Dr. Ruth Gerson, our Senior Vice President for Mental Health Services, was recently featured in an article focusing on the heightened need for mental health support for young people. A new Columbia University study reports that in 2020, nearly one in five Americans between the ages of 12 and 25 were affected by depression.
“What we saw for a long time leading up to the pandemic and subsequently since is an increase in kids ending up in emergency rooms for mental health concerns because they don’t have anywhere else to go,” she says.
https://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Ruth_Gerson_25619-scaled-e1606158301235.jpg500400Elefant Designhttps://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/nyf-logo-wp.pngElefant Design2022-09-19 12:34:172022-09-22 10:08:03Gothamist: Depression was on the rise among young people before COVID-19 pandemic
Our annual Friends and Family BBQ, hosted by our Developmental Disabilities Division, is a summer highlight for those living in our residences and attending our day and community habilitation programs. The people we support look forward to the opportunity to come together and connect with friends and family, while enjoying food, games, music, and more.
While the event was on hiatus due to the pandemic, it returned this year in full force! Last month, the event took place at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, NY. Around 1,110 attendees came out for a joy-filled day!
In addition to barbeque food, dishes such as chicken and mac and cheese were served
Attendees, their families, and Foundling staff members enjoyed a variety of food – burgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, chicken sandwiches, fish, cornbread, and more – and had the opportunity to dance to music provided by a DJ. Other activities included balloon making, face painting, corn hole, and flag football.
As a testament to the presence The Foundling has in the community, two Assembly Members were also in attendance – Amy Paulin and Thomas Abinanti – and had the opportunity to meet the people in our programs!
And amidst all the fun, it was also a bittersweet time for our Foundling staff.
Jill Gentile and Assemblymember Thomas Abinanti speak to Foundling staff
It was the last BBQ for Jill Gentile, Senior Vice President of our Developmental Disabilities Division, who will be retiring this fall. Her retirement was celebrated at the event, from custom t-shirts to a moving speech by our Board Chair Bob King honoring her leadership over the past 9 years.
At The Foundling, we are committed to ensuring that each person in our care is able to live their best lives. For those with developmental disabilities, this is what that looks like – providing a supportive space to connect with peers, maintain and bolster family relationships, participate in meaningful activities, and feel appreciated and valued. We look forward to an even bigger and better BBQ event next year!
View more photos from the event below:
Thank you to Grassy Sprain Pharmacy for sponsoring the 2022 Annual Friends and Family BBQ.
For the New York Mets’ September 2 game at Citi Field, pitcher Taijuan Walker partnered with The New York Foundling for his Tai’s Taco Truck initiative, where he gave out free tacos and solicited donations on behalf of The Foundling.
At The Foundling, we believe that anyone – regardless of age, circumstance, or location – has the potential to make a difference in the world.
Lucy Musler, a 14 year old student from Issaquah, Washington, is a shining example of this. This past spring, she was assigned a school project in her 8th grade Language Arts class – prompted by the book “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton – to create a plan to help those who lack support systems within their communities. The project resonated deeply with Lucy, and she created a detailed plan to raise money to donate supplies to children in foster care. While her teacher did not expect Lucy to execute her plan, Lucy was determined to see it through. Lucy created a GoFundMe, shared her story, and set a goal of $400. Ultimately, she far exceeded her goal, raising a staggering $3000, which she donated to The Foundling and other organizations that support children in foster care and preventative services.
Lucy and her family are overjoyed by the success of the campaign, and grateful for the generosity that has come out of this project. She recently visited New York City for the first time on a family vacation, allowing Lucy to feel a deeper connection to her fundraising work. As she prepares to enter high school this fall, she looks forward to using her compassion and motivation to help others in the future.
We did a short interview with Lucy – read more about her experience and connection to The Foundling below!
For your school project, you created a plan to help kids in foster care, and then you made it happen! Why is this cause important to you?
I’m lucky to have a happy family and a roof over my head, but I’m a teenager; a lot of the foster kids I read about are my age. It could easily be my friends or my classmates. That’s what makes this important to me.
After you decided you wanted to support foster youth, what next? What were your steps for starting this fundraiser and reaching out for support?
My initial aim was a fundraiser held inside of my school, so I pitched my ideas to the school fundraising committee. When that turned out to be a dead end, I decided to take the project to the internet. From there, I selected the organizations, formulated a budget, and set up the GoFundMe.
What advice would you give to someone else trying to fundraise for a cause they care about?
Cliché, but my advice would be to not give up. I felt pretty stuck after my first plan failed, but if I’d quit then, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I have.
You recently found out you have a family connection to The Foundling. Did you know that when you first decided to start this fundraiser? Did learning about your family history change your perspective?
My Gruncle (great uncle) Tom told me that my great, great grandpa was cared for by The Foundling after I had already chosen it as one of my organizations, and I found it to be a pretty beautiful coincidence. I hope my donation to The Foundling can also be a thank you for creating my family, as well as many others.
Have you been involved in community service in the past, or is this the first time you’ve done a project to help others? Would you do other things like this in the future – and if so, do you have any ideas of what you’d like to try next?
