is it that I need to change and then help changing it?
00:38:41.260 --> 00:38:45.670 Claudia Boyle: So that's kind of at the core of the domestic violence fighters, intervention program.
00:38:45.670 --> 00:39:04.400 Tommy DiMisa: So if somebody comes in, you know who who was in a domestic violence situation, and he or she comes to the center is the center doing outreach to the batterer as well. Or sometimes it's the batterer that comes in and realizes I need help.
00:39:04.750 --> 00:39:08.629 Claudia Boyle: So both both situations you can. They can be mandated
00:39:08.700 --> 00:39:29.449 Claudia Boyle: for treatment because of a situation. They can be in a domestic violence situation and realize that they need the help or they can be outreach to. But then the outreach is not. Hey, Tommy? Are you a bad, or can you come to my program right? The education and the outreach is about domestic violence as a situation.
00:39:29.450 --> 00:39:54.339 Claudia Boyle: So one of the responsibilities of the coordinator of that program is to go to events, go to the community and talk about what is domestic violence. What does it mean? What can you do about it? Right? And that brings about, you know the victim saying, You know, I think this person should go to that program or the da's office referring someone for treatment. The court referring someone for treatment
00:39:54.340 --> 00:40:06.100 Claudia Boyle: cps, referring someone for treatment or someone realizing that they need that, because along with the domestic intervention program, Tommy, we have the nurturing parenting.
00:40:06.100 --> 00:40:25.790 Claudia Boyle: which is also an evidence-based program. That is, there's modules, and one of the modules is for batterers and their families. So how do I, parent, my kids, through what they've been going through. Right? How do I become a better parent, despite the situation that I can't change?
00:40:25.790 --> 00:40:49.720 Claudia Boyle: So that also comes with it. So as a parent, sometimes they think you know what I need. I need help. I'm a victim of domestic violence, but I don't know how to work with my kids with this. How do I explain what's going on? How do I parent them moving forward? So they work in tandem together, the domestic violence program and the nurturing parenting program. And the beauty of it is that it's
00:40:49.720 --> 00:41:02.059 Claudia Boyle: completely bilingual. So if you're a native Spanish speaker and you don't speak the language. You can also benefit from the individual, the family sessions, and the educational session.
00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:08.330 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. So I, you know, we could do one show just based on this level of service that you provide. You know.
00:41:08.330 --> 00:41:08.710 Claudia Boyle: Yes.
00:41:08.710 --> 00:41:22.239 Tommy DiMisa: There's obviously a lot there, but I want to make sure you hit upon some other. You know, children and family services, you know. Outpatient clinic, you know. Hi, consultation things like that. So talk to me on some of that.
00:41:22.240 --> 00:41:47.099 Claudia Boyle: Okay, so think about the services of the Hispanic counseling center as 3 spheres. We have direct treatment, we have prevention. And then we have the children's programs. Right? So when it comes to treatment, we have individual mental health clinic, group, mental health substance use both individual group family and the educational series. But then we also have the Ryan White program that does kind of similar in terms of mental health.
00:41:47.150 --> 00:41:53.169 Claudia Boyle: because we have a licensed clinician that provides the services. But it's for people who have been diagnosed with HIV
00:41:53.170 --> 00:42:18.110 Claudia Boyle: and Aids and have no other means like they don't have insurance. They don't have. They're underserved. So we provide individual a little like case management, and we help them through that. And then additional to that. We have the care coordination program, right. The care coordination program is for people who have 2 or 3 diagnoses and they're overwhelmed. It's difficult to live with mental health, with mental illness very difficult. So the care coordination programs provide
00:42:18.110 --> 00:42:40.970 Claudia Boyle: support for those individuals and helps them with benefits, entitlements, appointments, anything that they need to help them get through what they're going through additional to that. We have the supportive housing program also for people who have been diagnosed with severe mental illness and cannot find housing. So they're referred to us, and we help them with that
00:42:40.970 --> 00:43:05.889 Claudia Boyle: in terms of the family and children's programs. We have prevention programs for Sud. We have prevention programs for mental health. We go into the shelters and we help people with psychological 1st aid skills for psychological recovery. And then we have an indoor like in our in our office in Nassau. We have an after school program.
