At A Glance...
What's Up at the Smithtown Youth Bureau?
-Your Township's Youth and Community Alliance of Smithtown will be meeting on
November 3rd - Don't miss it...... S
till time to get involved!!!!
(see article below).
-Babysitting/Basic Child Care Skills AND Employment Readiness Skills programs have been scheduled at Middle Schools throughout the Township.
-Parenting skills program, "Parent Study Group" is half-way through the current series.
Held at the Horizons Center in Smithtown.
- Newly launched health & wellness program, "Be Your Best Self" offered for local
Middle School and High School students.
-Research-based Prevention & Intervention group programs; "Reconnecting Youth", "Why Try", "Positive Action" and Children of Substance Abusers provided at local High Schools.
AND
- Our Safe Routes to School program in the Commack school district
has it's new "Mighty Marathoners" fitness program in full swing!
In this issue:
-Register to be a member of the Smithtown Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps!!!
-Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry in need of donations NOW!
-All about our new "Be Your Best Self" health & wellness program (SAMHSA)
-Middle School Employment Readiness - Heavy on those important "Soft Skills."
-Peer Education program for H.S. girls - "The Body Project" (National Eating Disorders Association) now available.
-Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown updates - Successful Brainstorming Meeting.
General Membership Meeting, November 3rd, Smithown Library Main Branch - 4:00PM - 5:30PM.
-Program Highlight of the Month - "Anger Management"
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Safe Routes to School program update - Biking/Road Safety & Promoting Physical Activity
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National Family Volunteer Day - What is your family doing?
-
Staff Corner - Butter.....Just like the pilgrims made!
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Smithtown Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps....
Needs YOU!
The Smithtown Youth Bureau will now be maintaining a formal
Volunteer Program Database for our corps of volunteers. If you would like to be included in this database, complete and return the attached application. PLEASE be sure to include details of any previous volunteer activity with the Smithtown Youth Bureau, to make sure you are credited.
Registered volunteers will receive notification of all volunteer opportunities with the Youth Bureau, other Town Departments, as well as for all of our local partners. Once registered as a Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps member, all of your community service will be recorded and can be accessed to provide formal documentation of your volunteerism.
So.......Register NOW to be part of the
Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps!
Students as well as Adults are invited to register.
*Adults are always needed to help support programs and assist with supervision.
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Emergency Food Pantry Needs YOUR Help!
There is a serious shortage of particular food items a the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry right NOW!
The Pantry provides support services for families throughout the township. Their motto is "
no one is turned away... ever!" Currently, they are in need of donations (specific food items and monetary donations accepted).
Please contact the Emergency Food Pantry President ASAP,
Pat Westlake, if you would be able to help with a food or monetary donation to help struggling Smithtown Township residents. The Pantry phone number is 631-265-7676, and they are located at 90 Edgewater Avenue in Smithtown. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 12.
PLEASE help support the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry if at all possible.
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Health & Wellness Program: "Be Your Best Self"
The Youth Bureau is now offering a
"Be Your Best Self
" program series that includes four one hour weekly workshops. This program is based on SAMHSA's Wellness Initiative (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
In this program, students will learn, through engaging group activities and discussions, the tools necessary to achieve a happier and healthier lifestyle . This program will also help students to nurture their overall well-being through: creating and reaching positive goals, learning ways to create a stronger body, being involved in their community and building lasting, healthy relationships.
This program is being offered at Middle & High Schools in Smithtown, Commack, Hauppauge, and Kings Park districts. Contact your school administrators to sign up or request this program at your school.
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Employment Readiness for
Middle School Students
A newly revamped, fun, activity-filled, four week Middle School program is available at middle schools in Smithtown, Commack, Hauppauge, and Kings Park districts. This exciting and interactive program offers opportunities for students to work together on group activities to prepare them to ultimately find work and succeed at their first jobs.
