Dr. Helen May Strauss Clinic opens in Camden
With community behavioral health clinics in East Orange and Union City, the Dr. Helen May Strauss Clinic has recently extended its services to residents of the Camden area. The new YCS outpatient program provides an array of clinical services to children ages 7 - 21 and family support services. For more information contact Lori Ann McGuffin at lamcguffin@ycs.org |
YCS opens two new
Sawtelle residences
The YCS Sawtelle residence on Buffalo Avenue, in Paterson, will soon be home to six young women over 21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The two family home has four inter-connecting apartments and outdoor space for leisure activities.
YCS has also converted its Lawn Ridge residence in Orange into a new Sawtelle Home. This psychiatric residential treatment facility serves for 4 boys under the age of 21 with developmental disabilities.
All Sawtelle programs reach out to children and young adults with developmental disabilities who are the most difficult to place because of their challenging behaviors.
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Re-dedication of
Todd's Garden
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of Todd Ouida on September 11th in the World Trade Center, the garden at the Holley Center has been rededicated with a plaque that says "Todd's Garden - Hope Lives On."
Sony volunteers planted enhanced the garden with new shrubs and flowers and Ilena Kipnis-Kaltener donated outdoor furniture The tranquility of the garden is perfect for counseling sessions.
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BJ's Charitable Foundation donates $10,000 for mentor program in south
This important prevention program provides pre-adjudicated children, 8-17, with a mentor who can become a positive role model and trusted friend. The program also increases the child's access to supportive experiences, job training and education opportunities as well as to redirect children from access to criminal elements.
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Game Day
Novel way to raise awareness and funds
A group of friends from Bergen County organized a luncheon and an afternoon of board games at Nisei Restaurant in Englewood to raise funds and awareness for the YCS summer camp program.
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Shout Outs!!!
Congratulations to ... Kilbarchan softball team for bringing home the gold at the NJ Special Olympics Summer Games **** Twenty-five young mothers and their toddlers who graduated from the Nurse Family Partnership Program. |
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Upcoming Events
September 24, 2011
Win One for the Kids
Texas Hold 'Em Tournament
Montclair
November 7, 2011
Festival of Flavors
Wine and Food Tasting Benefit at the Park Ridge Marriott
More details and online registration
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Our Mission:
To partner with at-risk and special needs children, youth and young adults to build happier, healthier, more hopeful lives within families & communities.
To find out more about our programs,
sponsor the care of a child,
make a donation or
attend an event,
please visit our website at www.ycs.org
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How do mothers and babies communicate with each other,
before the infant has language?
What can we do when developmental
and emotional progress falters?
Beatrice Beebe, Ph.d will answer these questions and more at the
9th Annual YCS Institute Professional Conference:
Mother-Infant Communication Disturbances: Research and Treatment
Friday, October 14, 2011
Montclair, NJ
Click here for brochure and to register
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 | | Benito Flores, his mom, and YCS CEO Richard Mingoia at an exhibition of Benito's artwork at the Palisades Park Library. |
Benito, winner of the Blossoms scholarship, exhibited 25 pieces of his artwork at a solo exhibition called Beni's ArtLife. "This show has given me more confidence in myself," said the shy, FLEC graduate . This summer, Benito took two courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology with the scholarship stipend.
We wish him the best of luck.
View the exhibit
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 Roy Leitstein, president of the NJ Alliance for Children, Youth & Families presented YCS Trustee Beth Barone with the Jack Breakstone Volunteer of the Year Award at the agency's 10th annual conference: Making a Difference. As a YCS mentor, Beth has the ability to see what the children need and then find a way to provide it. Thanks to her efforts, every child at one of our residences received a camera so they could create their own life story. Alexander Williams, from YCS Estell Manor, was also honored as Childcare Worker for the Year. He was recognized by his supervisor Deanna Yates for his unique ability to establish a rapport with the children and his uncommon willingness to cooperate and communicate with fellow co-workers. |
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 A score of volunteers from Hoop-a-Paluza (HAPI) inquired about what they could do to spruce up the YCS Kilbarchan Campus, and then set out to get it done. They cleaned the grounds, removed recycling, washed the vans, and refurbished the shed that former Golden Glove champ Gerry Cooney uses to teach the boys how to box. Other volunteers worked on creating a collage of photos of children at the residence. The positive energy and enthusiasm of all the volunteers permeated the campus.
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Ryan Tola, Gerry Cooney, Richard M. Codey and Richard Mingoia at the golf outing.
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Thank you for supporting the
2011 Fore the Kids Golf Outing
Everything about our 10th anniversary golf outing was perfect. The weather was beautiful. The attendance was up, and everyone had a great day. The highlight of the day was a moving tribute to Rich Nocella by Todd Shaper. The outing was dedicated in his memory in appreciation for all the caring support he showered on the children at YCS and in his community for many years. See photo album
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The theme  for FLEC's junior/senior high school prom was Pearls and Diamonds. The gym was transformed into an elegant dining hall thanks to the endless efforts of the Ridgefield Park Rotary and FLEC staff. The Rotarians made sure the students at Fort Lee Education Center had a prom they will never forget. They planned months in adv ance for the big night. The Girl Scouts donated hundreds of prom dresses and suits for the students to choose from. Volunteers from Parisian Beauty Academy fixed the girls' hair and nails at the school the day of the prom. Aunt Linda's Kitchen catered the buffet dinner and Bruce Floral Designs provided centerpieces for each table. The evening of the prom volunteers were on hand to serve the food and drinks and applaud the students as they walked into the gym. Special thanks to Ariston Multimedia, Elite Rhythms Entertainment, Lowes, the YCS NRAC, and Home Depot. See more photos
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Capturing the Moment
Our children at their best!
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Congratulations to all the Athletes
The YCS senior basketball team won the championship at H' Games at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Photo by Franklin Espi
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ADP Students take Guests
on a World Tour
Students from the Adolescent Development Program (ADP) in Newark shared what they learned about cultures across the world with guests at their year-end event.
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Special Thanks to
Camden Firefighters
Camden City firefighters welcomed children from the Sawtelle-Camden Home and gave the children a tour of their "house." The kids donned fire helmets, sat on the truck and learned about fire safety. Later at the group home, the children ate red food and played games which reinforced safety skills.
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One young woman takes on personal responsibility for Youth Group
For several years, Yvonne Montemurro. YCS assistant director of training & development, has been holding monthly meetings with adolescents from YCS residences. The goal is to help the youth gain the skills and confidence to live independently once they leave YCS. So, when 17 year old Candace asked if she could run a session, Ms. Montemurro was thrilled. Candace proposed a paper quilt-making project - each square would represent a person's dream for his or her future. The activity was an eye-opener for Candace. She realized that she personally had to work on becoming more patient, and that many of her peers needed to work on believing in themselves. "Candace did a great job," said Ms. Montemurro. Thanks to Candace's courage other youth group members will have a chance to lead the meetings.
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