named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
CHOICE Food Pantry
Offers weekly emergency food distribution to clients facing food insecurity; provides over 6,000 meals annually in Westchester County
Care Management Services
Offers peer-led case management to help clients access mental health services, housing, and benefits; includes Medicaid-reimbursable services and personalized care planning
Criminal Justice Programming
Delivers preventative, transitional, and post-release services to reduce recidivism, including pretrial services, jail-based support, and reentry planning
Crisis Intervention Training
Trains local police departments on de-escalation techniques and mental health awareness, led by peer specialists with lived experience
Homeless Outreach Program (HOW)
Provides outreach and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness, assisting with housing applications, benefit enrollment, and transportation to appointments; staffed by professionals with lived experience
Jobs Readiness Program
Provides workshops on resume writing, interviewing, and job search skills; offers ongoing support to help clients secure and maintain employment
Pre-Trial Services
Westchester County’s pre-trial services provider offering case management for defendants, including pre-arraignment interviews, monitored release, and bail expediting
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Reentry Support Services 1 activity
- Criminal justice reentry and pre-trial support servicesProvides case management and support for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, including defendants under pre-trial supervision and incarcerated individuals. Services include conducting pre-arraignment interviews, monitoring released defendants via check-ins, supporting bail eligibility assessments, and operating permanent service pods inside Westchester County Jail to support continuity of care 60–90 days before release. The organization was the first in the county to have full-time office space inside the jail.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Food pantry services addressing food insecurity among clientsOperates a food pantry that provides free weekly groceries to clients, specifically addressing food insecurity as a barrier to mental health recovery. In its first year, the program provided over 6,000 meals to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness or chronic physical conditions.
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Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
- Homeless outreach services led by individuals with lived experienceEmploys Homeless Outreach Workers who have lived experience with homelessness and mental health challenges to conduct street outreach and engage unhoused individuals. The program includes participation in county partnerships focused on homeless outreach and aims to connect individuals to housing and support services.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Job readiness training and employment supportOffers weekly job readiness workshops covering six core skills: goal setting, job applications, resumes and cover letters, interviewing, advanced interviewing techniques, and internet-based job searching. Provides comprehensive support including interview attire, transportation, accompaniment during interviews, and ongoing support during the first years of employment to promote retention. Also launched "World of Work," a self-guided interactive program to teach tech-era employment skills.
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Law Enforcement Professional Development 1 activity
- Mental health crisis intervention training and consultation for law enforcementDelivers crisis intervention training to local police departments on de-escalation techniques and understanding mental health issues. Also provides consultation to law enforcement on how to respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
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Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
- Peer-led case management and benefits access for individuals with mental health challengesProvides one-on-one, person-centered case management to help clients access housing, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Social Security, and other public benefits. Services include personalized housing planning, assistance with application processes, transportation to appointments, and long-term support due to housing shortages. Case managers conduct regular face-to-face meetings, typically two per month, often in community settings.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.76M
Contributions & grants$2.70M25%
Program service revenue$8.05M75%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$10.58M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$8.55M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.50M
Cash$806K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.62M
Net assets$2.88M
Liquid reserves0.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GUY FESSENDEN | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $271K |
| LYNN KOLB | CHIEF OPERAT | 40 | $160K |
| RENEE CLOUTIER | CHIEF FINANC | 40 | $148K |
| STEFANIE FESSENDEN | CHEIF PROGRA | 40 | $141K |
| JAMILLAH BLAIR | VP OF OUTREA | 40 | $106K |
| KILARA SOLTANOFFUNTIL 4224 | COMPLIANCE O | 40 | $60K |
| RACHEL CADY HERMAN | COMPLIANCE O | 40 | $42K |
board members · 6
- ALEXANDRA SCHWEITZER — TREASURER
- ASHLEY BRODY — SECRETARY
- JULIE MANER — DIRECTOR
- LORNA JOHNSON — DIRECTOR
- MARY GRACE FERONE — CHAIRPERSON
- SHARON MOSESON — ASSOC. CHAIR
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Acorn Organics Partner — Partner in food donation for the CHOICE food pantry.
- County Department of Community Mental Health Government — Receives client referrals through the Single Point of Access (SPOA) application process.
- County Harvest Partner — Partner in food donation for the CHOICE food pantry.
- Feeding Westchester Partner — Partner in food donation for the CHOICE food pantry.
- Food Donation Connection Partner — Partner in food donation for the CHOICE food pantry.
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Government — Complies with HIPAA as a covered entity.
- Internal Revenue Service Government — Provider of IRS Form 990 and verification of 501(c)(3) status
- Local police departments Partner — Collaborates on crisis intervention training and law enforcement consultation related to mental health response.
- MHA of Westchester Partner — Collaborates to secure housing for clients experiencing mental health challenges.
- Mary Grace Ferone Partner — Board Chair of CHOICE OF NEW ROCHELLE INC, providing leadership and governance.
- New York Hospital Partner — Partnered with CHOICE and the County Department of Community Mental Health on a newly funded homeless outreach initiative.
- Not specified Government — Follows federal, state, and local regulations governing operations and service provision.
- Office of Mental Health Government — Provided initial funding through a contract administered by Westchester County and awarded CHOICE the 2001 Achievement Award for Excellence in Service.
- Single Point of Access (SPOA) Government — Filing partner for applications to access case management and supportive mental health housing through the County system.
- Westchester County Government — Designated provider of Pre-Trial Services for Westchester County.
- Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Partner — Collaborated on homeless outreach initiatives and received initial funding and contracts; instrumental in launching peer-run case management services.
- Westchester County Jail Partner — Hosted CHOICE's full-time office space and permanent service pods to support incarcerated individuals with mental illness prior to release.
- Whole Foods Partner — Partner in food donation for the CHOICE food pantry.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Early and Continuity-Based Reentry Interventionmethodology: continuity_of_careBy initiating mental health support before release and continuing care post-incarceration, the organization reduces recidivism because sustained, trauma-informed engagement across transition points strengthens reintegration and treatment adherence.
- Foundational Basic Needs Supportmethodology: foundational food securityBy addressing food insecurity and other basic needs as prerequisites, the organization enables mental health recovery and program engagement because physiological stability is required for therapeutic and rehabilitative progress.
- Integrated, Whole-Person Case Managementmethodology: integrated_case_managementBy providing holistic, client-centered care that integrates housing, mental health, benefits, and reentry services, the organization sustains engagement and improves outcomes because addressing multiple interconnected needs through coordinated support reduces systemic fragmentation and builds trust.
- Peer-Led Engagement Modelmethodology: peer_support_modelBy employing staff with lived experience of homelessness and mental health challenges, the organization builds trust and improves client engagement because shared experience fosters authenticity, reduces stigma, and enhances navigation of complex service systems.