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Press Releases Contact: MercyFirst is Sanctuary Certified
In December 2009, Mercy First was evaluated by members of the Sanctuary Institute for successful implementation of the Sanctuary Model. This evaluation was conducted over three days and included interviews, program observations and document review. Certification is contingent upon the agency’s ability to adhere to the standards described in the Sanctuary Implementation Standards Manual. “Achieving Sanctuary Certification is a historic moment for MercyFirst. The three year process of becoming Sanctuary Certified was a great example of the entire MercyFirst community coming together with the common goal of improving the quality of services and care provided for the children and families we serve”, Howard Traub, Sanctuary Model Coordinator. The Sanctuary Institute is a trauma-informed training organizational development program offered by Dr. Sandra L. Bloom and the Andrus Children's Center to teach organizations how to adopt the Sanctuary Model as a trauma-informed approach to intervention and treatment. The mission of Sanctuary is to teach individuals and organizations the necessary skills for creating and sustaining nonviolent lives and nonviolent systems. Headquartered in Syosset, NY, MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1894. MercyFirst provides an integrated continuum of care for over 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families at nearly 20 sites throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. MercyFirst’s range of programs include Family Support and After-School Programs, Foster Homes and Adoption Services, Community Group Homes, Campus-based Residential Treatment and Medical and Mental Health Services, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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Contact: Service Dogs Go To School
Headquartered in Syosset, NY, MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1894. MercyFirst provides an integrated continuum of care for over 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families at nearly 20 sites throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. MercyFirst’s range of programs include Family Support and After-School Programs, Foster Homes and Adoption Services, Community Group Homes, Campus-based Residential Treatment and Medical and Mental Health Services, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
# Back # Contact: Kids Helping Kids
Headquartered in Syosset, NY, MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1894. MercyFirst provides an integrated continuum of care for over 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families at nearly 20 sites throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. MercyFirst’s range of programs include Family Support and After-School Programs, Foster Homes and Adoption Services, Community Group Homes, Campus-based Residential Treatment and Medical and Mental Health Services, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
# Back # Contact: MercyFirst Residents Train Dogs for Military Veterans
The graduation, which was held for the dogs and their new owners, took place in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The teens worked very hard to train these dogs with various skills that would help the Veterans. These specially trained dogs pick up dropped objects, open and close doors, pull wheelchairs, interrupt nightmares and flashbacks, remind to take medications, and reduce anxiety and stress, at the same time providing unconditional love and comfort. Thanks to the dedication of the students, the Military Veterans now have very skilled and loving companions. Headquartered in Syosset, NY, MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that provides an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse.
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MercyFirst Annual Harvest Ball Raises Over $275,000
Anthony and Gina Core are residents of Syosset. Mr. Core is the senior member of Anthony E. Core, P.C.; a law firm based in Westbury, New York. He is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of several of Long Island’s largest recycling and waste management firms. Mr. Core is also active in his community as a coach for youth football and lacrosse. Gina Core began her professional career at Saint Francis Hospital in Port Washington, New York. During her 10-year tenure at Saint Francis, she became the Assistant Head Nurse of the cardiac surgical unit. Following her service to Saint Francis Hospital, Gina devoted all of her time and efforts to her family and the education, development and well- being of their three children. Anthony and Gina Core have been good friends to the children of MercyFirst and are strong supporters of the mission. Headquartered in Syosset, NY, MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that provides an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse.
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Cesar Millan “Dog Whisperer”
meets MercyFirst Service Dog Trainer
Wesley and Angel are part of the ECADemy training program at MercyFirst. East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD) partnered with MercyFirst to provide the at-risk youth residing on the Syosset Campus with the opportunity to train service dogs that will be placed with people with disabilities. ECADemy teaches the youth about the love and discipline that dog training requires and shows them that they can help others who are even less fortunate. ECADemy allows the youth to perform a community service by helping people with disabilities to become more independent. Headquartered in Syosset, NY, MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that provides an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse. MercyFirst serves more than 4,000 children and their families at over 20 locations in New York City and throughout Long Island. Founded as sister orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, Angel Guardian Home in Brooklyn and St. Mary’s of the Angels Home in Syosset, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse.
