Agency Contact:Agency Contact:

Cynthia L. GrahamExecutive Director

Rachel BaldelliMarketing &

PR Coordinator

Rita WorthingtonExecutive Administrative

Assistant

DecemberDecemberStress FREE

Family Month!

Rita WorthingtonExecutive Administrative

Assistant

MATT AND PLIEKOU

BBBS of Brooklyn/Queens BBBS of the Capital RegionBBBS of Central Southern Tier BBBS of Chenango CountyBBBS of Dutchess CountyBBBS of Erie CountyBBBS of Long IslandBBBS of New York City BBBS of the North Country

BBBS of Onondaga CountyBBBS of Orange CountyBBBS of Greater RochesterBBBS of Rockland CountyBBBS of the Southern Adirondacks BBBS of Ulster CountyBBBS of Family Services of Westchester

BBBIIGGGG BBBRRROOOOTTTTHHHHEEERRRRSSS BBBIIGGGG SSSIISSSTTTTEEERRSSS AAAAGGGEEENNNCCCIIIEEESSSSin partnership throughout New York State

1-866-766-BIGSwww.WhichOneAreYou.org

All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.- Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Mentoring brings us together – across generation, class, and often race – in a manner that forces us to acknowledge our

interdependence, to appreciate, in Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, that ‘we are caught in an inescapable network of

mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny.’ In this way, mentoring enables us to participate in the essential but unfinished drama of reinventing community, while reaffirming that there is an important role for each of us in it.

- Marc Freedman

“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution…how we can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness” – Anne Frank

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. – Mother Teresa

To the world, you may just be somebody. But to somebody, you may just might be the world. – Unknown

CCoConnttaactt RRaacachheell BBaalldeelellli toto o rrececceeiveivve me me moreoreor ininnfoforrf mmaatm iioonn aaabbouuuto oouuur pprroggraammm.rbbbaaldddelllli@@bbbigbbbrotttheerrssbbiiggssisstterrrsusulststeeer.oorrgg

Mentoften

int

mwaybut reaf

- Mar

In honor of

JANUARY 17

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

MarchMarchWomen’s History Month

Nutrition Month

AprilApril

Volunteer Month

MayMayPhyisical Fitness

and Sports Month

JuneJuneSafety Month

JulyBlueberry Month

AugustImmunization

Awareness Month

SeptemberHispanic Heritage

Month

OctoberOctoberBook Month

QUOTE CORNER

QUOTE CORNER: January is National Mentoring Mon

th &

Feb

rua

ry is B

ack

Histo

ry Month

: January is National Mentoring Mon

th &

Feb

rua

ry is B

ack

Histo

ry Month

NovemberNovemberNative American Heritage Month

Ann Adalist-Estrin is Director of the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated at the Family and Corrections Network in Philadelphia and a Child and Family Therapist, in Jenkintown, Pa. Ann is also adjunct faculty at Boston University Medical School/Healthy Steps for Young Children Pediatric Training Program where she teaches courses on the impact of parental/adult caregiver behaviors on child development and attachment.

Examined how attachment, trauma, and brain development theories provide a framework for understanding the impact that adverse childhood experiences such as parental incarceration and community violence has on children and families

Described how to utilize theories of attachment, trauma, and brain development in designing match support protocols for mentoring program staff

Assessed the staff/agency capacity for providing high quality match support when children, families and mentors are reacting to trauma and attachment disturbances

Heard directly from adult children, who have survived parental incarceration and other risk factors, what they needed from mentors, and program staff.

Discussed, applied and practiced match support strategies that will help mentors effectively respond to children at risk and their families to minimize diffi culties, frustrations and disappointments for the children, families and mentors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUTURE TRAININGS, PLEASE CONTACT RITA WORTHINGTON AT 845-338-0431 EXT. 247.

1

2

3

4

5

BIGLittle

MATT AND PLIEKOUMATT AND PLIEKOU

Matt became Pliekou’s Big Brother when Pliekou was just 8 years old. At that time, Pliekou and his older sister were living with Mom and Grandma, as mom awaited sentencing. Pliekou’s Dad was incarcerated and had very little contact with the family. Less than a year into the match, Mom was sentenced to be in Florida, while Pliekou and his sister stayed with Grandma.

