Gartlan Center - Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board

Jan 21st, 2019

The services here are very helpful.
Jul 15th, 2017

A real resource for families in need; don't be bashful - go!
Dec 17th, 2016

Worked at this place for some months and I literally had to quit due to my supervisor, Mrs. Neva Ortuno bullying and harassing behavior. While working at Fairfax County with the PATH team I had witnessed Mrs. Ortuno bully other coworkers, I spoke up on it because I felt it was unethical and unprofessional. No one should be treated like that at the work place. After speaking up, Mrs. Ortuno decided she will then retaliate against me and she started bullying me. She lied during my supervision and stated "I didn't communicate during drop-in to the Peer Specialist, Mrs. Maryann Cheney." This statement upset me and I responded because on that same day, Mrs. Cheney brought her friend to work for assistance with benefits and I was busy helping him. I later asked Mrs. Cheney if she felt I didn't communicate with her that day and she stated "You did communicate. It was so busy that day we were all doing something." Anyways, I let that situation go, but then in our next supervision session, Mrs. Ortuno then claimed, I didn't meet quota. She stated in the month of January, I saw clients face to face only 57.7% when it's suppose to be 60%. I then reminded her that I am the ONLY Behavioral Specialist in the South County region and I've been asking for help for a while now. Additionally, when we do notes Mrs. Cheney is supposed to collateral me in her notes but she doesn't even write her notes so how can I get credit and meet the "quota" every month when I'm working by myself? Mrs. Neva then asked why I didn't put a note in when she asked me and I explained I didn't see nor did I speak to the client so if I put a note in and the client is dead in the woods somewhere, it would be on me and not her. These statements I made pissed off Mrs. Ortuno very much to the point where her childish behavior began to show more and more. I would ask her for help on things I have not learned yet, such as employment referrals and she literally told me to "figure it out." So, then I asked to be transferred to a different region or program and I was denied. Things became too overwhelming for me with all the lies and again, I communicated it to both Mrs. Ortuno and Mr. Carlos Estrada, her manager in an email and I received an email back from Mrs. Ortuno that moving forward, although I am a salary employee, I must now email her every time I come to work and when I am leaving work. I did not understand the reason for this narcissistic response but I did what I was told. No results came from it and her disgusting and unprofessional behavior towards me still continued. So, I decided to express my concerns to Mr. Bob MacMurdo, Mr. Estrada manager after witnessing Mr. Estrada, say nothing during one of our weekly virtual meetings when Mrs. Ortuno dehumanized, yelled and demanded that an employee from a different region stop what her and her partner were doing for that day and attend Hypo that very night. The pure embarrassment that employee felt that she was dehumanized in front of her peers was heart wrenching. I felt so bad for her. She too complained and got retaliated against by Mrs. Ortuno. During my conversation with Mr. MacMurdo, he informed me that he was notified by Mrs. Ortuno that I did not give clothes to a clients at drop-in. I informed Mr. MacMurdo that I was told by Mrs. Ortuno and Mrs. Cheney during training that "we don't give clothes out to people that are NOT PATH clients." I didn't understand the reasoning, because where were all the donation going then? Anyways, because I was new, I just followed their instructions on the matter. We later asked the volunteer and he confirmed that he too was told the same thing. With all the lies being told from both Mrs.Ortuno and Mrs. Cheney, at that point I decided to go to the Union. I was informed that because I was still on probation, I didn't have a voice but they are awere of Mrs. Ortuno mistreatment and hostile behavior towards certain staff members. I could NOT continue to subject myself to the abuse and lies anymore, so I decided to resign for the sake of my own mental health.
Mar 29th, 2024