I haven’t been involved in community service in the past, but I plan to in the future. I’m a strong writer, so I’ve thought about doing some essays. However I do it, though, I definitely want to use my skills and privileges to help others. Making an impact in the world is important to me.
Is there anything else that you would like people to know about you or this project?
I just want to shout out Ms. Kwok, the teacher who assigned this project and made it all possible. She’s a great teacher and a truly kind person.
Inspired by Lucy’s story? You too can support the children, adults, and families in our programs:
Peer to Peer (P2P) fundraising allows passionate individuals to raise money on behalf of an organization through personalized giving pages that they share with peers – friends, family, coworkers, and other contacts.
There are many reasons to create a P2P fundraising page, including:
Birthdays – instead of presents, have friends/family donate to a cause close to your heart
In Memorium – honor the memory of a loved one with a fundraiser for their favorite charity
Personal Goals – utilize P2P fundraising as a personal incentive to help you achieve fitness goals or other aspirations, while making a difference in the lives of others
General Support – maximize your impact in the community, by leveraging your social networks to do good
Join other fundraisers on The Foundling’s dedicated P2P platform– JustGiving – by clicking ‘Fundraise for Us.’
For questions or additional information on P2P fundraising for The Foundling, reach out to Laura Wright at Partners@NYFoundling.org or 212-886-4087.
https://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Lucy-4-scaled-e1661355556567.jpg11251500Elefant Designhttps://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/nyf-logo-wp.pngElefant Design2022-08-24 11:02:062022-08-24 11:43:01A School Project with Heart: How Lucy Made a Difference
On November 6, Team Foundling will take to the streets for the TCS New York City Marathon! The world’s largest marathon and a source of inspiration to runners worldwide, the race will include over 50,000 athletes who will complete a 26.2-mile route through all five boroughs of New York City.
This year marks our largest team of runners yet – and while they come from different backgrounds and have different athletic aspirations, they all share a commitment to not only reach their personal race goals, but to raise money for the children, adults, and families in our Foundling community as well.
Ryan has only been running for four years, but in this time, he has participated in the 2018 Detroit Marathon, as well as the Brooklyn, NYC, Disney, and Portland Half Marathons. He loves the runner community, especially around big races, and how supportive everyone is when you are training and participating in an event. For the NYC Marathon, he’d ideally like to break the 4 hour barrier.
It’s his first time running with a charity partner, and he’s excited for the opportunity. Not only is he looking forward to the comraderies and shared commitment that comes with running with a team, but he’s passionate about The Foundling’s work. As he shares, “The Foundling is such an incredible institution for kids in New York City. As a former NYC public school teacher, I am thankful for any organization that works to provide underserved youth with opportunities to embrace life and grow into the best people they can be. And The Foundling is exactly that kind of organization.”
Eric has completed 4 marathons in the past (including the NYC Marathon), and is excited to run for The Foundling this year! He enjoys running in lower Manhattan and Central Park, and particularly cherishes how the sport provides him with the opportunity to think without distractions.
As a foster parent with The Foundling, he shares a personal connection to our mission, and is excited to support our work!
Jeffrey’s been an avid runner for 15 years, and has completed two marathons and five half marathons. Most recently, Jeffrey was a member of Team Foundling for the 2022 United Airlines Half!
He is eager to run for The Foundling once again, as he cares about children and supports investing in their present and future.
Timothy’s been a runner for 18 years, and most recently ran with us for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon earlier this year! His favorite places to run are across NYC and on the beach, and he particularly enjoys the sense of accomplishment that running gives him.
Timothy comes to Team Foundling through a deep understanding and passion for our mission. He is a foster parent with us, and was drawn to create a safe, loving environment and life for children who need a supportive home. Timothy is excited to combine his interest in running with his dedication to helping our Foundling community.
Emerson will be running her very first marathon as part of Team Foundling! She’s been a runner off and on since high school, and has completed in five half marathons in the past. Her favorite song to run to is Higher Love by Whitney Houston, and her favorite places to run are Prospect Park and Central Park.
She is particularly passionate about The Foundling’s Haven Academy and our Haven Kids Rock performing arts program. “I believe in the transformational power of the arts and Haven Kids Rock is a wonderful example of that,” she shares.
Running “can provide a mental and physical escape, and is one thing that’s completely powered by you,” says Jacqueline. She’s been a casual runner for the past 10 years, and has completed a few 5k runs, but this is her first marathon! She’s excited to soak up the energy of the city, and to finish the race.
Jacqueline’s excited to raise money for The Foundling, and has a personal connection to foster care and adoption. “I believe strongly that having an advocate for you can completely change the course of your life,” she says. “My mother was someone who was adopted at age 13 and suffered through a difficult home environment. She ultimately was set on a better path thanks to someone who was able to advocate and give her access to resources like the ones that The Foundling provides.”
Amanda has been a runner for her entire life, and is excited to finish the NYC Marathon! She enjoys running in forests and parks, to Beyonce, Drake, and Brockhampton’s music.
