Children Services
Family Development
Food Pantry
Senior Services
Youth Development

Children Services

These provide a safe and enriching environment for young children when they are not in school. While it is a growth opportunity for the youth, it is a matter of safety and finances for the parents.

• Summer Camp: Take part in various recreation, computer technology, swimming, trips, and academic enrichment!
  
  
  
• Social Stars After School Program: This program is designated for youth, between ages 5-10, who have behavioral problems resulting from A.D.D. & A.D.H.D. Through a supportive and safe environment Social Stars provides educational, recreational, cultural, intergenerational and community service activities. Such activities include art therapy, music therapy, computer technology, homework and other academic assistance and enrichment.  It also includes age appropriate alcohol and drug awareness topics.With a high staff-to-student ratio and unique setting, it provides students with the opportunity to learn and be successful in hope that with they will take the skills they have acquired and apply them in every day situations.

Family Development

• Parental Empowerment Sessions: These are series of seminars providing insight into effective parenting techniques.  A strong focus is also placed in understanding the system and one’s rights as it pertains to public education.
  
  
• Family Development Case Management: Here we work with an individual or a family in identifying long term goals and interim milestones.  In working the plan, weaknesses are strengthened through experience and training. The goal is self-dependency.
  
  
• Crisis Intervention: This is the management of an incident to assist in resolution. Some instances include rent and utility bill assistance.
  
  
• “READY, SET, READ”: Focused on the development of young children, this program is offered periodically to enhance the reading abilities of youth.
  

Food Pantry

• Food Pantry Distribution: This is a program for residents of all ages. When creating our food pantry bags for distribution we keep in mind the proper blance of proteins, vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates.
  
  
• Food Pantry Senior Distribution: This is solely for seniors and also focuses on the proper balance of proteins, vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates. Special attention is given to the low salt, low sugar restrictive diets that many seniors are on.  Special product selection focuses on fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and low-sugar canned fruits.
  
  
• Food Pantry Home Delivery: Every month we distribute out food pantry bags to homebound, disabled and senior clients.
  
  
• Emergency Food Pantry Distribution: Based on a letter from a social service agency, food pantry bags are provided to individuals and families in need, that are not part of the scheduled food pantry distribution.
  
  
• Nutrition Education: These are cooking and information sessions that cover healthy eating and food preparation, including food safety.  Some of these sessions focus on the fresh produce being distributed that day and a healthy preparation that is new, yet palatable to our clients.

Senior Services

• This includes:
  • Crisis intervention
  • Family development services
  • Food pantry distributions
  • Nutritional education
    


• Additionally:
  • Special senior focused sessions are held bringing in guest speakers to address the interest of seniors in regards to community and personal topics.
  • Senior breakfasts are held regularly to foster communication as well as to provide a positive social environment with peers.
  
  

Youth Development

• Teen Outreach: This encourages a safe and positive lifestyle, achieved in part by participation in YCAP activities including street dance, computer technology and Friday rap sessions. There are also seasonal job and employment training opportunities.
  
  
• Y-WOMEN: An organization of young women promoting positive development. It also shares the same experiences as Teen Outreach.
  
  
• Burning Bush Dojo: This provides martial arts instruction through a consultant. Through the study and practice of martial arts, youth, ages five through fifteen learn a self-defense skill, a competitive sport and a free-style exercise.
  
       The art of Kuroshi-Do, an African-American derivative of an oriental martial art, emphasizes self-discipline, self-respect, self-control, patience, positive attitude and high moral purpose. The program provides a healthy interaction with peers in a safe, well-structured environment and allows students to gain the internal assets to change or prevent non-productive behavior.
  
       Partnership with the Burning Bush Dojo is possible through the leadership of the Dojo, a third degree black belt, inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2003. He has also been recognized for his outstanding work with ADD and ADHD children and awarded a Silver Star from the Mental Health Association.
  
  
• Song Writing: A Special program provided through the support of Westchester Arts Council.
  
  
• Dance: A Special program to teach basic dance steps to youth.
  
  
• HIV Education and Testing: Free education and testing for HIV and STDs.  This is currently being conducted in partnership with Teen Heat of Westchester County.