OUR STAFF
Michael Bellotti, LMHC
Michael Bellotti joined Concern as Associate Executive Director in 1994. As Associate Executive Director, Michael manages and oversees our Licensed and Supported Housing Programs. Michael is responsible for Concern’s continued CARF Accreditation. Additionally, Michael has implemented and oversees Concern’s Wellness Initiative and Vocational Program, including the supervision of our Employment Specialist and the initiation of our Culinary Arts Program. Michael has over 30 years of clinical supervision experience. Michael is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor and earned his BA in Psychology from Queens College and his MS in Counseling from Long Island University.
Donna Bryant, MSW
Donna Bryant is the Director of Concern Riverhead, a 50-bed single-site supportive housing program. Donna joined Concern in 2011. She has worked in the Social Work field for 16 years for both small and large not-for-profit agencies, administering homeless programs, an ACT team, a licensed OASAS program and more. Donna earned her BA in Social Science with a minor in Child and Family Studies and her MSW from SUNY Stony Brook. She is currently working on a PhD at Adelphi University.
Sandra Carrasquillo
Sandra Carrasquillo joined Concern in 2011 as the Director of Human Resources. She has over 15 years experience in various office management roles, including accounting, Human Resources policies and procedures, and payroll and benefits administration. Sandra maintains the personnel files of over 200 part-time and full-time individuals employed by Concern, as well as all per diem employees. She is responsible for all aspects of Human Resources functions as well as payroll within the agency. Sandra earned her BS in Organizational Management with a Certificate in Human Resources from St. Joseph’s College.
Debbie Debek
Debbie Debek joined Concern in 1996 in our Accounting Department and has served as the Property Manager for twelve years. Debbie supervises two Assistant Property Managers as well as all maintenance staff, including the Maintenance Director, Maintenance Supervisor, nine Maintenance Mechanics and six Custodians. The ultimate goal of the Property Manager is to ensure that all of the properties managed by Concern are safe and well maintained. Debbie earned her BA in accounting from Dowling College.
Lucile Demetres, MA, MHC
Lucille Demetres has been with Concern since 2008 and is an Assistant Director in Supported Housing. Lucille supervises case management staff in Supported Housing and oversees all reports to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance for Concern’s SRO grants. Lucille earned her Masters in Mental Health Counseling from C.W. Post University.
Denise Duncan, LMHC, NCC
Denise Duncan has served as the Director of Supported Housing since 2005. She is responsible for the oversight of 27 staff in the day to day operation of Concern’s Supported Housing Program. She joined Concern in 1991 as a Case Manager in the Apartment Treatment Program and then transferred to our Supported Housing Program in 1994. Denise earned her BA in psychology from Stony Brook University and has a dual Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from Long Island University. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and holds National Counseling Certification through the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Ralph Fasano, M.A., M.ED., C.R.C.
Ralph Fasano has been the Executive Director of Concern for Independent Living since 1993. He is the past President of the Association for Community Living, a statewide association representing 130 housing agencies. He served as the Chair of the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless for four years until February, 2000. He has over 23 years experience developing and operating residences for formerly homeless individuals and families. Mr. Fasano is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from New York University. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, Bay Ridge Prep, the Long Island Residential Association and was the Chair of the Brookhaven Service Advisory Council. He was a member of the Suffolk County Task Force on Homelessness and was the Chair of its Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Committee. He serves on the Suffolk County DSS Commissioner’s Advisory Council and was the Chair of the Suffolk Housing Work Group. He has served on the Supportive Housing Network’s Steering Committee and is currently its Treasurer. He recently received “The Benefactors” award from the Long Island Chapter of the AIA and the first "Visionary Award" from the New York State Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
Tricia Fesinstine, MA
As the Coordinator of Family Services, Tricia Fesinstine supervises case management staff in Concern’s Family Program, which serves over 40 families including over 100 children. Tricia came to Concern in 2003 as a Case Manager in Supported Housing and continued to become a Senior Case Manager in the Family Program. She received her BA in Psychology from Stony Brook University and earned her Master’s in School Psychology from Adelphi University. Tricia is a Licensed School Psychologist.
Judy Foster, LMSW
Judy Foster is the Director of the MacDougal CR/SRO, a 65-bed Single-Site Supportive Housing program in Brooklyn. Judy began her career with Concern in 2011. Judy holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University. She also has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Hampton University in Virginia. Judy has over 12 years experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. Prior to coming to Concern, she was the Program Manager for an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team for 8 years. She also worked as a Financial Coordinator for HUD/Supported Housing and a Financial Manager with MHA. Judy is a Licensed Master Social Worker.
