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With a Strong Foundation
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CANY is proud to be the recipient of foundation grants that help us continue our work. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge two of our funders.
The Tow Foundation, supports the CANY
therapeutic theatre program at The Children's Center of Hamden, a residential facility for youth in crisis. CANY program staff members John
Rainer and Daniel Sarnelli spend one day each week in Connecticut using CANY's model of therapeutic theatre to target emotional and
behavioral problems, traumatic stress, learning disabilities and substance
abuse through metaphor and drama. Groups allow participants to explore and
celebrate strength, imagination, playfulness
and capacity for collaboration, so often denied children in
crisis.
The Tow Foundation, who has generously provided funding for CANY programs at The Children's Center since 2005, believes that no child is beyond help. Due to their support, CANY has been able to build a solid relationship with the clinical staff at Hamden over the years and develop a model for how creative arts therapy can effectively be integrated into programming for traumatized children.
CANY is very excited to be one of only 10 nonprofit organizations in New York State to be awarded a match grant from The Digital Community Foundation for a new website. This grant will fund our work with the fantastic team at Firespring, who partners with many nonprofits in order to develop mission-driven websites. Firespring provides world-class marketing expertise, innovative website
technology and unparalleled support to help small businesses and
organizations become more profitable and effective. Be on the look out for our new site in 2010!
CANY thanks all of its donors for their continued belief in our mission to heal through creative expression. To show your support, please visit our donation page.
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Evaluating the CANY model
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This year, CANY is working with independent evaluator Jaclyn Kelly in order to measure the effectiveness of our work. Why go through the program evaluation process? Jaclyn provides the answer for us.
CANY wants to...
1) Provide the best possible services to our clients
2) Ensure that the program remains innovative and responsive to the changing needs and demands of the environment and population and
3) Maintain a competitive edge for funding opportunities
Jaclyn holds an Ed.M. in Measurement and
Evaluation from Columbia University and a B.S. in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. She specializes in
research and evaluation studies designed to measure and improve program
effectiveness. Her skill set includes clarification of program objectives,
development of evaluation design, measurement selection and development, data
analysis, and use of results to guide program improvement.
When she started working with CANY, Jaclyn noted that it was unique to be able to seek input from program staff members as well as administrative staff members and even board members. In addition, she would like to thank The Linden Hill School, The Children's Center of Hamden and The International Rescue Committe on behalf of CANY for their participation in the evaluation process.
As a CANY E-News reader, you'll learn more about our work with Jaclyn throughout the 2009/2010 programming year.
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New Beginnings
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 All of us at CANY welcome Mary Hershkowitz to our program staff. Mary (pictured right), was an intern in 2007 and happily returns to the CANY community. When asked why she applied to work at CANY, Mary said, "I wanted to be part of a community of creative group leaders. I love the CANY team leader model and I missed it." In addition to leading therapeutic theatre groups, Mary will be spending time in the CANY office working on the program evaluation process. "I'm really excited about this part of my job!"Since returning to
CANY, Mary has
further developed her
group skills, focusing on bridging
connections between group members
through the creative tools of theatre . Mary recalls a recent example of building connections in a group with
psychiatrically disabled adolescent girls
and the transformational potential of a non-judgmental group
environment."I noticed that
one of the girls came into the group very angry and unwilling to engage with
others and participate. Throughout the group, she was silent. But towards the end of the group, John [Rainer, CANY group
co-leader] and I asked her if there was something she might want to take with
her from the group. She still remained silent. So we asked her if members of the
group could give her something
instead. The other girls in the group reached out to her and offered her the
gifts of hope and joy. At that moment, she was able to
accept our gifts and reconnect with
her peers, illustrating the power of the group to serve as its own therapeutic
agent. By being welcome in the group despite her anger and resistance, the girl
was also shown that her feelings, however oppressive they felt to her, could be
received by the group as long as they were expressed in a safe and non-physical
way." |
CANY Friends
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Last month's E-News featured a short video from our YouTube channel about CANY's training day with Veterans who are Peer Advocates in the City University of New York system. We asked collaborator Caroline Peacock to give us feedback about the session. She very readily responded to our request. "CANY facilitated an incredible
training session with our new Iraq and Afghanistan veteran staff. Our goal
for this orientation training was for the group to engage in team-building
exercises so that we could start the new program with enthusiasm. CANY's staff
were exceptionally adept at navigating the different needs and strengths of the
participants and helped everyone feel at ease. In addition to providing a
great team-building experience, it was a lot of fun!"
Caroline
Peacock, LMSW
Director
Veterans
and Families Initiative
Center
for Trauma Program Innovation
Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services
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If Only...
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 Save the Date! This SaturdayOctober 24, 200910pmLiz Rubino is donating a portion of the proceeds from her one-woman show If Only... to CANY! Become a fan and learn how to purchase tickets by visiting the If Only...Facebook page! We shout "Brava!" to Liz for her commitment to CANY!
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