A.S.C.S. Services

Russell Baptist, LCSW is President /Founder of The A. and S. Consulting Services, LLC a private practice specializing in psychotherapy, racial justice evaluations, leadership coaching, and technical assistance. Mr. Baptist is an adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work.  He is a former senior director of programs at the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), where he helped to pioneer working with special needs populations in supportive housing. He supervised and developed social workers, psychiatrist, and mental health para-professional staff in the implementation of Evidence Based Practices. Through sponsorship of the Robin Hood Foundation he managed the creation of an anti-poverty program for the Harlem/Washington Heights communities called Single Stop, USA. He was also the founding director of the George Brager Scholarship Program for college bound students who live in supportive housing , named after a former dean of Columbia School of Social Work. 

Additionally, Mr. Baptist developed budgets, grant reporting/writings, and he trained social service staff throughout New York City, Atlanta, Los Angles and Washington D.C. with a focus on working with People  of Color, LGBTQ diversity, culture and ethnicity, social work supervision, mental health,  homelessness, and  supportive housing. Mr. Baptist  managed contracts with federal entities like SAMSHA,  HUD, the Veterans Administration  along with New York City and State Departments of mental Health (DOHMH & OMH) and homeless services (DHS &HRA). He provided psychotherapy for youth in foster care. He lectured at Stony Brook University in New York City. Mr. Baptist  served as a consultant, and appeared on several local radio programs and national  television shows.  He is a former Board of Directors’ Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD).  He is also served on the board  for Retired Citizens (ARC) XII and the former Board Chair of Unity Fellowship Church (NYC). He is a member of the National Assn. of Social Workers (NASW) and a community organizer in Harlem .

Mr. Baptist's educational background includes earning a BA degree from Texas College, in Tyler Texas and  an MS degree in Social Work Practice from Columbia University .  He is a "JFK Jr. Fellow/Mentor", and has furthered his education at Yeshiva University, University of Washington, DC, and Long Island University.  His notable published work involved that of his book entitled  “Adam and Steve The Rules for Men Attracted to Other Men,(2015, rev. 2016).