FROM OUR CEO
A mounting body of scientific research is confirming what we already know: Facebook, Twitter, Skype, emails, texts and 24/7 connectivity is taking a toll on our health. Americans are more stressed, exhausted, distracted, impatient and forgetful than ever before. In one recent survey:
· 84 percent of respondents said that they could not go a single day without their cellphones.
· 50 percent of Americans sleep with their phone next to them like a teddy bear or a spouse, a number that includes more than 80 percent of 18-24 year olds.
· 20 percent of respondents check their phone every 10 minutes.
The winter holidays are a great time to power down, recharge, and re-connect with yourself, family and friends. Imagine a week-long digital detox? What could you do with the hour per day you usually spend on Facebook, answering emails or reading the President's tweets?
If you’re not ready for a week away from your smart phone, try taking some baby steps. Spend at least one day – maybe a Saturday or Sunday – offline, kind of like a technology Shabbat. No doubt, you will have a million reasons why you are unable to unplug. Try it anyway.
At the very least, maybe shut off your phone and web-enabled devices at 9:00PM every night. Leave your phone in the car, at home or out of reach while eating, watching a movie or spending time with loved ones. You’ll have more peace of mind and will probably enjoy the holidays kind of like we all did as kids.
As we close 2017, please accept my very best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a happy New Year!
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Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D, CEAP, SAP
President/CEO
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Future of FCA's Nursery Co-op
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As we continue to keep Lynn Vanderhall, her family and friends in our thoughts, we also look to the future of the small children who comprised this year’s incoming Nursery Co-op class. During such a difficult time for not only the staff but also the children and the families we serve, the Nursery Co-op successfully reopened in September with the help of our Vice President, Nancy Cohan, and our newly appointed Nursery Co-op Coordinator, Ana Castillo.
Ana, like Lynn, first engaged with FCA as a nursery co-op mother and ultimately accepted a job. Ana, along with Anita Wilson, the Nursery Co-op Assistant Teacher who was also a Nursery Co-op mother herself, and our caring volunteers have made certain that FCA’s littlest clients are getting the care and the guidance that only FCA's Nursery Co-op can provide.
At FCA we believe this is what Lynn would have wanted. We will continue to honor her legacy with each new generation of co-op children; making sure that every child and parent who comes through our door is met with a bright smile and the same warmth that Lynn brought to families for decades.
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Nursery Co-op tot celebrates Halloween
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Adopt-a-Family this Holiday Season
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For the past 10 years, over 100 FCA families per year have received donated toys, winter clothing, care products and more from generous community donors. Consider bringing a little more joy to an FCA family this holiday season.
Learn more...
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City MD staff donated toys and winter gear for FCA families, 2016.
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Gifts are coming in from all across Long Island as FCA prepares to bring a little more joy to FCA families.
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FCA Fall Harvest Celebration
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FCA's Fall Harvest Celebration honored Jed Morey of Morey Publishing and Dr. Patrick O'Shaughnessy of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. FCA's honorees have made tremendous strides to make Long Island an even better place to live for all. The event raised $270,000 in proceeds that will benefit FCA's mission to protect and strengthen Long Island's most vulnerable children, seniors, families and their communities.
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FCA President/CEO Joins Laura Curran's Transition Team
Nassau County Executive-Elect Laura Curran named Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds to her transition team to help identify the best qualified members of her administration in 2018. Laura Curran attended FCA's Fall Harvest Celebration in support of the work FCA does each and every day for vulnerable Long Island families.
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Focusing on Recovery
THRIVE Recovery Center has so far provided innovative and crucial recovery support services to more than 1,000 Long Islanders since opening its door back in March of 2017.
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World Class Training for FCA Youth
Dale Carnegie Training of Long Island donated their time and expertise to teach youth from an array of FCA programs how to succeed in life by preparing them with leadership and communication skills.
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Family Navigator Program
FCA was chosen to be one of two agencies on Long Island to run a New York State (NYS) Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) funded program to combat addiction and help struggling families with substance use disorders.
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In the Community: Freeport HS
FCA's Family Education & Support Division and Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Division educated students at Freeport High School on a range of topics including substance abuse, violence and juvenile detention prevention.
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Financial Education for FCA's Foster Youth
Representatives from Santander Bank came to FCA's Learning Center in Hempstead to teach foster youth how to manage finances and prepare for the future.
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Schools Approach Winter Break
It seems like only yesterday, Long Island youth were getting ready for their first day of school. Fortunately for many vulnerable families, donations from generous FCA supporters provided youth with opportunities to stay ahead in school.
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Summer Camp Recap
36 youth ages 5-15 enjoyed a fabulous summer camp experience this year all thanks to the generous support of our Summer Camp Fund donors. Youth made new friends and memories that will last a life time. Each year FCA staff works closely with potential camp goers to identify what type of summer experience would pique their interest most.
