Sarnya’s background has strongly influenced her commitment to equity and inclusion. Sarnya immigrated to the U.S. in 2014 from India, where she left behind a successful career in software engineering to pursue the field of social work, with a specific focus on justice and advocacy for women and children. This career switch enabled Sarnya to not only speak out against injustices against women and children, but to do the work, day in and day out, to empower vulnerable populations.

Sarnya has demonstrated strong leadership in promoting DEIB initiatives both at FSRI and in the community.

In her role at FSRI, Sarnya has demonstrated expertise in providing evidence-based care to children and families impacted by trauma with a DEIB lens.  In her current role as Project Director, Sarnya leads the RIDE Trauma-Informed Schools Partnership, where she has been pivotal in integrating comprehensive mental health practices into educational frameworks. Last year, Sarnya had trained over 1000 RI school staff on providing trauma-informed support for students, and has highlighted the historical trauma minority communities have endured in these trainings. Sarnya collects demographic data of each school district before she provides a training, and fine tunes the training to help staff learn how they can best support students who come from varying backgrounds. Many schools have expressed having a shift in mindset and starting to utilize a trauma-informed lens with their students after Sarnya’s trainings. Sarnya is currently also working on getting CCBHC school-based services up and running for Providence School District and has been successful in starting with 2 Providence schools so far.

Additionally, Sarnya developed and currently leads the Peer Connect initiative at FSRI intended to foster a sense of community and support among staff. She has taken this initiative to the next level by planning and hosting two meaningful events for FSRI team members – the Throwball tournament and the recent committee potluck – both of which were an opportunity to highlight staff culture and experience. Sarnya also participates as an active member of three FSRI committees – the Equity & Justice Committee, the Employee Engagement Committee, and the Policy and Advocacy Committee.  Sarnya goes beyond advocacy to action, creating an inclusive and supportive culture for FSRI staff.

Sarnya has a long and impressive list of achievements and awards related to DEIB for her contributions to the community:

• Selected to participate in the Rhode Island Foundation’s 2023/2024 Equity Leadership Initiative with other leaders across the state;
• Recognized by Providence Business News as one of RI’s and Southeastern MA’s top “40 under Forty” for her professional achievements and active involvement/contributions to communities;
• Honored by the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England with their “Leading Women of Distinction” award;
• Featured in the Faces of Woonsocket art exhibit for sharing her migration story;
• Received an “Outstanding Community Leadership” recognition and a “Resilience Honoree” citation from Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos; and
• Received a “Social Justice and Equity Leader” citation from RI senators for her contribution to community organizations.

Additionally, Sarnya is a current member of Women’s Policy Institute Leadership program at Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, where she is going to advocate for a bill that will increase the number of social workers in RI schools. Sarnya is also a Board Member at The Economic Progress Institute and the Rhode Island Coalition against Domestic Violence.

We are honored to have Sarnya as part of FSRI family, and present this well-deserved award to her.

We are thrilled to share the fantastic news that our very own CEO, Margaret Holland McDuff, has been recognized as one of Rhode Island’s Women of the Year by Go Local Providence! This well-deserved honor is a testament to Margaret’s unwavering commitment and tireless efforts to make a positive impact in our community. 

In a recent article, Go Local Providence highlighted Margaret’s exceptional leadership, specifically acknowledging her instrumental role in ensuring that almost 1000 children could experience a bit of joy this holiday season. Her dedication to the well-being of our community shines through in her relentless pursuit of making a difference. This Christmas miracle was possible thanks to hundreds of donors who rose to the challenge and to our friends at Go Local Providence for highlighting the need. 

We invite you to read the full article on Go Local Providence and join us in celebrating Margaret Holland McDuff’s well-deserved recognition. Her leadership continues to inspire us all, and we are grateful for the positive impact she has made on the lives of so many.  

Congratulations to Eileen Hayes, CEO of Amos House and Vanessa Volz, Executive Director of Sojourner House who were also bestowed with this honor.  

Read more here: https://www.golocalprov.com/news/ris-women-of-the-year-the-protectors  

• We helped over 23,000 family members to achieve healing and stability.
• Over 2,300 children were served through our early childhood programs.
• Rhode Island Government Leaders supported significant investments in the housing and human service sectors.
• We were thrilled to promote internal talent into leadership positions, including three to Vice Presidential roles for Hope, Home, and Equity & Community Development.
• We were excited to return to in-person events including the APRI Run/Walk and our biggest Brighter Futures Luncheon to date.

Kinzel’s inspiration to take on his new role as Vice President of Equity and Community Development at Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI), started early in his life, growing up in a low socioeconomic neighborhood in South Providence and witnessing his community struggle with substance abuse, mental health and access to social determinants of health resources.

