Neighborhood Center Inc

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGH WHICH PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT THROUGH INFORMATIONAL, CULTURAL, INSPIRATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, NATIONALITY OR CREED. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY TIES, ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY, PROVIDE SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL ENRICHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY COOPERATING WITH OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES AND GROUPS IN ALL LAWFUL ACTS WHICH MAY BE NECESSARY, USEFUL, SUITABLE, DESIRABLE OR PROPER FOR THE FURTHERANCE, ACCOMPLISHMENT OR ATTAINMENT OF ANY OR ALL PURPOSES OF THE CENTER. THEY ALSO AIM TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN DAYCARE FACILITIES WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE NYS OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND OWN, LEASE, ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN ONE OR MORE OUTPATIENT FACILITIES FOR THE MENTALLY DISABLED AS DEFINED IN THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW.

DAY CARE - THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE INFANT-TODDLER, PRE-SCHOOL, AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE. AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WE TRULY OFFER MUCH MORE THAN JUST OUTSTANDING CHILD CARE- WE OFFER MEMORIES, HOPE, SKILLS, AND BECOME A PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO GIVE CHILDREN THE SOLID FOUNDATION SO CRITICAL IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD. IN KEEPING WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL -SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY WE HAVE INTRODUCED THE "CREATIVE CURRICULUM" THEREBY ENHANCING AND ENRICHING THE ACADEMIC, SOCIALIZATION, AND RECREATIONAL COMPONENTS IN OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE INCORPORATED A SPECIALIZED APPROACH CALLED "RHYME TIME" THAT INTEGRATES READING, MUSIC, STORYTELLING, SONG AND DANCE ACTIVITIES TO ENRICH AND STIMULATE READING AND LANGUAGE SKILLS. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IN USING THESE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND CUTTING EDGE MODELS CHILDREN WILL BE BETTER PREPARED AND MORE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. IN 2022 OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAM SERVED 412 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE DAY CARE REGISTRATION PROGRAM REGISTERS ADULTS THROUGHOUT ONEIDA COUNTY WHO WISH TO PROVIDE CARE TO SMALL GROUPS OF CHILDREN IN A HOME SETTING. THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT THE HOME SETTINGS CONTINUE TO MEET STATE STANDARDS BY MONITORING THE PROGRAMS YEARLY. IN TOTAL FOR 2022, THERE WERE 75 FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES THROUGHOUT ONEIDA COUNTY.

USDA - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEALS SERVED IN DAYCARE HOMES. THE PROGRAM ALSO MONITORS THE NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS OF MEALS AND SNACKS SERVED IN PRIVATE DAY CARE SETTINGS. IN 2022, 75 HOMES WERE MONITORED AND SERVED. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FREE MEALS AND SNACKS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ATTENDING ITS OWN DAY CARE CLASSES.

GROUP WORK - AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN OUR ARSENAL OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IS THE GROUP WORK DEPARTMENT. GROUP WORK IS A COLLECTION OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING TRANSITIONAL LIFE SKILLS, PROJECT AIM, OUTREACH AND PREVENTION, PINS REDUCTION & ELIMINATION, UTICA/ROME CHILDREN'S CENTERS, AND OPERATION SUNSHINE. COLLECTIVELY THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 13,000 INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN 2022. GROUP WORK CAN BE APTLY DESCRIBED AS THE "SAFETY NET' PROGRAM OF OUR AGENCY IN THAT IT IS A GENERAL "HELPING" SERVICE THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN THE VARIOUS AND INDIVIDUALIZED STRUGGLES THAT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. GROUP WORK IS NOT CONSTRAINED BY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, INCOME ELIGIBILITIES, OR AGE REQUIREMENTS.

MENTAL HEALTH - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND CONSISTS OF SEVERAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO EFFECTIVELY PREVENT AND TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS AND CRISIS SITUATIONS. THE CHILD AND FAMILY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS OPERATE OUT OF UTICA AND ROME. IN 2022, OVER 2,800 CLIENTS WERE SERVED IN THE UTICA AND ROME CLINICS. THE HEALTH HOME MODEL OF CARE MANAGEMENT PROMOTES AND IMPROVES THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE POPULATION SERVED. THIS MODEL ENSURES MEDICAL CONSUMERS WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND/OR LONG TERM CARE NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER. DURING 2022, UTICA/ROME CARE MANAGEMENT SERVED 1,056 INDIVIDUALS. ADULT RECOVERY SERVICES PROVIDES SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, INCREASE WELLNESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS, AND PROVIDE SOCIALIZATION, PEER SUPPORT, AND ASSISTIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR ADULTS DIAGNOSED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. THIS PROGRAM OPERATES IN UTICA AND ROME AND SERVED 421 INDIVIDUALS IN 2022. MOBILE CRISIS ASSESSMENT TEAM IS A 7 DAY/24 HOUR BASIS PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENSURE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO CRISIS SITUATIONS TO PREVENT ESCALATION, ASSURE SAFETY, AND PROVIDE LINKAGES TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO PREVENT CRISIS REOCURRANCE. THE PROGRAM IS TOTALLY MOBILE AND IT PROVIDES COMMUNITY CENTERED SERVICES IN ONEIDA, HERKIMER, CHENANGO, DELEWARE, OTSEGO AND SCHOHARIE COUNTIES. DURING 2022, 19,643 MCAT SERVICES WERE DOCUMENTED. THE FAMILY TIES PROGRAM PROVIDES HOME-BASED, FAMILY FOCUSED, CHILD FRIENDLY, STRENGTH BASED SHORT TERM INTENSIVE COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 18 AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE HERKIMER COUNTY. IN 2022, SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 46 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.