1182 Chenango Street Binghamton, NY 13901-1696 607-772-6904

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newsletter of the children’s home • 1182 chenango street, binghamton, ny 13901 • 607-772-6904

Ways To Be InvolvedYour gift to the Children’s Home can help make an important difference in the lives of children and families. We accept gifts of cash, stock and charitable trusts. You can include the Children’s Home in your will and estate planning, or make a gift to our endowment. Gifts may be for on-going operating expenses or for a special project.

•Make a bequest to the Children’s Home in your will•Make a gift from assets in your IRA•Make us the beneficiary of your life insurance policy

Please contact your financial planner for specific advice.

Need a service project for your group? Want to host a fundraiser or donation drive? Give us a call at 607-772-6904 ext 2131 or email donations@chowc.org and we would be happy to give you some guidance.

Follow us on Twitter @chowc607

No one has ever become poor by giving. ~ Anne Frank

How to ContaCt us

serving children since 1912news

serving CHildren and Families For over 100 Years www.chowc.org

Summer 2020

CEO’s MessageThank you for taking the time to read our Summer 2020 newsletter. Undoubtedly this has been a year of challenge and change for every one of us. Some have experienced the stress of job loss, dramatic changes in routine, loss of childcare, and the heightened expectation to teach and support children in lieu of in-person school. My sincerest sympathy goes out to those who have lost a loved one during this pandemic. Although no words can ease the sorrow caused by COVID-19, please know that you and your loved ones are in my prayers.  

Recent months and events have led our nation into a deeper conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion in our country. The quest to ensure equity and justice for all people, especially those marginalized in our society resonates with the Children’s Home Mission for over 100 years.

During these times when so many things are uncertain, it is important that we stay committed and close to those people who nurture and engage with us, so we can continue to thrive! Positive therapeutic relationships are the core element of our work in all Children’s Home programs. As one of our supporters, you can be proud of the dedication displayed by our Children’s Home team. Every day our team shows up for work on our campus and in the community to partner with children and families. We practice social distancing, frequent handwashing, wear a face covering, avoid large gatherings, and always bring a smile and positive attitude to work.

We are especially grateful for you! Thank you for the donations of cloth masks, food donations and your continued monetary support. Your ongoing commitment to our Mission sustains and empowers us to honor our past as we confidently move into the future. Thank you for investing in our youth and families! We are proud to call you are friends.

George T. Dermody President/CEO gdermody@chowc.org

Save the dates!

62nd ice cream socialtuesday, august 11, 2020hillcrest campus • 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

holiday tree lighting celebrationthursday, december 3, 2020hillcrest campus • 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . 607-772-6904 800-772-6904

George T . Dermody . . . . . . . . . ext . 2121 President/CeO

Frederick mohrien . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2140 Senior Vice President, Programming

maria Cali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2101 Senior Vice President, education

Phil Strawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2237 Vice President, Finance

Kim Stratton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2139 Vice President, Quality

Kate Carello, LCSW-r . . . . . . . ext . 2242 Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Don Bowersox . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2141 Senior Director of Social Work

margaret Tatich . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2131 Vice President, Community & Donor relations

Daniel Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2216 Vice President, Facilities maintenance

Jennifer Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2183 Vice President, Personnel

Vikki Collazo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ext . 2257 Director of Youth employment/Volunteer engagement

rev . Douglas Clark . . . . . . . . . ext . 2128 Director of Spiritual Life

e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . .info@chowc .orgWeb Site . . . . . . . . . . . .www .chowc .org

All the best,

“Your ongoing commitment to our mission sustains and empowers us to honor our past as we confidentlY move into the future.”

Board of Directorsrhonda mcConnell Board Chair

richard Weeks Vice Chair

Susan Vitanza Treasurer

Patrick Gleason Corporate Secretary

matthew Curry, Ex-Officio

David Gill

Catherine Kacyvenski

Jeffrey Lake

Shirley mattice, Ex-Officio

Lindsay meehan

Heather miller

Sophia resciniti

Derek russell

Santino Stenta

Tonia Thompson

Dalhee Yoon

the children’s home1182 chenango streetbinghamton, ny 13901607-772-6904

Thank YouSPONSORS!

ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, & LAND SURVEYORS

LEVENE GOULDIN& THOMPSON, LLPA T T O R N E Y S A T L A W

E M P I R E S T A T E

CANCELLED

Thank you to all community members, employees, vendors and corporate support who made this possible.

PROGRAM and AGENCY NEWS COMMuNitY iNvOlvEMENt

Jasmine selena

Spiritual Life

Pastor DougDirector of Spiritual Life

Congratulations

Arlene Pierce on your retirement from Food Service!

TCI, Why for Family?“i look forward to seeing how this will help support and strengthen children and families we work with for years to

come.”

—Ken Kolb, tci family trainer

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training program for child and youth care staff presents a crisis prevention and intervention model designed to teach staff how to help children learn constructive ways to handle crisis. The ability of the entire organization to respond effectively to children and young people in crisis situations is critical in establishing not only a safe environment, but also one that promotes growth and development. The skills, knowledge, and professional judgment of staff in responding to crises are critical factors in helping young people learn constructive and adaptive ways to deal with frustration, failure, anger, rejection, hurt, and depression. While TCI is primarily intended for those who care for children and young people living in out-of-home settings or in schools (private and public), it has also been adapted for foster care families. 

