New York, NY – Jelaine Altino, LCSW, has been appointed Deputy Clinical Director of Residential Services at Sanctuary forFamilies, a leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence, where she will manage Sanctuary’s transitional and crisis shelters, outreach initiatives, post-shelter care and clinical administrative matters.
In this new role, Ms. Altino will also serve as the Director of Sarah Burke House, New York’s first and largest transitional shelter for survivors of domestic violence with a state-of-the-art facility including group rooms, a library, a large and cheery children’s space and an outdoor play area. Sarah Burke House, located in the Bronx, houses 58 families.
A veteran in the field, Ms. Altino has worked in the social services for over 25 years and has extensive experience in the development and implementation of large homeless family residences.
In her previous position at Sanctuary for Families, Altino served as the Director of Crisis Shelters, where she managed the Crisis Shelter Program to ensure fully functioning 24-hour safe and confidential shelter for approximately 60 domestic violence survivors and their families every year. A resident of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, she holds a master’s degree from New York University and is a licensed clinician.
In her new role, Ms. Altino will administer all facets of Sanctuary’s residential program, including operations, programs and community relations. She will ensure the provision of social services to the women and their children who live within the shelter program and for those who participate in the shelters’ post-shelter programs.
“At a time when approximately one in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime, the work we do at Sanctuary for Families must continue to strengthen and expand. We are confident in Jelaine’s expertise and applaud her commitment to providing life-saving services to our clients,” said Judge Kluger, Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families.
“Every year, Sanctuary assists nearly 15,000 survivors and their children through direct services, while our education and awareness-building initiatives connect with more than 40,000 additional people. I am thrilled to be named Deputy Clinical Director, and to continue Sanctuary’s important work,” said Altino.
Before joining Sanctuary for Families’ team in 2011, Ms. Altino served as the Clinical Coordinator of Career Network in the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS). There she played a critical role in the implementation of the supportive employment program within the mental health housing services, among many other responsibilities.
Ms. Altino succeeds Ted McCourtney, a valued member of Sanctuary for Families for more than 10 years.
Sanctuary for Families provides a wide range of support to survivors of gender violence including shelter, clinical, and legal services; children’s and youth programs; economic empowerment programming; as well as training and advocacy.
