Familismo, Personalismo, Comunidad: Learning from the Narratives of Latinx in Social Work

Jessica Hardial is a bilingual clinical social worker who has over ten years of social work experience. She received her associate’s degree in liberal arts from CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College in 2011, then her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology with a minor in student services and counseling from CUNY Queens College in 2013.  Shortly after, she received her master’s degree in social work from Fordham University in 2016. Jessica completed her second master’s degree in human development from Fielding Graduate University in 2021.

Jessica Hardial is a School Social Worker for the NYC Department of Education, serves as an adjunct lecturer for SUNY Old Westbury, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate attending Fielding Graduate University. Jessica has a private practice, Blossoming Lotus Therapy, LCSW PLLC, where she specializes in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She is passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ community members and their families, the foster care and adoption population, and children of immigrants. Jessica specializes in issues surrounding trauma, anxiety, and family conflict using a somatic-oriented approach. Jessica continues to enhance the social work profession by providing supervision to graduate students and post-graduate students to enhance their clinical skills in their field of practice.

Ingrid received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. She is a licensed clinical social worker with the “R” psychotherapy privilege in the state of New York. Ingrid is currently employed as a pediatric oncology social worker in the Northwell Health system at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York. In addition, Ingrid has a private practice working with children, adolescents, individuals, and couples in Huntington, NY.  Her clinical experience is across a variety of settings and includes inpatient and outpatient specialty clinics, crisis intervention, school mental health alliance, child and adolescent psychiatry, traumatic brain injury, Neurorehabilitation, physical medicine and rehabilitation, hematology/oncology, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, and emergency medicine and trauma.

Embracing her passion for group work, Ingrid has also led parent support groups for the caregivers of children with a variety of oncological diagnoses and teen groups focusing on anger management and coping skills. She has also provided clinical and administrative supervision to undergraduate and graduate social work interns and professionals. Ingrid is passionate about providing therapeutic services to individuals and groups in crisis in a culturally humble manner focusing on BIPOC and immigrant populations. Ingrid is trilingual and can speak, read, and write in English, Spanish, and French fluently. As a result, Ingrid is passionate about providing therapy in the client’s primary language to ensure that she embraces the full cultural identity of her clients as she utilizes a holistic, strength-based, person-centered approach to guide her practice. She utilizes a variety of techniques and skills drawn from recognized therapeutic models including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused, Psychoeducation, Play Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Family Systems Therapy. Ingrid received The Cohen Children’s Medical Center’s Patient/Customer Focus Award in February 2020. Erica Sandoval, MSW, LCSW, president of the NASW-NYYC chapter, and Ingrid will be launching “E & I Consulting” in 2022.

Dr. Cindy Bautista-Thomas is an innovative visionary committed to helping others tap into their hidden potential, discover their God-given gifts, and help them take inspired action towards creating the life they’ve always envisioned. She is a first-generation Dominican American who was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. She is also a licensed clinical social worker, educator, podcast host, yoga and mindfulness instructor, author, mother, wife, master trainer, and curator of spaces of healing.

In 2017, Cindy decided to leverage her leadership, interpersonal, and facilitation skills and co-founded Velocity Visions, a company whose mission is to provide healing, transformation, and impact to individuals, groups, and corporations through wellness activities, workshops, and interactive exercises that enhance personal and professional efficacy. With her bigger-than-life personality, warm smile, and innate ability to help others feel comfortable, Cindy is using her God-given talents to help others find theirs. Her strong presence, passion, and professionalism make Cindy one of the premier trainers in the industry.

When she’s not transforming lives, Cindy spends her time with her family and pursuing her creative passion of writing. To learn more about Cindy and the work she does with Velocity Visions, Inc. visit their website at www.velocityvisionsinc.com.

Madeline Maldonado has over twenty years of experience in program administration, clinical supervision, professional training, and psychotherapy. She specializes in autism evaluations for children and adolescents. Madeline is the president and owner of Madeline Maldonado, LCSW Consulting P.C., and is an adjunct professor and field advisor at Fordham University’s MSW Program.

Madeline has dedicated her career to seeking to improve systems and organizations that work with and serve people. As a social work professor and consultant, she trains students and professionals on how to work within the current mental health system with less stress and burnout. Madeline believes in teaching and empowering her clients to be their own therapists and advocates. She confronts problems with teamwork and solution-focused strategies. Kindness and humor are her trademarks.

Madeline has a master’s degree from New York University Silver School of Social Work and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hunter College of CUNY. She is bilingual in Spanish. Madeline lives in Westchester County, NY with her dog Moofasah and cat Poombah. She is currently in plans to open a clinic practice in NYC providing psychotherapy for Latino and African American children and families and autism evaluation services.

