Health Equity Alliance of Long Island (HEALI) is Long Island’s Social Care Network, led by Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, and integrates health and social care providers serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties. To join as a CBO partner or to find resources, please click here
Policy & Advocacy
We work with local, state, and federal government partners to advocate for effective policy decisions that will impact our neighbors and hometowns.
Coalitions & Grass Roots Organizing
We bring together nonprofits, business leaders, and lawmakers to discuss solutions to our region’s challenges.
Direct Services
We operate a series of programs that connect Long Islanders with the services they need.
Welcome to the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island
At the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), our work is to ensure that our region is a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone to live. We can set the standard for what an equitable region looks like. That means safe communities, decent, affordable housing, healthy food, access to care and an opportunity to thrive. In our quest for improvements and systemic change, we face a unique set of obstacles. In fact, the poverty rate today is at its highest since 1959. Given the current assault on the country’s most vulnerable communities, our work is more important than ever.
Our Impact
11350 |
People served in 2023 alone |
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76 |
Years Serving Long Island |
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200+ |
Partnering Organizations |
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Recent News
July 29, 2025
The 2025 Long Island Trailblazers
Posted on July 28th, 2025
Read on City and State
The innovative leaders of Suffolk and Nassau counties.
Long Island isn’t your average American suburban landscape. Nassau and Suffolk counties are home to nearly 3 million residents, many of whom commute into New York City and are closely tied to the broader downstate economy. But Long Island boasts a vibrant economic ecosystem of its own, featuring world-class corporations, thriving financial institutions, highly rated colleges and universities, and top-tier hospitals, law firms, real estate developers and cultural institutions. The region is bolstered by nonprofit and philanthropic organizations and advocacy groups that ensure a baseline quality of life for residents across the socioeconomic spectrum.
City & State’s Long Island Trailblazers list features dozens of the key players and game-changers who have the region on the upswing. The list includes innovative thinkers who are tackling the most pressing issues of our time: combating climate change, mitigating future pandemic risks, building affordable housing and protecting water quality. It tracks local power brokers on the move – including the new CEO of the Long Island Power Authority, a former NFL player turned lawmaker and a recently elevated municipal labor leader – and others who are stepping aside after decades in leadership.
We’re pleased to present the inaugural Long Island Trailblazers.
Vanessa Baird-StreeterPresident and CEO, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Vanessa Baird-Streeter’s Health and Welfare Council of Long Island has championed Medicaid advocacy and maternal health equity and launched a regional Social Care Network connecting thousands of Long Islanders with food, housing and mental health support. Decrying medical emergencies as financially devastating for families, she has led efforts to negotiate down medical bills so patients can resume care. The former Suffolk County deputy executive helped launch an early childhood development program and advanced equity in procurement. She was a founding member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Suffolk County chapter.
July 25, 2025
Long Island Business News Names 2025 40 Under Forty Award Recipients
Posted July 25th, 2025
Read on LIBN
Long Island Business News has selected has chosen the winners of this year’s 40 Under Forty recipient.
The 40 Under Forty awards recognize Long Island professionals under the age of 40 who are distinguishing themselves in business, government, education and the nonprofit sector. They have a proven track record of career success, are actively engaged in mentoring and promoting their professions, and find time to give back to their communities. The honorees were selected by a committee of previous recipients and the leadership team of Long Island Business News.
A list of winners is below:
2025 40 Under Forty Honorees
Julie Allegretti, Social Media Association
Claudia B. Batarseh, Batarseh Pammer PLLC
Albert Borghese, CPA, Cerini & Associates, LLP
Kevin Brady, Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR)
Stephen Cerruto, CBIZ Inc.
Danielle Collins Groner, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
Cara M. D’Agostino, Esq., Touro Law Center
Nicholas DiPietro, Family & Children’s Association (FCA)
Gina Farese, Marcor Construction, Inc.
