CATHOLIC CHARITIES NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES INC

EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES (ECS) PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE FIVE, INCLUDING EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START PROGRAMS. ECS OPERATES 13 PROGRAMS SERVING 1,196 CHILDREN AND 48 PREGNANT MOTHERS, INCLUDING 67 FAMILY PROVIDER HOMES, ALL WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON SCHOOL READINESS. EARLY HEAD START HOME-BASED PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND THEIR CHILDREN BY DELIVERING EARLY, CONTINUOUS, INTENSIVE, AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. SPECIAL EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE PRENATAL PERIOD, RECOGNIZING ITS LASTING INFLUENCE ON A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT FROM BIRTH THROUGH THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF LIFE. IN ADDITION TO EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, ECS PROVIDES EARLY MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, PEDIATRIC NURSE SERVICES, AND POSTPARTUM CARE TO SUPPORT PARENTS AND NEWBORNS DURING CRITICAL EARLY STAGES. KEY OUTCOMES: * 54 HEALTHY PREGNANCIES * 32 POSITIVE CHILDBIRTH OUTCOMES * INCREASED FATHER ENGAGEMENT IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG CHILDREN ECS PROGRAMS ACTIVELY PROMOTE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT FAMILIES IN ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. NOTABLY, 1,241 MALE PARTICIPANTS WERE ENGAGED ACROSS VARIOUS ECS EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES, REFLECTING A STRONG COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.

OLDER ADULT SERVICES' ONE COMMON GOAL FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLANNING FOR ALL PROGRAM MODELS IN FY 2025 REMAINED REINFORCEMENT OF THE NEW APPROACH IN THE AGING FIELD - SUPPORTING CLIENTS IN COMMUNITIES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO SENIORS CAN REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON BRINGING MOST REQUIRED SERVICES TO THE CLIENTS IN THEIR PLACE, AND MINIMIZE REFERRALS TO NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING, HOSPITALS, ETC. INTENSIVE OUTREACH AND PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES TO COMBAT AGE- ENCOURAGING AGE-INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AND HIGHLIGHTING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGEISM ON HEALTH, FINANCE, AND SOCIETY. OLDER ADULT'S CENTERS HAVE CONTINUED WITH AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH AND RE-ENGAGEMENT OF SENIORS TO INCREASE OPERATING CAPACITY. MOST OF SERVICE UNITS HAVE BEEN SHOWING A POSITIVE TREND FOR ON-SITE ACTIVITIES AS WELL CONTINUED INCREASE IN MEAL SERVICES. 9,831 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS RECEIVED SERVICES AT 19 OLDER ADULT CENTERS. BLOOMING HEALTH, OAS INTERFACING PLATFORM SPECIFIC FOR THE AGING FIELD, EXPANDED THE UTILIZATION ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS. MORE DAILY/WEEKLY REMINDERS, INVITES TO EVENTS, SATISFACTION SURVEYS, INCLEMENT WEATHER AND EMERGENCY ALERTS WERE SENT OUT THROUGH INTERFACE PLATFORM WHICH HELPS TO CAPTURE BIGGER MEMBERSHIP AND SAVES STAFF TIME. PROGRAMS CONTINUED ASSISTING SENIORS IN LEARNING TO ACCESS TECHNOLOGY THROUGH MORE CLASSES AND INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS WHEN COMMUNITY YOUTH HAVE ONE-TO-ONE SESSION WITH SENIORS. IN THE SUMMER, CCNS OLDER ADULT CENTERS WERE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING SENIORS IN COMMUNITIES OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS DURING HEAT EMERGENCIES AS A PART OF NETWORK OF COOLING CENTERS IN RESPONSE TO CITY'S HEAT EMERGENCY PLAN. CENTERS CONTINUE WITH EDUCATION OF SENIORS REGARDING AGEISM TO PROMOTE AND EMPHASIZE POSITIVE APPROACH TO