Friday, February 29, 2008
National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS Taps Fields As New President/CEOFields, a social worker by profession and a former NBLCA commissioner, served two terms in the New York City Council. Upon her election in 1989, she became the first African-American woman to serve in the Council from the Borough of Manhattan. In 1997, she was elected to the first of two four-year terms as Manhattan Borough President becoming the second African-American woman elected to that office since the tenure of the late Constance Baker Motley in the mid-1960s. In 2005, Ms. Fields became the first African-American woman to formally declare her candidacy for Mayor of the City of New York. She currently serves as a member of the faculty of the Silver School of Social Work at New York University.
"Ms. Fields brings a wealth of experience to her new position at the NBLCA,” said the Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Chairman of the Board of the NBLCA and Pastor of New York City's historic Abyssinian Baptist Church. “I applaud this extraordinary public servant for her strong commitment to the mission and work of our organization and the fight against HIV/AIDS."
"I am deeply honored to serve as President/CEO of the NBLCA, an organization that has been a major force in combating HIV/AIDS, other chronic diseases, and widening disparities in healthcare in Black America for over two decades," said Fields. "I look forward to working with the NBLCA's Board and staff to continue to build upon the solid foundation laid by the Commission's Founder and President Emerita, Debra Fraser-Howze. With the alarming increase of HIV/AIDS within the African-American community, our efforts must be expanded through the initiation of a national policy and strategic funding."
A graduate of Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work,Kastel worked at the Boro Park Y since September 1980, first as its program director, later as assistant director, and finally, associate director. She brings with her many years of experience and an understanding and appreciation of the needs of the community. “I am looking forward to the challenge of my new position, to insure the continued service to our friends and neighbors and maintaining the quality service for which the Y is known,” said Kastel. “The Y will be adding many new and exciting programs to its schedule and I invite old friends and new to stop in and become part of them.” The Boro Park Y, established in 1917, serves the Orthodox communities of Boro Park and Flatbush with programs geared towards the needs of the community, such as Club Nissim, a social club for Holocaust survivors, and Sunday activities for children. A beneficiary of UJA-Federation of New York, the Y is often referred to as the “Merkaz D’ Boro Park” both for its location in the heart of the community and the fact that it serves as a focal point. The Y, which is guided by Das Torah, reflects the hashkafa and values of the Orthodox community. Through this partnership, IBM is also researching and developing new software to enhance mouse and keyboard usability for users with limited input abilities and camera technologies to accommodate users with severe motor disabilities. In addition, IBM has provided DDI’s Adult Day Service program with ten state-of-the-art computers, equipment and software needed to run the specialized program. DDI’s Young Autism Program (YAP) has been equipped with several kid-friendly computer stations to support the development of the younger individual’s computer and Internet skills. “We are delighted to be partnering with DDI on our accessibilityWorks initiative. This is a wonderful opportunity for IBM to introduce DDI to a unique new technology running on open software, and to address the individual information access needs of DDI’s students,” stated Pamela Haas, Manager of Corporate Community Relations for IBM. “accessibilityWorks will provide DDI clients with more efficient Web access to vital information, in a specific personal format tailored towards individual needs and preferences,” added Haas. “The children and adults DDI serves are benefiting tremendously from these technologies,” said Dan Rowland, Director of Development for DDI. DDI is a not-for-profit agency headquartered in Smithtown, NY, with more than 30 locations throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Serving nearly 1,000 children and adults with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), DDI is the largest provider of services for individuals with Autism on Long Island. Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Mark Greenberg of the Center for American Progress (CAP) outlined that organization’s “National Strategy to Cut Poverty in Half”. CAP estimates that that persistent childhood poverty costs the nation $500 billion each year, or about 4% of U.S. gross domestic product, through reduced productivity, increased crime and higher health expenditures. The strategy lays out 12 key steps to reduce poverty, including raising and indexing the minimum wage, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits, promoting unionization, guaranteeing child care assistance for low-income families, creating “opportunity” housing vouchers, and more. Closer to home, participants were given an update on the work of Governor Spitzer’s new Economic Security Cabinet, a task force which coordinates the efforts of 23 state agencies. “A great deal has already happened since the Cabinet was established just six months ago,” said Hansell. “We have decided to focus on two key areas, at least initially. How can improve access to and coordination of the various work support benefits that the State offers to low income working people and families? Second, how can we can better integrate the state’s workforce development systems?” Hansell illustrated the value of work support programs – Medicaid, health insurance, food stamps, tax credits, etc. – by looking at a hypothetical case of a mother with two children leaving public assistance for a job at $8.50 per hour, the average wage for a first placement after PA. “She would be making just over $16,000 a year which would put them just below the poverty level,” said Hansell. “But, if you add the full range of benefits that she and her family are probably entitled to, that would bring them up to almost twice the poverty level, a little over $30,000 per year.” Unfortunately, many eligible individuals and families are not accessing these benefits. An estimated 300,000 households are eligible but not applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit. An estimated 52% of eligible families are not receiving food stamps, and 400,000 children and 900,000 adults are eligible but not receiving publicly funded health care. One example of the administration’s efforts to address these problems is the Working Families Food Stamps Initiative which aims to provide food stamps to an additional 100,000 families by the end of this year. Hansell drew an additional round of applause when he reported on a proposal to rename OTDA as the Office of Economic Support and Opportunity. “The things people need from us are not temporary and they are not just for people with disabilities. They are much more than that,” he said. Assemblyman Keith Wright of Harlem pressed the gathering to support an increase in the basic public assistance grant which has not been raised in over 18 years. In New York City, he noted that the grant is just $291 per month for a family of three. Robert Egger, Director of the DC Central Kitchen and author of the book Begging for Change, said that nonprofits needed to look past the day-to-day services they provide for clients and focus on the underlying socioeconomic issue of poverty itself. “Every day, like many of you, I am asked to do more, for more, with less,” said Egger. “Every day I compete with you, my fellow nonprofits, for money. Every day I struggle to get media to report on the broader issues we address. And, like many of you, I see our causes and concerns falling on semi-deaf ears.” Egger urged the symposium attendees to join in creating a larger, nationwide nonprofit movement which can leverage its collective power to fight for systemic changes. He described the work of his new Primary Project which has attempted to seek recognition and commitments from this year’s Presidential Candidate and to visit the new V3 Campaign at V3campaign.org. “Our goal: awaken America to the power and potential of our sector and the vital role we play,” he said. In addition, Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez and Office of Children and Families Services (OCFS) Commissioner Gladys Carrion addressed the Symposium. “We are very grateful to all of those who participated in the symposium,” said NYSCAA CEO Denise Harlow. “There was a tremendous sense of energy and excitement.”