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MercyFirst Raises Over $90,000
During the Annual Summer Golf Outing with help from Riley
Headquartered in Syosset, NY, MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that provides an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse. The Annual Summer Golf Outing supports MercyFirst’s range of programs, which include family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community homes and campus-based residential treatment programs, medical and mental-health care, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized skills development and workforce preparation experiences designed to help our adolescents learn to be self-sufficient. MercyFirst serves more than 4,000 children and their families at over 20 locations in New York City and throughout Long Island. Founded as sister orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, Angel Guardian Home in Brooklyn and St. Mary’s of the Angels Home in Syosset, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse.
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MercyFirst Reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA)
Gerard McCaffery, CEO of MercyFirst, said: “This accomplishment is a confirmation of all the hard work our staff does every day on behalf of children and families in need and an affirmation of our commitment to providing the highest quality of services.” COA reaccreditation is an objective and reliable verification that provides confidence and support to an organization’s service recipients, board members, staff and community partners. The COA reaccreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of both an organization’s administrative operations and its service delivery practices. All are “measured” against national standards of best practice. These standards emphasize services that are accessible, appropriate, culturally responsive, evidence based, and outcomes-oriented. In addition, they confirm that the services are provided by a skilled and supported workforce and that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. MercyFirst serves more than 4,000 children and their families at over 20 locations in New York City and throughout Long Island. Founded as sister orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, Angel Guardian Home in Brooklyn and St. Mary’s of the Angels Home in Syosset, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse.
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“Read All About It”
This Library will consist of books that were selected by the MercyFirst residents and their English teachers. In addition, Verizon purchased bookshelves and other needed supplies to keep the Library operating at its highest potential. Verizon employee, Mary Ruane was instrumental in coordinating this entire effort to make sure these young men will have the necessary tools to broaden their education and reinforce the importance of reading. MercyFirst serves more than 4,000 children and their families at over 20 locations in New York City and throughout Long Island. Founded as sister orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, Angel Guardian Home in Brooklyn and St. Mary’s of the Angels Home in Syosset, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care for children in need, from birth through adolescence, including children who have been abused and neglected; youth with serious emotional problems; teenagers and young adults who are without family; and families coping with the stress and pressures of poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, and substance abuse. The Telecom Pioneers of America are the world’s largest industry-related volunteer organization, founded in 1911, built on values of service, fellowship and loyalty. We have grown to over 830,000 active and retired members and volunteer over thirty million hours per year. Verizon Telecom Pioneers is a culmination of talent that includes reading, singing, painting, construction, feeding and caring for the elderly or disabled in such locations as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabs, shelters for domestic violence just to name a few. Our interest in the environment encompasses bringing awareness to school children with our “Save the Earth Day-Tree Seedling Project”, park and road cleanup, and “Adopt a Mile and Park”. We sponsor the “Coalition to Domestic Violence”, “Special Needs Children Parties, Dialysis Camp, and many Veteran’s functions, i.e.; Vets Bingo, soup kitchens, decoration of military graves at Pinelawn and Calverton National Cemeteries. We are dedicated to “Answering the call of those in need”. MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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MercyFirst Recieves $15,000 for Bridges to the Future Program
“We hope our support will make a real difference,” says Madelin Boyd, President of the NYMEX Foundation, which was founded nearly 20 years ago with the dream to make life a little brighter for children in need. “We believe that organizations such as MercyFirst play a significant role in sustaining vibrant and thriving communities,” explains Edward Blaskey of TD Bank. “We are pleased to support MercyFirst’s ongoing community based efforts and extend our very best wishes for continued success.” Since its founding in 2002, the TD Bank Charitable Foundation has contributed nearly $42 million to not-for-profit organizations. MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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January is National Mentor Appreciation Month
For over a decade MercyFirst’s Mentoring Program has been providing young people in need with stable adult relationships. Studies indicated that youth who meet regularly with mentors are: Individuals, corporations and organizations who want to make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents can become mentors. MercyFirst has mentoring opportunities available throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. For more information on Mentoring opportunities, please call Natasha Wollaston -Stewart, Esq., LMSW, Coordinator of Mentor and Volunteer Services at 516.873.9191, ext. 148. MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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Community Keeps Holidays Bright for MercyFirst
MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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Gang Prevention Specialist Assists Long Island Professionals
President Alyse Cardello explains, “LIFY is a consortium of private not for profit organizations, in the private and public agencies committed to meeting the needs of Long Island families and children who are at risk. LI professionals have increasing concerns about our youth and the effect the gang involvement can have on them. Many of our children are witnessing their peers swept into a life of violence and chaos. “ LIFY and NY OCFS organized this opportunity for professionals to learn intervention strategies from an expert in the field of youth violence. Ron “Cook” Barrett is a NYS Gang prevention expert from Albany NY, who stresses a proactive approach to intervention with youth. He is a national speaker on youth violence and coordinates extensive after-school and weekend programming for at risk youth in Albany. For any further information about LIFY please call Alyse Cardello 516 697 2294. To reach Ron Barrett check out http://www.nysgangprevention.com. MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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Annual Harvest Ball Raises Over $150,000
Jonathan Brand is Vice President for Credit Risk Management at Banco Popular North America. His wealth of experience in the banking industry spans three decades, during which he has held senior positions at various institutions, including Fleet National Bank, Sterling National Bank, Bank Leumi Trust Co., and Chase Manhattan Bank. Mr. Brand is also very active in the community and with his synagogue. He has been a good friend to the children of MercyFirst and is a strong supporter of the mission. He has also been active in MercyFirst’s fund-raising activities, including the annual Golf Outings. MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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RTS Foundation Donates $125,000 to
MercyFirst’s Bridges to the Future Program
“The RTS Family Foundation is pleased to continue its support of the work of MercyFirst,” say Trustees S. Mary McGrory and S. Pat Hartigan. “Their programs for children, families and teens are much needed.” “We appreciate the support we have received over the years from the RTS Foundation,” explains MercyFirst CEO Gerard McCaffery. “In addition to the care and support that goes on everyday in our programs, our Bridges to the Future Program provides a range of youth development services to help prepare teens for when they leave our care. This area is a priority of the agency as we seek to strengthen how we provide our youth with the skills and training they need to secure jobs that can support them, scholarship assistance to attend college, and financial help to live independently in the community. We are grateful to have the RTS Foundation’s support in this effort.” MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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Building on the Dreams of Her Father and Mother: Sharing Tennis With
Under-Privileged Youth
This is exactly the type of reaction Kevin and Coleen had been hoping for when they started partnering with MercyFirst in June. The partnership came about when MercyFirst Board Member and Cold Spring Valley Member, John Koehler began talking to Kevin about the boys living on the Campus just around the corner. “We’re very fortunate that we are a family-owned, family-run club. It gives us the flexibility to open our courts up to these young men and expose them to a new sport,” explains Kevin, whose brother-in-law Daniel Dunn shares club responsibilities with Coleen and him. Not only is the club family-run and operated, Daniel Dunn was responsible for the club’s design and literally built the club with his own two hands, with the help of the rest of the family. In addition to learning basic tennis skills, the boys run laps and learn about court maintenance and tennis etiquette. The program has been such a success that there are plans to try to expand it to include boys and girls from MercyFirst’s other programs, including its after- school programs. Cold Spring Valley Tennis Club, which straddles land in Woodbury and Huntington, was founded in 1980 by well-known tennis pro John H. Dunn. He began his career at Hempstead Lake State Park where he set up clinics, used his innovative style to teach lessons, and ran the Long Island Open Tennis Tournament. Mr. Dunn’s legacy shines through in the success of his students, some of whom played in the US Open and in Wimbledon, and hundreds of whom received tennis college scholarships. Mr. Dunn also founded the Hempstead Lake Indoor Tennis Club and resides in the Woodbury Tennis House of the former Henry Rogers Winthrop Estate in Woodbury, NY. MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human service agency that serves more than 4,000 traumatized and neglected children, teenagers and their families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded as two orphanages in 1894 by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst today offers an integrated continuum of care through its network of service locations in New York City and on Long Island. Its continuum of care includes family support and after-school programs, foster homes and adoption services, community-based residential programs, medical and mental-health services, and campus-based residential treatment programs, as well as the innovative Bridges to the Future, a range of specialized support services offering skills training and hands-on work experience help our teen and young adult clients learn to be self-sufficient.
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