Since 1973, we have been dedicated to empowering residents of Adult Care Facilities (ACF) in New York City by empowering their pride, purpose, and self-determination. Whether they choose to continue living in an ACF, would like support for learning skills for daily living, or are interested in moving to a place of their own, we provide resources and programs to improve their lives and care.
Staff
As a lifelong New Yorker who has worked with organizations serving low-income communities for over 30 years, I am delighted to join CIAD as its third Executive Director. I bring extensive knowledge of the New York City social services landscape in housing, homelessness, domestic violence, education, and social justice issues with a clear grasp of their intersection with poverty. I hope to expand CIAD’s impact as an empowerment organization as the Staff and I work with Resident Councils, their Leaders and our Allies in advocacy and training with, and on behalf of, residents in Adult Care Facilities. Together we will strengthen the extraordinary work that CIAD has engaged in over the more than fifty years of its existence.
Michael Callaghan, M.Div., MNA Deputy Director
(410-340-6239)
Since joining the CIAD team in January of 2023, I have been impressed by the scope and depth of reach this small but essential organization has. With a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. My role supports the day-to-day operations of the organization so that we can advance effective empowerment of, and advocacy with, residents or adult care facilities, while maintaining a high standard of nonprofit best practices.
Emma Begley-Collier, Home Organizer
Emma Begley-Collier joined the CIAD team in November 2025. As a Home Organizer, she works with adult home residents, addressing individual issues and connecting them to systemic issues that are found in homes across New York. Her work leads residents to join their efforts collectively to push for solutions on the scale of the home, city, and state. Before joining CIAD, she worked with labor and tenant unions in New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina. She holds a BA from Davidson College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning at Hunter College.
Jenine Ferrari, Resident Advocate
Jenine Ferrari is a passionate Resident Advocate devoted to guiding seniors and their families toward self-advocacy for better quality of life in their Home. As co-founder of the NYS Veterans Home at Montrose Family Council, she works closely with nursing home leadership to improve care quality. Prior to CIAD, she was the Family Council Liaison for the Long Term Care Community Coalition, where she built Family Councils nationwide and hosted monthly empowerment webinars for families and ombudsmen. Leveraging her deep long-term care expertise, Jenine equips residents and loved ones with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to defend their rights, ensure their voices are heard, and lead meaningful reform. Jenine also serves as a board member of Gray Panthers NYC.
Geoff Lieberman, Past Executive Director
Geoff’s retirement became effective on August 31, 2024. The mission and promise of CIAD has been Geoff’s lifelong career. Originally CIAD’s nursing home organizer, he became the organization’s second Executive Director in 1983, following in the steps of Vic Rosenthal. As Executive Director for the past forty-one years, Geoff has been a relentless advocate and passionate promoter of the rights and independence of adults living in adult homes and care facilities. Geoff’s patience, compassion and wisdom have guided the staff and resident leaders of the Coalition and helped to empower many to take on leadership in the sector, firmly rooting CIAD as a consumer lead organization. The Board and Staff are grateful for the dedicated service Geoff has given and for the genius he has demonstrated in navigating the ever-changing landscape of adult homes in New York City. Geoff continues to share his insights and knowledge with his successor, Theresa Young, MSW, MPA.
Peer Advocates
CIAD Peer Advocates are essential to our mission of serving those in New York City’s Adult Care Facilities. Because they are our clients, they are uniquely qualified to teach and mentor their fellow residents in living independently. It also makes it easier for residents to ask questions because they know the Peer Advocates have had similar experiences.
Tyrria Higgins
Peer Advocate, Former Resident
“I have worked as a Peer Advocate since 2016. I lament the lack of choices offered to residents in Adult Care Facilities and work to expand opportunities for self-determination. I enjoy helping my peers because I understand their experience.”