“We have evolved considerably over the past 50 years and felt it was important to have a name and graphic identity that reflects the organization we are today and encompasses our plans for the future,” Rautenberg said. Along with the new name, the organization is using a tagline that describes how Public Health Solutions achieves results: Merging Research and Action. “What dstinguishes us is our approach to serving people who rely on us for community health services and organizations we collaborate with to improve public health,” Rautenberg added. “We conduct rigorous scientific research to understand critical issues and then identify and take appropriate actions to help people lead healthier lives.” The programs of Public Health Solutions will operate under the new name and graphic identity. Its community health programs address critical public health needs such as maternal and child health, nutrition, access to health insurance, HIV prevention and care, and smoking cessation. For government agencies, nonprofit organizations and others, Public Health Solutions provides services that enable them to enhance their effectiveness, strengthen their capacity to have an impact on public health and efficiently manage funds. The organization has changed its Web address to www.healthsolutions.org and adapted its e-mail addresses to correspond. Mailing addresses, phone and fax numbers for all staff remain the same. Tuesday, February 26, 2008 “New York City has always been visionary in melding the old with the new,” said Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs, “and this effort is a hallmark to the inventiveness that defines this administration.” The Park Slope Armory, which opened in 1895, has two distinct parts: a drill floor, which is approximately 50,000-70,000 square feet, and a garrison, which once housed offices. Since the 1980s, an area of the garrison has been used as a 70-bed dormitory for homeless women, which currently is managed by the Church Avenue Merchants Block Association (CAMBA). The size of the old drill floor allows for the renovated facility to be used for a variety of programming purposes as proposed by the YMCA, including adult fitness, a teen center, an after school program and day camp, as well as for other youth and family programs, community meetings and recreation. In addition to track and field, the facility can accommodate youth and adult sports like basketball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, badminton, boxing, fencing, judo, table tennis, tae kwon do, handball, weightlifting, wrestling and aerobics. The YMCA has proposed operating programs year-round, seven days a week, from 7:00AM to 11:00PM each day. “We’re delighted to be able to be a good neighbor to the community,” said DHS Commissioner Robert Hess. “The Armory’s full potential will be utilized, as it will serve the greater community and continue to help the women at the Park Slope Shelter.” The $16 million renovation project was funded by $8 million from the Office of the Mayor, $6 million from the City Council, and $2 million from the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office. “Since 2004 I have been working with the City, Borough President Marty Markowitz and community members to transform this unique but underused space into a stunning neighborhood recreational facility,” said Councilmember Bill de Blasio. “The YMCA, with its firm roots in the community and record of high-quality programming, will help us to realize the longtime goal.” “We look forward to the possibility of extending our YMCA’s programs and services to even more of the Brooklyn community through the Armory,” said Prospect Park YMCA Executive Director Andrews. “The Armory would be a center of community life that reflects the broad and diverse programming of the Prospect Park YMCA, with something for residents of all ages.” “This newly created leadership position commences just as PFP is about to embark on its tenth successful season as a member-supported farm,” notes PFP Board Chair Valerie Lusczek A veteran of the non-profit world, she brings to PFP more than 10 years of experience, most recently as the Director of the US office of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), an international non-profit organization working to overcome rural poverty in Africa and Asia through community organization, institutional linkages and capacity development. “I am very excited about the opportunity to apply my past experiences to collaboratively lead and strategically manage PFP’s programs, which affirm my deep and passionate interests in issues surrounding food and farming,” added Grove. Grove helped manage one CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and started another in the Brooklyn neighborhoods where she resided, and served as an advocate for changes to federal farm policy. Grove earned her Master’s degree in Economic and Political Development from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she focused on rural development. In addition, “programs reported that they improved the quality and capacity of their program staff by hiring staff members with varied experiences and qualifications and by staff participation in internal and external professional development opportunities,” said the report. “We are pleased that this independent evaluation validates the success of OST,” said Jeanne B. Mullgrav, Commissioner of the Department for Youth and Community Development (DYCD) which administers the program. “This year’s evaluation identified significant improvements in program operations and strong evidence of high-quality services across our portfolio of OST programs. We will continue to use these evaluations to strengthen and improve the programs.” In Year 2, the evaluation identified a core set of program quality features that were associated with high levels of program participation and with positive The evaluation was funded through a five-year grant from The Wallace Foundation which focuses on OST system building. For a copy of the full evaluation, go to www.nyc.gov/dycd. Thursday, February 21, 2008 Ruthinoski holds a M.P.S. in Gerontology from Long Island University Southampton Campus and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maryland. Since 1993, he has served in administrative positions in skilled nursing facilities, including the Riverhead Care Center and East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where his responsibilities included budgeting, marketing, community development and labor management. Ruthinoski also belongs to several professional organizations, including the American College of Health Care Administrators, NYS Health Facilities Association and the Inter-County Health Facilities Association. Under Project Full Enrollment, ACS will transition from the current reimbursement system for ACS-funded child care centers which makes payments according to the center’s contractual capacity to a method which pays only for enrolled children. (For additional information on Project Full Enrollment, see our article in the upcoming March issue of NYNP.) The members of the new ACS Project Full Enrollment Task Force are: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 “The Housing Partnership is thrilled to have Carver Federal Savings make this commitment of funds to CPDC.,” said Chief Financial Officer Beth Berns. “This greatly increases the level of funding available to small developers of affordable workforce homeownership housing at a time when the cost of land, materials and environmental clean-up is increasing so dramatically." The below-market interest rate line of credit from Carver Federal Savings and CPDC loans are made possible through New Market Tax Credit federal requirements. The federal program promotes investment in low-income communities by allowing participants, in this case, Carver Federal Savings Bank, to make qualified equity investments in CPDC, an organization whose primary focus is serving the needs of the community and is certified by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the U.S Treasury. CPDC, in turn, loans funds to qualified active low-income community businesses that focus on assisting low-income communities. “As CPDC’s first Executive Director it gives me great joy, 20 years later, to work with this unique organization again,” said Deborah C. Wright, Chairman & CEO of Carver Federal Savings Bank. “The need for pre-development, patient capital and land acquisition loans to affordable housing developers, in particular, small minority and women-owned developers remains a critical priority for those who believe in the participation of local people in revitalization of their communities.” Thursday, February 14, 2008 Otto brings a broad array of experiences to the organization. Most recently, she worked as an executive assistant to the City Manager of Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to that, she worked as a Capital Campaign Assistant for Manhattan College during the university’s successful Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign.