Eileen Liberto, MS
Eileen Liberto began her tenure at Concern as a Program Coordinator in 1988. She worked as the Assistant Director of Concern and is now the Assistant Executive Director of the agency. In her position at Concern Eileen oversees admissions to Concern’s Supervised and Apartment Treatment Community Resident Programs and is a member of the Suffolk County SPA Committee. She chairs the agency’s Special Review Committee and Health and Safety Committee and is responsible for certain quality assurance functions such as annual resident and staff satisfaction surveys and the coordination of the bi-annual OMH client survey for the agency. She earned her BA in Psychology from Hunter College, her MS in Community Health Education at Hunter’s Institute of Health Sciences and has over 39 years of experience working in the health and human services field.
Elizabeth Lunde, LMSW
As the Associate Director of Concern, Elizabeth is responsible for the development and operations for over 650 housing program beds, as well as the supervision of the Directors of Supported Housing and CR-SRO Programs. Elizabeth joined Concern in 1989 and has served in several roles in both the licensed supervised and supported housing programs. She has over 25 years of experience in mental health housing. In 2010, she received the Key of Excellence Award from the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless for her work with and on behalf of homeless and underserved individuals. Elizabeth earned her BA in Psychology and her Masters of Social Work from Stony Brook University. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker.
Laura Mullahy-Smith, LMSW
Laura Mullahy-Smith has served as the Director of Pollack Gardens, Concern’s first Single-Site Supportive Housing program in West Sayville, since 2007. As Director of Pollack Gardens, Laura manages and oversees all daily activities of a 50-bed residence. Laura earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Stony Brook University and is a Licensed Master Social Worker. Laura joined Concern in 1999 and has served as the Assistant Director of Supported Housing and as a Supervisor and Program Coordinator in the licensed Supervised Housing programs.
Karen Nauss, BS
Karen Nauss is the Director of Concern East Patchogue, Concern’s third Single-Site Supportive Housing Program on Long Island. Karen came to Concern in 2002 as a Case Manager in our Apartment Treatment Program and later served as a Senior Case Manager and Program Coordinator within the Apartment Treatment program. In 2007 Karen became the Supervisor of Pollack Gardens, Concern’s first Single-Site Supportive Housing program. Karen has her BS in Social Work.
Lawrence Oaks
As Director of New York City Operations, Lawrence Oaks oversees the operations of Concern's Single-Site Supportive Housing programs in Brooklyn. Additionally, Lawrence is responsible for assisting in all states of new program development. Lawrence is a recognized expert in the areas of non-profit management and affordable and supportive housing development with over 15 years experience in the field. Over the course of his career, Lawrence has overseen the development of more than 700 units of Special Needs housing and from 2004-2008 he served as the Executive Director of a major New York City non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness. Lawrence graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a BS in Political Science.
Denise Radigan
Denise Radigan has served as Concern’s Controller since 2001. As Controller, Denise is responsible for the Agency’s Federal, State, and County contracts as well as administrative support. Denise has over 23 years of experience in senior accounting in the not-for-profit sector and earned her BBA from Hofstra University.
Sonia Troche-Nazario
Sonia Troche-Nazario has served as the Program Coordinator of Concern’s Apartment Treatment Program since 2007. Sonia began her career with Concern in 2003 as a Case Manager in the Apartment Treatment Program and also served as a Senior Case Manager. In her current role, Sonia supervises all of the case managers within the CTAP program. Sonia earned her BS in Psychology from the New York Institute of Technology.
Elizabeth Weinbaum, LCSW
Elizabeth Weinbaum is the Director of Compliance and oversees all compliance related activities, including reviewing and evaluating management practices and consumer service delivery. Elizabeth is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years experience in organizational management including strategic planning, regulatory compliance, administrative investigations, quality assurance, and corporate compliance. Her experience includes policy development in all aspects of agency operation and management oversight of programs funded by the Office of Mental Health, Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and Department of Health. She has also provided technical assistance to other organizations that had regulatory compliance and licensing issues. She earned her BSW in social work and her Masters of Social Work from Adelphi University.
Kurt Wesolowski, M. Div.
As the Assistant Director of Supported Housing, Kurt Wesolowski supervises case management staff and is the primary person responsible for HUD compliance in our McKinney and Shelter + Care programs. Kurt has served as a Case Manager and as a Program Coordinator since coming to Concern in 2005. Kurt has worked in a variety of settings in the mental health field since beginning his career in 1984. Kurt earned his BA in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton and has his M.Div in Pastoral Ministries from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Megan Yost, MSW
Megan Yost is a Program Coordinator, supervising Case Managers in the Supported Housing Program. She began as a Case Manager in our Apartment Treatment Program in 2003 and also served as a Medication Manager in Supported Housing. Megan received her BS in Psychology and Health and Human Services from the University of Buffalo and earned her Master’s in Social Work from Stony Brook University.
CONCERN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING • PO Box 358 • 312 Expressway Drive South, Medford, NY 11763 • Phone (631) 758-0474 • Fax (631) 758-0467 • Email: info@concernhousing.org