OVERCOMING OBSTACLES 2014 annual report AT THE FOREFRONT OF SOCIAL SERVICE Whatever challenges Volunteers of America-Greater New York operates more than 90 social services programs throughout the an individual or five boroughs of New York City, Northern New Jersey, family may face, we Westchester and Long Island. Skilled and dedicated staff and caring volunteers help tens of thousands of help them overcome men, women and children break the dehumanizing obstacles to living cycles of poverty, mental illness, homelessness and safe, healthy and domestic violence. They do so by: productive lives in • Preparing individuals and families who are homeless to secure and retain the community. permanent housing, while attacking the root causes of homelessness We believe that • Helping individuals and families recovering from domestic violence to transition from abusive relationships to safe and independent lives everyone, no matter • Offering veterans a service-rich continuum of care, from homelessness how many times they prevention to permanent supportive housing have fallen, can be • Preparing preschool children with developmental delays for success in kindergarten empowered to regain • Helping adults with intellectual and physical disabilities realize their footing and their full potential make meaningful • Providing a continuum of care for at-risk youth, from temporary, progress. We believe emergency housing to group homes and independent living programs, all with a behavioral health component, to prepare them in them until they for independent adulthood believe in themselves. • Caring for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses • Supporting older adults who wish to age safely at home, rather than in an institutional setting • Supporting individuals with behavioral health and/or substance use issues so they may live safely in supportive housing in the community VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 2 2014 ANNUAL REPORT DEAR FRIENDS, Volunteers of America-Greater New The number of individuals and families in our York is proud of its history of helping communities with special needs is at an all-time high. individuals and families in need Volunteers of America has been the safety net for these overcome obstacles to living safe, vulnerable men, women and children for 119 years healthy and productive lives in the and with your support, we will continue to be there community, no matter how complex for them. For those of you who are donors – thank their circumstances. This year’s you for your support. Your contributions allow us, annual report serves as testimony to for example, to transform a barebones shelter into a temporary “home’ where children feel safe and cared all those clients who face daunting for and adults can regain their self-respect and set a issues – be they temporary or lifelong course toward health. For those of you who are new to – suffer repeated setbacks, and yet, Volunteers of America-Greater New York, welcome, by dint of sheer will and with expert and let this report be our introduction. help from our staff, succeed in turning their lives around. The challenges our clients face stem from a wide range of issues: from intergenerational poverty to persistent mental illness and dysfunctional family situations. Although their circumstances differ, they have this in common – with our skilled and compassionate staff employing proven therapeutic interventions, we can help them regain their footing, and a sense of hope. Whenever possible we offer a continuum of care that includes a comprehensive range of concrete and counseling services so that we can respond no matter where the person’s or family’s needs lie: if at risk of homelessness, we can keep them housed; if already living on the street, we can persuade them to come in, address their underlying issues and help them achieve housing stability. If they are unable to live safely on their own, we can provide permanent, supportive housing. As you will read, the Creston Avenue Residence, one of our newest and most innovative initiatives, does just that. The supportive Gerard Cunningham Tere Pettitt services provided onsite allow the residents to live as independently as possible, as part of the ‘mainstream’ Chairman of the Board President & Chief Executive Officer rather than on the fringes of society. The clients you will meet on the following pages – Ashley, Lilly, Nina and Kyle – are examples of people whose lives we have helped change, in some instances, literally saved. VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 3 2014 ANNUAL REPORT OVERCOMING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE four-month internship with the goal of earning a certificate finding in software management and beginning a new career. STARTING OVER The grueling program was five days “I’m not doing Ashley* remembered New Hope a week, so we worked closely with well. She and her mother had spent Ashley to ensure she kept all of her A STABLE HOME time at the shelter after her mother appointments with her Volunteers this just for fled an abusive relationship. of America case managers and therapists, met every obligation and While it was comforting to return myself — I’m never once doubted her ability to to this safe, caring place, Ashley regain control of her life. doing it for my knew she could not be complacent. She had to break the cycle of Ashley left New Hope at the end of domestic violence that had brought the year, with a full-time job and siblings too.” her back here, now as a 19-year high hopes for her future. Her case old woman. Our staff shared manager still keeps in contact and Ashley’s resolve and worked hand admires her perseverance. Recently, in hand with her, so she could Ashley shared that her younger chart a safe, secure future. siblings and the young women in her community told her “she was Within days of her arrival, we becoming their role model.” She helped Ashley enroll in a GED told us how inspired she was by course to finish her last few high their words. We hope Ashley knows school credits. Once completed, we how much she inspires us. helped her apply to an intensive, *Identity changed for privacy VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 4 2014 ANNUAL REPORT OVERCOMING MENTAL ILLNESS to live successfully outside of the finding hospital setting. Through patient persistence and the consistent application of psychiatric rehabilitation practices and principles, the team was able to assist Lilly in A STABLE HOME managing her fears and regaining control of her life. As she was able “She’s a For more than 30 years, Lilly moved to trust the staff team, she accepted from shelter to boarding home to help to see physicians to address survivor, in the street and back, all the while long-standing medical issues, to struggling to maintain her own see a dentist after decades without safety and find stability. receiving care and to participate in every sense a day treatment program for her Lilly arrived at Theodora House, mental illness. However, support at of the word.” one of our supervised group Theodora House doesn’t end with homes in New Jersey for adults healthcare needs. Lilly now allows That’s how Lilly’s* residence living with mental illness, upon the staff to help her buy new clothes manager describes her, as discharge from a state psychiatric and go to the hairdresser. Most she reflects on how far Lilly hospital. From her first day there, people don’t think much about these has come. Lilly was offered a broad array of everyday activities but, for Lilly, they A lifetime of unmanaged supportive and counseling services are signs of her awakening self- mental illness contributed to a by the staff team. The team was esteem and the beginning of a safe life full of abuse, trauma and determined to get her the physical, and stable life, one that may include chronic homelessness. emotional and psychological her own apartment someday. support she desperately needed *Identity changed for privacy VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 5 2014 ANNUAL REPORT OVERCOMING DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS complete her morning routine and learning to follow simple directions. Nina often rebuilding needed an adult nearby to keep her from running out of the classroom but as time passed, our staff was able to engage Nina for longer periods of time until she was able to COMMUNICATE sit in her chair, independently, and A LIFE focus on the task at hand. “Nina’s teacher Nina* entered her classroom on the first day of school, screaming Once Nina’s behavior no longer and crying. Like many of the posed an obstacle to learning, our told us that she children who attend our Bronx focus changed to helping her build Early Learning Center, one of two her academic skills. Using proven has become schools we operate for children therapeutic teaching approaches, with developmental delays, the our team of teachers and specialists a role model three-year-old was non-verbal and worked closely with Nina, often resorted to problem behaviors in one-to-one, to help the little girl for the other order to get her needs met. When learn. Her skills “have skyrocketed,” Nina’s frustrated parents spoke with in the words of her proud teacher, children.” her teacher, she assured them that and Nina happily takes on any they had come to the right place. challenge that she is given. Today, she is on her way to graduating Nina’s teacher and a team of pre-school and preparing for the all- professionals worked together exciting first day of kindergarten. to help the little girl learn how to communicate using words, *Identity changed for privacy VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA 6 2014 ANNUAL REPORT OVERCOMING ADVERSITY For many, Hurricane Sandy is His case manager, Latesha, rebuilding a distant memory but not for immediately connected him with Kyle Williams.