“This new Web site will be a dynamic venue for youth who are making the transition from foster care to adulthood as they face serious challenges in navigating a very complicated world on their own,” said Children’s Services Commissioner John B. Mattingly. New Yorkers For Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the needs of youth in foster care, initiated the creation of the site with an preliminary grant of $45,000 and has committed to continue to fund editorial work, training, and maintenance of the site as it grows in scope and reach. Youth Communication, a not-for-profit community organization giving voice to young people in New York City, particularly those in foster care, will maintain the site and provide editorial content. “The Web site, the first of its kind, will serve as an indispensable resource for youth who are aging out of foster care, as well as for the staff who serve them, by providing information on education, health clinics, employment, housing and other supportive services in the New York metropolitan area,” said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Founder and President of the Board of New Yorkers For Children. “Youth Communication is very excited to have worked with Children’s Services and New Yorkers For Children to help teens make a successful transition to adult life,” said Keith Hefner, Executive Director of Youth Communication. “I'm especially pleased that many of the teens in our foster care writing program have contributed stories to the Web site.” The new Web site will also offer resources to the staff who assist these young people, and help the youth to identify other adult mentors. Among the features on the Web site are: Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap grant applicants must identify a common geographic area within which they will affect change; partnerships at the state, county, or city level are welcome to apply. Applicants are asked to demonstrate success and assess their level of readiness on two key strategies: building awareness of the treatment gap among stakeholders, and the implementation of effective strategies for increasing insurance coverage, increasing government appropriations, and/or improving the efficiency and effectiveness of treatment available. A minimum of six grants will be awarded in this call for proposals. Completed proposals are due to OSI no later than April 11, 2008. A copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) outlining eligibility criteria, key dates, and submission requirements is available at www.treatmentgap.org.
“We are thrilled to have been selected for this prestigious honor which recognizes the positive impact our programs and services make in the lives of our community’s diverse elderly population and especially for the at-risk vulnerable elders of the Upper West Side,” said Charles F. Richter, President of the One Stop’s Board of Directors. Wednesday, February 13, 2008 “Alberta’s career has focused on collaboration, creating partnerships and coalition building at the national level,” said Disabilities Network Board Chair Paul Feurstein. “She formed the National Aging and Vision Network and carried out a seven year project, the National Agenda on Vision and Aging involving 141 professionals and consumers from across the country. She is also an effective advocate and lobbyist for issues at the forefront of the disability arena.” Orr has served as adjunct faculty with Hunter College since 1994 and offers distance education courses in rehabilitation at Florida State University and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She is known nationally and internationally for her five books and nearly 30 articles and book chapters and presentations related to aging, vision loss and rehabilitation. She has served as a two-time delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. She represents North America on the Committee on the Elderly of the World Blind Union. Orr will take on her new position on February 25th. MoneyUP is a joint initiative of United Way of New York City and The Financial Clinic, made possible with major support from JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. The Financial Clinic is a nonprofit financial development organization that assists working poor families caught in the wage gap – those "too rich" for public assistance but "too poor" to be self-sufficient – achieve financial stability by providing legal support and financial coaching. Because its services are free, the Clinic relies on volunteers from the community to be trained as volunteer financial coaches and tax preparers. “MoneyUP is the latest example of how the modern United Way applies innovation to dramatically enhance the economic well-being of New Yorkers,” said President and CEO Gordon Campbell, “In this case, MoneyUP will be providing clients with one-on-one financial coaches. For a full year, they will help with credit and debt issues and assist clients in obtaining bank accounts and working toward financial goals.” “As a major financial services provider in New York and throughout the U.S., Bank of America is committed to supporting the institutions and agencies that are critical to ensuring the overall health and well being of the communities we serve,” said Alan Rappaport, New York president, Bank of America. “We are proud of our longstanding partnership with United Way and share a common vision to bring valuable financial counsel and services through the launch of the MoneyUP program.” MoneyUP free tax preparation and financial coaching are offered at three sites: In Brooklyn, at The Partnership for the Homeless’s Family Resource Center, 100 Pennsylvania Avenue, 2nd Floor (between Atlantic and Liberty Avenues); and at two sites in the Bronx—Bethex Federal Credit Union Main Office, 20 East 179th Street, Lower Level (between Jerome and Walton Avenues) and Bethex Federal Credit Union Mott Haven Branch, 613 East 138th Street. Hours vary by site. Volunteers are also being sought for the program. People interested in volunteering as tax preparers must take and pass a self-guided, online IRS test and a six-hour classroom training that takes place in January and early February. Those interested in being financial coaches must complete a six-hour classroom training that takes place in January and early February. Volunteers will be provided with a $5 stipend per shift to assist with the purchase of breakfast, lunch, dinner or transportation. For information about being trained as a volunteer financial coach or tax preparer, contact Ralph G. Glover (rgglover@thefinancialclinic.org; 212-614-5355). Tuesday, February 12, 2008 "This project is a critical component to Alianza Dominicana's long-standing efforts at continuously reaching out to children, youth and families in the communities we serve," said Moises Perez, Executive Director of Alianza Dominicana. The new six-story project will be built in the form of a triangle similar to the historic Flatiron Building at the intersection of 166th Street and St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues. "The Triangle Building will serve as our new headquarters and will also house the Casa Afro-Quisqueya Cultural Center which will provide critical opportunities for economic development and community enrichment in Northern