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A New Collaboration
Rachel Lloyd suffered through more abuse by the time she was 20 than any of us should ever know in our lifetime. She came to JBFCS to speak to members of our Children and Adolescents Divisional Board about GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services), a unique organization she founded that's specifically designed to serve teenage girls who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking—a horrifying experience that caught our attention because so many of the girls who live with us have gone through similar traumas. In Ms. Lloyd's book Girls Like Us, she tells the story of her own ordeal and survival and how she transformed herself into an activist on behalf of young girls trying to escape sexual abuse and exploitation. Ms. Lloyd, Paul Levine, Lenny Rodriguez, and many others involved in our Children and Adolescents Programs shared stories of heartbreak and resilience and brainstormed ways we could work together, including training staff and creating support networks for victims that Ms. Lloyd works with and our own residents. The Divisional Board and JBFCS staff aim to increase advocacy efforts and educate friends, family, and colleagues about the horrors young girls experience and how we can help those who have escaped regain their self-confidence and self-awareness. Families Join in Recovery  Family, residents, therapists, and government officials gathered to celebrate the process of recovery for people living with mental illness as they achieve meaningful life goals. Our Third Annual JBFCS Brooklyn Apartment Program Resident & Family Dinner took place on September 22. Two residents acted as the masters of ceremony, introducing speakers and keeping the momentum humming. Presentations were given by peer advocates, successful graduates of the program, and counselors. One such speaker was Jeffrey Perry, a graduate of our Brooklyn Treatment Apartment Program. The program gave Jeffrey the independence and sense of self-worth that he needed. But it was his own power and tenacity that brought him to us in the first place.
Jeffrey was one course away from a degree from Dartmouth College when he had a nervous breakdown. Continue reading....
Hispanic Heritage Month
At our First Annual Latino Public Policy Forum in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we focused on the tough issues: adolescent Latina suicide, education in the Hispanic community, immigration reform, and dealing with community violence. JBFCS has hundreds of staff with Hispanic backgrounds in positions of leadership and influence. Oliver Koppell (pictured), New York City Council Member from the 11th District in the Bronx, was on hand to present us with a proclamation honoring this auspicious event, JBFCS' contributions and leadership in the field of mental health and social services, and as the largest nonprofit provider of such services in New York State, our dedication to serving New York's Hispanic population.
To give help or to get it, visit http://www.jbfcs.org 
| Bully Be Gone
What does it take to keep our kids safe from bullying? JBFCS' Kincare Program, in conjunction with The Brooklyn Grandparents Coalition and Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus, plans to discuss the topic in detail. On November 4, 2011, relative caregivers will gather with peers and advocates to learn how to protect the children in their care. Presentations will be made on warning signs, dealing with the repercussions of a child who has been bullied, keeping children safe from bullies, and more. There will be a theatrical performance and workshops. For more information contact, John Watkins at 718-676-4251 or via email. (If you're interested in reading more about bullying, check out "The Bleakness of the Bullied" by Charles M Blow, an adult's remembrance of the pain he experienced as a bullied youngster.)
Bigs and Littles Take Over 
On September 25, JBFCS' Big Brother Big Sister Program hosted its first ever Grand Central Terminal Scavenger Hunt. With 15 matches in attendance, the teams of Bigs and Littles spent two exhilarating and educational hours exploring the transportation hub, discovering the secrets and history that lay within the giant New York City Landmark. All teams successfully completed the hunt, but a shout-out goes to the Helicopter Crash team, which earned the highest score and claimed first place. NY State Legislature Declares October to Be Behavioral Health Recognition Month
JBFCS was front and center at the celebratory kickoff event held at the USS Intrepid Air Sea & Space Museum. We were one of about a dozen booths handing out information and networking with other agencies, including the director of SAMSHA, as well speakers and government officials, including the Medical Director of the NY State Department of Mental Health. Among the standout visits was one from a former client, a young man in his 20s who now works for NAMI in its Albany office and who told us he had been helped at our Child Development Center when he was a young child. Then there was the woman who told us how her son had benefitted from staying at and being treated at Geller House, a short-term residential diagnostic center in Staten Island. So now we're thinking about getting more involved in next year's event. |