Matt is a student at Hobart College and deliberately engaged Pliekou in the campus opportunities. Matt picked Pliekou up at least once a week for dinner, homework, football, swimming, video games or just hanging out. They have formed a strong bond over time and built a lasting trusting relationship. Matt has watched Pliekou grow, gain awareness and independence for the past two years.

The pair were known to faculty and students at Hobart College and became a great example for the program- so much so, they recruited new volunteers without knowing it. At volunteer orientations, many perspective Bigs would comment on wanting to be a Big because they had seen Matt and Pliekou on campus and wanted to be matched because of it.

Pliekou’s Grandmother recently informed us that he would be fi nishing out this school year, and then moving to Florida to live with mom as she completes treatment and re-entry programs. As everyone would, the family wrestles with mixed emotion; the joy of reunifi cation and the pain of leaving all things familiar.

Big Brother Matt is heartbroken. He will miss his Little Brother, but shares the joy of Pliekou joining his mother and reunifying their home. Matt and Pliekou know the relationship does not end- the friendship they share will span the distance to Florida. Technology will allow them to stay in touch and remain ‘brothers’ for years to come.

Matt’s experience as a Big for 2 years has encouraged him to join the student staff for Big Brothers Big Sisters at Hobart. He will now support other volunteers in having this meaningful friendship.

By Tina ChristensenBBBS of Rochester

The winter 2010 NYCP statewide staff training was held on December 2nd and 3rd, 2010 and focussed on Understanding the Impact of Trauma and Attachment Disruptions on Mentor/Mentee Relationships: A Match Support Enhancement Training for Mentoring Programs Serving Children At Risk. Instructor Ann Adalist-Estrin discussed the following key points during the training:

TRAINING WITH ANN ADALIST-ESTRIN

Helping each child to reach their full potential

NY’s Children of Promise95 Grand Street

Kingston, NY 12401

PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATION EVENT

On December 2nd, 2010, NYCP partners, affi liates, sponsors, board members and staff came together in celebration of HHS sponsorship which allows NYCP to continue to support mentoring services to children of prisoners. The evening was lead by the Master of Ceremonies, Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr. (Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project, AMCP), and featured presentations from Prison Families New York (PFNY), the Offi ce of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and the New York State Department of Correction Services (NYS DOCS). The BBBS State Association of New York presented Executive Director, Nancy Kosloski, with the fi rst annual ROBERT MOSS AWARD for exemplary leadership, in memory of Robert Moss, founder and CEO of BBBS of Erie County. The keynote inspirational guest speaker was Deborah Jiang Stein, who spoke about her life experiences as a child of a prisoner, born in a federal prison.

Training and Event Photography by Edgar I Ailor IV

Alison, Jay, & Cecily Coleman,, PFNYPrison Families New York, Inc.

Kenneth Perlman, Associate CommissionerNew York State Dept. of

Correctional Services

Greg Owens, OCFSOffi ce of Children

and Families Services

Mark Scott, BBBSABig Brothers

Big Sisters of Americafrom left to rightRev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., Director

Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project

PARTNERSHIP WITH AMACHI MENTORING COALITION PROJECT

$4.5 MILLION AWARDED TO NYCP BY HHS

New York’s Children of Promise (NYCP) was awarded $4.5 million dollars in federal funding by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families in September of 2010. Under this grant, NYCP will provide mentoring services to 1500 children of prisoners over the next 3 years, who reside in more than 41 counties across New York State. “The work that Big Brothers Big Sisters is doing on behalf of these children is critically important,” said New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey, who wrote a letter in support of the grant. “These mentoring services will dramatically improve the lives of these young people who happen to have parents who are in prison. I am so proud to support this funding moving forward.”

Key amongst statewide partnerships is the collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters affi liates and the NYS Department of Correctional Services, in a joint effort to identify and engage eligible children and families. BBBS staff have been welcomed into multiple correctional facilities throughout New York State, to educate incarcerated parents about the benefi ts of mentoring, and how they can refer their child to the program. “Imprisoned parents often feel stripped of all parental rights and authority; NYCP strives to empower these mothers and fathers with the opportunity to extend support to their children by way of a caring adult mentor,” says Cynthia Graham, NYCP Executive Director. “Volunteer mentors are not a replacement for an absent parent, but rather serve as an additional supportive adult in a child’s life.”

