For some, coming to The Fortune Society can feel intimidating. With various programs and services available, including housing assistance, employment services, mental health treatment and more, it may not be easy to know exactly where to begin. 

The first step for any new participant is to contact the Admissions team. Upon entering our Long Island City service center, Fortune’s receptionists will greet them at the front desk. There, new participants fill out a Tier 1 form documenting the services they’re seeking and answering other background questions.    

From there, one of Fortune’s intake coordinators will escort incoming participants to the Admissions offices to begin a full intake. The intake coordinators guide incoming participants by helping them identify their priorities and referring them to our different services.  

Victoria, one of our intake coordinators, has worked on the Admissions team for fifteen years. During that time, she has gained a wealth of knowledge, especially regarding how to welcome incoming participants comfortably. 

The intake process takes approximately 30 minutes. During this time, participants receive their Fortune ID card, and the intake coordinator reviews their Tier 1 form to identify their next steps at Fortune. For example, suppose you expressed an interest in preparing for employment. In that case, the intake coordinator will provide you with a referral to employment services to explore the full extent of the program.  

While reviewing the intake form is important, Victoria shared that she conducts each intake as a conversation. Rather than reading through the list of questions, getting to know each individual and listening to why they are seeking assistance in certain areas helps to relieve some of their anxiety or confusion.  

“If they express interest in mental health treatment or employment, we can talk about what specific services we offer and why they are looking for that service,” Victoria explained. “I have sharpened my listening skills because, in these conversations, I read between the lines of what they’re curious about and try to guide them.” 

Kaytlin, another intake coordinator, joined the Admissions team last year. When conducting intakes with participants, she considers everyone’s background and circumstances, such as whether they are court-mandated to come to Fortune or are returning participants. With this in mind, Kaytlin ensures that participants feel comfortable asking questions without judgment.  

“We are here to understand and listen, and sometimes it almost becomes a therapy session,” Kaytlin shared. “It’s important that we hear them out and make sure they feel listened to and respected, especially when they’re opening up or expressing fears and frustrations.” 

Intake coordinators also collaborate with the Benefits Access team for further assistance, connecting participants with public benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSD) and other forms of public assistance. The intake process is incomplete until each participant speaks with someone from Benefits Access.  

After participants complete the intake process, they are welcome to return to the Admissions team to replace a missing ID, ask questions, or say hello. Kaytlin shared that one of her favorite parts of the job is getting to know participants and seeing them thrive with Fortune’s support.   

“We’re not just an organization that just pushes people through like robots,” Kaytlin said. “We build relationships and trust with our participants, and we really want them to succeed. We want to help them out with any type of service that they are interested in or even curious about. We make sure they know they aren’t alone.”