Welcome to New Directions
New Directions Youth and Family Services is a non-profit agency that helps children with emotional and behavioral problems, along with their families.
We offer more than 25 programs and services aiding residents throughout the State of New York.
New Directions' Highlights
Recognition Day honors day students
at Henrietta G. Lewis Campus School
Graduating seniors were among those honored at the Recognition Day celebration for day school students at the Henrietta G. Lewis School in Lockport held June 15. In the photo above, they are from left, front row, Dustin, who will study auto body repair at Erie Community College, and Holly, who will study environmental studies at Niagara County Community College, and back row, Matt, who is undecided, and Dave, who is working and will study auto mechanics. Below, Principal Patricia McMahon, right, presents the Triple C Award to Allan. Signed by New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the award honors Allan for his character, commitment and courage. In addition to the presentation of achievement awards to middle and high school day students, the afternoon included a slide show of photos taken throughout the year and the distribution of yearbooks.
Laura Kelemen honored by
Mental Health Association
Laura Kelemen, program director, Children’s Mental Health Programs at New Directions Youth and Family Services, was recently awarded the 2009 Donald Walck Professionalism in Mental Health Award by the Mental Health Association in Niagara County, Inc.
The award is given to a mental health professional that is dedicated, acts in a compassionate manner and respects the dignity of individuals living with mental illness.
The association recognized Ms. Kelemen as a leader in the community and thanked her for all she does for the residents of Niagara County.
Julie Tomasi named director
of Performance & Quality Improvement
Julie Tomasi, LCSW-R, ACSW, of Cuba, NY, has been named Performance and Quality Improvement director at New Directions Youth and Family Services.
In her new position, Ms. Tomasi will oversee the quality of services throughout New Directions, compiling data and generating reports for use by New Directions as well as by outside organizations. Ms. Tomasi will continue to provide direct care in trauma treatment as the need arises.
“Because she has worked so closely with kids and families, her background has well prepared her for understanding not just the data, but what’s behind it—the real meaning of the numbers,” said James Coder, chief executive officer of New Directions.
“I’m passionate about the work that brought me into social work in the first place, but I also see the statistical component and how it adds extra value to the social work field,” Ms. Tomasi said. “I’ll be the bridge between both worlds.”
Volunteers clean public horse trails
Laurie, a teen in Global Village Therapeutic Foster Care, was one of the youth from New Directions Youth and Family Services who helped clean horse trails as a public service. She looks forward to riding the trails with Zip, her favorite horse from Randolph Children’s Home. All of the volunteers received a badge from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recognizing their work as natural resource volunteers.
Teen from Zafron Home for Parenting Teens learns during field trip to New York City
With support from staff, Katie, a teen at Zafron Home for Parenting Teens, was able to take an educational trip to New York City.
Kyree, 8, a student at Henrietta G. Lewis Campus School, tries out a new reading program with the help of teacher Keli Iles Hernandez. The remedial materials in math and reading were purchased with a $100,000 grant from the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation and can be used with students who are working at or above grade level as well as those below grade level.
$102,500 given to New Directions for educational materials
New Directions Youth and Family Services has received a $100,000 Technology-Based Remediation Grant from the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation to improve basic reading and math skills for students in kindergarten through Grade 8 at the Henrietta G. Lewis Campus School.
“This will fundamentally change how we do math and language arts instruction,” said Mike Griffin, Ph.D., curriculum coordinator at the Lewis School. “We hope it will provide a major boost in improving the basic math and reading skills of our students.”
The grant will be used to pay for interactive computer software, 20 new computer workstations, two servers, teacher training and associated teacher and student materials.
Training continues in trauma treatment
Laurie Grimm, Family Resource/Intake Coordinator in Global Village Therapeutic Foster Care, left, and Janelle Ventura, social worker at Wyndham Lawn, participate in training for trauma-informed treatment. This is part three of the training through a $225,000 grant from the John R. Oshei Foundation, as well as a $40,000 grant from the Robert J. and Martha B. Fierle Foundation. The funding was given to the Care Management Coalition of Western New York to support a project to address trauma in seriously emotionally disturbed youth in residential treatment.