Running for The Foundling is just one more way she’s deepening her connection to The Foundling – she also serves on our Junior Board, was a Camp Counselor at Camp Felix, and volunteers regularly for the organization. “My work with The Foundling is what inspired me to become a teacher, and to teach in a high need, urban environment,” she says.
CL is a beginning runner who hopes to complete the NYC Marathon this year! She enjoys running because you need nothing but an open road, and enjoys running along the West Side Highway.
CL was formerly on The Foundling’s Junior Board, and is drawn to our organization’s deep history and wide scope of programs.
David is excited to join Team Foundling and complete the marathon in under 3:45. He enjoys running along NYC’s waterfronts, as well as in neighborhoods that he’s unfamiliar with. Running allows him to clear his head – he often doesn’t listen to music, and running gives him time to think.
David is excited to be on Team Foundling – he loves that the organization provides holistic support to families and young people, from counseling to housing to education and so much more!
Cecile has been a runner for 7 years, and has completed the virtual Boston Marathon, the Philadelphia Marathon, and the Marine Corp Marathon. For the NYC Marathon, she hopes to finish in under 5:30-6:00. She enjoys running in Cape Cod and Central Park, and likes that it provides a chance to zone out and clear her head.
Her connection to The Foundling comes through family – her daughter Taylor previously worked for The Foundling as an Education Specialist!
In an article in the latest edition of Social Work Today, Shannon Ghramm-Smith, our Senior Vice President of our Child Welfare & Behavioral Health Division, draws on her experience at The Foundling to discuss the benefits and challenges of integrated care. This is where medical and behavioral health providers collaborate to provide holistic, wrap-around services. “Having interrelated services easily accessible in one location or being able to do warm handoffs to a care team member from the same agency allows the client to focus more on what they need—and on building a relationship with the provider—instead of focusing on finding the services they need, referral forms, eligibility, and scheduling,” she says.
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In this op-ed published in MedPage Today, Mel Schneiderman, PhD and Amy Baker, PhD – both of The Foundling’s Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection – discuss the mental health care crisis that is impacting young people nationwide, and how family stress (intensified by the pressures of COVID-19) is a major contributing factor. They argue that psychological maltreatment can be decreased by educating families and providing parenting support.
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In a press release from The American Foundation of Savoy Orders (Savoy Foundation), the foundation shared that they recently granted $150,000 for The Foundling’s Camp Felix.
https://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220718_151200-Resized-2.jpg12951727Elefant Designhttps://www.nyfoundling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/nyf-logo-wp.pngElefant Design2022-07-20 16:51:282022-07-20 16:55:02Savoy Foundation Grants $150,000 to The New York Foundling Summer Camp Program for Inner-City Foster Care Children
Last month, The Foundling achieved a three-year Quality Assurances Accreditation (QAA) from the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) – the culmination of a months-long process that included on-site assessments, interviews with staff, families, and participants, focus groups, and detailed analysis of our services for people with developmental disabilities. CQL accredits programs on several factors – including the ways in which participants are given dignity and respect, how families and other support networks are integrated into services, and how participants are best supported in achieving their personal goals.
The CQL accreditation measures a rigorous standard of care – of the more than 600 providers of developmental disabilities services in New York State, only 7% have achieved CQL accreditation and only 2% of the 208 New York City providers are CQL accredited. We are proud to join these ranks, and to have had the opportunity to share our strengths – including our person-centered approach and deeply held commitment to ensuring that each person we support can reach their full potential.
In preparation for our accreditation, our entire Developmental Disabilities Division came together, taking this opportunity to highlight our programs and identify great stories to share. We’re excited to showcase the journeys of some of these amazing Foundling participants, as they truly represent our values and commitment to helping those in our community work toward strength, stability, and independence.
Michel: Highlighting How We Support People in Exercising their Rights and Personal Goals
As a transgender woman with developmental disabilities, Michel spent decades of her life struggling to access gender-affirming care. When she came to live in one of The Foundling’s supportive residences, she was given the support and resources to exercise her rights to transition and live as her true self.
David: Demonstrating The Foundling’s Role in Maintaining Participant Health
With the help of The Foundling’s Nutrition Team – which focuses on the health of our residents – David learned to manage his medication, eat nutritious meals, and take his health into his own hands. With these new skills, he has become more physically fit and independent.
Chshone: Showcasing our Values of Dignity and Respect
Chshone, a resident in one of our supportive homes, has learned to exercise his voice through advocacy. With the support of Foundling staff, he is an avid speaker at conferences held by Self Advocacy Association of New York (SANY), a network founded and led by people with developmental disabilities.
Thanks to this assessment, we’re positioned to improve our services and programs even further. We look forward to continuing this journey – and to serving the community.
Want to learn more? Read more success stories from our Developmental Disabilities programs:
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On local television channel BronxNet’s Bronx Social Justice and Anti-Violence Forums, LaTasha Fermin-Williams, who leads our Juvenile and Criminal Justice programs, sat down with host Daren Jaime to discuss our use of evidence-based models to divert youth and adults from the juvenile and criminal justice systems and how we work to support families toward independence. Daren noted that “the impact [The Foundling] is making in youth and families’ lives is critical.”
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