00:43:05.890 --> 00:43:30.850 Claudia Boyle: We are open Monday through Thursday. From 2 to 7 Pm. The kids come. They hang out. They do their homework, they have a place to do exercise, they have a place to read, they have a place to play whatever they need, and just relax. And their parents know that they're being supervised and in a good environment. And they also get, like, you know, prevention workshops and education. They get a lot of
00:43:30.850 --> 00:43:40.889 Claudia Boyle: out of it. Socialization skills support services for the parents. We also have the the respite program which provides
00:43:40.890 --> 00:44:05.170 Claudia Boyle: respite for the parents who have kids with, you know, like severe behavioral issues, or Adhd, odd, a positional defined disorder. Or, you know, stuff like that. So there's a lot of services that are direct services. We also have the community mental health program which I mentioned before. That goes everywhere. You I send them. They go.
00:44:05.170 --> 00:44:30.640 Claudia Boyle: they go to doctors, offices. They go to consulates, they go to churches, they go to lawyers, offices, where it's like a non traditional way to educate the community about mental health and then additional to that. We have the Empire after school program that is, in tandem with the Hempstead School district. We go there every day after school, and we help
00:44:30.640 --> 00:44:55.430 Claudia Boyle: newly arrived students that are in the district, both in the middle school and in the high school, and they're like lost. So like they've been here 3 months, 5 months, 7 months a year, but they don't understand the school district, so we provide support for them. Homework, help, regents help, and we provide help with the parents. So the parents are also like, Hey, I have a Master's degree, and I'm educated.
00:44:55.430 --> 00:45:24.389 Claudia Boyle: And when my daughter told me that she had to go to college and we had to do a million things. I was like, what? So if for me, it's difficult. Imagine for someone who has just arrived to the country does not understand the educational system, and they're helped where they're at. So the school the kids are in the school. We work with the social workers. We work with the teachers and we provide homework, help after school support every day after school.
00:45:24.420 --> 00:45:25.900 Tommy DiMisa: Even on Saturdays.
00:45:26.190 --> 00:45:31.999 Tommy DiMisa: That's incredible work. And and I'll tell you. You know I don't know if you have. You ever collaborated with the Long Island Children's Museum at all.
00:45:32.590 --> 00:45:44.009 Claudia Boyle: In the past. We did. Yes, we take the kids there. We we do events, and we take the kids there for trips or to get the museum. Yes, but but we have worked in the past not lately, but we have.
00:45:44.010 --> 00:45:52.830 Tommy DiMisa: They have a program over there. And actually, I'll be there tonight because the spirit of Huntington Art Center has an art show tonight, and I'm on the Board of Spirit of Huntington.
00:45:52.870 --> 00:45:55.929 Tommy DiMisa: But I they have a program there that
00:45:55.950 --> 00:46:11.119 Tommy DiMisa: I don't know what it's called, because I didn't think I'd have to bring it up right now. But it's a program where it's new families that are immigrants to this country as they go to the 1st year of school before they have a not a club, but a camp during the summer. To get these kids involved.
00:46:11.120 --> 00:46:26.720 Tommy DiMisa: These young children, before they go into kindergarten to really help set the stage and also support those families. So it's interesting what you're talking about. There might be an overlap there which brings me to my next point. We're gonna take a quick break. We come back, you know. Last time we were hanging out we were sitting together at a gala
00:46:26.760 --> 00:46:31.840 Tommy DiMisa: up on, up in, up on the North Shore in Bayville for
00:46:31.880 --> 00:46:52.389 Tommy DiMisa: and federally qualified Health Center called Harmony Healthcare, and we got to hang out a little bit that night. I want to talk when we come back a little bit about collaboration that you have. I see you mentioned the da's office. There's so many different resources. And I, probably you get a lot of referrals from other organizations. So we could talk a little bit about collaboration in this last segment. When we come back. And then also, what do you need?
00:46:52.390 --> 00:47:02.159 Tommy DiMisa: What are you looking for? There's certain people, are you looking? Do you need board members? Whatever the case may be something that you might need, so we'll take a quick break and we'll come back and we'll jump into some of that. How's that.
00:47:02.420 --> 00:47:03.160 Claudia Boyle: Sounds, great.
00:47:03.530 --> 00:47:04.220 Tommy DiMisa: Right back.
00:49:05.280 --> 00:49:05.830 Tommy DiMisa: Back.
00:49:06.300 --> 00:49:27.490 Tommy DiMisa: This has been really interesting and a lot of fun to really get to understand your background in the organization as the nonprofit sector connector. I find it always insightful to hear about different strategies and collaborations that organizations have with other, whether they be governmental bodies. As you mentioned the da's office to other nonprofit organizations, things like that.
00:49:27.540 --> 00:49:39.189 Tommy DiMisa: So I'd love you to share some of those. And then also, what what can we do for you? Is there certain things, certain either services or resources that the organization could use right now?
