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June 2018 Newsletter

 

Joan Crawford, Deputy Executive Director

The Science of Hope
by Joan Crawford, Deputy Executive Director, Family Services
On May 31st more than seventy people gathered in the Lateef Islam Auditorium at the Family Partnership Center. The audience was comprised of community members, parents, social workers, medical professionals, advocates, and scholars. We joined together for a film screening of James Redford’s film, Resilience: The Biology Of Toxic Stress And The Science Of Hope. I had the privilege of being the Master of Ceremony for this joint venture between the Resilient Child Fund and Family Services. The screening was followed by a compelling panel discussion with issue area experts from a variety of fields (including our own Amy Cole, Director of Family Support Services).
Resilience is a documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and a new movement to treat and prevent toxic stress. ACE’s are stressful or traumatic events, including abuse and neglect. They also include witnessing domestic violence or growing up with family members who have substance use disorders, behavioral health problems or incarceration. ACEs are strongly related to the development and prevalence of a wide range of health problems throughout a person’s lifespan. Research has demonstrated a strong relationship between ACEs, substance use disorders, behavioral problems, and physical disease. When children are exposed to chronic stressful events, their brain development can be disrupted. As a result, the child’s cognitive functioning or ability to cope with negative or disruptive emotions may be impaired. Over time, and often during adolescence, the child may adopt negative coping mechanisms, such as substance use or self-harm. Eventually, these unhealthy coping mechanisms contribute to disease, disability, and social problems, as well as premature mortality. This is not mere speculation. There is irrefutable science that traces these changes and correlations.
  
As noted in the film by Dr. Robert Anda, the good news is, “what is predictable is preventable!” Having adverse childhood experiences does not mean all hope is lost. It means that we need early identification of ACEs, and early intervention to ameliorate negative impact. Family Services will continue to play a key role in the Hudson Valley to educate others about the impact of ACEs and design and advocate for programs and services to address the public health crisis caused by childhood adversity. The film highlights successful interventions including, home visiting programs to strengthen families, co-location of medical providers and behavioral health providers, and engaging school personnel. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact me at: JCrawford@familyservicesny.org

Recent Events

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Left to Right: DC Legislator Rebecca Edwards, DC Legislator Craig Brendli, DC Legislator Randy Johnson, SNUG Committee Member Jocelyn Smith-Lee, SNUG Committee Chairperson Herb Bullock, SNUG Program Coordinator Danny Hairston, SNUG Committee Member Joe Fields, SNUG Outreach Supervisor Curtiz Luck Simpson, SNUG Outreach Worker Antuone Babb, Antuone’s Son Elijah Babb, DC Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson

Program Spotlight

Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE)
Family Services’ Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program, in collaboration with the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department is working with children and parents in our community to prevent gun violence and gang involvement. GIVE utilizes the evidence based Phoenix Curriculum, a proven motivational interviewing (MI), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) model that reduces resistance, builds student participation, and guides the process of change for increased self-efficacy.
On June 2nd, the GIVE program hosted a “Wear Orange” event featuring food, fun and education in the Family Partnership Center’s Gymnasium. 50 community members from Poughkeepsie, Beacon and Wappingers Falls joined Family Services in wearing orange to raise awareness about gun violence. Why orange? Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 – just one week after performing at President Obama’s 2nd inaugural parade in 2013. After her death, Hadiya’s friends encouraged our nation to stand up, speak out, and wear orange to raise awareness about gun violence. Since then, orange has been the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement.
For more information about the GIVE program, please contact Youth Services Coordinator Jessica Wallach at jwallach@familyservicesny.org.
Upper Left: Jessica Wallach-Youth Services Coordinator, Alexiss Dandrade-Cancel-GIVE Specialist; 
Bottom Left: Alexiss and youth from Beacon; Right: Daisy Lee-Krieger Afters School Program Site Supervisor, Alysia Green-Youth Services Program Assistant, youth from Poughkeepsie

By the Numbers
Gun Violence Rates Drop in the City of Poughkeepsie

The City of Poughkeepsie has seen a significant decrease in
 incidents of gun violence:
In 2016 there were 16 incidents of gun violence;
In 2017 there were 6 incidents of gun violence;
and in 2018 so far there have been 2 incidents of gun violence.

The SNUG Program has played a significant part in this remarkable trend.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE!

Staff/Volunteer/Interns

May Employee Achievement Award
Kate Guinan, Development Assistant
The Employee Achievement Award is an award that is given to a
Family Services employee who demonstrates exceptional performance and service and goes “above and beyond” his/her job description and exemplifies the mission and values of the agency. 


Left to Right: Loule Gebremedhin-HR Manager, Kate Guinan-Development Assistant, Jean Calyer-Executive Assistant & Development Associate, Brian Doyle-CEO

 


Upcoming Events

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Leadership Partner

Family Services’ 2018
Leadership Partner
http://www.healthquest.org/


Leadership Team

Brian Doyle
Chief Executive Officer
bdoyle@familyservicesny.org

Joan Crawford
Deputy Executive Director
jcrawford@familyservicesny.org

Natalie Borquist
Chief Financial Officer
nborquist@familyservicesny.org

Leah Feldman
Director of Center for Victim Safety and Support
lfeldman@familyservicesny.org

Christopher Pels
Director of Human Resources and Risk Management
cpels@familyservicesny.org

Whitney Humphrey
Director of Development
whumphrey@familyservicesny.org

Martina Kardol
Director of Forensic Programs
mkardol@familyservicesny.org

Amy Cole
Director of Family Support Services
acole@familyservicesny.org

Kevin Hazucha
President of Hudson Valley Mental Health
Mark Sasvary
Director of Clinical Services for Hudson Valley Mental Health
Dr. Yugandhar Munnangi
Medical Director for Hudson Valley Mental Health
Casey Hons
Director of Operations for Hudson Valley Mental Health

Our Partners at the Family Partnership Center

Community Voices Heard
www.cvhaction.org

Dutchess County Behavioral & Community Health
www.dutchessNY.gov

Dutchess Community College
www.sunydutchess.edu

Dutchess County Healthy Families
www.healthyfamiliesnewyork.org

Dutchess Outreach
www.dutchessoutreach.org

Flores Chiropractic Group NY
845-303-3486

Hudson River Community Health Care
www.hrhcare.org

Hudson River Housing
www.hudsonriverhousing.org

Hudson Valley Mental Health
www.hvmh.org

John Flowers Community Events
845-471-4199

Mental Health America-Mel’s Place
www.mhadc.com

Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson
734-548-0171

Planned Parenthood
www.ppmhv.org

Prime Health Choice
1-877-777-4630

R.E.A.L. Skills Network, Inc.
www.realskillsnetwork.com

Rebuilding Our Children and Community
845-857-9265

Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library
845-452-6088 ext. 3343

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