MID-ISLAND Y JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER INC

THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTER OF THE MID-ISLAND Y JCC CONSISTS OF SENIOR ADULT AND ADULT PROGRAMS, TEEN PROGRAMS, BEFORE, AFTER SCHOOL, AND SPECIALTY PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE ADLER CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE ADULT AND SOCIAL SERVICES CENTER PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE, SOCIAL, AND INTELLECTUAL PROGRAMMING/SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE ADULT AND SOCIAL SERVICES CENTER SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE INCLUDING PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO STAY INVOLVED, ALERT, AND ENJOY A PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFE. THE CENTER PROVIDES CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND DYNAMIC SERVICES THAT CONNECT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPERIENCE CULTURE AND ART, INVESTIGATE AND EXPAND JEWISH HERITAGE, CHALLENGE AND STIMULATE INTELLECT, AS WELL AS NAVIGATE LIFE CHANGES AT VARIOUS LIFE JUNCTURES. THE ADULT AND SOCIAL SERVICES CENTER ACHIEVES THIS THROUGH ENGAGING THE SENIOR ADULT AND ADULT COMMUNITY IN THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING SUPPORT GROUPS (BEREAVEMENT LOSS OF SPOUSE, BEREAVEMENT LOSS OF PARENT, SEPARATION AND DIVORCE, GROWING UP WITH DIVORCED PARENTS, PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SIBLINGS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, GRANDPARENTS CIRCLE), INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, PARTNERS-IN-CARING (BRINGING SOCIAL SERVICES INTO PARTNERING SYNAGOGUES), ENGAGE - BABY BOOMER VOLUNTEER CORP, HATZILU RESCUE ORGANIZATION, ALZHEIMER'S DAY SERVICES PROGRAM, AND THE POB CARE AND PROJECT PACE NNORC PROGRAMS. ADDITIONAL SOCIAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES SENIOR CIRCLES, ACTIV FOR BABY BOOMERS, MEN'S GROUP - Y'S GUYS, DISCUSSION GROUPS, LIAISING AMONG CENTER, SENIORS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, JEWISH AND SECULAR HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, ART CLASSES, POETRY SERIES AND CONTEST, SENIOR CHORUS, AND BRIDGE AND MAH JONGG.JEWISH PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES INCLUDES ISRAELI MOVIE SCREENINGS, AUTHOR'S SERIES, LUNCH AND LEARN WITH LOCAL RABBIS AND JEWISH EDUCATORS, RUSSIAN SPEAKING JEWISH FAMILY PROGRAMMING - BRIJE, AND HOLIDAY PROGRAMS IN THE LOBBY.TEEN PROGRAMMING IS DIVERSE AND INCLUDES RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, WEEKLY GROUPS FOCUSED ON GROUP DISCUSSIONS WITH GUEST SPEAKERS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS, SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, RESUME WRITING, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING. ALL TEENS ENROLLED IN THE TEENS AS LEADERS PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE WITHIN THE MIYJCC AND IN THE COMMUNITY. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS FOR TEENS INCLUDE AN EXTENSIVE LEARNING CENTER OFFERING HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, STUDY SKILLS, ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP TUTORING SESSIONS, SAT, PSAT AND ACT CLASSES, AND TEST PREP AND REGENTS REVIEW CLASSES.IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE WORKING PARENTS, THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTER OFFERS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. STUDENTS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AS EARLY AS 6:30 AM AND ARE DRIVEN TO SCHOOL IN A FLEET OF MINI BUSES. IN THE AFTERNOON, BUSES ARE DISPATCHED TO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS TO PICK UP THE CHILDREN AND BRING THEM TO THE MIYJCC FOR AN AFTERNOON OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SWIM, GYM, ART, COOKING, HOMEWORK HELP, AND MUCH MORE. ALL CHILDREN ARE GIVEN A SNACK AND HOMEWORK IS CHECKED BEFORE ACTIVITIES START. CHILDREN CAN BE PICKED UP AS LATE AS 6:30 PM. TRANSPORTATION TO LOCAL SYNAGOGUES FOR HEBREW SCHOOL IS ALSO AVAILABLE.THE ADLER CENTER FOR SPECIAL NEEDS EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS, AGES 3 TO ADULTS, TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS AND TO ESTABLISH LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS. PROGRAMS FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL WHO PARTICIPATE ARE GIVEN THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE NEEDED TO REACH HIS OR HER FULLEST POTENTIAL. THE ADLER CENTER OFFERS PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN THROUGH YOUNG ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES INCLUDING LEARNING DISABILITIES, LANGUAGE DELAY, ADHD, AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. MIYJCC OFFERS PARENT AND SIBLING SUPPORT GROUPS, FIELD TRIPS, INCLUSION AND SHARED CAMP EXPERIENCES, VACATION RESPITE, MONTHLY EVENING RESPITE, SUNDAY SOCIAL PROGRAMS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, LEARNING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, AND EXERCISE CLASSES AND SWIM INSTRUCTION. OUR TWO NEWEST PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF THE POINTS OF LIGHT CERTIFIED VOLUNTEER SERVICES PROGRAM AND THE RUDMAN FAMILY FOOD PANTRY. THROUGH THESE TWO NEW PROGRAMS, MIYJCC HAS BEEN ABLE TO MOBILIZE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP BRING THE AGENCY'S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE NEXT LEVEL. ONE AREA OF THE AGENCY WHERE VOLUNTEERS ARE USED IS IN THE RUDMAN FAMILY FOOD PANTRY WHICH PROVIDES FOOD FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM FOOD INSECURITY. THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO THOSE IN NEED. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH THE PANTRY, CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE PURCHASED WITH SNAP BENEFITS.