Gabriella started her Social Work career working with the OMRDD population at a group home for adults with Profound Mental Retardation. Inspired by the idea of promoting independence and the concept of resiliency, Gabriella decided to commit her life to the field. She returned to school and received her MSW from Columbia University in 2006. Gabriella joined the New York Foundling team after completing her second year internship with the NYF at their group home for pregnant teens in the Child Welfare System. In 2009, Gabriella was thrilled to join the Haven Academy team as a Crisis Intervention Specialist. Gabriella currently oversees the Social Services department for the elementary grades. Gabriella has helped build and develop our trauma sensitive culture and approach by developing our clinical and classroom interventions, supervising the work of core department members and overseeing recruitment and attendance outreach. Gabriella is certified to supervise Social Work students and enjoys leading, training and supporting students at Haven Academy, thereby allowing us to provide preventative counseling to over 90 scholars a year.
Throughout her career, Gabriella has combined her clinical, supervisory and case management skills as well as her ability and commitment to approaching situations with cultural sensitivity and awareness. Gabriella is proud to be a long standing member of the Haven Academy community and enjoys working in close collaboration with all staff, children and families in our community and the Mott Haven community at large. Gabriella is also proud to have led New York Foundling’s Camp Felix for several years and to be serving as an Adjunct Professor at NYU Silver School of Social Work.