Students will focus on discovering their talents, exploring work options and also learn the VERY important Soft Skills like: communication, listening, conflict management, teamwork, organizational skills, and professional presentation. For more information about this program, contact Amy.
Please contact your school administrators to sign up or request this program at your school.
"Your big opportunity may be right where you are now." - Naopleon Hill
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New Youth Bureau Program:
"The Body Project"
(NEDA - National Eating Disorders Association)
On Tuesday, October 25th, fifteen mental health workers, health educators, and Youth Bureau Staff attended a training session lead by the Suffolk County Health Department and NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association). Attendees were trained to become "Body Project" Facilitators.
The Body Project is an evidence-based, body acceptance, and eating disorders prevention program created for high school girls. Backed by two decades of research, the Body Project gives girls the tools and skills they need to confront unrealistic beauty ideals, and engages them in the development of a healthy body image. The program has been shown to effectively reduce body dissatisfaction, negative mood, unhealthy dieting and disordered eating.
There is evidence that the Body Project intervention reduces the risk of future onset of eating disorders and obesity.
Those in attendance for the 10/25/16 training learned how to use verbal, written, and behavioral exercises to guide future High School student participants through the four session series. The program includes encouraging the process of critiquing our culture's damaging
appearance-ideal myth.
NEDA has trained facilitators in fourteen states to provide the
Body Project to youth. The Smithtown Youth Bureau is excited to be able to offer this program to High School aged girls within our community.
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Smithtown Township's:
Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown - Program Updates...
An Alliance
Brainstorming Committee Meeting
was held at the Horizons Center in Smithtown on 10/19/16. There were twenty-one (21) Y & C Alliance of Smithtown members in attendance. Participants were broken into groups and were instructed to prioritize the top five (5) identified problems/issues that face Smithtown Township residents, and the "Risk & Protective Factors" (interpersonal, family, school and community factors which either put youth at risk OR protect them from possible dangers).
The results of this Brainstorming Committee meeting will be presented to the Alliance General Membership at the November 3rd Y & C Alliance of Smithtown meeting. The Alliance priorities will be decided upon, as will the next steps to be taken, including Committee formation to address each of the community issues/problems that were chosen as top priority by the group.
It's NOT too late to become involved in your local Youth and Community Alliance!!!
The next General Membership Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown meeting will be held on
Thursday, November 3rd, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM at the Smithtown Library Main Branch.
Adults and High School students are invited to attend. Please RSVP to
Stacey Sanders.
For further information about Smithtown Township's -
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Program of the Month: "Anger Management"
The Smithtown Youth Bureau offers an effective, researched based behavioral program that focuses on helping teens in grades 9-12 recognize what "normal" anger is, learn practical anger management skills, and also learn to deal with anger and frustration in a healthy, constructive way. The relaxed, informal setting is helpful for any team, either experiencing anger management difficulties, or merely dealing with the general stress and challenges of peer and family relationships.
This highly interactive program presents easily understood concepts and provides opportunities for teens to share their experiences and practice valuable skills. Major topics include: changing negative, hostile "self-talk"; positive assertiveness skills; personal anger triggers; relaxation methods' anger level awareness and monitoring; and conflict resolution strategies. For information on this, and other programs, please contact the Smithtown Youth Bureau.
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Safe Routes to School Program Update:
Wood Park Primary School Celebrates National Walk to School Day!
Safe Routes to School and Wood Park Primary School in Commack celebrated National Walk to School Day using the "Walking School Bus" concept. Walkers and their families met Youth Bureau, Wood Park Staff and PTA Volunteers at 4 remote starting points. From there, the students walked with their families at least .5 mile to school. Once at school, the students were given an adorable walker charm to put on their backpacks to celebrate their achievement!
October is Walk Safely to School Month at Wood Park
Pedestrian safety lessons continued last month at Wood Park as students and their families participated in the 2nd annual "Walk Safely to School Month"!