Manhattan,” said Perez. “We are thankful to all of the support we have received from various entities in making our dream a reality." The facility will support close to 100 Alianza staff members and allow the organization to expand the spectrum of services it provides for the community. A new cultural center will be included at the site and feature a TV studio, performing arts space, and an arts education space. In addition to becoming Alianza Dominicana’s new headquarters, the building also will include offices for Columbia University, www.columbia.edu, and commercial venues such as a bank. IBEX Construction Management is overseeing construction on the project which was designed by Davis Brody Bond Architects. Construction is slated for completion by early 2009. Coro is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the democratic process by preparing youth for public service through its various programs. The funding supports Coro’s capacity- building campaign, including application and infrastructure improvement projects. In addition, New York Life Insurance Company’s Corporate Information Department (CID) is providing technology expertise to assist Coro in adopting more sophisticated technology tools that will improve communication with their constituents. “This generous grant from the New York Life Foundation will help improve the information channels and programming that prepare students for future civic leadership,” said Michael Hirschhorn, Executive Director, Coro. “This grant is uniquely satisfying because not only did New York Life provide the vital funding for this program, it is also volunteering their technical expertise to ensure Coro’s success.” Friday, February 08, 2008 The goal of the campaign, called “30 Days for 30 Nights,” is to raise $300,000, which will help provide shelter for at least 115 young people each night for one month at its midtown Crisis Center. Covenant House New York is the city’s largest nonprofit agency serving homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. In 2007, more than 2,700 homeless young people visited its Crisis Center. There are close to 4,000 homeless youth in Manhattan, according to a recent survey conducted by The Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services; and experts estimate that citywide, there are between 15,000 and 30,000 youth considered homeless. Too old for child welfare and too young for services intended for homeless adults, the number of homeless youth is increasing each year. Covenant House New York’s Crisis Center, established nearly 40 years ago, provides food, shelter, clothing, medical care and counseling nightly to at least 115 youths at a cost of $28,000 each night. Approximately 75 percent of the nonprofit organization’s funding comes from private donations. “It is because of the tremendous commitment of our donors that we can keep our doors open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Bruce Henry, Executive Director of Covenant House New York. According to Henry, the agency has raised and spent over three times as much as the City’s Runaway and Homeless Youth Program. To support the campaign, Covenant House New York is launching a special 30 Days for 30 Nights web page [www.covenanthouseny.org/campaign.asp], which will offer a virtual look behind the doors of the Crisis Center including vignettes about the teens, dedicated staff, facilities and programs. In addition, daily updates on fund raising goals will be provided.
The United Way Financial Stability Partnership™, launched in 2007, was designed to provide working individuals and families in communities across the country with tools to increase their income, build savings, and develop and maintain their assets. A fundamental component of this initiative is to help people obtain free tax preparation assistance and unclaimed tax refunds through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In New York State close to two dozen local United Ways are partnering with local agencies and institutions to provide education, outreach and free tax preparation services in their communities. Last year these efforts resulted in more than 197 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in 31 counties across New York State. They were staffed by 1,800 volunteers who processed over 95,000 returns. This generated more than $144 million in refunds including $67 million in EITC. “United Way of New York State is pleased to partner with Bank of America for the second year in a row to increase the financial literacy and long-term economic independence of individuals and families nationwide,” said Mary A. Shaheen, United Way of NYS Vice President. “The generosity of Bank of America will again help support United Way’s efforts in promoting a critical program that increases financial stability in communities across the country. In New York State this translates into grants to 10 local United Ways to support the education, outreach and free tax preparation services of their local EITC coalitions.” Bank of America funding will support the United Ways of Allegany County, Buffalo and Erie County, Chenango County, Clinton & Essex Counties, Dutchess County (on behalf of the Hudson Valley CASH coalition which also includes United Ways of Orange and Ulster Counties), Franklin County, the Greater Capital Region, Seneca County, the Southern Tier and Tompkins County. Thursday, February 07, 2008 The Concept Paper laid out four primary goals for the Child Welfare System, including protecting children from abuse and neglect, helping families to keep their own children safe, and ensuring that “children who must be removed from their families will leave the child welfare system in a reasonable period of time with caring and committed families”. The Concept Paper emphasizes ACS’ community focus, noting that “the agency has organized much of its own operations along community lines.” In this regard, it will build upon its recent Community Partnership Initiative (CPI) which is developing Community Coalitions -- “holistic, seamless local networks are being developed to offer safety and support that can assist families where they reside” – in 11 local neighborhoods. The Concept Paper outlines ACS’ plans to utilize the upcoming RFP as a vehicle to expand these Community Coalitions on a Citywide basis. “The RFP will encourage applicants for funding from ACS to develop community-based partnerships among preventive agencies, family foster care programs, residential care programs and local communities,” the Concept Paper stated. Foster care and preventive agencies may elect to apply for a contract to become the fiscal management entity for up to one local coalition per borough. The Concept Paper went on to lay out a number of “principles, goals and expectations which will drive design and delivery of all services.” These include: The Concept Paper anticipates that approximately 250 different contracts will be awarded for preventive, family foster care and residential care services, including both standard services for children and families with broad ranges of needs and more specialized services to meet highly specific needs. “We are reviewing the concept paper and gathering comments from our members,” said Jim Purcell, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies.