Rasheed Frazier, SCO Family of Services
Andre Garvin, Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs/The Tarmac Group
Eric Gillman, CBRE Long Island
Catherine Gonzalez, Cradle of Aviation Museum
Katie Hamel, Aurora Contractors, LLC
Joe Hatzelman, Grassi
Marissa Hiruma-Markgraf, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Robert J. Huether, CPA, MBA, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
Kelly Kotliar, Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP
Alexandra C. McCormack, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.
Justin Merk, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union
Andrew Mulvey, National Grid
Micaela Nota, Starts Align
Constantina Papageorgiou, Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP
Gaby Paulino-Pena, Gema’s Childcare
Eric Ribachonek, UHY LLP
Peter M. Schembri Jr., P.E., Suffolk County Water Authority
Katherine A. Serrano Sosa, Rooted Architecture Studio PLLC
Robert Sheppard, Designs for Vision, Inc.
Melanie Sinesi, New York Transco
Nandadevi Singh, Catholic Health Physician Partners
William Sklar, VHB
Erik W. Snipas, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Ryan Soebke, Cullen and Dykman LLP
Tiffany Tzeng, I Am Generation, Premier Consultants International
Gozde Ustuner, Brookhaven National Laboratory/Farmingdale State College
Michael Vanunu, Rivkin Radler LLP
John Vicedomini, ConnectOne Bank
Sean Walsh, Arrow Security
Yichen Zhang, KPMG LLP
Anna Zinko, Adelphi University
“The 2025 40 Under Forty honorees are high-achieving young professionals who give back to the community in exceptional ways. They have demonstrated significant career success, but also know that making a difference in the lives of others is essential,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Long Island Business News. “They are the next generation of leaders on Long Island, and Long Island Business News is pleased to recognize their accomplishments.”
The winners will be recognized at a celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Crest Hollow Country Club, 8325 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury. Networking, food stations and drinks begin in the Coral Beach area (outdoors, weather permitting) at 4:30 p.m., with the awards celebration at 5:30 p.m. followed by continued networking, dessert and drinks. The event hashtag is #LIBNevents.
There are various sponsorship levels available, which include the right to use the event logo, multimedia marketing, a table to share with co-workers and guests at the event, and much more. If seats are available after the sponsorship deadline, a limited number of individual tickets will go on sale. Tables are only available with sponsorship. To secure a sponsorship to ensure you and your guests can celebrate together, contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com.
Honorees will be profiled in a special section of the Sept. 26 issue of Long Island Business News and will be available online at LIBN.com.
For more information and the most updated listing of sponsors, visit libn.com/event/40-under-40-awards/.
July 22, 2025
New federal legislation has some Long Islanders worried about how they will pay for health care
There are also new requirements to receive Medicaid, which the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island says 680,000 Long Islanders rely on for health care.
By Logan Crawford
Posted on July 22nd
Read on News12
Gov. Kathy Hochul says 1.5 million New Yorkers will lose health care coverage because of federal funding cuts from President Donald Trump's new funding and tax cuts bill.
There are also new requirements to receive Medicaid, which the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island says 680,000 Long Islanders rely on for health care.
"You're required to work 80 hours per month, or show that you're actively seeking employment, or show that you're volunteering," said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota say Medicaid benefits will not be cut for pregnant women, children, seniors, people with disabilities or low-income families.
Jennifer Cona, an attorney specializing in elder law, says a lot of these changes will take effect closer to 2027.
Cona says seniors who rely on Medicaid should get their documents in order now, like making sure they have their birth certificate.
"Social Security statements, all that kind of documentation, in addition to five years of financial records," Cona said.
The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island says now is the time to see the doctor if you're at risk or think you're at risk of losing your benefits.
If you have questions about access to Medicaid, you can reach out to Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.
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Established in 1947, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is a regional, nonprofit umbrella organization for health and human service providers dedicated to improving the lives of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents by responding to their needs through the promotion and development of public policies and direct services.
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110 Walt Whitman Road, Suite 101, Huntington Station, NY 11746
Phone: 516-483-1110
Fax: 516-483-4794
E-mail: connect@hwcli.com
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