"YOUR Youth and Family Resource "

Supporting Our Children
&
Strengthening Our Community

Volume 5- Issue 6- June 2017
June 2017 News & Updates
Family Community Service Event/ Recreational Pool Party
 July 17th

Register NOW!



Join us for the annual Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau's Community Service Event/Recreational Pool Party, to be held on Monday, July 17th!  Bring your family for an evening filled with community service, pizza dinner and free swim at our beautiful Smithtown Landing Country Club.

During the event, participants will be able to make "Ready for School" supply boxes which will be provided to struggling students and families in our  Township.
Community service credit will be given to all students who participate.  Pizza dinner and snacks will be provided for all in attendance. 

This community service/recreation event will be held rain or shine.
The "Ready For School" community service activity and pizza dinner are held comfortably indoors, at the Smithtown Landing's Nissequogue Room. Weather permitting, families may then move outside to swim in the Town Pool.   Indoor, fun activities have been planned in case of rain. 


Town of Smithtown
"Ready for School" Program


Please register: here for this Community Service-
Recreation event

Registration is required to participate
Space is Limited - So Register Early!

$3 per person  ($10 per family maximum) will be collected at the door. 


Parent and Student Surveys
 NOW online!

Assist with our Town-wide
Needs Assessment

Only Takes a Few Moments to Complete....


We are looking for YOUR input!  We have created two brief surveys - one for parents and one for students. 

As town residents, your opinions regarding the needs you see in your community are of utmost importance to us!

Please take a few moments to complete the brief survey. Your input helps us to improve upon our existing programs, and to develop new ones to meet community needs.
All responses are anonymous. 

We depend on community input....PLEASE click on the links below to participate.  The survey only takes a few moments.

Thank you!!!




Let's Hear it for Our Youth and Local Businesses!

Recent "Sticker Shock" Community Education campaign 
implemented by....

Town of Smithtown
Youth & Community Alliance 
"Substance Abuse Committee"
   

  

The special Substance Abuse Committee of our Township's Youth & Community Alliance, in collaboration with  Horizons Counseling and Education Center and Smithtown Youth Bureau implemented our second "Sticker Shock" event on May 12, 2017

Ten student volunteers and 4 adult volunteers placed prevention messaging stickers on alcoholic beverage cases at Uncle Giuseppe's Supermarket and Bullseye Beverage in Smithtown. 

In total, 1,100 stickers were strategically placed to educate community members.  The prevention messaging stickers read;  "Your Actions Matter!  Preventing underage drinking is everyone's responsibility."   The goal is to bring attention and awareness to the dangers of underage drinking and the legal ramifications for serving alcohol to minors.
 
We are so proud of our volunteers for their hard work during the event and at the planning meeting.  We want to thank our adult volunteers from; Kings Park in the kNOw, St. Catherine's of Sienna Hospital, Long Island Prevention Resource Center, Suffolk County Police Department, and the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force for their assistance.  We also want to give a BIG shout out to Uncle Giuseppe's and Bullseye Beverage for believing in our message and jumping on board in such a supportive way.   

 

 

National Guard Counter Drug Task Force join volunteers at  Bullseye Beverage for Sticker Shock.



Suffolk County Police Officers join volunteers at
Uncle Guissepe's for "Sticker Shock"
The "Body Project"
 at
 Commack High School

Youth Bureau Staff recently presented the National Eating Disorders Association program (NEDA), "The Body Project" at Commack High School.  All Bureau staff members had attended a full day training to effectively provide this program.

This pilot program included three groups of 9th grade girls.  This evidence-based body acceptance and eating disorders prevention program is backed by over two decades of research.  

The Body Project gives high school girls the tools and skills to confront unrealistic beauty ideals and engage them in the development of a healthy body image.

Through discussion and role play, student participants were able to recognize the unrealistic "appearance ideal" and learn successful positive body image strategies they can use in the future.

At the end of the program, students became "social activists" by creating posters with inspiring messages that will be displayed throughout the hallways of Commack High School.


