by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jul 5, 2022 | Blank Slate Media, In The Media
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, the preeminent not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Jonathan Krevat Memorial Golf & Tennis Classic on June 6, at one of Nassau County’s finest courses at the elegant Engineers Country Club in Roslyn Heights.
The event raised $150,000 to support the Guidance Center’s work to bring hope and healing to children and families dealing with mental health or substance use challenges. More than $25,000 in additional funds were raised for the Guidance Center’s Douglas S. Feldman Suicide Prevention Project, another life-saving initiative that launched in September 2020.
This year, the event honored Jeff Krevat, a longtime supporter of the Guidance Center and founder of the Krevat Cup, which is named in honor of his brother.
“The mission of the Guidance Center is more important than ever before, with children and teens suffering from serious mental health challenges,” said Krevat, a former board member. “I am grateful to my friends and family for coming out to honor my brother’s legacy and support an organization that makes a real difference for the kids in our community.”
This year’s guest speaker was Rachel Priest, a mental health professional who was a Guidance Center client in her teen years. She told the audience, “The life-affirming care I received from the Guidance Center saved my life. I was able to accomplish wonderful things over the years both socially and academically” because of the dedication, skills and compassion of her Guidance Center therapists. “Knowing that the care I received over 20 years ago is still available and expanding lets me know that the Guidance Center is still changing lives every day.”
Once again, the co-chairs for this year’s Krevat Cup were Board Members Michael Mondiello, Dan Oliver, Michael Schnepper and Troy Slade. In addition, Dan Donnelly served as the event’s emcee and auctioneer extraordinaire.
“It’s all about the kids,” said Donnelly, a longtime supporter of the Guidance Center, as well as a previous Krevat Cup honoree and a close friend of Jeff Krevat’s. “I consider it a privilege to be here today to help raise money to support the incredible work that truly makes a difference in the lives of children and their families.”
The Guidance Center is grateful to the Krevat Cup’s sponsors: Susan and Jeff Krevat, Americana Manhasset, Aon Reinsurance Solutions, Dan Donnelly, PSEG Long Island, Bahnik Foundation, Susan and Peter Braverman, Klipper Family Foundation, City National Rochdale, The Levine Group Inc., Newmark and Rivkin Radler LLP.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jul 5, 2022 | Blank Slate Media, In The Media
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center has announced that Jennifer Rush has joined the organization as associate executive director.
Rush will be reporting to Executive Director/CEO Kathy Rivera.
Rush began her career at the Foundation for Childhood Development in New York as a research assistant, where she explored case studies of how systems support children to reach their full potential.
She has a diverse operations background in medical, educational and community-based services, including hospital and substance abuse settings at Northern Berkshire Healthcare and the Brattleboro Retreat.
Most recently, Rush was the Vice President of Residential and Clinical Services at Berkshire County Arc in Pittsfield, Mass., where she oversaw all residential services, including the autism outreach services program and the brain injury services program.
“With more than 28 years of leadership experience in nonprofit, residential and health care settings, Jennifer has extensive experience working with adults, children and families in mental health and substance use,” said Kathy Rivera. “Her impressive level of knowledge, skill and expertise sets the stage for continued growth and expansion of the Guidance Center and will help strengthen our services across the agency.”
“I am excited to have returned to New York to work at the Guidance Center and find ways to further support the agency’s goal of bringing hope and healing to children and families,” said Rush. “I am also eager to support the Guidance Center’s incredibly dedicated employees who provide their clients with compassionate, high-quality services that truly save lives.”
Rush, who holds a B.A. from Barnard College and a Master of Health Care Administration from Seton Hall University, moved from the Berkshires region of Massachusetts to Long Island’s North Shore in May 2022.
“My two college-age children and our golden retriever are all making the transition,” she said, “and in a very short time, we are all already feeling at home.”
To contact Jennifer Rush, email jrush@northshorechildguidance.org or call 516-626-1971, ext. 333.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jul 5, 2022 | In The Media, The Island Now
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center (the Guidance Center) is pleased to announce the reopening of the Children’s Center at Nassau County Family Court, which provides care and early learning to children while their parents or guardians are conducting court business such as divorce and custody cases.
The Children’s Center had closed during the pandemic, when all Family Court activities were moved to a virtual platform.
“The Children’s Center is a safe haven that allows children the opportunity to develop early learning skills through age-appropriate play and activities that are fun and exciting for toddlers and children up to age 12,” said Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, director of the Guidance Center’s Leeds Place, under which the Children’s Center operates. “Now that the court is on a hybrid schedule with families coming back in, it’s essential that children can return to the Children’s Center so they don’t have to witness potentially contentious interactions among their family members.”
“A lot of important things happen in this building, and at the Children’s Center, children will be well cared for,” said Ellen Greenberg, supervising hudge at Nassau County Family Court.
While participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Greenberg told those gathered, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you this is just babysitting; it’s a true learning center, and families know they can leave their children here safely while they work on court matters.”
“The reopening is great news for the kids who come to Family Court with their parents or guardians,” said family law attorney John M. Zenir, one of the Children’s Center’s most dedicated supporters. “It means they can be safe, away from the stress and strain that’s going on between their parents. They can have a snack, read a book or play a game. In other words, just be a kid—what could be better!”