STAY HEALTHY, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS COORDINATED ALL ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOR FUNDING OF AGING PROGRAMS. WELLNESS ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN EXPANDING AT CENTERS AS WELL. MORE HEALTH MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO SENIORS. PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS, SUCH AS TRIPS TO THE PHARMACY OR GROCERY STORES, TO ADDING MORE RECREATIONAL TYPE TRIPS SUCH AS VISITS TO CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER VENUES FOR LEISURE. THIS PLANNING IMPROVED UTILIZATION OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICE UNITS. ALL OUR CENTERS CONSTANTLY UPDATE PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCEMENTS ON CENTERS' WEBSITES ALSO HELPED TO REINFORCE OUTREACH AND RE-ENGAGEMENT OF SENIORS. CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS CONTINUED WITH HOME VISITS AND ASSESSMENTS OF HOMEBOUND CLIENTS. TOTAL CLIENTS FOR FY 25 SERVED BETWEEN SWQ AND BENSON 1638. DECREASE WAS DUE TO MANY FACTORS WHICH INCLUDED CLIENT TERMINATIONS AND NOT HAVING DEDICATED STAFF TO DO OUTREACHES FOR FY 25. PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO REDUCE WAITING LIST FOR SERVICES DESPITE CONSTANT SHORTAGE IN STAFFING. MORE REPORTING TOOLS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY FUNDING SOURCE NYC AGING, E.G. MONTHLY REVIEWS OF WAITLIST, ASSESSMENT REVIEWS AND MORE. IN JUNE 2025 DFTA TRANSITIONED TO A NEW DATABASE CALLED VIVE FOR QUEENS ALONE AS THEY WERE PART OF A PILOT PROGRAM. DURING FY 24 HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAMS DELIVERED AN AVERAGE OF 1,671 MEALS OVER 249 DAYS 416,079 MEALS OVERALL BY 2 HOME DELIVERED MEALS PROGRAMS- SOUTHWEST QUEENS & NORTHEAST QUEENS HDMPS. SWQ RECEIVED 6 VEHICLES FROM JASA TO COVER NEWLY ADDED CD 14 TRANSFERRED FROM JASA TO CCNS. PROGRAMS ALSO KEPT SOME VEHICLES FROM WESTERN QUEENS. SWQ HDMP MOVED TO THE NEW LOCATION TO HOWARD BEACH, ON THE GROUND OF ST ANASTASIA. SOCIAL ADULT DAY CARE FOR SENIOR WITH ALZHEIMER'S SERVED 40 CLIENTS FOR FY25. IT HAS RECEIVED MUCH POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM CAREGIVERS ON IMPROVEMENT IN CLIENTS' COGNITION AND GREAT SUPPORT PROVIDED BY PROGRAM'S STAFF. INTENSIVE PROGRAMMING AND WELLNESS/RECREATION ACTIVITIES SHOWED MUCH IMPROVEMENT TO THIS POPULATION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT TO CAREGIVER WITH ITS MONTHLY CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS. PROGRAM HAS GREAT RECOGNITION IN THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAM RECEIVED CONGRESSIONAL CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FROM CONGRESSMAN GREGORY MEEKS. NORC PROGRAM DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR FY 25 REMAINED REDUCED, WHICH LEFT IT WITH LIMITED STAFFING. HOWEVER, PROGRAM CONTINUED TO SUCCESSFULLY SERVE CLIENTS RESIDING IN THE SHEEPSHEAD-NOSTRAND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN BROOKLYN WITH MANY GROUP ACTIVITIES, ON SITE AND VIRTUAL. NURSING HOURS FUNDED BY CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES TO SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN FY 25 PROGRAM SERVED 260 UNDUPLICATED ACTIVE CLIENTS. THE MEMBERSHIP WAS INCREASED TO 326 MEMBERS. PROGRAM HAD 100% PERFORMANCE AUDIT OUTCOME. GERIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH CONDUCTED 554 MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS TO SENIORS IN OAS PORTFOLIO AND SERVED COMMUNITIES. BASED ON RESULTS OF SCREENINGS, 32 CLIENTS RECEIVED SHORT- TERM COUNSELING UNTIL THEY WERE REFERRED TO LONG- TERM PROVIDERS FOR CONTINUUM OF CARE. PROGRAM STAFF HAD PHONE AND GROUPS SERVICES AS WELL. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH SENIOR CENTER'S STAFF TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OF SENIORS.