GrowingUp
August
2013
NEWS
FRO M
Jewish Child Care Association•Every Child Deserves to Grow Up Hopeful
RECONNECTING FAMILIES–A NEW MODEL
For decades, JCCA’s Foster Home Services has provided thousands of children
and teens who have been neglected or abused with safe and supportive
foster homes, while their families work to resolve their difficulties. Part of that
process has been to identify family members who can provide support, and
sometimes homes, for the children.
in the field. The models aim to engage
In New York City, about 13,000 children
birth parents and support foster parents
are in foster care. Children are often
and foster children. One of the models
traumatized when they enter foster care,
in ChildSuccessNYC is called Family
not only because of abuse or neglect,
Finding. It offers new
but also because they
My father’s family
methods, strategies,
lose contact with their
expressed
that
if
they
had
and technologies to
families, are moved
known that I existed they locate and engage
from placement to
relatives and other close
placement, may have
would have taken me.
Antwone Fisher family friends of children
multiple social workers,
living in foster care,
and sometimes face
many of whom have lost contact with their
years of uncertainty. More than one-third of
immediate or extended families. Family
foster children in New York City have been
Finding trains staff in specific engagement
in care for three or more years.
strategies. For example, one step describes
Last year, JCCA was one of five
how to approach and involve the family
organizations chosen by New York City’s
members who may not be ready to take
Administration for Children’s Services to
implement ChildSuccessNYC, four evidence responsibility for a newly found relative.
The goal of Family Finding is to expand
based models that focus on what works
family connections in the hope of
developing permanent resources for
the child.
The model was inspired by
the true life story of Antwone
Fisher (the subject of a movie
“
”
Actors Derek Luke and Denzel Washington,
from the movie Antwone Fisher, about the real
life struggles of a foster child.
starring Denzel Washington) who had spent
fourteen years in foster care and was
deposited on the street in Cleveland shortly
before he turned 18. He did not know until
years later that he had family members
(including an uncle and cousins) blocks
away from his foster home. This May
he testified before Congress about his
support of the Family Finding program.
He described his life history and said
that after he had reconnected with his
family, “My father’s family expressed
that if they had known that I existed they
would have taken me.” This would have
saved him years of harsh treatment and
isolation. Kevin Campbell, the founder of
the Center for Family Finding and Youth
Connectedness, who created Family
Finding also testified before Congress.
(continued on page 2)
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Growing Up
Caring (continued from page 1)
He said, “Imagine how different Mr. Fisher’s
childhood and transition to adulthood
could have been if we had been able to
locate and activate his family to participate
in planning and making decisions for his
future. While a birth parent may struggle
with challenges that make caring for their
children difficult, they often have family
members who could be supports.”
JCCA’s use of the Family Finding model
has helped 14-year-old “Cameron,” who
has been in foster care for ten years in
multiple placements, including being
hospitalized with mental health issues. As
JCCA began to implement Family Finding,
Cameron had just been reconnected with
her father, whose parental rights had
been reinstated after a decade. The father
agreed with JCCA’s caseworker, Pierce
Johnson, that she would benefit from
having more family in her life. He began
the difficult process of finding relatives by
starting with names the father provided and
networking from there. For decades JCCA
and other foster care care agencies tended
to emphasize finding relatives of the mother
who were usually easier to trace. Family
Finding expands the process to include
“
While a birth parent may
struggle with challenges that
make caring for their children
difficult, they often have
family members who could be
supports.
”
Kevin Campbell
fathers, cousins, aunts, uncles, family
friends, coaches, and others who could
help the child. Through Cameron’s father,
Pierce eventually identified nine family
members and he was able to locate five of
them. Then, her father disappeared again.
According to Pierce, “This was a difficult
time for her, so I began meeting with these
new found family members to help create
a reunfication plan. All of them agreed she
needed unconditional love, and I suggested
they write letters and send birthday cards
and begin to introduce themselves. I even
arranged a birthday party, which was a very
happy event. I was so pleased. It helped
Cameron feel much more connected.”
Mr. Johnson has helped facilitate many
visits for Cameron and her extended family.
The outpouring of love has provided the
stability she has needed. The ultimate
goal is to reunite her permanently with her
family members.