Posters created by Body Project participants

Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown


Parents and High School Students from
Commack, Kings Park, Smithtown & Hauppauge School Districts
 are Always Needed to Participate!!!
  
 
 
On May 25, 2017 the Smithtown Youth and Community Alliance held it's quarterly General Membership meeting at the  Main Branch of the Smithtown Library.  During the meeting, the newly created Smithtown Youth and Community Alliance website was discussed.  Each Special  Committee was able to discuss their specific goals and activities.

The Bullying/Cyberbullying Committee is working on creating videos that can educate the public about Bullying and Cyberbullying  Two students from Smithtown High School East shared a video that they created (*see video below).  They also discussed content for their committee's portion of the website. (*See below for link to new Alliance Web site).

The Healthy Relationships Committee is working on putting together a Community Education Workshop for Kings Park in the kNOw, to teach and offer participants opportunity to practice healthy, effective communication skills.

The Substance Abuse Committee discussed their recent successful "Sticker Shock" campaign.  They are planning on Student Community Service Activities for Smithtown Day.  Committee members are also planning a N.O.Y.L (Not on Your Life) campaign, and a "Pizza Box Tops" community education campaign.

The Smithtown Youth and Community Alliance has been busy with many different activities, and more are planned!  Contact Stacey Sanders or Kelly DeVito for more information on how YOU can get involved with this local Community Alliance!


Bullying/Cyberbullying Committee members sharing ideas

 
Healthy Relationships Committee member break-out session

 
Watch the Bullying Awareness video created by students from 
Smithtown High School East Leadership Class...

It's GREAT!!!!!!


 
 
  

Youth and Community Alliance of Smithtown...
upcoming meeting dates:

NEW Adult & H.S. Students Invited to join.....
 
All Committee meetings will be held in the
Horizons Center Community Room
161 E. Main Street, Smithtown
 
Bullying/Cyberbullying Committee - Monday, July 10th,  4:30-5:30

Substance Abuse Committee - Tuesday, July 25th,  4:00-5:00

Healthy Relationships Committee - Monday, August,  14th 7:30-8:30

 
General Membership Quarterly Meeting:
 
Tuesday, August 29th, 4:30-6:00 - Smithtown Library Main Branch
 
**A new website for the  Youth and Community Alliance of Smithtown is currently U nder Construction. 

Visit the newly developed Alliance  website from time to time and see where you'll find the most current information on our Alliance, and how you and your family can be more involved in your community.
Babysitting Program -
 A Successful Year!

The last session of The Babysitting Skills Program was just completed at Hauppauge Middle School.  The girls were inspired to learn and promote their babysitting skills after having gained experience with our
Real Care Babies.  The girls also worked hard to understand the many responsibilities involved in child care. 

 

Throughout the 2016/2017 school year, our Babysitting Program was presented at

Five Middle Schools throughout the township, including Accompsett Middle School, Nesaquake Middle School and Great Hollow Middle School in Smithtown, Hauppauge Middle School, and William T. Rogers Middle School in Kings Park. 


 

The program was presented a total of six times throughout the school year.  Students always enjoy the hands on experience of our Real Care Babies that cry and respond to being held and having their diapers changed. 

 

We look forward to presenting this program during the 2017/2018 school year, and are grateful for all of the schools that continue to support this popular program.

 

Please contact Karen Aldrich if you are interested in being a part of this exciting program and/or would like to schedule the program at your school or for your community group.

 


 

 

 

 

Last month, children from three primary schools in Commack (Wood Park, North Ridge and Indian Hollow) participated in the Youth Bureau's  2nd Annual Bicycle Rodeos .  As part of the Bureau's Safe Routes to School Grant, students had the opportunity to both learn and practice bike safety!

Additionally, close to  300 second graders received brand new bicycle helmets
as part of the rodeo.  The rodeos are a collaborative effort through the Smithtown Youth Bureau, Suffolk County Sherriff's Department and EAC Network.  This year, AAA Northeast also provided goody bags to all rodeo participants!