For Laurie Joseph-Yehuda, the Children’s Center is especially close to her heart, since it was founded by her father, the late Honorable Burton Joseph.
Joseph-Yehuda is a member of the Children’s Center advisory council, and her mother Rene painted the beautiful murals on the walls of the Children’s Center many years ago.
“The reopening of the Children’s Center is so important because it gives children a place to come to be enriched, to learn and to be cared for,” said Joseph-Yehuda.
Another advisory council member, Katherine Cho, a professor in the Criminal Justice department at Nassau Community College, brings her students to the Children’s Center.
“They love to get involved with the Center,” said Cho. “It’s a great way for them to learn about the workings of the Family Court.”
“It’s a privilege to be able to serve children and families to reduce caregiver stress and have opportunities to connect them with resources they may need outside of Family Court,” said Kathy Rivera, Guidance Center executive director/CEO. “We are committed to bringing our families comfort and guidance wherever needed.”
Photo: (Left to right): Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, John Aiken, Kathy Rivera, Ellen Greenberg and Rosemarie Klipper. Credit: Jenna Kern-Rugile
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jul 5, 2022 | In The Media, Press Releases
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center (the Guidance Center) is pleased to announce the reopening of the Children’s Center at Nassau County Family Court, which provides care and early learning to children while their parents or guardians are conducting court business such as divorce and custody cases. The Children’s Center had closed during the pandemic, when all Family Court activities were moved to a virtual platform.
“The Children’s Center is safe haven that allows children the opportunity to develop early learning skills through age-appropriate play and activities that are fun and exciting for toddlers and children up to age 12,” said Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, Director of the Guidance Center’s Leeds Place, under which the Children’s Center operates. “Now that the court is on a hybrid schedule with families coming back in, it’s essential that children can return to the Children’s Center so they don’t have to witness potentially contentious interactions among their family members.”
The Honorable Ellen Greenberg, Supervising Judge at Nassau County Family Court, said, “A lot of important things happen in this building, and at the Children’s Center, children will be well cared for.” While participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Judge Greenberg told those gathered, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you this is just babysitting; it’s a true learning center, and families know they can leave their children here safely while they work on court matters.”
Family law attorney John M. Zenir, one of the Children’s Center’s biggest supporters, said, “The reopening is great news for the kids who come to Family Court with their parents or guardians,” said Zenir. “It means they can be safe, away from the stress and strain that’s going on between their parents. They can have a snack, read a book or play a game. In other words, just be a kid—what could be better!”
For Laurie Joseph-Yehuda, the Children’s Center is especially close to her heart, since it was founded by her father, the late Honorable Burton S. Joseph Burton. Joseph-Yehuda is a member of the Children’s Center Advisory Council, and her mother Rene painted the beautiful murals on the walls of the Children’s Center many years ago.
“The reopening of the Children’s Center is so important, because it gives children a place to come to be enriched, to learn and to be cared for,” said Joseph-Yehuda.
Another Advisory Council Member, Katherine Cho, a professor in the Criminal Justice department at Nassau Community College, brings her students to the Children’s Center. “They love to get involved with the Center,” she said. “It’s a great way for them to learn about the workings of the Family Court.”
To learn more about the Guidance Center’s Children’s Center, contact Dr. Taylor-Walthrust at 516-997-4721.
Photo: (Left to right): Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, John Aiken, Kathy Rivera, Ellen Greenberg and Rosemarie Klipper. Credit: Jenna Kern-Rugile
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jul 5, 2022 | Blog
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center is pleased to announce that Jennifer Rush has joined the organization as Associate Executive Director. Ms. Rush will be reporting to Executive Director/CEO Kathy Rivera.
Ms. Rush began her career at the Foundation for Childhood Development in NY as a research assistant, where she explored case studies of how systems support children to reach their full potential. She has a diverse operations background in medical, educational and community-based services, including hospital and substance abuse settings at Northern Berkshire Healthcare and the Brattleboro Retreat.
Most recently, Ms. Rush was the Vice President of Residential and Clinical Services at Berkshire County Arc in Pittsfield, Mass., where she oversaw all residential services, including the autism outreach services program and the brain injury services program. repeated “With more than 28 years of leadership experience in nonprofit, residential and health care settings, Jennifer has extensive experience working with adults, children and families in mental health and substance use,” said Kathy Rivera, Executive Director/CEO of the Guidance Center. “Her impressive level of knowledge, skill and expertise sets the stage for continued growth and expansion of the Guidance Center and will help strengthen our services across the agency.”
“I am excited to have returned to New York to work at the Guidance Center and find ways to further support the agency’s mission of bringing hope and healing to children and families,” said Ms. Rush. “I am also eager to support the Guidance Center’s incredibly dedicated employees who provide their clients g with compassionate, high-quality services that truly save lives.”
Ms. Rush, who holds a B.A. from Barnard College and a Master of Health Care Administration from Seton Hall University, moved from the Berkshires region of Massachusetts to Long Island’s North Shore in May 2022. “My two college-age children and our golden retriever are all making the transition,” she said, “and in a very short time, we are all already feeling at home.”
