by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jun 21, 2022 | In The Media, Press Releases
Jennifer Rush takes on critical role at Long Island’s leading children’s mental health organization.
Roslyn Heights, NY, June 10, 2022 — North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center (the 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 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, 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.
“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 goal 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 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.”
To contact Jennifer Rush, email jrush@northshorechildguidance.org or call 516-626-1971, ext. 333.
About Us: As the preeminent not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center is dedicated to restoring and strengthening the emotional well-being of children (from birth – age 24) and their families. Our highly trained staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, vocational rehabilitation counselors and other mental health professionals lead the way in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, training, parent education, research and advocacy. The Guidance Center helps children and families address issues such as depression and anxiety; developmental delays; bullying; teen pregnancy; sexual abuse; teen drug and alcohol abuse; and family crises stemming from illness, death, trauma and divorce. For nearly 70 years, the Guidance Center has been a place of hope and healing, providing innovative and compassionate treatment to all who enter our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about the Guidance Center, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call (516) 626-1971.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jun 20, 2022 | Blog
In 2021, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center continued to respond to the mental health challenges among our youth, which the U.S. Surgeon General deemed a true crisis. While the pandemic exacerbated these challenges among children and teens, the rates of suicidal thinking, depression, anxiety and other issues have been on the rise for well over a decade.
In our Annual Report, we give you an overview of the year that was, including a rundown of our programs and services; success stories and letters from our families; and a special feature focusing on two of our most important programs: the Douglas S. Feldman Suicide Prevention Project and the Fay J. Lindner Foundation Triage and Emergency Services.
We could not provide these lifesaving services to the community without the support of all our treasured donors, including you.
Thank you for allowing us to bring hope and healing to the children and families of Long Island.
Click here to view or download the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center Annual Report 2021
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jun 13, 2022 | Blog
There may be no scarier words for a parent to hear from their child than “Some days I just don’t think I can go on any longer,” or a similar sentiment. The reality is that children and teens are under more stress than ever, with suicidal thinking and actions on the rise over the past decade. Moreover, the isolation and fear surrounding the pandemic has created a dramatic increase in severe depression and anxiety.
But even before COVID-19 upended our lives, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center was responding to the crisis in suicidal thinking and actions among young people with two initiatives focused on saving lives: the Douglas S. Feldman Suicide Prevention Project and the Fay J. Lindner Foundation Triage and Emergency Services.
Answering the Call
In 2021, the Guidance Center experienced a substantial increase in referrals from schools, pediatricians, hospitals and others. Those entities know that we promise to see urgent cases within 24 to 48 hours—an unheard-of response time, when most families are faced with waits of weeks or even months to get help for their children.
In fact, recent stories in the New York Times and other sources report that suicidal children and teens often wait in emergency exam rooms for days or even weeks to access urgently needed treatment. Both inpatient and outpatient mental health services, even when a situation is clearly an emergency, are in extremely short supply.
By contrast, when an urgent call comes into the Guidance Center, our most senior triage clinicians and their team members assess each individual case, working collaboratively with the family and child to create a treatment plan that provides the care these vulnerable children and teens need to begin on the road to healing.
We address all high-risk cases with a thorough evaluation for suicide risk; multiple sessions of individual, group and family therapy each week for as long as is needed; and an individualized treatment plan that focuses on safety strategies and healthy coping skills.
A key element in the creation of a safety plan is a list of prioritized coping strategies and sources of support that children and teens can use during times of crisis. We have found that this is an essential process to help engage our high-risk clients during a most vulnerable time.
We also provide educational seminars, both in person and via webinars, on suicide prevention, so that parents, students, medical professionals and school administrators learn to recognize the signs and know what resources are available to them, including our services.
Treating the Whole Child
The Guidance Center team knows the importance of treating our clients with a holistic, expansive approach, so our clinicians work closely with the family, schools and other entities to explore whether the systems in place are a good fit for the child.
Some of our young clients have suffered with extreme bullying, academic failure, lack of support in their schools and other traumatic situations. To address all of a child’s emotional needs, we advocate for more support services, whether it means securing additional accommodations in the school, offering a different setting that is more therapeutic or providing case management for the family.
Our clinicians are a lifeline to kids and parents, providing emotional support, state-of-the-art clinical services, community resources and concrete steps that enable them to move beyond despair and hopelessness so they can envision a truly bright future.
Donors Make the Difference
Without the generosity of Ellen and Donald Feldman, who funded the program in honor of their son, and the trustees at the Fay J. Lindner Foundation, our lifesaving services would not be possible. To them, and all of you who donate to support the Guidance Center, we are profoundly grateful.
To learn how to support our work, contact Lauren McGowan, Director of Development, at LMcGowan@northshorechildguidance.org, or call 516-626-1971, ext. 320.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jun 13, 2022 | In The Media, Press Releases
Guidance Center Hosts 25th Annual Krevat Cup
Event honoring founder Jeff Krevat raises $150,000 to support children’s mental health
Roslyn Heights, NY, June 9, 2022 —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, 2022, 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.
About Us:
As the preeminent not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center is dedicated to restoring and strengthening the emotional well-being of children (from birth – age 24) and their families. Our highly trained staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, vocational rehabilitation counselors and other mental health professionals lead the way in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, training, parent education, research and advocacy. The Guidance Center helps children and families address issues such as depression and anxiety; developmental delays; bullying; teen pregnancy; sexual abuse; teen drug and alcohol abuse; trauma; and family crises stemming from illness, death and divorce. For nearly 70 years, the Guidance Center has been a place of hope and healing, providing innovative and compassionate treatment to all who enter our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about the Guidance Center, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call (516) 626-1971.
Photo: (Left to right): Krevat Cup co-chairs Troy Slade, Dan Oliver, Michael Schnepper and Mike Mondiello, with emcee Dan Donnelly, honoree Jeff Krevat and Guidance Center Executive Director/CEO Kathy Rivera.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jun 13, 2022 | In The Media, Long Island Business News
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center raised $150,000 at a recent golf outing to support children’s mental health.
This year marked the 25th anniversary for the event, the Jonathan Krevat Memorial Golf & Tennis Classic, which was held at the Engineers Country Club in Roslyn Heights.
The funds raised supports the centers work in bringing “hope and healing to children and families dealing with mental health or substance use challenges,” according to the organization.
And more than $25,000 in additional funds were raised for the Guidance Center’s Douglas S. Feldman Suicide Prevention Project, which was launched in September 2020.
This year’s honoree was 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,” Krevat, a former board member, said in a statement. “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.”
Rachel Priest, a mental health professional who was a Guidance Center client as a teen, was this year’s speaker.
“The life-affirming care I received from the Guidance Center saved my life,” she told the audience.
“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,” she added. “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.”
Michael Mondiello, Dan Oliver, Michael Schnepper and Troy Slade co-chaired the event. Dan Donnelly served as the event’s emcee and auctioneer.
“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,” he said.
