Ernesto Finales is currently pursuing his MSW at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.  He serves as the Director of Supportive Housing for HELP USA in Brooklyn, working with homeless families impacted by mental health disabilities.  Ernesto was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated with his family to South Louisiana before relocating to New York City.  He received Bachelor’s degrees in History, Government, Sociology, and General Studies from Nicholls State University and completed a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling focusing on geriatric inpatient and outpatient psych at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.  Ernesto’s areas of studies include homelessness prevention, supportive housing, social ecology, professional and organizational ethics, and mental health as a barrier to accessing community health resources.  Ernesto is a Cabrini-Hunter Fellow and is looking forward to obtaining his Certificate in Interprofessional Education to improve collaboration between psychiatric medical and community mental health services to improve long-term patient care and their communities.