Voices from McClendon Center: Q&A with Kenny Amaya

A Conversation with Kenny Amaya, Program Manager – Community Support Services

At McClendon Center, the work of supporting neighbors living with serious mental illness is carried out every day by people who bring uncommon levels of dedication, compassion, and skill to some of the most complex situations imaginable. Their work happens in hospitals, emergency rooms, shelters, and on the street — wherever clients need them most.

This series, Voices from the Center, is an opportunity to get to know the individuals who make McClendon Center’s mission a reality — in their own words. Each installment features a candid conversation with a team member about what drew them to this work, what they’ve learned along the way, and what keeps them showing up.

Our first profile features Kenny Amaya, a Program Manager who joined McClendon Center fresh out of college and worked his way up through several roles — from Community Support Specialist to the Patient Discharge Coordination team to his current position in program management.

Kenny’s journey says a lot about the kind of organization McClendon Center is: one where people grow, stay, and deepen their commitment over time.

You studied criminal justice at Bowie State. How did you end up at McClendon Center?

I originally thought I was going to go into law enforcement. But my senior year, I started to look at things differently — there was a lot happening in the world that made me want to reconsider. A teammate on my track team worked at McClendon Center, and through spending time with her, I started to learn more about what the work actually looked like. She told me you get to go out into the community, help clients get connected to resources, help with housing. And I thought — this seems like something I would actually be good at and care about.

I’ve always been someone who likes to help. If I see someone on the side of the road with a flat tire, I stop. That’s just who I am. So finding out you could get paid to help people out in the community — that really piqued my interest. I submitted an application right after graduation and got hired in the summer of 2022.

You’ve moved through a few different roles in a relatively short period. What has that progression been like?

I started as a Community Support Specialist, and I was able to work with some complicated clients — people dealing with some really serious issues. The team saw that I handled it well, and I was moved up to the Patient Discharge Coordination team. I worked there for about a year and a half before being offered the Program Manager role.

Honestly, I had a hard time accepting promotions at first, because I didn’t want to let go of how I was helping people in those roles. But our Clinical Director helped me see that stepping up meant I’d be able to help even more people. I’m really glad I listened. This role has taught me so much.

What has surprised you most about this work?

I think the most surprising thing is how real and intense some of the cases are — and how clearly you start to see how mental health can be rooted in childhood trauma, or how it can come out of nowhere and completely change someone’s life.

Working on the discharge coordination team was probably the most eye-opening period for me. You’re meeting people in inpatient settings — people who used to be telecommunications specialists, successful professionals — and then their life started to unravel because of mental illness. You talk to their families, and they tell you, ‘She was completely fine. We don’t know when this started.’ That kind of thing stays with you. It really drives home why this work matters.

How would you describe the team culture at McClendon Center?

It’s genuinely a healthy work environment — and I don’t say that lightly. Working with Hailie and Matt specifically, we have a really strong line of communication. It feels cohesive in a way I don’t think you always find in this field.

And when things get stressful — and this job gets very stressful — I know I can go to leadership and be honest about what I need. Recently, with sudden policy changes introduced locally, I was starting to feel overwhelmed. I went to our Clinical Director and told her I needed more support and structure around my objectives. She sat down with me and together we worked out a game plan. That’s only possible because of the chemistry we’ve built. I’m not afraid to ask for help here, and that makes all the difference.

Is there a moment from this past year that stands out to you?

The Thanksgiving food baskets and the holiday gifts we put together for clients this past year. That really stayed with me. When those things come directly from McClendon Center — not just a referral to a community resource, but something that comes from us — clients feel it. They know we care about them. That’s a really powerful thing to be a part of.

What keeps you going on the hard days?

This conversation actually reminded me. Sometimes when you’re deep in the day-to-day, you forget why you started. But when I think back to why I’m doing this work — the people, the impact, the moments where you can see that someone’s life has genuinely changed — it brings it all back. That’s what keeps me here.

 

McClendon Center has served the Washington, DC community since 1980, providing integrated behavioral health care to individuals living with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.