Young People Rock the Northwest Corner Year After Year Exploring

Spring, 2014
Young People Rock the Northwest Corner Year After Year
The Battle of the Bands Celebrates its 10th Year
For 10 years, HSYB has been giving local talent a showcase for their musical abilities. The annual event, which draws
hundreds of spectators of all ages, offers an evening of eclectic music that is top notch. This year’s event is a big one, with
a bake sale hosted by our YIP program and a raffle sponsored by Peter Becks Village Store. The show will be held on April
26th at the Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and cost of admission is $8.00. All proceeds
support our Student Assistance Program, which provides free counseling and support to children and teens throughout
Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury and Sharon. Special thanks to: Harney & Sons Fine Teas, Torrington
Savings Bank, Robert J. Bird D.D.S, Paley’s Farm Market, Salisbury Bank and Trust, The Community Foundation of Northwest
Connecticut, Graham Stone and John Atchley.
Exploring Diversity through Film
YIP Program Captures Diversity in the Region
Funding from the Community Foundation of Northwest
Connecticut is helping young people peel back the surface
of diversity.
Each year, with support from the Foundation, HYSB enlists
a cohort of young people to identify and engage in
addressing a community need. Now in its third year, Youth
In Philanthropy students have tackled a variety of
community needs, from bolstering healthy body image to
reducing incidents of teen impaired driving. However, this
year’s cohort expressed a keen interest in the topic of
diversity.
In exploring the most effective way to attack this broad
topic, students quickly honed in on the idea of producing a
film. From here, the group went looking for someone
working in film to help bring their idea to life.
Filmaker Dominique Lasseur interviewing HVRHS Student Eric Chin
Prodded by a compelling topic, accomplished filmmaker
Dominique Lasseur, who runs the successful Civic Life
Project, jumped at the opportunity to work with the group.
The Numbers
Supporting Young Women in our Community
Donors Invest In The Empowering Young Women Program
Over
Amount Raised In Our
Appeal…THANK YOU!
Average weekly value
of free services
provided through our
Student Assistant
Program
Number of Master
level Social Work
students we have
Interning with us
Empowering Young Women students attending the “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” conference
at Dutchess County Community College.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Empowering Young Women
Program has become a longstanding collaboration between HYSB and
Women’s Support Services. Donors are funding a program that is helping
young women from Housatonic Valley Regional High School attend a series of
group meetings led by HYSB and WSS facilitators. Beyond the core meetings,
groups attend enlightening and informative presentations in the area. This
year’s group was fortunate to participate in the “Love Shouldn’t Hurt”
conference at Dutchess County Community College, a well-attended event in
its first year. The day-long forum focused on a variety of topics related to
healthy relationships.
Laying The Foundation For Our Future
HYSB Sets Sights On A Bold Expansion And Sustainability Plan
For nearly 25 years, our community has looked to us as a leader in child and
adolescent enrichment programming as well as free behavioral-health services.
The demand for our services is significant and there is so much more we need
to do; this is why we have embarked on a bold 5-year strategic plan. The
structure of the plan sets us on a path that will:
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


Number of Christmas
gifts given to area
children through our
collaboration with St
Mary’s Church
Expand counseling and case management services to children/adolescents
Expand current enrichment programming, broadening our impact
Develop new, highly innovative programs
Establish an endowment ensuring our sustainability
All of this starts with a new space. We have begun collaborating in the
development of this new physical space due to an unprecedented opportunity
to relocate our services to a building on the HVRHS campus. This new space
will not only meet our current needs; it will also allow us to grow, reach more
children and families and increase the depth of our services and programs!
Foundation Fuels Healthy Body Image Initiative
YIP Students Set Their Sights On Promoting Healthy Body Image
Peer Educator Program
Using The Power Of Peers
I feel that my training for Peer
Mentoring was very successful. I
learned how to deal with children
who may have multiple disabilities.
Licensed professional counselor Jennifer Robinson (left) and HYSB counselor Erin Curry
(right) conduct an exercise with a group of Housatonic Valley Regional High School
The Community Foundation Of Northwest Connecticut is teaming up with HYSB to
help address needs in our community. Each year, with support through the
Foundation, HYSB launches a Youth In Philanthropy group at the Housatonic Valley
Regional High School. The group, comprised primarily of junior and seniors, identify
a community need, brainstorm a solution, and uses Foundation funds to address
the need.
