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March 2017 News & Updates
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Join us for Global Youth Service Day
April 22, 2017
Smithtown Landing Country Club
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
*Register ASAP - Space is Limited*
A Morning of Family Community Service:
Honoring Our Local Emergency Responders
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Student Community Service Credit Provided!!!
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Global Youth Service Day
is a campaign through Youth Service America (YSA) and is an annual world-wide day of service that empowers youth to take positive action in their own part of the world. The Smithtown Youth Bureau is proud to be a Community Partner with YSA for Global Youth Service Day 2017.
(See the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau listed as one of the
World-Wide GYSD Partners!!!)
At the Town of Smithtown celebration, school-age youth & families will have the opportunity to personally meet and thank local Emergency Responder honored guests (police officers, EMS and firefighters), as well as prepare personalized Thank You Cards as a token of appreciation, and meet other community minded families. Previous volunteer service is
not
required to participate in this event.
The Smithtown Youth Bureau and Youth Advisory Board are now accepting applications for their 8th annual Global Youth Service Day event (GYSD) for Smithtown, Kings Park, Hauppauge and Commack school districts, grades K-12.
The event will be held on Saturday,
April 22, 2017 at the Smithtown Landing Country Club from 9am-11am
. Families will enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast and enjoy a morning of family community service.
Smithtown Landing Country Club
**Attention:
Registration is required for this FREE event.
Students/families must register by
Friday,
March 31, 2017
.
Register early. Space is limited for this event.
Tell us about your own Volunteer Experiences!
OPTIONAL: Opportunity to apply for a Town Outstanding Volunteer Award
Although participation in GYSD does not require any previous volunteer experience, students who DO have previous, significant volunteer experience have the
option
of applying to be considered for one of the Town of Smithtown Outstanding Volunteer Awards.
These awards will be presented at the GYSD event.
*****************************************************************************
Click here for:
Use the link below to REGISTER (yourself, group or family) to participate in Global Youth Service Day
(with option to apply for an Outstanding Volunteer Award).
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The Smithtown Youth Bureau is MARCHING
in the
Kings Park St. Patrick's Day Parade!
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This year, the 7th annual
Kings Park St. Patrick's Day Parade
will be held on Saturday March
4th, 2017.
The Smithtown Youth Bureau was invited and will be marching - come join us and share
The Power of Youth
!
If you would like to march with us - please email
Stacey Sanders
ASAP to register.
We would love to have you march along with us!
REGISTRATION by Friday 3/3/17
is required to march.
We will meet Saturday, 3/4/17 at William T. Rogers Middle School at 11:00/11:15 a.m. Hope to see you there wearing some green!
If you are unable to march - come watch the parade and cheer us on!
See this flyer for more information.
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Smithtown Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps
NOW APPLY ONLINE!!!
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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:
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The Smithtown Youth Bureau now has a
Volunteer Program Database for tracking volunteer information and your volunteer hours. If you would like to be included in this database, please complete the Online Volunteer Corps Application. Once you are registered as a Youth Bureau volunteer, all of your community service hours will be recorded and can be accessed to provide formal documentation of your community service hours.
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.
*
Students, as well as
adults
are invited to register.*
Adults are needed to assist with program supervision and serve on the
Smithtown Youth Advisory Board (details on our web site), and the
Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown
(See article below)
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Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown Update
On February 16, 2017 the Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown held their quarterly General Membership Meeting at the Smithtown Library Main Branch. Attendees had the opportunity to hear a wonderful presentation given by Pamela Mizzi, Director of the Long Island Prevention Resource Center. The focus was on "Risk and Protective Factors" and how individuals, peers, schools, families and the community can work together in reducing substance abuse and increase "Connectedness".
Community members also had an opportunity to brainstorm and plan events for the three Alliance Special Commitees. These committees were formed because the community felt they were key priority areas for the Township. The focuses of the committees are: Substance Abuse, Healthy Relationships, and Bullying/Cyber-Bullying. Several projects that are being planned include a Sticker Shock campaign, Medicine Take-Back Day, Public Service Announcements, Family Game Nights, Kindness Days, and developing peer mentoring groups.
PLEASE feel free to join the Youth and Community Alliance at the next General Membership meeting to be held on May 25, 2017 from 4:30-6: 00 pm at the Smithtown Library Main Branch. Coalitions are a great way to integrate and align resources in the community and engage multiple sectors in prevention efforts including schools, law enforcement, local/county government, youth agencies, parents, youth, businesses, and more.
For additional information and/or registration, please feel free to contact Stacey Sanders at the Smithtown Youth Bureau
or Kelly DeVito at Horizons Counseling & Education Center
.
Important upcoming dates for the
Youth and Community Alliance of Smithtown:
Next General Membership meeting:
Thursday,
May 25, 2017 from 4:30-6:00 pm
At the Smithtown Library Main Branch
Committee meetings:
All at Horizons/Youth Bureau Community Room (161 E. Main St., Smithtown)
Bullying/Cyber-Bullying
- Monday,
April 3, 2017
- 4:30-5:30 pm
Substance Abuse
- Monday,
April 24, 2017
- 4:00-5:00 pm
Healthy Relationships
-
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
- 7:30-8:30 pm
For more Alliance information:
.
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Local Students Enjoy
Babysitting/Basic Child Care Series
Our Babysitting/Basic Child Care Program has just finished at Smithown School District's Great Hollow Middle School and Accompset Middle School. Students in this four week afterschool program enjoyed learning about the important aspects of babysitting and how to find babysitting opportunities. Topics included safety, understanding child behaviors & play, and infant care. Participants also discuss how to find and prepare for their first babysitting job.