In December, Taproot announced 15 new grantees who will receive assistance on a variety of areas. The awardees were: To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofits with a mission that fits within one of four categories – education, environment, health and social services – and have its headquarters in New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago and Seattle. The potential grantee must also provide direct benefits primarily or entirely to residents of the foundation's service areas. For information visit the Taproot website at www.taprootfoundation.org.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008 Child care facilities across New York State will be receiving over $1 million to launch and expand school-age child care programs and day care centers. The Child Care Block Grant funds, which are being distributed by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), will go to 49 organizations and create 268 new child care slots. “Child care is a vital component in the early learning system to prepare children for lifelong learning,” said Governor Spitzer. “This funding will ensure that many child care programs are safe, healthy and productive.” “We applaud the Governor for making these critical funds available to child care programs across the state,” said Carol Saginaw, Executive Director of the NYS Child Care Coordinating Council. “New York State is making an important investment in expanding access to quality environments for our youngest learners, said Nancy Kolben, Executive Director of Child Care, Inc. “As a child care resource and referral agency serving the five boroughs of New York City, we know how valuable quality early learning opportunities are for our youngest children and their families.” Local recipients of the grants are: Bronx County Kings County Nassau County Orange County Queens County Rockland County Suffolk County Ulster County Westchester County
“The Phone-A-Thon is one of the many ‘legacies’ that Dave Feldman left behind,” says Club Board Vice President and Phone-A-Thon Chair, Tom O’Brien. Feldman was a former Mount Kisco Village Trustee and Vice President of the Club’s board when he passed away suddenly at the age of 50. “I am proud that we have taken it to new heights and look forward to continuing the tradition and building on our success in the coming years.” “We make calls from 12-3 p.m., “says Executive Director Brian Skanes. The effort reaches out to past donors, friends and members’ families. Over its history, the Super Bowl Phon-a-Thon’s proceeds have grown from $8,000 in year one to this year’s record total. Curtis Instruments of Mount Kisco, whose chair man is Stuart Marshall, a Club Board member, hosted the event in their office space for the fourth consecutive year. “We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Tom O’Brien, Stuart Marwell, and everyone who contributed to the success of this event,” said Skanes.
Nominees must have worked in the area of juvenile justice and child welfare. Nominations should include a narrative describing the individual’s efforts to improve New York’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Supporting materials, such as letters in support or letters of reference, should be sent to Committee on Children and the Law, New York State Bar Association, One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207. The deadline for nominations is February 28, 2008. The 2007 recipients were Sarah H. Ramsey, Professor of Law at Syracuse University and Director of the Family Law and Social Policy Center, and Mishi Faruqee, Director of the Juvenile Justice Project at the Correctional Association of New York. Other past recipients include Justice Spain and Prof. Sobie, Hon. Joseph M. Lauria (New York City Family Court), Hon. Sharon S. Townsend (Erie County Supreme Court), the Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Jr., NYS Court of Appeals, the Hon. Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge, NYS Court of Appeals, and Matilda Cuomo, former First Lady of New York State. Tuesday, February 05, 2008 “President has proposed an irresponsible budget that prioritizes permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans over critical resources for health care, housing, education, infrastructure and public safety, among other essential needs,” said New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer. “The President’s budget would provide more tax cuts heavily skewed to the most well-off while cutting vital services for low- and moderate-income Americans, generating large deficits, and increasing the strain on states already confronting budget problems as a result of the economic downturn,” wrote analysts at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. “The budget reflects misguided priorities that would leave the American people more vulnerable in a number of ways.” The President’s proposal would cut domestic programs and entitlements by $23 billion in 2009 and $474 billion over five years, according to the CBPP analysis. These cuts would be offset however, by the tax cuts which would cost more than $900 billion over five years — and an additional $1.5 trillion in the five years after that, for a total cost of $2.4 trillion over the next decade. As a result, the budget would enlarge deficits by a total of $547 billion in fiscal years 2008-2013, or $397 billion not counting the economic stimulus package. For 2009, the Administration’s budget would cut funding for domestic discretionary programs outside of homeland security — the part of the budget that funds everything from education to environmental protection to veterans’ health care and Head Start — by $2.4 billion in nominal terms (i.e., before adjusting for inflation) — and by about $15 billion or 4 percent after adjusting for inflation, according the CBPP. These cuts would hit nearly every area of the domestic budget. The CBPP analysis noted the following budgetary impacts: • “In the poverty area, funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) would be cut $570 million or 22 percent, even before adjusting for changes in energy prices. This would require cutting more than 1 million low-income families and elderly people off the program entirely, shrinking the average amount of assistance provided to poor families by 22 percent, or some combination of the two” • “The budget would freeze funding for child care assistance for low-income families for the seventh consecutive year. After adjusting for inflation, child care funding has already fallen by almost 17 percent since 2002. (Between 2002 and 2006, the last year for which data are available, the number of low-income children grew by more than 8 percent.) According to the Administration’s own data, 200,000 fewer children in low-income families would receive federal child care assistance in 2009 than in 2007, under the President’s budget. • “The budget reduces or freezes funding for a number of other low-income assistance programs, as well. For example, because of cuts in the Section 8 housing voucher program, the nation’s largest low-income rental assistance program, at least 100,000 fewer low-income households would receive voucher assistance.” • “While the budget would expand some education programs, it would cut others, and its total funding for K-12 education is less than is needed simply to keep pace with inflation.” • “In addition, the budget would cut federal Medicaid expenditures by $18.2 billion over five years (with $17.4 billion in reductions from legislative changes and another $800 million from regulatory changes). These “savings” would primarily be achieved not by lowering health care costs, but rather by shifting costs to the states.” Selected through a competitive application process, 57 cultural organizations will partner with more than 150 senior centers in neighborhoods across the five boroughs to provide a variety of hands-on programs, such as jewelry design, storytelling, circus arts, horticulture, blues cabaret, creative writing, intergenerational theatre, and cinema. As an example, Pregones Theatre, dedicated to performance of original musical theater and plays rooted in Latino cultures, will partner with six Bronx-based centers, including the Melrose Mott-Haven Senior Center. Pregones teaching artists will conduct interactive workshops focused on poetry recital, storytelling, and choreographed movement, culminating in a performance exchange to offer seniors the experience of performance on a professional stage. Seniors will also attend Pregones Theatre Mainstage musical performances. “The Department is committed to developing opportunities for older New Yorkers to enjoy creative exploration as part of vital and healthy aging,” said Commissioner Méndez-Santiago of the Department for the Aging (DFTA). “SM(ART)S promotes senior participation in the arts and at the same time helps senior centers throughout the City strengthen their programming and transform themselves into activity hubs where seniors can connect to a rich array of wellness programs.” “We know that creative engagement plays an important role in sustaining quality of life for seniors, and nonprofit cultural organizations have been at the forefront in developing programs that meet their needs,” said Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Kate D. Levin. “Collaboration among community organizations builds healthy neighborhoods, and we are delighted to partner with the City Council to extend the reach of the cultural sector to benefit more New Yorkers than ever before.” The kickoff was hosted by Rubin Museum of Art on Free Seniors Day, which provides free admission, guided gallery tours, film screenings and Shop and Cafe discounts to senior citizens the first Monday of each month. Joining the Commissioners were City Council Members Domenic M. Recchia, Maria del Carmen Arroyo, James Vacca and RMA Co-founder and CEO Donald Rubin.