00:49:40.360 --> 00:50:03.100 Claudia Boyle: Well in terms of collaborations. I wish I could share with you. We have a program chart, and at the bottom of the program chart. We have all the collaborations that we have, whether it be small or big, but in a general sense, even with harmony healthcare. We work really close together with federally qualified health centers both in Nassau and Suffolk. We work with the courts.
00:50:03.100 --> 00:50:28.060 Claudia Boyle: both in Nassau and Suffolk. We have relationships with other agencies that do similar work as us. For example, one of our one of our grants is in collaboration with Fca. Which is Family and Children's Association, Family Service league with Cng. So we work in very different arenas together in different ways. Like, for example, I'm part of the cod, the co-occurring disorder conference.
00:50:28.060 --> 00:50:53.060 Claudia Boyle: so that one we put together with all of the agencies that deal with mental health or substance, abuse or youth services. So there's a lot of opportunity for collaboration, because whenever we identify a need, we want to go and help. So Northwell is a wonderful supporter. Catholic health is a wonderful supporter of ours. So we work with the different health systems.
00:50:53.060 --> 00:51:17.919 Claudia Boyle: with the different Fqhcs, with other organizations, with the courts, with the legal system in many, many different ways. So 2 weeks. So we can support our clients. So when I mentioned the one stop shop, I didn't mean it, because I do everything and just come here and I'll solve the problem like you, we connect them to the services that they need. So if we don't do it.
00:51:17.920 --> 00:51:27.050 Claudia Boyle: we'll connect you with someone that does, because our focus is the client. Their needs need to be met and we meet them. However.
00:51:27.050 --> 00:51:44.269 Claudia Boyle: it's necessary. So one of the biggest connectors that we have right now is our community mental health and promotion program, because we go anywhere and everywhere. And the good thing is that we are funded with 2 other agencies. So we cover all of Long Island together.
00:51:44.270 --> 00:51:57.270 Claudia Boyle: So if somebody calls me from a place that I'm not supposed to be covering because it's not in my catchment area. I just pick up the phone and call the other agency and say, Hey, I have Tommy, who needs help. But he's in your coverage area.
00:51:57.310 --> 00:52:01.419 Claudia Boyle: So it's it's about working together
00:52:01.500 --> 00:52:23.719 Claudia Boyle: for the good of the people. Right? So we have so many collaborations and so many people that are interested in helping the community that we just if we see an opportunity. Hofstra University, you know a lot of people from Hofstra. We work very closely together to educate the community. I'm part of the Health Equity Task force with Northwell. So
00:52:23.720 --> 00:52:32.564 Claudia Boyle: there's so many different avenues, Tommy, that we can work together, and that overlap one way or another, that the ultimate goal is that right to help the people.
00:52:32.870 --> 00:52:51.300 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, you know, it's organizations like yours and the organizations you collaborate with that are changing the world and doing the incredible work. And it's it's ironic that, you know. There's been some discussion out on Long Island, specifically in Suffolk County, as it relates to income of executive leadership of nonprofit organizations.
00:52:51.350 --> 00:53:17.820 Tommy DiMisa: And you know there's a couple of these legislators out on Long Island that if they only understood the work that you all were involved with, if they had any concept of what goes on in these agencies other than just trying to make a name for themselves, you know, as as some kind of you know, cowboy or cow woman, you know, saving they're wrong. You're wrong out there gang. I'm not going to get into that now. We can't. We don't time, and it's not appropriate. But the point of the matter is this.
00:53:18.570 --> 00:53:38.710 Tommy DiMisa: nonprofits absolutely are on the front lines doing the special work, the incredible work. And I know, like many other leaders, you're going to say it's your team, you know. So it's you, though, as well from the leadership perspective, you know. Maybe you're maybe you said earlier. You know you don't feel maybe as much of a helper, so to speak, in the role you're in right now. But somebody leads the organization, and somebody is the front
00:53:38.710 --> 00:53:53.399 Tommy DiMisa: on the front line up from the top, telling people and telling the stories. And I'm glad you were here to do just that. So thank you. And I got to say thank you to some. I got to text him in a little while and say, thanks for making the connection. And I hope we continue this relationship. What I want to close with is.
00:53:53.750 --> 00:54:02.550 Tommy DiMisa: is there any specific needs right now that the organization has, you know, you might say, Hey, look! We're looking for a building, or what what is it for you? All right now.