Dr. Edith Chaparro is a licensed clinical social worker and a practicing psychologist dedicated to delivering the highest quality client services for the past twenty years. In addition, she is the owner and creator of the influential Social Work Exam Prep Bootcamp, which has been assisting social workers nationally to obtain their professional licenses for the past fifteen years. Dr. Chaparro’s work has been dedicated to advocating and helping culturally diverse communities at both the clinical treatment level and the academic level.

Dr. Chaparro holds a doctorate degree in counseling psychology from Walden University, where she dedicated years towards research related to factors that impact license exam performance. In addition, she holds a master’s in clinical social work from New York University. During her career, she has been a private practitioner, clinical supervisor, adjunct professor, business owner, and mentor. She currently serves as an executive committee member and member at large for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)-NYC chapter and has served as the chairperson of the NASW-NYC Nominations Committee. Dr. Chaparro has earned numerous awards throughout her career and is regularly invited to be a guest lecturer at various universities and well-known organizations.

Yurilka Hernandez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New York (LCSW). She is the CEO and founder of Psychotherapy & Consultation Services LCSW-PLLC. She is a bilingual, bi-cultural Hispanic female with over thirteen years of extensive training and experience in the areas of mental health, cultural competency, working with immigrant families, substance abuse disorders, and providing clinical supervision. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science and a graduate degree (MSW) from New York University Silver School of Social Work. In 2016, she completed a Post-Master’s certificate program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis, and certified middle management from the National Council for Behavioral Health 2019, and Executive Leadership for Nonprofit Organization at New York University.

As part of the behavior Team at Acacia Network, the second-largest Latino-led not-for-profit organization in the country, her portfolio includes mental health clinics, substance abuse school-based programs, court-involved youth programs, and health homes.

As a field supervisor and teacher at Adelphi University school of social work, she has cultivated healthy and positive relationships with students by shaping our next line of social workers with their journey. Today Yurilka works as a senior administrator for health homes. She also participates in multiple advocacies in Washington, D.C., and Albany where she fights for her patients, fellow social workers, and the well-being of others. She is a daughter, sister, friend, lover, and ally. She fights every day for social justice while promoting growth and hope. Social work is the tree of life and she is a messenger!

Dr. Linda Lausell Bryant is a Clinical Associate Professor, Director of the Doctorate in Clinical Social Work program, and the Katherine and Howard Aibel Executive-in-Residence at NYU Silver. She is devoted to developing the leadership capacities of social workers for impact on the pressing social issues of our time, the intersection of race, ethnicity, and social justice, child welfare issues, and macro social work practice.

Dr. Lausell Bryant’s career spans thirty-five years in youth services in both the private and public sectors. She has launched an Adaptive Leadership in Human Services Institute at NYU Silver, served as the executive director of Inwood House, a nonprofit youth agency from 2005-2014, and served as associate commissioner for the Office of Youth Development at the NYC Administration for Children’s Services. She served on the NYC Panel for Education Policy and currently serves as the president of the board of the National Crittenton Foundation, which seeks to empower young women and girls. She received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latino Social Work Coalition and has received the Distinguished Contribution to Student Engagement Award at NYU Silver. She is the co-author of A Guide for Sustaining Conversations on Racism, Identity and Our Mutual Humanity and Social Work: A Call to Action.

Erica is a passionate licensed clinical therapist who is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She is committed to amplifying the voices and businesses of incredible Latinx social work leaders, who are healing and inspiring communities. She partners with organizations, universities, health care facilities, medical and corporate professionals to provide access to resources to advance teams and help employees and students thrive. Most recently, she co-founded Employee Network Allyance, a space for allyship for today and tomorrow’s employee network leaders who help each other succeed. Erica holds a Post Master’s in Clinical Adolescent Psychology and a Masters in Social Work from New York University, Silver School of Social Work. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for National Association of Social Workers NYC, the largest organization for professional social workers worldwide. She helped launch B.O.L.D, Building Organizing and Leading with Diversity. Her work focuses on the intersectionality of behavioral health, social disparities, trauma, and human development. She serves as Advisor for Latino Social Work Coalition and Prospanica NY. Her successful career earned her numerous awards. She is regularly invited to be a guest speaker, moderator, and panelist by well-known organizations. Her greatest pride is raising her 21-year-old daughter, Isabella, as a single mother, who she considers her biggest teacher. As a proud immigrant from Ecuador, her passion is fueled by supporting the community she is a part of and their children. She has released her first book, Latinx in Social Work, quickly becoming a #1 Best Seller and Hot New Release under Social Work on Amazon.

New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers {#SW-0012}.

New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors {#MHC-0083}.

For Mental Health Practitioners: Please check with your state, if you are not licensed in New York, to determine if these credits will be accepted for licensing renewal.