Andrew Malekoff, the long-time CEO of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, headquartered in Roslyn Heights has announced his retirement. A search is underway for the center’s next leader.
Malekoff joined the center as an intern in 1977, and served as its executive director and CEO for 15 years. He will retire from the organization in July.
He led the center’s substance use treatment and prevention program, which earned the agency an Outpatient Chemical Dependency for Youth License to treat adolescents.
A long-time advocate for parity, Malekoff testified in Albany calling for timely and affordable access to mental health and substance use care. His dedication led to a partnership with Long Island University on a research study called Project Access, which revealed massive inequities and roadblocks inherent in accessing mental health care. The study serves as a tool in advocating for essential systemic change.
An expert in group therapy, Malekoff wrote “ Group Work with Adolescents: Principles and Practice,” which has been published internationally.
In partnership with Nassau B.O.C.E.S., Malekoff developed the Guidance Center’s Intensive Support Program (ISP), a school-based mental health program serving children from ages 5 to 21 years of age from all 56 Nassau districts. The program, now in its 25th year, provides students who are experiencing serious emotional problems an alternative to institutional or more restrictive settings.
In leading the organization, Malekoff spearheaded center’s efforts in childhood mental health research in partnership with major research institutions including the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University, NYU Child Study Center and Northwell Health.
“Under Andy’s tenure, the Guidance Center has been there for families on Long Island during many crises, including the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Sandy and the pandemic,” Paul Vitale, Board President, said in a statement. “His leadership has been steady, strong and innovative.”
“Over his many years at the Guidance Center, Andy has provided compassionate, expert care to children and families experiencing issues such as depression, anxiety, bullying and other serious challenges,” Nancy Lane, the former board president who worked with Malekoff for three decades, said in a statement.
“His advocacy work and dedication to ending the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness is unmatched,” she added. “While I have no doubts that the agency will continue to thrive, Andy will be sorely missed.”
The Guidance Center is working with the recruitment firm The Strategy Group to fill Malekoff’s role. The organization is in search of a leader who can guide the Guidance Center to its next level of development. The ideal candidate will be someone who can build and maintain strong relationships with funders and other community leaders and who has excellent management experience. The candidate should have expertise in mental health and substance use treatment and supervision.
Interested candidates can learn more about the here.
