PSS welcomes Sherry Haynes of Harlem to its board of directors. Haynes works for the New York State Unified Court system and is assigned to Manhattan Treatment Court, where she assesses individuals for alternatives to incarceration and makes recommendations on whether they have a substance use or mental health disorder that would be helped through treatment or some form of outpatient care.
If the court agrees, and the prospect does well, their felony case can be dismissed, which is a good incentive. The program gives an opportunity for people to get their lives back on track and offers support by assisting with employment, childcare and housing.
Haynes has a B.A. in social science and interdisciplinary studies from SUNY Buffalo. She learned of the work of PSS through another board member, the Hon. Patricia Nunez, who oversaw the Drug Court, but is now retired. Haynes had a grandmother, now deceased, who was suffering from dementia and other family members who were experiencing memory loss.
Calling herself a “sponge person,” Haynes looks forward to learning more about PSS and the older adult population. She envisions getting involved in programming, as many of the individuals she works with are approaching their older years and substance abuse in this population does not always get attention.
Meanwhile, Haynes intends to steer her mom to one of the PSS Older Adult Centers to get her technology questions answered. “I love the community aspect of everything,” she says, “that it’s for the people in the neighborhoods.”