Boro Park Y Names New Executive Director
- fred_scaglione @ 6:44 am EST
Ellie Kastel has been named executive director of the Boro Park Y in Brooklyn.
The announcement was made by Yossie Handler, Boro Park Y president, and its board of directors.
Developmental Disabilities Institute Recieves IBM accessibilithy/Works Grant
- fred_scaglione @ 6:43 am EST
The Long Island-based Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) received an accessibilityWorks grant from IBM valued at over $60,000 to create increased Web accessibility and usability opportunities for people with disabilities by employing newly developed applications based on Linux software.
DDI was also selected to participate in IBM’s ¡TradúceloAhora! grant program, which utilizes a state-of-the-art translation software (www.traduceloahora.org). This innovative grant program, valued at over $20,000 has provided DDI with software that translates Web sites from English to Spanish and also translates emails bi-directionally (English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English).
- fred_scaglione @ 9:45 am EST
Uniting to fight poverty was the theme for the past two days as representatives from local community action agencies across the state gathered in Albany for the 2nd Annual Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security. Attendees at the event, which was hosted by The New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA), got an update on what is happening in New York State and what needs to be done, both here and throughout the nation.
MHRA Changes Name to Public Health Solutions
- fred_scaglione @ 9:43 am EST
Public Health Solutions is the new name for the organization known since its founding in 1957 as Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, announced President and CEO Ellen Rautenberg today. The organization will begin using its new name and logo immediately and complete its transition to a new identity later this year
- fred_scaglione @ 8:33 am EST
The YMCA of Greater New York has been selected as the finalist to be the service provider for the newly renovated recreation center in the Park Slope Armory. The formerly underutilized armory drill floor has been transformed into a multipurpose athletic and educational center to serve the local Park Slope community. The new facility was unveiled during a ribbon cutting and open house this morning.
Grove Named First ED at Poughkeepsie Farm Project
- fred_scaglione @ 8:32 am EST
Susan Grove has been named the first ever Executive Director of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project (PFP), a non-profit organization dedicated to building a just and sustainable food system in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
OST Increased Enrollment and Participation in Year Two
- fred_scaglione @ 8:30 am EST
New York City’s Out of School Time (OST) initiative increased both enrollment and participation rates during its second year of programming, according to an independent evaluation. “Programs called up enrollment to serve more than 69,000 youth throughout New York City,” reported Policy Studies Associates, Inc. in its second annual evaluation of the OST effort. “Rates of individual youth participation also increased substantially compared to Year 1, indicating that programs were successfully
recruiting and retaining participants.”
social and academic outcomes. At this point, the most important such features appear to be the following:
• Youth have opportunities to interact with their peers.
• Youth interact with and develop positive relationships with staff.
• Youth are exposed to new and engaging experiences.
• Youth have the opportunity to participate in both summer and school-year programming.
• Programs offer a variety of both academic enrichment and nonacademic activities, including arts, recreation, and civic engagement.
• Programs staffing patterns include younger staff members supported by more experienced staff;
• Program directors and staff participate regularly in professional development;
• Programs communicate with schools regularly about student learning objectives.
• Programs reach out to engage families through a parent liaison and/or special events for parents.
- fred_scaglione @ 7:33 am EST
Kenneth W. Ruthinoski is joining Dominican Village as CEO, replacing Sister Helen Butler, OP, the organization’s recently retired founder. Dominican Village is a non-sectarian, not-for-profit, Independent and Assisted Living Retirement Community, with Respite Care in Amityville.
ACS Names Task Force for Project Full Enrollment
- fred_scaglione @ 7:31 am EST
New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services has announced the membership of a task force which is being formed to provide guidance on policies for implementing its new Project Full Enrollment initiative.
• Andrea Anthony, Executive Director, Day Care Council of New York;
• Robin Bernstein, President and Chief Executive Officer, Educational Alliance;
• Gordon Campbell, President and CEO, United Way of New York City;
• Jorge Saenz DeViteri, Bronx Community College Child Development Center;
• Leonard Fennell, Executive Director, Helen Owen Carey Child Development Center;
• Fatima Goldman, Executive Director, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA);
• Robert Gutheil, Executive Director, Episcopal Mission Society;
• Jennifer March-Joly, Executive Director, Citizens Committee for Children;
• Ernest Logan, President, Council of Supervisors and Administrators;
• Jennifer Marino Rojas, Deputy Director, Children’s Defense Fund-New York;
• Michael Zisser, Executive Director, University Settlement Society.
- fred_scaglione @ 9:26 am EST
The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has awarded $7.2 million grants to nine agencies in New York City and Long Island to help refugees adapt to their new home in New York. The funding is part of nearly $12 million being awarded across New York State.
“Most refugees enter the U.S. with few resources and face many obstacles to becoming self-sufficient,” said OTDA Commissioner David A. Hansell. “These funds can make the transition easier for families by helping them gain employment more quickly, with the goal of becoming economically independent.”
