About
About Harlem East Life Plan (HELP)
Harlem East Life Plan, known simply as HELP, is an outpatient substance use and behavioral health clinic at 2369 Second Avenue in East Harlem, New York. Founded by Stuart R. Steiner, MBA, HELP delivers one-stop care for mental health, substance use disorders, and physical well-being for the Upper Manhattan and Harlem communities. The organization is accredited by CARF and licensed by the New York State Department of Health, the Office of Mental Health, and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).
Services include outpatient substance use counseling, ambulatory medical detoxification, medication-assisted treatment with methadone and buprenorphine, mental health and wellness counseling, primary care from board-certified physicians, and DWI/DUI-related programming. By integrating addiction medicine, psychiatry, behavioral health, and primary care within a single facility, HELP supports clients whose recovery requires coordinated medical, psychiatric, and social services – a particularly important model for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, chronic medical conditions, or unstable housing.
Clinical leadership includes Medical Directors Fernando Borrego, MD, and Hamid Moussavian, MD (also a psychiatrist), along with Clinical Directors Iyana Lomas, LMSW, and Marian Shafir, Advanced CASAC, MFT. The leadership team also includes Jonathan W. Steiner, Joanne King, Erika Donovan Estades, and Administrative Team member Sheryl Monroe-Hunte. The clinical philosophy emphasizes harm reduction, person-centered care, trauma-informed practice, and respect for the lived experience of clients.
HELP offers same-day walk-in services Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 3 PM and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and self-pay. For Harlem residents and East Side New Yorkers seeking integrated outpatient addiction care without barriers, HELP provides a long-standing, mission-driven option.
- Same-day walk-in medical detox services without appointment scheduling delays
- CARF-accredited facility with dual medical directors overseeing withdrawal protocols
- Specialized opioid detox programs with integrated psychiatric care
- Multi-disciplinary team providing one-stop detox and behavioral health services
- Extended operating hours 6 AM-6 PM weekdays for accessible withdrawal management