Deborah Hunter
Former Resident and Peer Advocate
“I started my journey with CIAD in 2018. I was a resident at Wavecrest Adult Home for 11 years. In 2019, being a member of the O’Toole Class Action, I was able to move into the community, in my own apartment. It has been a blast. CIAD has given me the opportunity to teach Independent Living skills to my fellow brothers and sisters who still reside in Adult Homes. We are all entitled to know our rights, and to become independent. We know that CIAD will assist us with any problem that we may have when we need to file a complaint with the Department of Health, and Mobilization For Justice. I hope that I will be able to continue to grow and gain more knowledge with CIAD.”
Board of Directors
In memoriam
Remembering Renee Brooks
With heavy hearts, CIAD shares the passing of our dear friend and Board member, Renee Brooks.
Renee built a full and varied career. In South Florida she worked as a Medical Records Coordinator and then as a Medical Technician. After moving to New York City, she put her skills to work as a Data Entry Technician for the NYC Transit Authority and later for IBM.
For many years, Renee called Brooklyn Boulevard Assisted Living Program home. She was an active voice on the Resident Council and a warm presence among her neighbors, with many friendships to show for it. Her faith was at the center of her life, and she was devoted to her church. Shortly after returning from a church conference, she fell ill and was called home to God.
Renee joined the Board of Directors in August 2026 and was expected to be elected to a new term at our Annual Meeting this November. We are grateful for the time we shared with her, and for her graciousness and the winning smile she gave so freely to us all.
To Renee’s family and cherished friends, we offer our deepest condolences. We grieve with you.
May she rest in eternal peace and light.
Bob Rosenberg
President of CIAD Board of Directors
I have a rare form of cerebral palsy and several chronic health problems. I was a self-employed insurance broker for 30 years before a stroke landed me in a nursing home. When I was elected Vice President of the Resident Council there, I was introduced to CIAD and their staff and benefited from a CIAD resident council training course. Over a ten-year period, CIAD supported me in the process of moving to supportive housing. In 2013 I began a Peer Advocate and then interim Board President in 2019 and Elected to a full term in 2020 and then again in 2022. CIAD makes dreams come true. I am living proof. (Read Bob’s extended story on the Residents Page.)
Gary Levin
Vice President of CIAD Board of Directors
My history with CIAD spans over twenty (20) years. As a resident of an Adult Care Facility for over five years, I experienced first-hand the advocacy and empowering work of CIAD staff. Joining CIAD changed my life and showed me the importance of Advocacy! I attended Policy Committee meetings and joined the Media Team. In 2004, I won the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (NYAPRS) Frances Olivero Advocacy Award for my advocacy work done on behalf of adult home residents. In 2006, with the support of CIAD I was able to move to my own apartment. I have been living independently ever since.” (Read Gary’s extended story on the Residents Page.)
Christy Parque
Treasurer
Christy has been a powerful voice for human services programs and consumers through leading non-profit organizations and member associations for over twenty years. She is passionate about creating strong and healthy individuals and thriving communities. Having previously worked for the Friends and Relatives of the Institutionalized Aged organizing Nursing Home Family Councils, she collaborated on many efforts with CIAD and later joined the CIAD board in 2008.
Ann Wyatt
Secretary
“I have been involved with CIAD for 40 years and joined the board in 2008 once they determined they would add nonresidents while the majority were residents or former residents”. Ann specializes in long-term care program development, with an emphasis on culture change, quality improvement and creating a culture of retention for staff in nursing homes and home care. Now a consultant to CaringKind (formerly Alzheimer’s Association, NYC Chapter) she has worked to promote innovative, comprehensive palliative care programs for people with advanced dementia. For several years she was Associate Director of the Office of Long-Term Care at the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, NYC’s municipal hospital system. Earlier, as Planning Director for the Village Nursing Home AIDS Project, she helped develop the first AIDS adult day health program in the country. She was a founding board member of the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (now Consumer voice), and of Music & Memory, and has published numerous articles and book chapters on various long-term care issues.
Theresa Young
Ex officio
Theresa Young became an ex officio voting member of the Board of Directors when she began her tenure as Executive Director in August 2024.