The agencies are receiving funding from OTDA’s Refugee Social Services Program (RSSP). RSSP provides job preparation and job placement services to refugees or other eligible persons during the first five years after they arrive in the United States, or from the date that their eligible immigration status is granted. Services are also provided following job placement to ensure continued employment, and to enhance opportunities for advancement. Services include job coaching, resume preparation, English as a second language, personal budgeting and financial management, and supportive services for employers, including mediation and acculturation.
“New York has a long history of embracing those from other countries coming here to start a new life,” Commissioner Hansell said. “These programs build on that history and are designed to help refugees move closer to realizing the American dream.”
In the past five years, about 13,000 refugees and other persons in similar circumstance have arrived in New York State.
The following agencies are receiving funds through RSSP:
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Hicksville, $310,092
• Shorefront YM-YWHA of Brighton-Manhattan Beach, Inc., Brooklyn, $727,290
• Federation Employment & Guidance (d/b/a FEGS Health & Human Services), Manhattan, $793,800
• Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc., Queens, $919,941
• New York Association for New Americans, Inc., Manhattan, $1,082,457
• International Rescue Committee, Inc.,Manhattan, $1,022,868
• CAMBA, Inc., Brooklyn, $761,622
• Chinatown Manpower Project, Inc., Manhattan, $827,850
• Edith & Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, Inc., Brooklyn,$803,250
Housing Partnership Receives $2 million from Carver Federal Savings
- fred_scaglione @ 9:24 am EST
The Housing Partnership Development Corporation, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit producers of affordable housing, announced today that it has obtained a $2 million below-market interest rate line of credit from Carver Federal Savings Bank. The line of credit was provided, in turn, to the Housing Partnership’s affiliate, Community Partnership Development Corporation (CPDC), a not-for-profit lender that supports the financing needs of affordable homeownership housing developers in New York City.
- fred_scaglione @ 9:49 am EST
The Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation (KRVCDC) has named Pamela Otto as its new Executive Director. KRVCDC is the premier community development organization in the Greater Kingsbridge area. Through cooperative, citizen-driven participation, the organization’s mission focuses on stimulating economic activity and ensuring that the neighborhood’s housing stock meets the needs of its residents.
New Website Serves Youth Leaving Foster Care
- fred_scaglione @ 9:48 am EST
A new website dedicated to the needs of youth who are transitioning out of foster care has been launched by New York City’s Administation for Children’s Services, New Yorkers for Children and Youth Communications. The site,www.youthcomm.org/pyayouth, is the first of its kind and will serve as a significant resource for these young men and women, helping them to make a successful transition to adult life. Young people will have the unique opportunity to contribute their own stories to the site, allowing youth to communicate with and learn from each other.
• Comprehensive legal information, which includes specifics on family court, the rights of youth in care, the juvenile justice system, and relations with police;
• Special educational resources, including information about Educational Training Vouchers and resources to help teens and staff get the maximum benefit from special education;
• Information on the Youth Financial Empowerment program, including how to access this program, which helps youth in foster care manage their money and promotes financial literacy.
OSI Seeks Proposals for Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap
- fred_scaglione @ 9:43 am EST
The Open Society Institute (OSI) is seeking proposals for its Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap initiative. This groundbreaking $10 million program is designed to give greater access to high-quality treatment for drug and alcohol addiction for all who need it.
“More than 22.5 million Americans suffer from substance abuse or dependence according to a recent national survey,” said Victor A. Capoccia, Ph.D., Director, Initiative on Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap. “Four out of the five Americans who need help are unable to get addiction treatment, either due to lack of health insurance, inadequate insurance, or lack of addiction treatment in their communities”
One Stop Senior Services Honored for Innovation
- fred_scaglione @ 9:42 am EST
One Stop Senior Services (One Stop) has been recognized for Innovation and Quality in Multicultural Aging by the American Society on Aging. One Stop was one of only three recipients to receive the 2008 NOMA Award for Excellence in Multicultural Aging sponsored by the AARP Foundation.
The award will be presented at Aging in America, the 2008 Annual Conference of the National Council on Aging and The American Society on Aging in Washington, DC from March 27 – 30, 2008. One Stop’s Executive Director, Ruth-Ellen Simmonds, and Director of Programs, Carmen Escobar, will accept.
Since 1981, One Stop has provided nearly 50,000 vulnerable, isolated, and underserved elderly New Yorkers with essential social services.
- fred_scaglione @ 9:07 am EST
Alberta L. Orr has been selected to be the new Executive Director of the Disabilities Network. Orr has nearly 30 years of experience in aging and disabilities, primarily in the vision rehabilitation field -- most recently during 20 years at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) where she worked with individuals with multiple disabilities. Prior to her work at AFB, she served as the Executive Director of the East Bronx Council on Aging, where she doubled the agency budget in two years.
UWNYC Launches MoneyUp in Bronx & East New York
- fred_scaglione @ 9:06 am EST
United Way of New York City has announced the launch of a new initiative to help low-income New Yorkers in the South Bronx and in East New York build savings and increase their assets. Effective immediately, clients at program sites who come in for free income tax preparation and help with applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) will be offered the services of MoneyUP financial coaches and legal counseling related to their finances – at no cost. The aim of MoneyUP is to guide participants through the process of achieving their financial goals by gaining access to mainstream banking, paying down debt and building savings.
- fred_scaglione @ 7:12 am EST
Alianza Dominica broke ground Friday on a 48,000 square-foot building in Washington Heights which will serve as the agency’s new home.
Coro Recieves $326,000 Grant from New York Life Foundation
- fred_scaglione @ 7:10 am EST
Coro New York Leadership has received a three-year, $326,010 grant from the New York Life Foundation to support the development of civic leadership programs for New York City youth and adults.
“We are proud to fund an organization that trains young people to develop their civic leadership skills, which can effect big change in our communities,” said Christine Park, President of the New York Life Foundation.
- fred_scaglione @ 7:00 am EST
Covenant House New York has launched a first-of-its-kind philanthropy campaign aimed at giving homeless youth shelter from the streets of New York during the coldest month of the year. The fundraiser began on February 6th and will run through March 6th.
