Amber N. Smith

Amber N. Smith is a mental health advocate and care coordinator dedicated to expanding access to behavioral health services and empowering underserved communities. Born and raised in Harlem as the daughter of Ghanaian immigrant parents who both worked as social workers, she developed an early appreciation for community service and the transformative impact of compassionate care. After earning her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the City College of New York, she began building a career in social services while pursuing a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling at Alfred University. Her long-term goal is to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and continue toward a doctoral degree, with a focus on serving children, adolescents, and culturally diverse populations.

As a Care Coordinator at the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, Amber helps clients navigate complex healthcare and social service systems by connecting them with behavioral health providers, housing assistance, employment resources, public benefits, and other essential supports. Working with both Medicaid and non-Medicaid populations, she serves as a liaison between clients and clinical teams, helping individuals move toward greater independence and stability. Her professional journey has also included an internship in Alumni Relations at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she gained experience in database management, event planning, fundraising, and communications, as well as advocacy work with NAMI-NYC to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma.

Amber's passion for mental health was strengthened through firsthand experiences working in retail, where she frequently encountered individuals struggling with unmet emotional and psychological needs. Inspired to follow in her parents' footsteps, she returned to school to pursue psychology and has since dedicated herself to helping others access quality care. She is especially passionate about multicultural mental health and addressing disparities within underserved communities, including breaking generational stigma surrounding therapy in her own Ghanaian family. Amber believes that effective caregivers must prioritize their own well-being, encouraging future professionals to practice self-care because "you cannot pour from an empty cup." Outside of her professional life, she enjoys reading fiction, musical theater, and spending time with the family and community that continue to inspire her commitment to service.