 

Students learning about Bicycle Safety 

 

 

A Successful Bicycle Rodeo

 

 

Second Graders with their New Bicycle Helmets

 

 

Announcing the Smithtown Youth Bureau's...

Study Skills Program

Coming this summer!


-Would you like to learn how to study better
  
-How about learning strategies to improve your  time management ?
  
-Do you wish to learn great  test taking skills

-Want to hear about ways to become more organized?

 

If so - our new Study Skills Program is for you!  Participants will learn how to tackle a big project, learn how to stop procrastinating, and how to ace an exam!  

 

This fun, informative program is coming this summer!  For more information, please stay tuned - or you can email Cynthia Grimley for more information. This four (4) session series will be held during the summer months for Middle & High School age students.

 

Start the School Year off Right...

 

Learn to  study smarter - not harder!
 

June is National 
Great Outdoors Month!

Did you know that June was National Great Outdoors month?  Local and National Parks represent our natural heritage.  With the weather getting warmer, it is the perfect time to spend time outdoors!

The Town of Smithtown has amazing, free parks to explore.  Hoyt Farm and Nature Preserve in Commack has so much to offer families who are residents of Town of Smithtown.  Many families enjoy visiting the farm animals, and hiking on the nature trails found on the 136 acres of the park. During the summer, the sprinkler park is the perfect way to cool off - and the playground is always bustling with activity.  There is a picnic area to enjoy, and residents can also see a movie or concert during summer evenings.  For more information on Hoyt Farm, see their website.

Information on ALL the Town of Smithtown Parks can be found here.  Take some time during the month of June to create wonderful memories of the Great Outdoors!

For more information about National Great Outdoors Month - check out their website






Residents Enjoying the Grounds of Hoyt Farm


Cooling off at Hoyt Farm's Sprinkler Park


Smithtown Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps

NOW APPLY ONLINE!!!  
It's Quick & Easy!


Apply to become a volunteer with the Smithtown Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps.

Complete and submit the online volunteer application by clicking
on the link below:

The Smithtown Youth Bureau maintains a  Volunteer Program Database for tracking volunteer information and your volunteer activities.  If you would like to be included in this database, please complete the Online Volunteer Corps Application. 

Registered volunteers will receive early notification of volunteer opportunities with the Youth Bureau, other Town Departments, as well as opportunities with our local partners.

Note:  Please be sure to include any previous volunteer service(s) on your application.

*Adults and students  are invited to register.*

Adults are needed to assist with program supervision and serve on the
Smithtown Youth Advisory Board  and the
 Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown
(details on our web site)



 Highlighted Youth Bureau Programs

The Smithtown Youth Bureau offers ongoing youth development, prevention and intervention programs for youth and families in the Commack, Kings Park, Hauppauge and Smithtown school districts.  Our popular programs include:
  • Babysitting Skills/Basic Child Care 
  • Anger Management
  • Positive Action
  • Reconnecting Youth
  • Middle School Employment Readiness
  • Parent Study Group (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) 
  • Guiding Good Choices
  • Upstander Revolution - Bullying/Cyber Bullying presentation
  • Eight Dimensions of Wellness (SAMHSA)
  • Leadership and Community Service Opportunities
 
Inspire - Learn - Grow
 
Visit our web site for information on all available programs.

 
Please contact us for more information, 
 or to schedule a program for your 
school   or  community group.  



Youth Bureau Staff Corner
   
        
School is almost over, and summer fun is about to begin!

 Happy Father's Day to all of our Town of Smithtown Dads!
 
We will have an information table at Smithtown Festival Day on June 4th  - Stop by and say "Hello!"
  
We're looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming,
 fun summer programs!

 
 
June Greetings From...

Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau Staff:
Stacey Sanders, Janine Marc-Anthony, Cynthia Grimley, 
Karen Aldrich,  Gina Shalhoub and Crystal Belli

&
Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center
             
   
                 
              
 
 
 
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, Long Island Volunteer Center,  National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA),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!




Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau |  631-360-7595 |
 
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