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April is Autism Awareness Month. On April 2, Autism Speaks asked health care agencies, public buildings, and individuals to shine a blue light to increase awareness of and concern about ever-rising autism rates. JBFCS set our video monitors to show the Light It Up Blue images and stories on autism are profiled on our Facebook page and website. The Shield Institute is responding to the increasing number of children in New York City who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Since 2008, through a grant provided by the New York City Council, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, under the Autism Initiative, the Shield Institute introduced workshops (in English and Spanish) for parents who have a child with ASD. These workshops help parents with techniques to use in home, offer opportunities to network with other parents going through similar issues, and share information and material. Read this story in its entirety.... Parents with children with special needs, including autism spectrum disorders, are constantly bombarded with decisions—which treatment protocols should they try, where will their child get the best education, what recommended behavior plans should they implement at home? JBFCS' Learning Resource Network is a safe, confidential place for parents to think through these decisions. Read this story in its entirety.... New York Legislature  Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assistant Executive Director Carmen Collado. The 19th Annual Somos El Futuro Conference took place at the end of March and JBFCS’ Carmen Collado represented us for the seventh year running. The conference, coordinated by the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force of the NY State Legislature, brings together nearly 9,000 New Yorkers who represent a cross section of the state’s Hispanic community, including federal, state, and local elected officials as well as community, labor, and business leaders. Its mission is to provide a forum for the development of legislative and budgetary initiatives of concern to Hispanic communities throughout the state. The conference also serves as a stage to acknowledge the significant contributions of Hispanics. These goals are achieved through workshops, seminars, policy institutes, and special forums.
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Youth Summit  On March 22 and March 23, youth and staff from Kaplan House participated in the New York State Youth Summit in Albany. This annual conference brings together youth service providers and consumers, incorporating all of the public systems serving youth: OCFS (Office of Children & Family Services), OMH (Office of Mental Health), and OASAS (Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services). JBFCS and Kaplan House participated in the conference for the first time this year—and were one of the few agencies to send youth in addition to staff. Four young men from our Kaplan House Resident Council (pictured l-r above: Jermaine, Dara, Francisco, and Juan) attended sessions anti-bullying, treatment and prevention of substance abuse, and self-advocacy and self-esteem. Roundtables and workshops focused on ideas and feedback from the youth, and they surely didn’t hold back. Our attendees asked many questions, shared ideas, and expressed curiosity and interest in the presentation topics—so much so that they attracted the notice of OCFS and OMH Commissioners Gladys Carrion and Michael Hogan, who spoke in detail with our residents after delivering the keynote address.
To give help or to get it, visit http://www.jbfcs.org 
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Do More for 1 in 4 
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 
National Nurses Week 
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