Our Enhanced Teen Program works with 30 teens and their families from Brooklyn’s Brownsville area. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of teens inappropriately placed into foster care by focusing on the individualized needs of families and teens. The program works closely with the ACS Field Office to ensure effective coordination of referrals and service provisions. The Enhanced Teen program establishes and maintains linkages within and beyond the community served to ensure that the teens and families have access to an array of services which can assist them in addressing their needs.
In addition to core casework services, we offer a social environment that responds to the special interests of young people and their families. The program uses innovative and creative ways to address individualized needs of teens and their families. We fully engage the teens with a variety of cultural and recreational programs offered by the partner organizations such as H.Y.P.E (Helping Young People Excel). H.Y.P.E offers a therapeutic recreational program designed to assist young people in need of mental health services by exploring and developing their creative talents.
Teens who fully engage in the Enhanced Program will:
- Begin the process of recovery from abusive, addictive, criminal or anti-social behaviors
- Avoid family disruption and foster care placement
- Gain respect for themselves and their abilities
- Increase their self-esteem
- Learn negotiating skills and proactive problem-solving
- Learn new and successful ways to interface and interact with others
- Develop mutual respect for their role in the family
Parents who fully engage in the Enhanced Program will:
- Develop mutual respect for their roles in the family
- Gain positive tools and techniques for parenting teens
- Gain social and emotional support in their parenting role
- Learn negotiating skills and proactive problem-solving
Services Provided:
- Case Planning
- Individual and Family Counseling
- Parenting Skills and Home Management Training
- Mental Health Services
- Emergency Resources
- Domestic and Family Violence
- Family Activities and Recreation
- Youth Services
- Housing Subsidy
- Education
- Tutoring
- Parent Support Group
- Domestic Violence
- Substance Abuse
- Recreation/Cultural Activities
- Teen Group