“Growing up in South Providence, in an underprivileged neighborhood without resources was challenging. I witnessed individuals struggle with addiction; my neighbor incarcerated to life in prison for drug distribution and conflict with law enforcement. Having a front row seat to this as a youth, motivated me to give back.”

The drug distributor Kinzel lived near was later commuted by President Obama in 2016, in a wave of 330 nonviolent drug crimes overturned in a bid to correct the systemic injustice.

With that childhood experience as his lens, Kinzel started his journey with FSRI in 2014 just after finishing his undergraduate degree. He had a few friends that worked at FSRI, and they encouraged him to apply. Initially, he worked as a Case Manager in the Home Base Department; engaging with Providence youth, through FSRI’s Youth Diversionary Program. It allowed him to provide support to youth who needed it.

“It was an opportunity to support youth that live in my community, facing the same barriers I did,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. It reminded me how resilient our youth are, despite the circumstances.”

He then moved to the Community Health Team, and worked as a Community Health Worker, and moved up to Behavioral Health Clinician, then Clinical Supervisor for the Community Health Team. After earning his master’s degree in Social Work while working full-time, he’s now stepping into his new role as the first-ever VP of Equity and Community Development at FSRI.

“I’m certainly looking forward to FSRI having a greater impact on the communities we serve and continue to push the envelope for equity internally and externally”, he said.

Kinzel says he stays motivated by his own experiences and the agency’s commitment to equity and the belief that we can make change.

“It’s just one of those things that’s embedded in me,” Kinzel said.

Kinzel’s advice to young social workers coming into the field reflects his own determination, resiliency, and love for the role he says is at the heart of all communities.

“Stay the course,” he said. “Someone once told me, social work is one of those professions that you don’t choose—it chooses you. And it’s for a reason. It comes with a lot of challenges, both personally and professionally. But stay the course, the end result will ultimately benefit you personally and the communities you serve.  Explore all your options. Don’t box yourself in. FSRI has given me the opportunity to do that.”

In his free time, Kinzel says he is learning to be more mindful of how his time and energy are spent. Things like reading, exercise, and spending time with family and friends keep him grounded in both his home and work life.

“I truly enjoy sharing my experience with others and providing a platform for others to provide resources for each other.”

Intrigued by this unique model in social services, she reached out to former Vice President Susan Erstling and applied to an unpaid internship at FSRI doing direct response with police. She hoped to bring back what she learned to her master’s studies– and the rest is history!

Now, after eight years of learning, growing, and mentorship through various roles at FSRI, she’s been promoted to Vice President of the Home Division.

“The scope of programs (at FSRI) really allowed me to grow,” Kayla said.

Realizing early in her internship that she may not be cut out for the intensity of the GO Team, Kayla shifted gears and was hired on full-time at FSRI in 2015 doing general outpatient work with children and adults dealing with trauma.

“I realized I didn’t love doing direct response with police,” she said. “It wasn’t something that used my skills. But I was fortunate enough to go on to have a lot of hands-on experience in a variety of other roles. That’s not something you find at all organizations.”

Promoted from clinician to clinical trainer and then clinical director, the varying roles helped her hone in on her personal strengths.

“I oversaw the trauma training institute here at FSRI, which allowed us to partner externally to develop a really trauma-informed community here in Rhode Island,” she said. “I’ve been given so many opportunities here where I wasn’t stifled. That’s one of the most beautiful things about FSRI.”

Kayla found her sweet spot at FSRI in addressing equity in access to services for those who she saw were easily falling through the cracks. One Spanish-speaking mother she worked with had been unsuccessfully trying to navigate it alone for four years on behalf of her child. But without Spanish-speaking staff at her child’s school, she couldn’t get IEP testing or supports put in place. With Kayla’s help, she was able to finally make it happen.

“It was really eye-opening to see that the systems were not designed to give her access to them,” Kayla said. “That skill of understanding systems and the knowledge that the systems are not designed equally was an experience I’ll always remember, and take with me as we build programs moving forward.”

Kayla’s advice to young social workers is simple.

“Go where your passion is. Take your time in school to figure out what that is, and know that it will change over time,” she said. “It’s ok to absolutely hate what you think you’re going to love.”

In her spare time, Kayla says she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, two cats, and caring for over 100 houseplants.

“I love staying busy. My partner will tell you I’ve never relaxed once in my life,” Kayla joked.

In addition to her new role at FSRI, she and her partner are looking forward to spending the foreseeable future renovating an old Victorian house.

“They have always been my daughters,” Candace gushed. “Even before they were my daughters.”

Candace began at FSRI writing grants in 2010, after moving from Pennsylvania to Rhode Island to be nearer to family.

“It was the best way to start because I learned about all the departments and the broad scope of services we offer and the diversity of our clients,” she said. “It was so impressive.”

