Yvonne Katallage, LMSW

My name is Yvonne Marie and I have been a social worker for over twenty-five plus years years. I began my career with the City of New York at the Administration for Children Services (ACS), where I spent a little over fifteen years. During my time at ACS, I worked on legal cases with Corporation Counsel and assisted families whose children were removed due to abuse and neglect. One of my most rewarding experiences was helping families reunite and restore their relationships with their children. After my tenure at ACS, I joined the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA), where I worked for over fifteen years. Providing support to clients with HIV/AIDS was one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. My primary responsibility at HASA was to help homeless families move from shelters into permanent housing. This was a challenging task, as many of the families we serviced did not even have basic necessities, such as a bed or a plate to eat from, let alone their own apartment. Witnessing how stable housing transformed the lives of families and children was incredibly rewarding. After HASA, I transitioned to the Nursing Home program, where I assessed seniors' eligibility for city nursing home services. Following that, I worked in the Lombardi Medical Program, which provided medical services to clients. Throughout my career, I have focused on providing counseling and guidance to the families I serve. I have also worked with families affected by domestic violence, supporting both male and female victims in emergency rooms and public service.