Students involved in the program enthusiastically enjoy two of the four sessions where they get to actively care for our "RealCare Babies." These babies actually cry when they need to be burped, changed and held, giving participants the opportunity to experience firsthand what can happen while they are on a babysitting job!
For information on having this program at your school, please contact
Caring for "RealCare" babies
at Great Hollow MS
Babysitting Skills Series graduates
from Accompsett MS
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| Community Corner Community Health Assessment Survey
St. Catherine's of Sienna Hospital is conducting a
Community Health Assessment Survey. PLEASE help out by completing the brief survey.
The purpose of this survey is to get your opinion about health issues that are important in the community. Together, the County Departments of Health and hospitals throughout Long Island will use the results of this survey and other information to help target health programs in the community.
Please complete
one survey per adult 18 years of age
or older. Survey responses will be kept anonymous.
Thank you for your participation.
Click here for the Community Health Assessment Survey! |
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Smithtown Horizons/Youth Bureau
Upstander Presentation
at the Knox School
On January 30th, Smithtown Youth Bureau and Horizons Counseling & Education Center presented a program for High School students at the Knox School in St. James.
The program entitled "Upstander Revolution" focused on how individuals can Become Upstanders rather than Bystanders.
An upstander is a person who stands up to bullying by helping a peer walk away from a bully, offering friendship to a peer who is isolated, will not participate in bullying, and will talk to an adult if a peer is in trouble.
Topics covered included; bullying, cyber bullying, app safety, and substance abuse pressures. Students were interested to learn that bullying is extremely commonplace through social media. At the end of the interactive presentation, students were asked to create a poster of positive sayings that will be displayed in the Knox School library.
Poster created during Upstander Presentation
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County-Wide Poster Contest!
Sponsored by: Suffolk County Executive's Office, Suffolk County Youth Bureau, Suffolk County Youth Board Coordinating Council, and C.A.P.S. (Child Abuse Prevention Services)
Bullying does not discriminate. It reaches individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic levels. Sufolk County's anti-cyberbullying campaign needs your support, and the support of school-aged youth. Participants enjoy the possibility of county-wide recognition for their efforts.
Required: Creativity, thought, and willingness to meet the challenge!
Elementary, Middle School and High School Students should develop an original
8 1/2" x 11" poster reflecting, in words and/or images the perceptions of cyberbullying and its impact.
Posters will be judged and winners determined in accordance with guidelines found here.
The poster contest entries must be postmarked no later than Friday, April 14, 2017, and must include, on the back thereof, the name of the child artist, as well as the name and address of the school or Youth Bureau with which the child is affiliated.
Poster submissions must be sent to: Roderick A. Pearson, Executive Director, Suffolk County Youth Bureau, 100 Veterans Memorial Hwy., P.O. Box 6100, Hauppauge, NY 11788.
Winning posters will be displayed at the H. Lee Denison Building during October 2017 - which is Bullying Prevention Month.
Participate & Represent the Schools within
Smithtown Township!!!
Prizes will be awarded!
More information can be found Here
.
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Highlighted Youth Bureau Programs
The 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 (S.T.E.P. - Systematic Training for Effective Parenting)
- Upstander Revolution - Bullying/Cyber Bullying presentation
- Eight Dimensions of Wellness (SAMSHA)
- Community Service Opportunities
Inspire. Learn. Grow.
Please contact us if you would like more information - or would like to schedule a program for your school or community group.
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"What is the Smithtown Youth Advisory Board?"
Submitted by Sal Delisio, Student Youth Advisory Board member
"The Youth Advisory Board serves to assess the needs of our community and provides various youth enrichment programs.
The Board conducts many community service events. In the "Sticker Shock" Campaign, Board Members and members of our Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps placed stickers on alcohol products which reminded adults of the consequences of buying alcohol for minors.
At our Annual Pool party, volunteers assembled boxes of school supplies for students in need across Smithtown township. Youth Advisory Board members also conducted an emergency food drive to resupply the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry before the holiday season. This ensured that all in need of food during the holidays would receive it.
In addition to attending Board-curated service events, many Board members volunteered to lead special committees created by the
Youth and Community Alliance of Smithtown. These committees create town-wide projects and activities. The
Substance Abuse Committee educates the community regarding the dangers of youth substance abuse and provides strategies to reduce/prevent it. The
Healthy Relationships Committee creates social opportunities for quality family time and offers education/support to improve family relationships. The
Bullying/Cyberbullying Committee educates parents regarding bullying signs/symptoms, helps build youth resiliency in order to better manage conflict and stress and helps coordinate peer support programs. These committees collectively contribute to the well-being of our community."
Thanks for sharing Sal!!!
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March is National Nutrition Month!
National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign during the month of
March sponsored by the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The focus is on developing healthy eating and physical activity habits.
The theme for 2017 is "Put your best fork forward!" Each person holds the tool to make healthier food choices. Making small changes during the month of March, and over time can help improve overall health. Be sure to visit the National Nutrition Month website during this month. Try some new healthy recipes for your family here! |
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Youth Bureau Staff Corner
Spring begins on March 20th! Yeah!!!!!
Stacey Sanders, Janine Marc-Anthony, Cynthia Grimley, Karen Aldrich,
Gina Shalhoub and Crystal Belli
&
Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center
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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, 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!
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