In addition to Family Finding, under
the leadership of Paul Torres, Senior Vice
President of Foster Home and Community
Care Services, JCCA is working with
three other pilot interventions to improve
outcomes for children in foster care:
1) The Keeping Foster and Kinship
Parents Trained and Supported model
helps foster parents implement
research showing that children
respond better to positive support
and incentives rather than to negative
input and punishment.
2) The Parenting through Change model
is similar to the above approach but
services are delivered to parents
while their children are in foster care
and as they transition back home.
3) The Youth Development Skills
Coaching model pairs youth
ages 14–18 with a young adult
mentor who can relate to them
and provide support.
Mr. Torres notes that the new models
appear to be working: “Parents and foster
parents are seeing the effectiveness of
these four models. They are learning new
skills that improve their relationships with
the youth in their care and help these
children make steady progress.”
GU jccany.org/fhs
One day your
generosity can
benefit JCCA!
Consider including
JCCA in your will
as you review your
estate plans.
To learn more, please call
212-558-9969.
Growing Up
C o m pa s s P r o j e c t
A Chance to be Independent
Dear Friends,It is unbelievable
to me how busy and exciting the
past several months have been
for JCCA.
The lead story in this issue of
Growing Up is about a remarkable
new way to work with foster care
children. JCCA is on the forefront
of a cataclysmic change in our
business. It is called EvidenceBased Modeling and we are
truly lucky to be one of the five
agencies selected by the City of
New York to implement the new
foster care model. It has been
just under a year and we have
already seen major successes.
The end result will be that children
in the foster care system will have
shorter stays. This is very good for
everyone.
In the past few months, we
held four successful fundraising
events and our Gala raised
a record $1,031,000. I want
to thank our dedicated Board
of Trustees for the incredible
effort they put into the event.
I especially want to thank our
honorees, Terri and Jay Bialsky
and Lory and Stephen Gilberg.
Please look at the Gala story on
the next page.
I know you will be touched by
the stories in this issue. I want
to thank our dedicated staff who
help change the lives of so many
of our clients and their families.
Our staff works tirelessly, day in
and day out to make life better for
so many traumatized children in
our care. I continue to marvel at
their dedication and resiliency.
Thank you for supporting
JCCA and our best wishes to you
and your family for the upcoming
holiday season.
Richard Altman
Chief Executive Officer
JCCA’s Compass Project is one of the only
programs providing comprehensive social,
vocational, educational, and independentliving transition services for young adults
with Autism Spectrum challenges on Long
Island, in Westchester, and in New York City.
For many young adults with autism, there are
few services to help them live independently
and productively.
The Queens Independent Living Program
helps college and post-college age students
with learning difficulties, autism, and
related disabilities live independently in an
apartment as opposed to a group home.
The program’s expert staff (Master’s level
mental health professionals) help participants
find apartments; match roommates; take
advantage of sports, social, cultural, and
religious opportunities; and engage in
community activities. In addition, staff assist
with such essentials as preparing meals,
budgeting, organizing, scheduling, internships,
and job coaching.
“The goal of the program,” according to
Evan Oppenheimer, Assistant Director of
JCCA’s Compass Project, “is to help our clients
maximize their abilities, learn new skills, and
lead active and fulfilling lives.”
One Compass participant, Daniel Braun,
sees new opportunities. “What I like best is the
chance to live in New York, in an apartmentstyle program made for high-functioning
people, with plenty of access to things to do.
It is exciting, and Forest Hills is ideal because
we don’t need to rely on others; everything
is close.”
The Queens Independent Living Program
is modeled after successful programs JCCA
has run for eight years in White Plains and
Long Island for more than 400 youth. In fact,
JCCA’s effectiveness in helping young adults
with autism is being studied and replicated in
Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles.
The Queens Independent Living Program is
a partnership between JCCA and FEGS Human
Daniel Braun rock climbing with other Compass
program participants.
Services System, and received important early
support from UJA-Federation of New York. The
program is funded by private donations from
parents. GU jccany.org/compass
Save the date!
Alumni Day
Sunday,
September 22, 2013
Noon–4 pm
on the Westchester Campus.
jccany.org /alumniday
3
4
Growing Up
Peter Hauspurg, JCCA President,
talks of JCCA’s mission and history.
Trustee Barbara B. Mann with her husband, J. Robert
Mann, Jr.
Jewish Child Care Association’s annual
gala, Celebration of Hope: a Reception
to Benefit Children and Families, raised
a record-breaking $1,031,000.
