"Creative Connections Campaign"
Join with Hands Across Long Island (HALI)
Reach out to isolated residents at
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
this Holiday Season
Community Service Credit Available!!!
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HALI’s Creative Connections campaign connects with our community experiencing loneliness through letters, pictures, drawings, poetry, and art that can be delivered to and kept by people held in these lonely places. Creative Connections will hand deliver these cards, notes, and pieces of art to people in Pilgrim Psychiatric Center.
To reach every person and keep our campaign going... We will need 275 letters/art/cards each month!"
Please send kind messages which inspire hope at difficult times, and address your creations to:
Hands Across Long Island
Attn: Emily Vaianella
159 Brightside Avenue
Central Islip, NY, 11722
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If you would like a community service certificate, please include your name and email address in the envelope.
*Completion of 3 cards will earn one hour of community service, and the completion of 6 cards will earn 2 hours of community service.
If you would like to prepare and send creations in bulk (25 or more cards/pieces of art), we will award you a certificate with a a max. of 8 community service hours issued from Hands Across Long Island in partnership with the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau.
Use the PDF below to VIEW & SHARE the entire Creative Connections Invitation Letter with your group
Please email Emily Vaianella with any questions at:
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Parenting Skills Program Starting Soon! |
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Parenting Skills Program presented virtually by the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau. This engaging seven-week series is for parents who wish to learn effective ways to improve interactions with their children.
This FREE program offers parents help in understanding why their children exhibit certain behaviors. Concepts and strategies discussed include how to provide a respectful and positive approach to interacting with our children as well as improving cooperation and problem-solving while promoting independence for the child within the family.
*Fulfills Parenting Program Requirements (S.T.E.P. - Systematic Training for Effective Parenting)
Seven Sessions - Each Tuesday
January 11, 2022 - February 22, 2022
6:45 PM - 8:00 PM - Via Zoom
Click HERE for PDF of Parenting Skills Flyer
to view and share
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Annual November
Town of Smithtown Youth Advisory Board:
Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry's "Adopt-A-Family Program"
Student Community Service Project
Drop-off dates were 11/13 & 11/20
...ANOTHER Successful Year!
Thank you to all of the families and our Volunteer Corps members for all of their hard work.
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The Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry collected nonperishable food items to create meals to be given to families in need.
Student volunteers purchased or collected all the fixings to complete a Thanksgiving Dinner and brought the items to the pantry to fill their own boxes for a family in need. The boxes and turkeys were provided by the Pantry.
Check out some pics of our volunteers in action below...
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It's NOT Too Cold For Rock Garden Planting!
Plant YOUR Happy Sentiments - Send Photo - Earn Community Service Credit
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"Happiness Grows Here"
Planting at Smithtown Town Hall
Kindness Rock Garden Continues...
(At Smithtown Town Hall, 99 West Main Street, Smithtown)
KEEP Our Township's Kindness Rock Garden
GROWING ALL YEAR!!
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Creating Kindness Rocks can be an excellent activity for friends and family to do together.
Examples of designs are - words of encouragement; rainbows of hope; butterflies; flowers; optimistic and inspiring words or phrases... virtually anything that spreads positivity. The more colorful, the better!!!
*When your rocks are ready, just bring them up to Smithtown Town Hall at 99 Main Street in Smithtown and PLANT them in the Kindness Garden to brighten the day for all who drive by!
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***PLEASE take a PHOTO of you planting your rocks (showing the rocks you made) and email your photo(s) ASAP to the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau to share! Include your full name as you'd like it to appear on your Town Community Service Certificate and we'll email it back to you.
*One (1) hour of Community Service Credit for three (3) rocks. Maximum two (2) hrs. of credit (6 rocks).
ALL ages/grades welcome to participate!
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Kindness Grows & Spreads throughout Smithtown Township...
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Students were invited to participate at their own schools and earn one hour of Community Service Credit by joining
The Town of Smithtown Anti-Bias Task Force and Town Youth Bureau in creating Kindness Rock Gardens for their fellow students. The multi-school project started in October with Gender & Sexuality Alliance Clubs (GSA) to celebrate and support students for National Coming Out Day in October.
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Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Scheduling After-School Programs NOW
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The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau is in full swing for our 2021-2022 school year, and we’re ready to schedule our very popular after-school enrichment programs.
October & November we were at: Great Hollow MS; Nesaquake MS; St Philip & James; W.T. Rogers MS; Accompsett MS. and W.T. Rogers MS
December & January you can find us at: St Philip & James; W.T. Rogers; Great Hollow MS; and Accompsett MS
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Since we provide programs for all of our Township’s middle schools, we’re starting NOW to schedule programs for the entire school year. Programs are usually offered in person, but all can be provided virtually in some form. These programs are generally offered during after-school hours, but all can be scheduled during classroom time if desired.
There are many scheduling options, and all are flexible in design to best meet the needs of each school. All programs are fully funded and can be provided to schools by trained, professional Youth Bureau staff members at no cost.
to request further information and discuss scheduling one or several of these programs for your school.
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“Babysitting/Child Care Skills”: Engaging and fun way to introduce essential skills to become a Great Babysitter!
Topics include: basic child care (i.e., feeding, diaper changing, soothing, playing, etc.); first aid & emergency training; age-appropriate games & activities; Talking to potential parent ‘employers’.' This program also allows participants the opportunity to interact with our very realistic, “Real Care” baby dolls. Four, 1-hour sessions.
“Leadership Skills” – Single presentations or workshop series for specific after-school programming and/or your school leadership and honor society clubs, on a variety of leadership skills including...
