Messages from the President & CEO

Hillside today announced the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Marlowe V.N. Washington, Senior Diversity Officer at St. John Fisher University and Senior Minister at Agape Fellowship United Methodist Church in Irondequoit, to the Hillside Board of Governors.

Dr. Washington is a graduate of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY, with a baccalaureate in political science and a minor in history. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary in Manhattan and a Doctor of Ministry degree in transformational leadership from Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College. In 2019, he successfully completed his second doctoral work at St. John Fisher University, earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) in executive leadership with a concentration in diversity and inclusion in higher education administration.

An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Dr. Washington oversaw six congregations in the northeast coast. He served on the faculty of religion and philosophy at Roberts Wesleyan College, where he specialized in practical theology in the areas of church leadership, urban development, New Testament studies, and diversity and inclusion.

In addition to his role as St. John Fisher University, Dr. Washington has served as a diversity consultant to several school districts, including a current role with the Wheatland-Chili Central School District. He is a trustee emeritus of Keuka College, a member of the board at Junior Achievement, and a recent appointee (on September 21, 2022) by Gov. Kathy Hochul to the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council. The Council meets quarterly to consider and adopt accreditation standards for law enforcement agencies in New York and to review and approve applications from police agencies for accreditation by the Council. 

“It’s an honor to have the experience and guidance of Dr. Washington on the Hillside Board,” said Maria Cristalli, Hillside President and Chief Executive Officer. “He and his fellow Board members provide invaluable perspectives that support Hillside’s mission of service to youth and families.”

Officers have been named for the Hillside Board of Governors, to serve during the 2023 fiscal year. They are Jill Knittel, Chair; James C. Haefner, Vice Chair; Christopher B. Eckert, Treasurer; Monica L. Monte, Secretary; and Richard J. Gangemi, MD, Past Chair.

Hillside, one of the largest child-and-family-services organizations in the eastern United States, today announced the establishment of a new minimum wage of $17 per hour for all positions in the organization. The change will take effect on October 8, 2022.

“I am delighted to announce this permanent shift in Hillside’s compensation structure,” President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Cristalli said, adding that the change will also positively impact many staff whose salaries are already above this new minimum. “This is an important step in raising compensation for the many critical roles that our employees play in the lives of children and families.”

Hillside employs nearly 1,800 women and men in a broad range of service areas including direct care, clinical and education. The agency’s residential treatment and community-based programs support the needs of nearly 10,000 children, adults and families every year.

In May 2021, Hillside became an early leader among major regional employers to set a minimum wage of $15 per hour. “This new increase is only the latest step in compensation journey that needs to be gradual, and must be ongoing,” Cristalli said. “We will continue to advocate with our government partners for increased investment in human services workers. They deserve nothing less.”

Hillside is hiring for a wide range of positions throughout Western and Central New York and in Prince George’s County, Maryland. For more information, visit www.hillside.com/careers.

All of Hillside congratulates KeyBank and the Rochester Female Charitable Society, who are among the honorees to be recognized next month at the National Philanthropy Day Awards, held by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Genesee Valley Chapter.

AFP announced today that KeyBank will receive the Outstanding Corporation Award, and RFCS will receive the Outstanding Foundation Award. Both were nominated by Maria Cristalli, Hillside President and CEO, in recognition of their strong and continued philanthropic commitments to Hillside and other charitable causes in our community.

All AFP winners will be formally recognized at a September 8 ceremony.

National Philanthropy Day celebrates the critical role philanthropy plays in helping nonprofit organizations provide a broad spectrum of important services. The National Philanthropy Day Awards celebrate the individuals and organizations whose contributions support this vital work.

Community support keeps Hillside Strong. Support our mission today.

Free Summer Meal Sites across New York and around the country

Learning and good nutrition do not end when school lets out. The USDA Summer Food Service Program helps provide nutritious meals to children so they are better fueled with healthy food to learn and grow.  This summer, youth ages 18 years and younger can receive FREE breakfast, lunch, or snack served at community recreation centers, summer school locations and other neighborhood sites around New York State, Maryland and throughout the country.

Find the location and meal times that work best for you

• Text Option: Text “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744 to find summer meal sites.
  In Spanish: text “Verano” to 914-342-7744.
• Call: USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1‐866‐3‐HUNGRY to see if there is a USDA Summer Food Service Program near you. That’s 1‐866‐348‐6479.
  In Spanish, call 1-866-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273).

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf(link is external), from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

• mail:
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
  1400 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
• fax:
  (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
• email:
  program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider

June 24, 2022 – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law a vital piece of legislation that will improve access to much-needed mental health services for countless New York youth and families.

The legislation, S9449/A6008E, standardizes mental health licensing requirements to allow nearly 10,000 qualified mental health practitioners to diagnose and develop treatment plans to help with the increased demand for mental health treatment across New York State.

Hillside has been a leader in advocating for this legislation to become law, and President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Cristalli (pictured above center) today praised the Governor and Senator Samra Brouk (55th District, left) and Assemblymember Harry Bronson (138th District) for making it a long-awaited reality.

“This is an important day for New York State’s mental health services community – including thousands of hard-working and highly skilled practitioners, and especially the countless vulnerable youth and families who will benefit from increased access to essential diagnostic and treatment services,” Cristalli said. “Hillside is deeply grateful to Assemblymember Bronson, Senator Brouk and Governor Hochul for their leadership on behalf of the children, adults and families of New York.”

Hillside and peer organizations have been operating under an exemption that would have expired today without the Governor’s action. “This law provides consistency for the Hillside workforce and the youth and families we serve,” Cristalli said.

She also praised all of Hillside’s licensed professionals and their commitment to caring for children and families.

Earlier this month, Hillside hosted a joint announcement by Senator Brouk and Assemblymember Bronson to announce the passage of the legislation. There, Cristalli cited the long waitlist of mental health services for vulnerable young people that has only grown dramatically worse in recent years.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, access to child and family mental health services was insufficient to meet the demand for those services. Now, children are being affected like never before,” Cristalli said.

The law, said Assemblymember Bronson, “will help our families, it will help our children, and it will save lives.”

“This is about helping vulnerable folks who need help,” Sen. Brouk added.

Learn more about career opportunities at Hillside.