Former NY Knicks starpoint guard John Starks(above) attended theouting. Golf chairChuck DiPietro (l)gives out prizes.10th AnnualFore the KidsGolf InvitationalHighlights of YCS Events in 2011Thea Bry Award presented atInstitute ConferenceYCS President Richard Mingoiapresents the Thea Bry Award toLiz and Tom Kelsey, founders ofthe Linden Foundation for theirdedicated support of the motherbabyprogram at YCS.Raffle winners show off their prizesat the 2nd Annual Casino Nightsponsored by the Northern RegionAdvisory Council.Texas Hold’em Tournamentsponsored by the Central Region Advisory Council12th AnnualFestival of FlavorshonoreesHerb & Andrea Ouida and theTodd Ouida Children’s FoundationBritcher, Leone & Roth LLCThanks for being therewhen our children need you!Whether we put out an emergency call for new sheets and bedding for the children in our residences, need yourhelp to fulfill our children’s Secret Santa wishes, or ask for support for our annual camp appeal, you are alwaysthere. It is reassuring to know we can depend on you to provide the essential little extras that mean so much toour children and families.10
In 2011, YCS laid the groundwork for new programs and services that will ultimatelyhelp more at-risk families and children with special needs throughout New Jersey.Here is a preview of what’s on the horizon.YCS makes new strides in programmingfor the developmentally and intellectually disabledThe Department of Developmental Disabilities awardedYCS a contract to open up an emergency unit for children,ages 6 - 17, in Somerset County. The ECS (EmergencyCapacity System) program is designed to help childrenwith developmental disabilities and severe challengingbehaviors who exhausted all other options and are in crisis.At the ECS, children can re-establish their physical andemotional equilibrium as well as receive a comprehensivebio-psycho-social health assessment. This program is modeledafter the successful Emergency Diagnostic TreatmentCenter that YCS has operated in Newark since 2007.Sawtelle <strong>Service</strong>s opens two new homesin southern JerseyYCS Sawtelle will open two new residentialprograms in the southern region of New Jersey bylate winter. The first is a permanent home for fivemedically fragile developmentally disabled youngadults in Delran. A second home has been approvedin Sewell as a step down program for four adolescentgirls currently receiving treatment at YCS psychiatrictreatment programs. This transition will give thegirls a chance to develop independent living skills.New collaborations insure that young adults withdevelopmental disabilities receive lifetime careMany of the children in our DD programs will continueto need care throughout their lifetime. YCS has beenlooking toward the future of children with developmentaldisabilities, and has begun collaborating with Our House,a NJ non-profit that provides employment, transition andresidential services to individuals with disabilities, tohelp promote programs for our young adults withdevelopmental disabilities.“We plan to continue to share our skills to work towardour common goals of helping these individuals leadfulfilling lives,” says Mingoia.Mother/Baby residence for at-risk adolescents opensthis spring in Monmouth CountyDepartment of Children and Families (DCF) hasawarded YCS a grant for $944,000 to provide 24/7care for six adolescent moms and their new babies ina home-setting. Young mothers, ages 12 to 18 whoqualify for the program, will continue their highschool education while participating in counselingsessions as well as mother and child relationship basedtherapies.The holistic approach to helping each new momdevelop a healthy nurturing relationship with her babyincludes massage therapy and instruction on theBrazelton approach to parenting.New Day Charter High School opensin Newark this SeptemberUnder the leadership of YCS senior administrators, MarcWurgaft, Phil DeFalco, and Barbara Markell, the NewDay Charter School Board is preparing for the openingof an alternative high school in Newark for 100 students.Using an integrated, project-based 21st century skillscurriculum that is aligned with the NJ Core CurriculumContent Standards, the focus will be for students todevelop healthy lifestyle skills to achieve personalresponsibility and wellness.Infused throughout the curriculum will be developmentallyappropriate strategies to prevent many destructivebehaviors and attitudes that are harmful to young people,including underage drinking, substance abuse, tobaccouse, risky and impaired driving, bullying, teen violenceand obesity.11
Change language