BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES INC

BIRCH OPERATES EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY. YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS ARE RECEIVING THE SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THEY NEED TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES FACE. BIRCH ALSO SERVES TYPICALLY-DEVELOPING PRESCHOOLERS FUNDED THROUGH NYC DECE. BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAMS, MANY OF THE CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS WHOM BIRCH GRADUATES EACH YEAR ENTER PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSES FOR TYPICALLY-DEVELOPING CHILDREN OR ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN LESS INTENSIVE SPECIAL CLASSES. THE PHYLLIS L. SUSSER SCHOOL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN IN FLUSHING SERVES CHILDREN AGES 5-21 WITH AUTISM, DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES, SEVERE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENTS AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES WHOSE NEEDS CANNOT BE MET BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE BIRCH ANNEX IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS SERVES CHILDREN AGES 5-8 YEAR WITH AUTISM.

BIRCH OPERATES OTHER COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH SEVERE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RECEIVE TWENTY-FOUR HOUR CARE IN BIRCH'S 20 RESIDENCES LOCATED IN MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN AND QUEENS. MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN LIVING IN STATE INSTITUTIONS BUT NOW ENJOY REAL HOMES IN COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. WE ALSO SERVE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR DAY HABILITATION PROGRAMS IN OUR SITES LOCATED IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS. BIRCH'S NEW FRONTIER PROGRAM INITIATIVE SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO ASSIST THEM IN TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL BY ENGAGING THEM IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE EVENTUAL EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING.