Melissa Wettengel, MPH, NYCPS, CEO, Hands Across Long Island (HALI)

Melissa currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Hands Across Long Island (HALI), the largest employer of peer professionals on Long Island. Formerly Melissa facilitated initiatives relating to peer workforce sustainability with the Long Island Regional Planning consortium. She also built and led peer-delivered crisis interventions on Long Island, including Turquoise House, crisis respite psychiatric hospital diversion (with MHA Nassau County), and Sherpa, emergency department peer navigation for overdose survivors (with FCA). Melissa is trained as both an SUD Peer Recovery Coach and a MH Peer Specialist. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from Stony Brook University. Melissa is passionate about engaging communities directly and building on their inherent strengths to heal, grow, and thrive.