Huntington Station, NY(April 24, 2020)- Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer virtually joined the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) to deliver a breakdown of the CARES Act and its impact on our region to over 240 executives from Long Island’s health & human service sector. HWCLI’s President/CEO, Rebecca Sanin, moderated a discussion in which Senator Schumer addressed questions and concerns about Long Island’s present crisis and future recovery.

The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island coordinates a disaster planning and response coalition of government, nonprofit, and private sector partners who collaboratively address disasters on Long Island. This coalition, known as the Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (LIVOAD), was formed by HWCLI in 2001 after the September 11 attacks and has worked for almost two decades as an umbrella structure for disaster planning and recovery. This broad coalition is a local version of the National VOAD which is comprised of agencies working through Collaboration, Cooperation, Coordination, and Communication (4 C’s) to respond regionally.

The LIVOAD was officially activated by HWCLI to address the current COVID-19 global pandemic and has been holding bi-weekly convening calls with its partners as well as weekly calls with its subcommittees including: Legal Needs, Domestic & Family Violence, Emergency Food, Behavioral Health, and Philanthropy. Providers and community members alike can find a clearinghouse of resources, updates, and information on its webpage: www.hwcli.com/covid-19.

The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island is a not for profit, health and human services planning, education, and advocacy organization that serves Long Island’s at-risk and vulnerable individuals and families.

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