United Way of NYS Receives BOA Grant to Promote EITC
- fred_scaglione @ 6:59 am EST
United Way of New York State (UWNYS) has received a $30,000 donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to support an asset building strategy to help low- and moderate-income individuals achieve financial stability. This grant is part of a national partnership between United Way of America and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation that will provide $2 million in grants across the country.
- fred_scaglione @ 8:45 am EST
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has taken its first steps towards the development of new contracts with nonprofit organizations for over $650 million in annual child welfare services. A long anticipated “Child Welfare Services with Community Coalitions Concept Paper” outlining ACS’s thoughts and priorities to be embodied in an upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued yesterday. Copies of the concept paper may be downloaded from the “Business Opportunities” section of the ACS website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/acs. Comments are due by 3:00 p.m. on March 24th.
Contracts emerging from the RFP will be in three major areas of service: preventive services, family foster care and residential care.
• Providing more timely and effective services through restructured roles and responsibilities for ACS and its providers.
• Developing a more comprehensive array of effective preventive services to further reduce the number of children who are separated from their families by placement into foster care.
• Strengthening and broadening the array of support services for family foster care and kinship foster care to enable more children to be placed in and remain in a family environment, and reduce and better target use of residential care for children. In support of this goal, several new program models are being introduced through the new RFP, including Rapid Intervention Teams and Treatment Family Foster Care.
• Transforming the use of residential care to a family-centered, short-term, treatment focused service.
• Offering flexible funding to contracted providers, within the limits of state and federal law and city policies, to spend in ways that they believe will best achieve the goals of the RFP.
• Monitoring and evaluation of providers based on the results they achieve for families and children, while also ensuring that service delivery follows all relevant state, federal, and local requirements.
ACS anticipates releasing the RFP by March 31st, holding a pre-proposal conference four weeks later and seeking proposals eight weeks after that. It is anticipated that contractors will be selected by December 1, 2008. Contracts are expected to have an initial three-year term with an option to renew for two additional three year terms.
Taproot Foundation Seeks Applicants for Service Grants
- fred_scaglione @ 8:43 am EST
The Taproot Foundation is seeking applications for “Service Grants” – high quality, pro bono consulting services – in the areas of Marketing, Information Technology, Human Resources and Strategy Management. The submission deadline is March 3rd.
“We leverage the skills and talents of business professionals to provide organizations with the tools necessary to maximize the impact of their critical services,” says Chanelle N. Carver, East Coast Program Associate at Taproot. Since 2001, Taproot has provided $30 million in pro bono services to 765 nonprofits, which serve more than 20 million Americans in need.
• Career Gear – Annual Report
• City Year New York – Performance Management
• Creative Arts Team – Key Messages & Brand Strategy
• Emily N. Carey Harbor School – Key Messages & Brand Strategy
• inMotion, Inc. – Performance Management
• Literacy, Inc. – Annual Report
• Odyssey House, Inc. – Advanced Website
• Pro Bono Net – Key Messages & Brand Strategy
• Replications – Key Messages & Brand Strategy
• Staten Island Academy – Key Messages & Brand Strategy
• Student Sponsor Partners – Advanced Website
• Teachers & Writers Collaborative – Donor Database
• The Bronx Defenders – Donor Database
• The NiteStar Program – Brochure
• The Renaissance Charter School – Advanced Website
- fred_scaglione @ 7:39 am EST
Child Care Providers Receive $1 Million for Expansion
Phipps Community Development Corp. $34,450
Kreative Kare Family Day Care, Inc. $15,000
United Community Day Care Center, Inc. $50,000
Yeshivath Kehilath Yakov, Inc. $195,000
Port Washington Children’s Center $44,000
Catholic Charities Community $14,754
82nd Street Academics $15,000
Christine Ayers d/b/a There is no Place $14,985
Like Home
The Nurturing Center, Inc. $15,000
Nyack’s Little Schoolhouse/Daycare, Inc. $1,294
The Community Programs Center of $15,000
Long Island, Inc.
Suffolk Community College Association, $4,388
Inc.
Wolf’s Daycare Center $50,000
A Kid’s Place $7,500
Family & Community Services, Inc $133,000
Sisters of St. John the Baptist $15,000
Super Bowl Fundraiser Scores Big for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester
- fred_scaglione @ 7:33 am EST
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Westchester racked up points and significant donations on Sunday with their Thirteenth Annual Super Bowl Phone-A-Thon. The event raised more than $60,000 for the Club’s scholarship program, a new record.
Bar Association Seeks Nominees For Juvenile Justice/Child Welfare Award
- fred_scaglione @ 7:32 am EST
The New York State Bar Association is seeking nominations for the 2008 Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare. The award is sponsored by the Association’s Committee on Children and the Law and recognizes individuals who have done outstanding work to improve New York’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
- fred_scaglione @ 7:53 am EST
President Bush offered the final federal budget proposal yesterday -- $3.1 trillion for FY2009 – and drew criticism for his priorities from a broad range of human service advocates and local officials.
City Initiative Links Arts and Senior Centers
- fred_scaglione @ 7:51 am EST
New York City has launched a new $1 million initiative – SM(ARTS): Seniors Meet the Arts – to bring cultural organizations and senior centers together.
Pal-O-Mine to Help Victims of Prostitution
- fred_scaglione @ 7:50 am EST
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc., a therapeutic horseback riding program, has received a grant from The Long Island Fund for Women & Girls to provide a 10 week Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program for 10 young women between the ages of 12 and 21 who have been affected by prostitution. The $5,000 grant will provide EAP is an intense and effective short-term program that uses therapeutic horses, a licensed professional and a horse professional to help patients with emotional growth and learning.
Pal-O-Mine will provide EAP to this particular population for the first time this Spring, and will team up with a social worker who specializes in assisting young women affected by prostitution in order to prevent re-victimization. “We are looking forward to working with these young women and would love to be able to continue to provide EAP for women affected by prostitution after this spring’s program,” said Caroline Thompson, Special Events Coordinator and Equine Specialist at Pal-O-Mine. ”It is because of such generous organizations and members of our community that Pal-O-Mine is able to run successfully and we are so grateful.”