TCI for families equips family with skills to handle their kids during the most difficult time, the crisis. This is a strength-based program, devoting much energy to knowing the child, one’s self and setting the child up for success before the crisis begins, by implementing house rules, expectations and TRULY understanding the child’s world view.

The Xander BunnyLavender Comfort Therapy Animalsoft, warmable bunny filled with fresh lavender

flowers and soothing michigan cherry pits.Walk Ministries collaborated with Lavender Life, a company that every time a bunny is purchased, donates a bunny to a child in Foster Care. The Children’s Home was generously given 700 bunnies, which have been dispersed to our youth in Foster Care, youth who have been adopted, youth in our community programs, group homes and to our clinic as kids may need them. We cannot thank this group enough for this incredibly generous donation. Please see just a few ways you have made an impact on those we serve!

“don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.

with thankful hearts, offer up your prayers and requests to god.”

—Jesus’ apostle Paul, bible, Philippians 4:6 (ceV)

This passage jumped out at me early on in our covid quarantine. I had been praying for the children (and staff, too). Mostly my prayers were, “Bless John with patience…” or “Take away Prudence’s anxiety…” or “Give Armando a hopeful spirit…” I felt good that I was meeting the front end of this verse, praying to God for help with ways I worry about each child. But I also noticed I was focusing on the children’s inabilities and wounds. Basicly asking God to fix each kid!

The tail end of this verse called me to begin my prayers with thanks and praise to God in regards to this young person. “O God, thank you for the blessing of Bessie among us, especially how she is so good at caring for the little girls in her dorm…” Focusing first on the ways God has already blessed this child puts the repair list in a different frame. It’s a good exercise for me to identify some way this child blesses me or blesses others. I usually overlook those things!

More than “competence centered” praying, praise of God is blessing in itself. I find I feel better when I’m praising God, than when I’m just mumbling a to-do list.

O God, I thank you for the blessing of each and every staff person. Praise you, because you created each one with unique gifts and abilities for effective care with our children. Thank you for their willingness to learn and grow. Work through each of them yet again. Bless them with your peace. Amen.

trevor l. received his high school diploma and has decided to join the Army.

savannah m. received her high school diploma through Maine-Endwell District. She was recently hired full-time at Choices after completing the Children’s Home

McConnell Supportive Youth Employment Program.

Jasmine n., selena m., and hyacinth h. all received their high school diplomas and will be attending SUNY Broome this Fall.

It’s a Lavender Life!

Sisters Encouraging Each Other in Life’s Next ChapterKaneisha was in foster care for roughly 8 years, moving to the Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP) program from a foster home after graduating from high school.  While in the program she was able to work on her college degree, maintain two jobs, study abroad and had a paid internship at the State Office of Children and Family Services in Syracuse. 

In April of this year Kaneisha turned 21 and moved into her own apartment in the community. She was able to take care of everything in the apartment on her own because of all her hard work.  She now has a car and continues to work and attend SUNY Broome. 

Last month her younger sister, Jasmine, graduated from high school.  We were able to certify Kaneisha’s apartment so that Jasmine can move in with her while being a part of the SILP program.  The two sisters share a great bond and we are very proud of Kaneisha for being such a great role model.  Jasmine will be attending SUNY Broome in the fall just like her big sister did!

Kaneisha and Jasmine, sisters

We Embrace the CARE (Children and

Residential Experiences) PhILOSOPhya framework based on six principles that guide us in our practice to create environments where families and children can feel respected, validated and cared for on their journeys for change.

Developmentally FocuseDAll children have the same basic requirements for growth and development. They learn best when activities are designed to support their innate capacities to grow and develop.

Family involveDInstrumental to successful treatment for youth in our programs. We provide opportunities for the youth and their families to strengthen their relationships as often as possible. While youth are in our care, we focus on building positive therapeutic relationships with them and their families. We have learned that children work best with individuals they trust and who are invested in helping them develop essential life skills.

ecologically orienteDIn order to be successful at developing new competencies, youth must be in environments that are nurturing and caring. As partners with youth and their families, it is important we provide a safe, comforting environment where youth are provided opportunities for participation and contribution so they are willing to try new activities to build on their competencies.

relationship BaseDBuilding positive relationships with families and children creates a foundation leading them to do so in the future. This is an essential life skill that relates to being successful in any situation. The more positive relationships we can build, the more change we will see.

competency centereDThrough building these relationships, we are able to assess the competency level of skills that the youth already possess. From there we design activities that are individually centered on teaching new skills and building confidence.

trauma inFormeDThe decisions we make as to the successful outcomes of youth and families in our program are made knowing that we are working from a trauma informed mindset. Expectations are set to meet the individual needs of the youth to help them build skills and their self-esteem.

Our agency’s organizational culture promotes respect, collaboration, hope, understanding, integrity and caring. It is important that we are able to communicate with all our partners to achieve the best possible outcomes we can for the families and youth for whom we provide services. In order to do that and serve our clients well, it is helpful to have a framework of understanding to reference in order to promote congruency throughout our agency. We adhere to the six principles above.

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