00:54:02.550 --> 00:54:15.099 Claudia Boyle: I mean, there's a couple of things that I could focus on. Definitely. My, my my greatest need is always the youth programs, because, even though in your head it should be logical that
00:54:15.100 --> 00:54:40.029 Claudia Boyle: children should be at the forefront a lot of times, they're not so a lot of the funding that we get for the kids is not enough for the programs that we provide. So we always are looking for other source of funding that is not attached to a specific thing so that we can use it for our kids. We use it for their after school program. We use it for them to be able to learn and socialize and to get
00:54:40.030 --> 00:55:05.559 Claudia Boyle: know the world. So that's 1 of the needs that we have. We are always looking for people to volunteer and help. When it comes to our holiday. We do a holiday event for our kids. We have about 3 to 400 kids that come. This year is on December 15, th we have Santa Claus. We take a picture with Santa Claus, and then each child leaves here with a bag of toys.
00:55:05.822 --> 00:55:15.517 Tommy DiMisa: That have been donated. So there's always a need for that. There's a wish list that we created. I can share that link with you, and then maybe we can share it as part of the podcast
00:55:15.830 --> 00:55:40.830 Claudia Boyle: We do backpack events every day, every year after school. We are restructuring now, and and looking at our board of directors, and yes, we are looking for committed board members that can help us grow the organization and in terms of growing, we also want. We're looking for space in Suffolk. Not immediately. But we are looking for space in Suffolk
00:55:40.830 --> 00:55:48.880 Claudia Boyle: to grow, because the clinic that we have in Suffolk is not big enough for the demand. So looking for for space.
00:55:49.020 --> 00:56:09.900 Tommy DiMisa: Not big enough for the demand gang. You heard it here first, st right? There's services that can be provided and are not being provided, because I don't know, because we don't have a building that's big enough. I mean, that sounds like on its face, like Whoa, that's complicated to get a Bill, is it that complicated? No right. Somebody can configure to help figure these things out and support it right? You were going to say something.
00:56:10.160 --> 00:56:29.819 Claudia Boyle: No, I was just gonna say that that it's not difficult per se but it is. It does take time, and it takes you know an effort and related to what you said earlier. You know, we have to look for funding to be able to support a bigger space to support what we, what we need to do. So.
00:56:29.960 --> 00:56:50.470 Tommy DiMisa: I want to just correct myself because I wasn't making a commentary. That is no big deal for you to get a building. I say, as a society as this island, with many, many, many wealthy people, many of them in the real estate space. That's not so difficult for somebody to say, Hey, utilize our space right? That's the thing that I mean, like as a society when we have organizations like this that are serving on the front lines.
00:56:50.470 --> 00:57:03.160 Tommy DiMisa: It takes philanthropists to come in and bring in things and opportunities, and I don't think again I don't own a building, so I could talk all about this a whole lot, but I don't own a building that I could, that I can lend or or donate.
00:57:03.160 --> 00:57:08.820 Claudia Boyle: Someone who's listening know someone who that who has a building. And we can use that space.
00:57:08.820 --> 00:57:16.030 Tommy DiMisa: That's exactly right. So the other thing I saw is it May. It might have been on Linkedin. I thought it was on your website, the organization is currently hiring right now.
00:57:16.320 --> 00:57:33.680 Claudia Boyle: Yes, we are. We're always hiring bilingual professionals, both in the bachelor's levels and master's levels. Because our programs you know, they're growing, and our clinic currently has about 13 therapists, and we need at least
00:57:33.730 --> 00:57:48.770 Claudia Boyle: 3 more to to deal with the demand Bilingual Bicultural Master's level. Your social work, mental health. We have licensed clinical art therapists. We have licensed marriage and family therapists. So
00:57:48.790 --> 00:57:50.529 Claudia Boyle: the gamut and.
00:57:50.530 --> 00:57:51.750 Tommy DiMisa: Lot of opportunities.
00:57:52.030 --> 00:57:53.919 Claudia Boyle: A lot of opportunities.
00:57:53.920 --> 00:58:14.049 Tommy DiMisa: We got. We got to leave it there because we got a show coming up right after my show. Claudia. Bo. Thanks for being here, Hispanic counseling center out here on Long Island. Appreciate you, Claudia, appreciate you all listening and checking in. If I could be of service to any of you. It's Tommy D. At philanthropy and focus PHOC. US. Or hit me on Instagram, Tommy D. Dot Nyc. Make it a great day, Claudia, thanks for being here bye.
00:58:14.050 --> 00:58:15.339 Claudia Boyle: Thank you, Tommy.
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