Halloween Safety
Halloween is a real treat for kids, but it also one of the most dangerous nights to be out walking or driving! The Safe Routes to School Program, together with the Wood Park Primary School PTA, brought in AAA's Halloween Safety Program to remind students how to have fun and be safe at the same time! AAA has many other wonderful educational programs and they are FREE! For more information, Call Karen Blackburn, Traffic Safety Specialist, 516-873-2409, or e-mail
[email protected] for more information or to make a reservation today!
October 16-22 was National Teen Driver Safety Week.
Safe Routes to School helped to raise awareness about this program through social media posts and tweets! There are many important driving tips parents can teach their children, but perhaps the most important is to be a good role model. Don't be a distracted driver! Also, follow the graduated driving laws we have on Long Island. They are in place for a reason - to provide your child with driving experience over the course of time and in varying driving conditions. For a pocket copy of the GDL pamphlet, follow this link!
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November 19th is
National Family Volunteer Day
November 19th is Family Volunteer Day. It is an amazing experience to give back to the community... as a family.
Family Volunteer Day is a day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. Volunteering is a great way for kids and adults to make new friends, develop compassion for their neighbors, and even pick up a new skill or two! It's an amazing day - don't miss out on this incredible opportunity! You can read all about Family Volunteer Day here.
Click here for a list of volunteer activities you can do as a family. Have fun giving back to your community!
If you volunteer on November 19th, (or any other time), please let us know! We can feature your family's efforts in one of our future newsletters. Please email Cynthia with any volunteer service you have completed!
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Youth Bureau Staff Corner:
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
November is a month to remember and be thankful. November 11th is Veterans Day - it would be a wonderful day to attend a parade with the family to show our Veterans our appreciation for their service.
November 24th is Thanksgiving Day, a day to be appreciative of all we have. Children can get involved in family celebrations. Try a simple recipe that can be shared at your Thanksgiving table - even the smallest hands can help with this one - and they will feel so happy that they were a part of the celebration!
Recipe for Butter (Just like the Pilgrims made!)
Ingredients - Heavy cream and salt to taste
Place 1/2 cup of heavy cream in a closed glass jar
(like a baby food jar)
Make sure the lid is placed tightly on the jar
Have child/children shake the jar - this will take some time
Check for the consistency of butter - add salt to taste
Spread on your favorite cornbread - or other
Thanksgiving treat.
Enjoy! Wishing you a November filled with both thanks and giving,
Community Relations Assistant
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Town of Smithtown Horizons/Youth Bureau Department
Horizons Counseling and Education Center
is the Town of Smithtown's program for the prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol related problems. Services include counseling, specialized adolescent and adult treatment groups, and referrals for additional services. Smithown Horizons and Smithtown Youth Bureau work in collaboration to provide prevention education to school districts and community organizations.
Partners:
NYS Office of Children & Family Services, NYS Department of Transportation, Suffolk County Police Department - 4th Precinct, Suffolk County Youth Bureau,
NYS Association of Youth Bureaus, Suffolk County Youth Board Coordinating Council, Smithtown Animal Shelter, Smithtown Recreation Department, Smithtown Parks Department, Verizon in Smithtown, Target in Commack, Huntington Learning Center in Smithtown, Smithtown Industry Advisory Board,
Commack Coalition of Caring,
Smithtown Library System,
Hauppauge Youth & Community Coalition, Kings Park in the k
NO
w, Smithtown Children's Foundation, Kings Park Council of Schools, Communities of Solution, League of Women, Voters, Smithtown Food Pantry, Partners in Prevention, Project9line, Lessings at Smithtown Landing Country Club, and many others.
Useful Links:
Hauppauge-Smithtown Macaroni Kid
is a free, weekly e-newsletter and website for parents.
Each week they share articles, events, discounts, and giveaways for families with children of all ages.
They even have giveaways just for moms and dads!
Sign up
for your free subscription!
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