The event honored longtime Trustees and
volunteers Jay and Terri Bialsky and Stephen
and Lory Gilberg. Jay Bialsky is owner of
JBialsky Premiere Design and Development, a
builder of luxury homes in the Hamptons, and
Terri Bialsky was co-founder of Equinox Fitness
Gear. Stephen Gilberg is President and owner
of The Wealth Protection Organization and Lory
Gilberg is founder of Elder Care Consulting.
Key participants included Peter Hauspurg,
President of the JCCA Board and Chairman
of Eastern Consolidated, and Daun Paris,
President of Eastern Consolidated, Benefit
Chair, and JCCA Trustee.
Funds will help teens like Tasha, who
had to leave her biological mother and was
placed in foster care in infancy. She was
later abused as a child. She came to JCCA’s
Pleasantville Cottage School, where she
received specialized attention from expert staff
and began to heal. She told the rapt audience,
“The staff helped me learn to trust and I
gained trust. Now I am working on getting
discharged to a therapeutic pre-adoptive foster
home. When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer
or a social worker or a pediatrician. I want to
start helping kids who are in my situation.”
Another highlight of the evening was a
record-breaking $140,800 auction led by
C. Hugh Hildesley, Executive Vice President
of Sotheby’s Auction House. The funds raised
will go directly to support JCCA’s programs.
GU jccany.org/hope
Nick, a member of the Bukharian Teen
Lounge, speaking at the Gala.
C. Hugh Hildesley, Executive
VP of Sotheby’s Auction House,
leads the successful auction.
Tasha, a resident of Pleasantville Cottage
School, speaks movingly of her life.
Honorees Lory and Stephen Gilberg and Terri and Jay Bialsky
with their awards.
(L to R) JCCA President Peter Hauspurg, Benefit Chair and Trustee Daun Hauspurg,
Honoree and Trustee Stephen Gilberg, Honoree Lory Gilberg, CEO Richard Altman,
Honoree Terri Bialsky, and Honoree and Trustee Jay Bialsky.
Growing Up
5
LEARNING HOW TO BE A Better Parent
'They took my children and I'm going to do whatever it
takes to get them back.’” His team also encouraged him
to make time for his kids by participating in the Allan
Houston Foundation’s weekly basketball “Father Knows
Best” retreat. Mr. Houston, an
assistant general manager of the
New York Knicks and a retired
player, founded this program to
help inner city fathers and their
children bond.
When Demetrie and Desmond,
Mr. C.’s success in building his
now ages nine and ten, came to
relationship with his children on
Edenwald in September of 2010,
the basketball court was noted
they had been traumatized by
by Thabiti Boone, a national
being removed from their home
advocate for inner city youth and
and then placed in the psychiatric
a “Father Knows Best” friend.
units of different hospitals. They
He introduced the family to Mr.
were the fourth generation of their
Houston. They also attended
family to spend time in foster
Mayor Bloomberg’s annual
care. However, their parents were
Father’s Day event, NYC Dads,
eager to take them back home,
Mr. C and his wife and children with basketball star
Allen Houston.
which celebrates fathers who
and were willing to do whatever
become more active in their
they could to convince the Bronx
children's lives. Being celebrated as a father who has
Family Court that they would make this possible.
come a long way is a huge recognition for Mr. C. But not
Their father, David C., wanted to become a better
as big as being a good father to his sons.
parent. Working with his family’s JCCA team, he enrolled
As Janelle Honeywell, a JCCA social worker, says,
in a 26-week course that offered parenting and child“Desmond and Demetrie may be their family’s fourth
rearing workshops, and sessions on anger management.
generation to spend time in foster care, but JCCA is
“I never said, ‘They took my children and they're just
determined they will be the last.” GU jccany.org/ec
lost in the system,’” Mr. C. explained. “I always said,
Edenwald Center is one of JCCA’s residential treatment
programs on its Westchester Campus, a home for
boys and girls ages 7–21 who may have been abused
or neglected and who have emotional and cognitive
challenges. The focus is on
teaching these children life skills
that foster independence and
improve relationships.
