History

The agency timeline chronicles the growth of the Hispanic Counseling Center, from one program and four staff in a 600 square feet rented office in 1977, to ownership of a 38,000 square foot modern facility with multiple programs and services in 2017.

1977

The Hispanic Counseling Center is established by the Nassau County Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction Services to provide substance abuse treatment services to Nassau County’s growing Hispanic population.

1979

The Nassau County Youth Board awards funding to the Hispanic Counseling Center for Prevention, Education, and Counseling services to limited English speaking youth and their families.

1986

HCC is licensed by New York State to become Nassau County’s first bilingual, bi cultural alcohol and drug rehabilitation clinic.

1987

The six week Summer Program begins for children ages 7-12.

1989

After school homework help and tutoring sessions are available to all school age children.

1992

HCC is awarded a second license from New York State, to open a mental health outpatient clinic offering counseling, therapy, and treatment.

1993

The Supported Housing Program is inaugurated, to assist mentally ill clients experiencing difficulty in obtaining adequate housing.

1994

The English as a Second Language Program is made available to all HCC clients.

1995

Respite, a Children and Family Support Services Program, is established to help families who have children with serious emotional problems and who need information, counseling, support, and respite services.

1996

The Domestic Violence Program is created in response to an overwhelming demand by the legal system, and to fill a gap in therapeutic services available to both victims and perpetrators.

1998

~The HCBS Waiver Program is established to provide in-home services to developmentally disabled adults and children;

~The Literacy Program is designed to teach adults how to read and write in Spanish; and

~ The Early intervention Program is initiated which targets children ages 0-3 and their families, for social work services at HCC and in the home.

1999

The Medicaid Service Coordination Program begins which provides assistance to developmentally disabled adults and children ages three and older through case management allowing them to live at home with their families, rather than in an institutional setting.

2001

Ryan White Mental Health Program for People with HIV/AIDS begins.

2003

~HCC moves to the new building that will become the agency’s permanent home; and

~The Teen Drop-In Center begins.

2008

HCC purchases the building adjacent building to its main site to expand the Mental Health program.

2011

The Kinship program begins, to provide support to grandparents while parents are incarcerated or are deported.

2012

Project Hope starts, providing crisis counseling after Super Storm Sandy.

2014

Super Storm Sandy Program provides multi-service support to storm victims.

2017

~ Care Coordination under Health Homes begins, to provide case management to clients in need.

~ Mental Health Clinic Crisis Stabilization Services begins, to provide intensive services for clients in need.