Yahira DeLeon, LMSW: Advocate and Leader in Community Empowe

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With over 25 years of dedicated service to youth and the Latino community across Long Island and New York State, Yahira DeLeon is a passionate advocate and leader in community development. Her commitment to empowering marginalized populations, particularly Latino and immigrant communities, is demonstrated through her extensive experience in facilitating workshops and delivering keynote speeches at national conferences and academic institutions.

Professionally, Yahira has over two decades of experience as a mental health specialist, working directly with victims of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and gang-related issues. Her training in Human Trafficking from esteemed organizations such as the Office of Victims Services, Framework, and Homeland Security has equipped her with the expertise to develop and lead initiatives addressing this critical issue. She spearheaded "The Freedom Plan," a trauma-informed educational initiative designed to raise awareness and provide direct services to Latina immigrant survivors. This program includes culturally competent policies and procedures that support victims and establish an anti-trafficking coalition on Long Island.

In her role, Yahira collaborates with agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Anti-Trafficking Unit, and the Suffolk County Anti-Trafficking Initiative (SCATILI). As a consultant and Subject Matter Expert for Framework, she assists in developing training and collaborative projects focused on human trafficking.

Yahira also served as the Youth Services Specialist at Long Island Youth and Adolescents, Inc., where she created trauma-informed professional development trainings for mental health and youth care workers, emphasizing culturally adaptive group therapy techniques.

She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Stony Brook University in 2019 and obtained her licensing credentials in 2024. Yahira holds several certifications, including:

• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) Training (2024)
• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional – PESI, Inc. (2022)
• New York State Mandated Reporter Training (Continuous)
• Professional Community Intervention Training Institute – Developmental and Violence Intersession Course-1 (2019)
• The Compadre Network: La Cultura Cura, Circle Keepers Program Facilitator (2020)
• The Compadre Network: Xinachtli Program Facilitator (2020)
• Latina Girls at Risk for Suicide and Other Self-Harming Behaviors – North Shore Family Child and Family Guidance Center (2019)
• Family Development Credential Trainer – University of Connecticut (2018)
• Family Development Credentials Facilitator – University of Connecticut (2018)

Through her unwavering dedication, Yahira DeLeon continues to make significant strides in supporting and uplifting the voices of vulnerable communities.