T w o T o g e t h e r Tu t o r i n g P r o g r a m
GETTING BETTER GRADES WITH A VERY SPECIAL TUTOR
Two Together is a citywide
program that provides free
tutoring to 100 students,
ages 8–18. The youth
have scored below grade
level in reading or math,
or have other learning
needs. The volunteer
tutors are professionals
from all walks of life.
According to Anthony Sneag, who has
been a tutor for many years, “I am an
investment professional at Cornerstone
Capital Management. I learned that I
enjoy being a tutor when I was at the
Columbia University Business
School and participated in
the Harlem Tutorial Program.
I heard about the Two
Together program from my
sister Abigail, who works for
Deutsche Bank, the program’s
biggest partner. Last year I
helped tutor a child named
Tyrone. This year I tutored his
younger brother Tyrique, who
is in the eighth grade. He has pretty decent
math skills, so we work on his reading
and writing. I have been helping him with
persuasive essay writing. I also encourage
him to read an article in The New York Times
every week which we discuss; this helps
him improve his vocabulary. I find tutoring
very rewarding. I enjoy the relationship with
Tyrique and look forward to seeing him, and
he looks forward to seeing me.
Additionally, I help with fundraising
efforts for Two Together. I have had some
experience with these types of events, and
look forward to continuing my involvement
in Two Together, because this is a great
program that could use more resources.”
According to Bonnie Lichtman, Director
of Two Together, “Tyrique is a better reader
and writer, and gets better grades now that
Anthony is involved in his life.”
GU jccany.org/twotogether
6
Growing Up
“
In My Own
Words
Lovie Arthur
HONORING A LOVING
FOSTER MOTHER
Recently, JCCA recognized six special
foster parents with Excellence in
Foster Parenting Awards. These
parents demonstrate skill and caring
and work closely with JCCA and follow
our family model. They establish
positive relationships with the birth
parents, serve as strong advocates for
the young people in their care, and
work toward a permanent placement
for the children. One of this year’s
winners is Lovie Arthur.
“I have six children in my care at the
moment. Three of the children are siblings
from a family of 11 children; I have dealt
with the family many years. They can be a
handful. However, they do respect me, so
“
In My Own
Words
Damitry Stallings
Here is an excerpt from his winning essay:
I AM OVERCOME
WITH JOY
Today, Damitry Stallings is a poised
teenager. However, he was not always
that way. His JCCA social worker,
Allison Bonesteel, says, “When
Damitry first arrived in foster care,
he was very quiet and had trouble
communicating when he felt upset.”
Now, after working with Ms. Bonestell,
he has become an open and caring
young man. He is also so creative,
that he recently won a First Prize
award for Youth in Foster Care, an
essay contest sponsored by New York
City’s Administration for Children’s
Services and the College Board.
“One of the biggest challenges I have
faced in foster care is being able to keep
in contact with my family. I have been
in three foster care placements in three
years, so it is hard trying to connect to my
family on a regular basis, either in person
or on the phone. I can’t live with them, but
that does not mean we cannot be in each
other’s lives.
It is very easy when you are in a foster
home to think about how your family might
forget you, because you are in someone
else’s home.
When I first got here to my current,
pre-adoptive home, I had a lot of confused
feelings about my aunt, my siblings, and
my grandmother. I did not know if they
wanted to talk to me. I knew I liked my
new foster home, but would they be
mad about that? I didn’t want my new
I keep working with them. After all, Rome
wasn’t built overnight. You have to be
patient and you have to be consistent. And
they do all attend school and get
good grades, regardless of the bumps in
their lives.
The main thing I want for them is to
have a relationship with each other and
know that there is family out there for
them. I make sure that the three I care for,
and their three other siblings in a different
foster care, get together every Wednesday.
I buy pizza or McDonald’s and just
leave them by themselves to play. Their
mother, Darlene, died last May. I helped
the family pay for the funeral and rented
a limousine so all the children could go to
the cemetery. They all wore pink and white
clothes, Darlene’s favorite colors.”
GU jccany.org/fhs
foster family to be mad. But I had to do
something, because in the back of my
head, I just missed my family.
My first step was to talk to my [JCCA]
social worker. I asked if my family was
okay. She said they were and they asked
about me, but understood if I needed
some time. I was able to find some of
my siblings and aunt on Facebook. This
actually helped because we could talk, but
we couldn’t see each other. They didn’t
see me cry when I wrote to them.
