YCS

E-News Update 

September 16, 2009 

Upcoming Events
 
Institute Conference:
Maternal Depression & Infant Mental Health 
Oct. 1, 2009 
 
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Festival of Flavors

 Wine  &  Food Event

NEW!

YCS Foundation
 on Facebook


You can now find out about upcoming YCS fundraising events on Facebook. 

Become a fan of
YCS Foundation.

Help us expand our circle of  friends
Speak out for
Children's Rights
and focus on
 protecting N J's  children now!


In November, New Jersey will elect a governor and state Assembly. Whoever wins will make critical decisions about our children for years to come.

YCS is partnering with Association for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) in its campaign to put the focus on children and highlight children's issues in the election.

Click here to read more or sign on to the What About the Children" campaign


Boys in kayaks

Youth  job training program underway with PSEG grant
 
With seed funding from the PSEG Foundation, YCS has designed an Essential Life Skills (ELS) Job Training Program to prepare young adults for the job market through a guided, paid work experience at a YCS facility. While getting on the job training and skills coaching, these young men and women are acquiring the critical tools necessary for successful employability and independent living.
 
"Many young adults growing up in out-of-home placements do not have adult role models to show them how to prepare for the world of work, said YCS President, Richard Mingoia.   "We are hopeful that this new program will address this need." 
New Therapeutic Nurseries to open in Essex and Hudson
 
The YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health recently received a $640,000 grant from the NJ Department of Children and Families (DCF) to open two therapeutic nurseries in Hudson and Essex counties. What makes this project so special is the individualized services that are built into the programs.  These services include, speech and occupational therapies, the guidance of a nutritionist and a team of mental health specialists, including a psychologist and psychiatrist. 

"We will also be using parent child interaction therapy to engage parents in how to help their children in a therapeutic way," said Dr. Gerard Costa, director. Each nursery will serve 24 children ages 3 to 5 who are unable to attend mainstream preschool programs because of developmental emotional and behavioral difficulties.

TDBank Teddy Bear donation
TD Bank presents YCS
with 500 Teddy Bears
 
 Putting a brand-new teddy bear in the arms of a frightened child who has just come to YCS, helps him/her feel a little less alone.  When TD Bank learned that YCS had run out of the cuddly stuffed animals, they moved into action and collected 500 new bears.  The bears were presented to the YCS Foundation at a victory party bank employees organized for our 2009 H'Olympic athletes at TD University in Marlton, NJ.
 
"When we heard about the athletes accomplishments at the H-Olympics, it truly inspired us. Our Teddy Bear Drive was motivated by the hurdles these kids have overcome to grow into bright, driven teens. Two hundred and twenty Metro Philly stores all personally donated new Teddy Bears to comfort kids, like these athletes, when they need it most," said Linda McGuigan, Senior Retail Officer.

 Pre-Placement Assessment program marks 2nd anniversary
 
Two years have passed since YCS began offering evening and weekend Pre-Placement Nursing Assessments for children who had just been removed from their homes by DYFS.  As the first program of its kind in the state, it was designed to bypass long waits in impersonal hospital emergency rooms that these children had to endure.
 
To date, YCS registered nurses, have provided nearly 1,200 children with thorough assessment in an office equipped with toys, soothing wall d�cor, comfortable sofas, movies and snacks.  There is also formula and diapers for infant.  "Our medical team has worked hard to create a warm, child-friendly environment to welcome these children at a most vulnerable time," said Dr. Ena Cade, YCS vice president, Pediatrics.  
 
At the close of the assessment, each child receives a gift. The 500 brand-new teddy bears donated by TD Bank are a big help. "We are very grateful now to be able to send each child off with a new "friend" to accompany them through this time of uncertainty," said Dr. Cade.

YCS supports Healing Homes Initiative
President speaks at Supportive Housing meeting

 
The NJ Office of the Child Advocate with the help of the Supportive Housing Association (SHA), has embarked on a public awareness campaign aimed at assuring local communities that Healing Homes - therapeutic residences for children and teens with mental health challenges - are safe and contribute positively to the neighborhoods. 
 
Recently, YCS President Richard Mingoia spoke at an SHA general meeting.  As a new member agency of the SHA, Mingoia shared YCS' commitment to the Healing Home initiative.  YCS recently opened a Healing Home in Jersey City for 10 young men (18-21) and another home for 5 young women in Orange.
 
"Every time we've opened a new residence, we've face the fears of an apprehensive community. However, in time, we have shown each of our neighbors that our home, like theirs, is a caring environment where children are nurtured, protected and encouraged to reach their potential," said Mingoia.
 
Supporters find own
unique ways tUPS volunteers and boyso give


UPS delivers right on time
 
Every summer about a dozen UPS employees from Parsippany visit the Kilbarchan campus with gifts and all the fixings for a barbeque. The highlight of the visit is a basketball game between the boys and UPS hoopsters. UPS workers raise the funds by collecting personal donations and organizing a raffle. Given the precarious economy, it was much more difficult this year to raise as much money as they would have liked, according to Mike Zaliewski, one of the event organizers, but that didn't stop them.  "We really look forward to spending time with the boys," said Zaliewski.  Site administrator Barbara Bishop Wells said that the staff always look forward to UPS' visits.  "These folks have a lot of heart. They know many of our kids by name and connect with them in a personal way."  

Friends of YCS car wash Friends of YCS wash cars
 to raise funds for

 Liberty Science Center trip
 
On a hot Sunday morning in August, a group of volunteers from the Friends of YCS, met in a parking lot of a local business in West New York.  They carried with them "Free Car Wash" signs, pails, sponges, massage chairs, and trays of cookies.  Folks who stopped by enjoyed a sweet treat, and a massage while their car was being washed. One hundred percent of the proceeds were donated to YCS for a field trip to the Liberty Science Center for children in therapeutic residences in northern Jersey.

A Sneak PreviewDon Viapree from Cablevision at cinema

Cablevision and Bergenfield Clearview Cinema teamed up to treat children affected by trauma to the first screening of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in 3D.  Children from a YCS residence and summer school program participated. The were greeted by Clearview employees with raffle tickets, soda and popcorn.  The event was part of Clearview Summer Kids Club.

Camp C.I.T. program continues
 with NRAC support
This year's summer camp Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program was made possible by the support of members of  the Northern Region Advisory Council.  Special thanks to Donald & Patti Trichon, Fran Einiger, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Maurer, Dr. & Mrs. Martin Schulman, and Marvin & Linda Goldstein.