After a year of grant writing, Candace moved into a development director role, heading up a grant proposal program that she herself had applied FSRI for and was accepted. The resulting program was the “Together Forever” project, which focused on so-called “hard to place” kids.

She then managed a small team supporting foster parents through a DCYF program, and that led her to feel compelled to become a licensed foster parent herself.

“My experience at FSRI has been life-changing in so many positive ways,” she said.

Her passion for victim’s services and helping those in our community in their times of crisis helped inform her vision for the Hope Department, as well as the goals of her predecessor, retiring Vice President Diane Shemtov.

“It’s a huge vision, but I feel really good about it,” she said. “I’m looking at things like economic mobility, partnerships with colleges and universities to build people up. It fits my vision of the program very well. You see a lot of things and the difficult circumstances our clients face every day is a beautiful entryway in trying to help people immediately after victimization.  I want to get those folks surrounded with as much support as possible so that trauma doesn’t disrupt a family’s ability to thrive.”

She stays motivated to do the work by her daughters and their experiences.

“Their resilience is the most amazing, humbling, beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Their stories are probably similar to other young people that we serve. I’m so grateful that I have them.

She also describes herself as FSRI’s “biggest fan,” and respects the leadership and mentorship she’s encountered during her tenure.

“The culture at FSRI throughout my career has been nothing but supportive,” she said. “Margaret (Holland McDuff) has been a model for agency commitment and commitment to staff. I’m proud of what we do, and the way we do it.”

In her spare time, Candace enjoys spending time with her daughters, her dogs Journey and Nori, doing yoga, and – joking that “taking naps” is her big favorite.

Early Intervention and First Connections programs are a core component of the state’s commitment to ensuring that families with infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities receive high-quality services as early as possible, so children can develop to their fullest potential.

But nonprofits that provide these mandated maternal and infant services face high staff turnover rates due to low wages– caused by a stagnant, 22-year-old state reimbursement rate— which is putting our most vulnerable children at risk of losing these services completely.

That’s why FSRI’s early childhood staff, including our CEO Margaret Holland McDuff, recently gave testimony in support of H-7628 to fund a stable system of care for Rhode Island children and families at the RI Statehouse.

Right now, there are only nine remaining EI service-providing agencies in Rhode Island, including FSRI. All have dealt with a workforce and financial crisis in recent years, which have now created a perfect storm of circumstances that is ultimately hurting at-risk children and families that need services most.

As a state, we have three choices:

• Force nonprofits to operate in the red to continue offering these critical, life-saving services, which at some point will cause a total system collapse.
• Close the early childhood programs altogether and be in violation of federal law.
• Have legislators increase their reimbursement rates now and into the future through H-7628.

Please call or email your legislator TODAY and make sure they know you support H-7628. You can find out who your representative is here.

Let’s put people first– because the future of young Rhode Islanders hangs in the balance.

Swanette has always known that she wanted to work in the human service field helping others. She remembers as a young child translating for family members at doctor’s appointments and out in the community and thinking it wasn’t fair there weren’t more Spanish-speaking providers. Swanette is also fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), which she learned at the age of 5. She has taken her language skills and passion for helping others to shape her career. Before coming to First Connections, Swanette worked in both home-based and residential programs. This included briefly working in FSRI’s residential program at Farnum House in 2014 before getting an opportunity to work with Deaf youth at Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts.

Swanette is passionate about the First Connections program, the families she works with (especially the babies!), and her co-workers. One of her favorite parts of the job is building relationships and bonds with the families (and of course, playing with the babies!); many families stay in touch after services and continue to send pictures of their growing children. Swanette’s idea of a good day is when she is able to make contact with a family, form a connection, and help them in any way they need. The job has its many challenges though, especially over the past two years of the pandemic. Referrals to the program have skyrocketed and become more complex; whereas Swanette used to have had 4-5 visits per day pre-COVID, she now often has 8 or 9 per day. “You can never get bored working in First Connections!” she stated, and thinks constantly being flexible is key to the job. There are plenty of tough cases and visits, but Swanette leans on her co-workers, who she reflects are the best group she has ever worked with!

Swanette’s commitment to promoting equity in her professional life is just one of the reasons she was nominated for, and awarded FSRI’s 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award. Outside of FSRI, she is a dedicated and active member of the community. She volunteered for years with Providence Promise, an organization working to support Providence students in pursuing higher education, and has joined many virtual community groups during the pandemic to help lend a hand wherever needed.

Swanette stated she is honored to be recognized by the FSRI community in this way, and reflected the award means that much more since it is coming from those with whom she works, “an amazing group of people.”

Congrats Swanette and thank you for all you do for FSRI and our communities every day!