A.S.C.S. Services
Psychotherapy
Depression, fear, anxiety, and trauma are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counseling and support, we are able to help you recover using evidence based culturally appropriate treatment modalities for individuals, couples and families to support recovery.
Racial Justice Evaluations
We help agencies/business process their organizational culture by providing racial justice evaluations for executive management and identifying the best training method appropriate to both management and front line staff.
Leadership Coaching
We tailor each leadership coaching strategy for your organization including the individual executive , manager, or senior director in either the for profit or non- profit world of work.
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About Us
About the President/Founder
Russell A. Baptist, MS., LCSW
Russell Baptist is a trailblazer in the field of social work, with a distinguished career dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive care for marginalized communities. Currently a senior lecturer at Columbia University School of Social Work, Professor Baptist has authored state-approved curricula in Macro Practice, Leadership, Management, Program Planning, and Development. Most recently, he led a comprehensive rewrite of the school’s core course on Advocacy and Social Work Practice, ensuring its relevance for today’s evolving social and political landscape.
He is the President and Founder of The A. and S. Consulting Services, a private practice organization that offers leadership coaching, clinical evaluations, and technical assistance to institutions and nonprofits focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
As one of New York State’s first Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Baptist was a founding member and former Managing Director of Programs at the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), where he helped pioneer integrated supportive housing and mental health services for special-needs populations. He led and developed interdisciplinary teams—social workers, psychiatrists, and paraprofessionals—while implementing evidence-based practices and advancing DEI initiatives in urban systems of care.
With sponsorship from the Robin Hood Foundation, he directed the development of Single Stop USA, an anti-poverty program designed for Harlem and Washington Heights. He also founded the George Brager Scholarship Program for college-bound students in supportive housing, named in honor of the late dean of Columbia’s School of Social Work.
Professor Baptist has provided extensive training across New York City, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles, with a focus on topics such as LGBTQ+ inclusion, Black mental health, homelessness, cultural competence, and social work supervision. He has successfully managed contracts and collaborations with federal agencies such as SAMHSA, HUD, and the Veterans Administration, as well as key departments across New York City and State including DOHMH, OMH, DHS, and HRA.
His clinical work includes providing psychotherapy to foster youth and mentoring emerging social workers in complex systems. He has served as a lecturer at Stony Brook University and as a frequent consultant, keynote speaker, and media contributor on local television and radio.
Professor Baptist’s leadership also extends to nonprofit governance. He has served on the Board of Directors for Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), The Association for Retired Citizens (ARC) XII, and as former Board Chair of Unity Fellowship Church NYC. He is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and maintains a visible presence across major social media platforms where his advocacy and commentary reach a broad and engaged audience.
He holds degrees from Texas College (an HBCU) and Columbia University, where he earned his MS in Social Work Practice. He is a "JFK Jr. Fellow/Mentor" and has completed additional studies at Yeshiva University, Long Island University, and the University of the District of Columbia.
His published works include Adam and Steve: The Rules for Men Attracted to Other Men (2015, revised 2016), and his forthcoming book Built By the Ancestors: A Legacy of Black Institutions and Their Enduring Power explores the historical, cultural, and future impact of foundational Black-led organizations—such as the AME Church, Prince Hall Masons, HBCUs, and the NAACP—and affirms their ongoing role in shaping justice, leadership, and legacy in American society.
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