FCA's Summer Camp Fund is a great way to join the FCA Family and connect with the families we serve.
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Summer Camp Youth by FCA Program
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November was National Runaway Prevention Month
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Nassau Haven: 24/7 Emergency Youth Shelter
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Walkabout: Transitional Residence for Young Adults
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Keep the awareness for FCA's Runaway/Homeless
Youth programs strong all year round!
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FCA Stands Out on One Island Giving Day
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FCA raised over $15,000 on One Island Giving Day. 2017 is the inaugural year of the Long Island-based giving day campaign which brought over 100 nonprofits together to raise funds that will directly impact Long Island communities. Overall, One Island Giving Day raised over $325,000.
Read more...
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FCA Receives $32,000 from Total Wine & More
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Total Wine & More chose FCA as a charity of choice for their Grand Opening weekend in Westbury, NY. 10% of sales, or $32,000, benefited FCA's mission.
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In just over a month, Claudia Friszell, Owner, Kenneth Peters Center for Recovery and Co-Chair, Families in Support of Treatment (FIST), raised nearly $4,000 for THRIVE. Claudia's Facebook Fundraiser engaged over 40 donors to raise the necessary funds needed to install a quality sound system at THRIVE. The ultimate goal being to engage a younger demographic to attend THRIVE's sober parties, open mic nights, karaoke and a host of other creative and innovative ideas happening at Long Island's first Recovery Community and Outreach Center.
Thank you Claudia!
If you would like to support THRIVE, Facebook fundraisers now make it simple to share your efforts with friends and family. Use the link below to check out THRIVE's Facebook page and feel free to reach out to our friendly staff.
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Support for FCA during Dime Community Bank's new social media campaign helped raise $2,500 to further FCA's mission. 50 participating nonprofits were mentioned on over 2,000 social media posts raising over $22,000.
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Friendly Visiting Changes Lives
Seniors struggling with isolation and a host of other issues are benefiting from FCA's Friendly Visiting Program. At 86 years young, Sadie's life was changed ever since a Friendly Visitor came into her life.
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World AIDS Day, 12.1.17
FCA's newest program, HERTURN, provides support and resources for minority women who are at-risk of contracting HIV and women who struggle with or are at-risk of developing a substance use disorder. Read more about FCA's stellar team and how this innovative program in Hempstead is already changing lives.
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Keeping Seniors Warm
As we approach the winter months, seniors on Long Island may be met with unexpected challenges that may limit their ability to maintain a warm home. FCA is here to help families by facilitating the process of securing assistance to afford home energy.
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Thanksgiving
at the Nursery Co-op
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Nursery Co-op families came together for the annual Thanksgiving potluck at the Hempstead Family Treatment & Recovery Center. Parents, staff and volunteers all cooked delicious meals from different cultures to share with all.
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Turkeys for LI Families
Staff from FCA's Care Coordination Program traveled to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point to collect 24 Turkeys donated by the Rotary Club of Great Neck.
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Lisa Burch, VP & Chief Operating Officer
Honored by Long Island Press
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Marc Fernandez, FCA's Marketing/Communications Coordinator, joined the 2017 cohort of Long Island Business News 30 Under 30 award recipients. The recognition has caught the attention of local corporations interested to learn more about FCA's mission. Since the award ceremony, the cohort has continued to meet at each other's networking events including an open house tour at FCA's Walkabout Transitional Residence for Homeless Young Adults.
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Nakita Hyman, Nassau Haven's Day Counselor, was awarded the Leonard I. Saltman Unsung Hero award by the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless at this year's annual Keys Conference. The award is perfectly fitting for Nakita's commitment and passion to guide runaway/homeless youth in Nassau County towards a path to success and provide them with a safe and comfortable stay while at Nassau Haven.
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~ September ~
Terri Silverman
RMR Group, Inc.
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~ October ~
Donald Schatz
President, Dale Carnegie
Training of Long Island
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Jed Morey
President, Morey Publishing
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Dr. Patrick O'Shaughnessy
Executive VP for Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer, Catholic Health Services of Long Island
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~December~
David Trone
Co-Founder & Co-Owner, Total Wine & More
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Alex and Ani Charmed by Charity: FCA Benefit Event
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Is your school looking for a community service project?
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Long Island's Largest Quilt
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We're proud to call Long Island our home and we know you are too. Give back to the community and be a part of the FCA family, protecting and strengthening Long Island's most vulnerable families.
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The mission of Family & Children's Association is to protect and strengthen Long Island's most vulnerable children, seniors, families and communities. Through an integrated network of services and counseling, Family and Children’s Association provides help and hope to under served and disadvantaged individuals struggling to build better lives.
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100 EAST OLD COUNTRY RD, MINEOLA, NY 11501 | 516-746-0350
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