The 2013 YIP group decided to set their sights on addressing the concerns they had
around eating disorders and healthy body image issues. This led to the eventual
intervention that the YIP group felt would make a difference, which brought
licensed professional counselor Jennifer Robinson to the stage. Ms. Robinson, a
Licensed Professional Counselor and Art Therapist with over 12 years of experience
treating children, adolescents, adults and families impacted by and diagnosed with
an eating disorders, collaborated with HYSB clinician, Erin Curry, to conduct a twopronged community intervention.
The first stage involved working with the entire 10th grade class at HVRHS. A series
of workshops tailored to males and females brought to light an issue that gets very
little exposure.
The second prong in the intervention will be more clinical in nature. Ms. Robinson
and Ms. Curry will co-lead a support group at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in
Cornwall. The seven week program will lead a group of referred participants aged
16 - 28. The group will be provided with education, art experiential, coping skills and
techniques designed for individuals living with an eating disorder. Additionally, the
group will provide a forum for participants to share their stories, concerns,
successes and challenges regarding their journey.
I felt that I could really try my best
to help them out. I also think that
the Peer Mentor program is a very
good and successful program. I
think that I really helped out the
girl that I mentored, and taught her
to try and make the best decisions
and be kind to others. I am thankful that Mrs. Begley brought me
into this program so that I could
help her out. I am looking forward
to another year of Peer Mentoring.
-Salisbury Central Peer MentorJada Wilson
Planned Giving
Your Impact Can Last, And Last…
Please remember HYSB in your
estate planning and you can make
your impact last and last. If you
have any questions on how your
individual estate plan can become
a gift to every single child in our
community, please call HYSB today!
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Housatonic Youth Service Bureau
P.O. Box 356
Falls Village, CT 06031
NON PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
FALLS VILLAGE, CT
PERMIT No. 7
Board of Directors 2013-2014
Linda Sloane (President), Lakeville
Lance Beizer (Vice President), Canaan
Diane Johnstone (Treasurer), Canaan
Marie Lanier (Secretary), Falls Village
Nancy Bird, Sharon
Ron Dower, Canaan
Bonnie Kinsman, Canaan
Matt Mette, Sharon
Ruth Trudeau, West Cornwall
Lisa Carter, Norfolk
Andrew Cox, Lakeville
Friends
Angela Engle, Salisbury; Anne Grant, W.
Cornwall; Elizabeth D. Christinat, Canaan; Rick
Levy, Kent; Guy Rovezzi, Falls Village; Rep.
Roberta Willis, Lakeville; Alice Yoakum,
Lakeville; Lisa Harmon, Falls Village; Carol
McGuire, Falls Village; Ruth Epstein, Kent
Donors Take a Swing at Youth Empowerment
Annual Tournament Draws Golfers of all Levels
We are humbled to say that year after year or annual tournament is
bursting at the seams with golfers. Scores of teams from around our
community and of all levels come out to not only have some fun with
friends, but to show their commitment
The Housatonic Youth
to healthy and thriving young people
Service Bureau has had a
in our community.
major impact on my life in
the past year. As a
teenager, opportunities
like these are hard to
come by—and invaluable.
We expect the same to be true this
year when golfers hit the links at our
tournament on Monday, August 25,
2014 at The Torrington Country Club.
Foursomes and individual players of all
abilities are invited to register for a great day on this private course.
8/25/14
Golfer registration is $150/player, or $600 for a foursome. This
includes 18 holes of golf, cart fees and beverages on the course,
barbeque lunch, and a post-game hors d'oeuvre and cocktails
reception/awards ceremony. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m.
followed by lunch. Shotgun tee-off is at 12:30 p.m. and the reception
begins at 5:30 p.m. The format is a 4-man scramble, with prizes for 1st
place, runner up, Closest to the Pin, Straightest Drive and a grand
prize of $10,000 for Hole-in-One. The day will also include a putting
contest and an instant raffle