Effective communication; problem solving; goal setting; dealing with different personalities; public speaking basics; building your employment and/or college application portfolio.
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*“Be Your Best Self”: Deals with overall wellness, self-awareness and teaches valuable personal wellness skills to students in a fun way.
Topics include: strategies to cope with stress, effective communication skills, making healthy choices, conflict resolution, and other vital SEL topics. Four, 1-hour sessions.
*“Be Your Best Self” utilizes the SAMHSA – Eight Dimensions of Wellness framework. Each dimension of wellness is interrelated with another and equally vital in the pursuit of optimum health.
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School Enrichment Program
Highlight of the Month...
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“Study Skills”: Students will learn: how to study effectively, how to organize their time more productively, and how to relax and focus while taking a test or giving a presentation to their classmates.
This highly engaging program provides many valuable tips for improving school performance and alleviating school-related anxiety. Three, 1-hour sessions. An additional session can be added to reinforce organizational skills.
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This program provides tips and advice for middle school students to improve their time management skills as it pertains to their study habits. This helps to improve their overall school performance by being better organized in completing tasks and preparing for exams and projects.
We ran into one Nesaquake MS student participant after he completed the Study Skills series. He asked us to share his comment with all of you!!!
"I turned my average grade from an F to an A- "
-R.D.
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Check out the video below to hear about one of the many useful techniques discussed in the interactive Study Skills Program-
Discovering "The Pomodoro Technique"
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LAST CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE...
PLEASE Help Plan 2022
Youth Bureau Programs!
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Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Community Needs Assessment Survey
4th Quarter 2021
October 2021 - December 2021
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Please complete the VERY Brief survey by clicking the link below
This will assist the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau in determining the programming needs of our township.
As a sign of our appreciation, all survey participants (students and adults) will be entered into our gift certificate drawing for the month! December's raffle prize is a $25 Grubhub Gift Certificate!
Thank you in advance for your valuable feedback!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT!!!
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"Creating Art With Nature" -
Art Without Judgement Series
Elementary and M.S. students and parents had a blast with Suzie of Focus on Balance for a FUN & Creative evening of connecting to nature through art!
Students and parents were encouraged to enjoy some outside 'nature time' and collect natural art materials, including various sizes and shapes of leaves, twigs, pebbles, acorns...
Participants Created Art With Nature using their collected pieces of nature. This VIRTUAL event and more to come are all about learning new techniques to create your very own masterpiece without judgment, regardless of artistic abilities.
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College Application Review for
HS Seniors and Parents
Students and their parents received some last minute support and personalized advice from Youth Bureau staff member Andrea Pesiri, MS Ed., our resident Independent Educational Consultant.
Participants asked a host of questions about their own situations and heard other students and parents experiencing the same stressful choices. In this webinar, we provided:
- Last-minute strategies and useful checklist
- The Common Application tabs
- What to expect when submitting your applications
- Q & A session
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Community Service Starts Here! |
Students... Join the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps
&
Local Community Groups/Agencies... Become a Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Program Partner
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Join the hundreds of Other Local
Youth and Families as registered...
Town of Smithtown Volunteer Corps Members
Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps member!
Get Early Notification about
Community Service Opportunities
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Does your group/agency
Need Volunteers?
The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau promotes volunteerism and fosters
positive social and leadership opportunities for
youth and families throughout the township.
The Youth Bureau is interested in partnering with local
groups and organizations to promote volunteer
opportunities for youth and families in the community.
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Check Out Our NEW Brochure!!! |
Click link to view & share our Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau brochure:
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Visit both of the following EXCELLENT sources for quality family activities:
-NY Metro Parents-Suffolk (Sanity saving ideas & activities):
-Macaroni Kid (Articles; events; guides): Click Here
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Association for Mental Health and Wellness:
NYS Office of Mental Health Emotional Support Line:
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Smithtown Children's Foundation (SCF): Provide financial and emotional support to children & families within our Smithtown community by bridging family, friends, neighbors & local business to act as ONE in times of crisis: Click Here
Upcoming Community Fundraisers for SCF: Click Here
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Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center |
Horizons Counseling and Education Center is an OASAS-licensed not-for-profit agency funded to provide adolescent & adult treatment, prevention and education services for drug and alcohol related problems.
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Full Assessment Services:
Appointments Are Available
If there is any concern that you, your child, or another family member may be experiencing a substance abuse issue, PLEASE reach out for information and support.
This has been an extremely challenging time for individuals and families. There is absolutely no shame in seeking assistance in helping yourself and/or loved ones to deal with this situation together.
You don't have to go through this alone...
There is HELP available.
Details can be requested, as well as an appointment for an assuring, professional assessment of the situation you are experiencing.
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The full Assessment & Intake Procedure consists of:
· Phone screening
· In-Person or Virtual Appointment with a Clinical Staff Member to Discuss Potential Need for Treatment
· Consultation with a Member of Our Nursing Staff
· Evaluation with Our Psychiatric Practitioner (provided if needed)
· Drug/Alcohol Testing
· Sessions and with Family and any Person Involved in Your Life
Medication-assisted treatment can be provided
Telehealth Services Available
631-360-7578
To get further information and/or to schedule an assessment:
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Research-Based Prevention Programming
Horizons Counseling and Education Center's Prevention Program works with local schools and community groups to develop and offer drug and alcohol presentations virtually and/or in-person.. If you are interested in a presentation or in having your students take part in an evidence-based preventive, resiliency building program please contact Kelly Devito for more information:
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161 E. Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787
Phone: (631) 360-7595
Fax: (631) 360-7687
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