On-Site Counseling and Personal Growth Groups

September 2014

Dear Parents:

Welcome to the 2014-15 school year! We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as the Scarsdale Community Youth Services Project.The Youth Services Project (YSP) is a partnership of Scarsdale Schools, Scarsdale Village and Scarsdale § Edgemont Family Counseling Service (SFCS).The project places a team of Youth Outreach Workers in the community as a helping resource for young people and their families.Youth Outreach Workers collaborate with school, police, and community groups to provide a safety net for youth.

Since 1984, Youth Outreach Workers have been providing social and emotional support to teens and their families.Justine Carino, LMHC, Jenna Horowitz, LMSW and Emily Vallario, LCSW staff the YSP middle school team. Youth OutreachWorkers maintain offices in the Scarsdale Middle School and are also available after-school or by appointment at the offices of SFCS.

The Youth Services Project offers many exciting and unique programs for parents and teens. Programs include:

On-Site Counseling and Personal Growth Groups

Individual and groups sessionsare available to all middle school students.

Sessions are designed to provide a comfortable environment for teens to discuss relevant issues such as peer pressure, coping skills, self-image, and substance use.

Young Women in Leadership

Now in its 12th year, YWIL is a ten-session support group for girls in the 7th and 8th grades. The program’s primary goal is to help girls navigate the unique challenges of adolescence through interactive experiences and group discussions. Examples of activities include community service projects, field trips and guest speakers. Young Women in Leadership meets on Tuesday afternoons for one hour and is facilitated by Emily Vallario and Butler House Counselor Sima Cass. YWIL is offered in both the Fall and Spring

Young Men in Leadership

Now in its tenth year, YMIL is a ten-session group held on select Friday evenings at Scarsdale Middle School from 7-9 PM.YMIL combines a pizza dinner, with social recreation and interactive activities and group discussions on leadership.Two off site trips are planned for each session. Former Youth Outreach Workers, Tim Nelson and Robert Villanova facilitate the program. YMIL is offered in both the Fall and Spring.

Adventure Based Counseling (ABC) is SFCS’ unique summer

program. A week of day trips provide personal growth through outdoor adventures. Participants are encouraged to challenge themselves to a level at which they feel comfortable. Trips this year included: Great Wolf Lodge, hiking, biking, rock-climbing, kayaking and a Broadway show.

The Youth Service Project also offers servicesand support to parents.Parent Support Groupsare offered to parents with children in grade 5-12. The groups are one hour in length and take place monthly from October to June. Groups are heldin the homes of parent participants or at the offices of SFCS. Both day and evening groups are available. Please contact Lauren Pomerantz, LCSWat f you would like to be placed in a parent group.

In addition to the services offered through the Youth Service Project, SFCS offers individual, family and couple therapy, social skills groups for children, and older adult services. For more information, please contact the offices of SFCS at 723-3281.

We look forward to working with you and your child.All information obtained from students will be treated as confidential, unless issues of safety arise. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.Justine can be reached at 721-2632; Jenna can be reached at 721-2632 and Emily at 721-2642.

If you DO NOTwish your son or daughter to participate in the services offered through the Youth Service Project, please sign and tear off the attachment below and return to Scarsdale § Edgemont Family Counseling Serviceat 14 Harwood Court, Suite 405, Scarsdale, NY 10583.

Please note that there may be occasions when a Youth Outreach Worker needs to reach out to a student however we will follow appropriate guidelines to keep you informed.

By not returning the form below you are authorizing consent for your child to participate in our services.

We welcome you to a new school year and hope it is filled with positive experiences for you and your child.

Kind Regards,

Emily Vallario, LCSW Justine Carino, LMHCJenna Horowitz, LMSW

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IDO NOT wish for my son/daughter to participate in the services offered through the YSP.