It took almost a year, but we finally got
a visit set up with everyone. I was nervous,
excited, torn, and scared. But when I
finally visited with my family and told them
that I wanted my foster family to adopt
me, they told me I didn’t need to feel
worried or sad. They just wanted to make
sure this new family loved me and I loved
them. And that was all true.
In the place I am in now, I am so
lucky because I can talk to both my
foster family and biological family. I am
overcome with joy, because deep down
in my heart I know I am accepted and
loved by both families.”
GU jccany.org/fhs
Growing Up
“
In My Own
Words
Tyreek Hallett
THE POTENTIAL TO
DO GREAT THINGS
Brooklyn Democracy Academy (BDA),
a partnership between the New York
City Department of Education and
JCCA, is a transfer high school for
students who have dropped out or
fallen behind, giving them a second
chance to earn their Regents diploma.
The school provides students with a
personalized and academically vigorous learning environment. Comprised
of only 200 students, the school pairs
each youth with an Advocate Counselor for support and guidance. Every
year, one graduating senior receives
a scholarship from JCCA to apply
toward higher education. This year
the recipient is Tyreek Hallett.
“I did not do too well in my freshman
year at one of New York’s large high
schools. So it looked like I would not have
enough credits to graduate. My basketball
coach suggested that I apply to Brooklyn
Democracy Academy. Working with
(L to R) Father, Terry Walker; Graduate, Tyreek Hallett; Aunt, Dolicia Monroe; and Uncle,
Gary Night.
Barrington Burgess, my Advocate Counselor,
really helped me. He is a good mentor and
has become almost like an older brother.
He was supportive, and stayed on my case
and made sure I finished my senior project
so I could graduate. He also helped in other
areas of my life. For example, I did not have
a birth certificate or a Social Security card,
and he helped me get them so I could get
a job. The staff and teachers really care
about your life outside of school and you
can connect with them on the weekends if
you need to. I am proud that I received a
$6,000 scholarship from JCCA and got high
scores on my Regents exams–88 for Living
Environment and 87 for U.S. History.”
According to Mr. Burgess, “Tyreek has
the potential to do great things. He cared
about his grades and was willing to work
hard. He passed all of his classes and was
made Man of the Month, a recognition
based on grades, leadership, and the
example set for other students.”
Tyreek will be attending the State
University of New York at Cobleskill
this fall. GU jccany.org/bda
THREE NEW VIDEOS ON OUR WEBSITE
“Infinity, the number of times a person can be hurt or be loved in a lifetime…”
That is what one participant said at Arts in Action, during the extraordinary performance by the teens at The Cottage Schools.
Called “The Door” and based on their experiences in foster care, the performance was about doors that have mainly been
closed and some that have opened for them. Visit www.jccany.org/video to watch that video and two others we just posted—one on our inspirational
graduation ceremony at Brooklyn Democracy Academy, and a moving portrayal of autistic young adults in our
Pursuing Our Independence Together (POINT) program.
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
Paid
Jewish Child Care Association Inc.
New York, NY
Permit No. 757
Every Child Deserves to Grow Up Hopeful
858 East 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210
120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005
www.jccany.org [email protected] 917-808-4800
Peter Hauspurg
President
Barbara Salmanson
Chair of the Board
Richard Altman
Chief Executive Officer
Mark A. Edelman
Senior Vice President, Fund Development
Leslie Gottlieb
Director, Communication and Marketing
Editorial Board
Kathy Brodsky, Robert Cizma, Phina Geiger,
Anna Gold, Bonnie Lichtman, Cherise Littlejohn-Ross,
Gelah Penn, Debby Perelmuter,
Keturah Pierre, Rick Safran, Bella Zelkin
a beneficiary of
Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies
Child Welfare League of America
Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies
Council on Accreditation of Services
for Families and Children
The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies
©2013 Jewish Child Care Association
BUKHARIAN TEENS CELEBRATE ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY

More than a dozen members of
JCCA’s Bukharian Teen Lounge
enthusiastically participated in
the 65th Israel Day Parade on
Fifth Avenue in New York City.
We Need Your Help.
PLEASE TAKE
OUR Three-MINUTE
SURVEY
We want to get your views
and ideas about Growing Up
and how we can improve it
and serve you better. Please
take our three-minute survey
and return it in the enclosed
envelope by September 30th,
2013. Your feedback will be
very helpful! Thank you.