For immediate release | January 31, 2024
Ericker Onaga appointed Executive Director
Jasmin Valentin selected as Chief Program Officer
Adam Smith, Ph.D., appointed Chair of the Board of Directors
Ericker Onaga has been officially appointed as Executive Director of Community Health Action of Staten Island. This executive leadership transition is accompanied by promotions and board director appointments as outlined below. Ms. Onaga was promoted upon the retirement of Diane Arneth after thirty-two years at the helm of the organization.
A lifelong Staten Islander, Ms. Onaga previously served as Chief Program Officer at Community Health Action of Staten Island for three years. She holds a master’s degree in social work from New York University and is a NY State Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her leadership portfolio includes career service with Project Hospitality and Comunilife as well as board service with Seaman’s Society for Families and Children. She has served as a member of the Mayor’s HASA Advisory Board since 2016. Ms. Onaga’s leadership within CHASI helped pivot programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing virtual and unconventional service delivery to meet the needs of people facing serious health obstacles. She created a new Data and Quality department and implemented a new incident management policy and procedure to support the needs of this growing client base. She will now lead an all-female executive team that includes Myra Mayo, Chief Operations Officer, and Katherine Gorno, Chief Financial Officer, and a staff of over 120 workers serving 19,000 Staten Islanders annually.
Ms. Onaga’s promotion left a vacancy for Chief Program Officer role, which has now been filled by Jasmin Valentin. Ms. Valentin has worked with Community Health Action since 2020 as consultant and partner in special projects, most recently leading the behavioral health department through a number of program expansions. Previously, she held leadership roles at Gracia Y Rosas and Project Hospitality on Staten Island and as Deputy Director for Family Support Services at Safe Space in Queens. She worked in foster care at the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services in Brooklyn and assisted the social work department at the Choir Academy of Harlem. Ms. Valentin holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University, is a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker, and has volunteered in international support services for children with disabilities.
Ms. Onaga said, “Ms. Valentin’s level of commitment is what sets her apart from others. It’s not just Jasmin’s business acumen, it is excellence backed up with consistent and conscientious performance. People love working for her and alongside her. I look forward to supporting her as her incredible commitment to the work builds and strengthens programs that make measurable improvement in the health of Staten Islanders.”
These executive leadership changes coincided with changes to the leadership of the CHASI Board of Directors upon the departure of Yolanda Rudich at the end of her term as Chair. Newly elected as Chair is Adam Smith, Ph.D., of Richmond Behavioral Associates, a psychologist who works in clinical and research psychology with a focus on Alzheimer’s and psychiatric research. Two at-large board appointments have also been announced. Tricia Ryan, counsel at ConEd, and Nicholas Robinson, program director at the Pride Center of Staten Island have joined the Board of Directors. Both Ms. Ryan and Mr. Robinson are Staten Islanders with long histories of support for the agency as volunteers and supporters. They began board service in January with terms of 3 years.
CHASI will celebrate the retirement of Diane Arneth, longtime executive director, at the annual Valentine’s Dinner Dance and Auction on Friday, February 9, 2024. To support, please email gala@chasiny.org or visit onecau.se/CHASIdance.