In a prepared statement, Commissioner Brian Fischer, of the New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYS DOCS) extends his continued support: “The kind of role modeling and positive support adult mentors in the community provide to the children of offenders are invaluable in helping each child understand and work through issues related to the incarceration of a parent. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant will pay dividends in a number of important ways: by helping these children make the right choices in life while coming to terms with a parent who is incarcerated; and by improving relationships between incarcerated parents and their children, thus improving the offenders’ chances to make the right choices after their release from prison and thereby reducing recidivism. We fully support and appreciate the efforts of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ulster County and New York State Mentoring Children of Promise in partnering with the DOCS, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for recognizing the importance of funding this important program and enabling us to continue this effective collaboration.”

Over the next three years, BBBS agencies throughout New York State will enroll children (“Littles”) with an incarcerated parent from age four to 18. Volunteer adult mentors (“Bigs”) are recruited, screened, trained, and professionally supported by BBBS staff, to provide long-term friendship-based mentoring to these children. The program seeks a minimum of a one year commitment from volunteer mentors.

BBBS agencies will enhance their support to families by further assessing the needs of youth and caregivers in order to effectively coordinate and monitor supplemental services within the mentoring organization, or by way of referrals to formal linkages with external community resources. “NYCP accepts the challenge of bringing to the forefront the specifi c needs of a once (invisible) population.” said Cynthia Graham “We will continue to serve the children, serve them well, serve as many as possible without compromising the quality of services rendered.”

Commissioner Brian Fischer

CongressmanMaurice Hinchey

New York’s Children of Promise was awarded $675k in funding from the Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project (AMCP) in July of 2010. This funding is part of a national grant from the Offi ce of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The AMCP program provides mentoring services and support to children who are impacted by incarceration. Originally, NYCP received a small grant from AMCP in January 2010, to serve 5 counties in New York. However, the strong need for services in New York State and our ongoing collaborative efforts to service this population of children and families, has expanded our partnership with AMCP from a 5 county program to currently serving 27 counties across the state. This service opportunity has allowed us to provide quality, one-to-one mentoring to over 500 children who are impacted by incarceration in NYS. Currently, NYCP is negotiating the level of continued sponsorship from AMCP for the upcoming fi scal year: July 2011 through June 2012.

Special Thanks to all of our sponsors, agency affiliates, and community partners for these tremendous service opportunities...New York’s Children of Promise humbly accepts

this call to action to service the children and families of New York State.

Big Brothers Big Sisters New York’s Children of Promise

Nancy KosloskiRobert Moss Award

Recipient

Ruth Whatera,NYCP Grant Writer

Cynthia Graham, Executive DirectorNY’s Children of Promise

Deborah Jiang Stein, Keynote Speaker

Chemung

SteubenAllegany

WyomingLivingston Yates

Schuyler

Monroe Wayne

Ontario

Orleans

Genesee

Brooklyn / Queens

g

Brooklyn & Queens

St. Lawrence

Lewis

Onondaga

Onondaga

Rockland

Ulster

Greene

Columbia

Washington

Warren

Broome

Chenango

AlbanyRensselaer

Saratoga

Schenectady

Capital Region

Sullivan

Orange

Dutchess

Putnam

Otsego

Westchester

NYC

NYC

Westchester

Erie

Eiren

New York’s Children of Promise provides one-to-one mentoring services to children who have a parent or caregiver currently incarcerated in a State or Federal prison facility AND children who are impacted by incarceration either within their families or based on the crime rates of where they live. This map shows the service areas that Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies cover under these programs. We are currently servicing 42 counties within NYS. The combined total of children to be served during 2010-2011 is just under 1200 youth.

55 55

125125

8989

128128

114114

1010

1010

1212

130130 1001007979

175175

1010175175

BigBrothers Big Sisters ofCentral Southern Tier

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofRochesterBig Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofBrooklyn & Queens

St. Lawrence

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofthe North Country

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofOnondaga

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofRockland

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofUlsterBig Brothers Big Sisters ofthe Southern Adirondacks

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofChenango

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofthe Capital Region

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofOrange

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofDutchess

Big Brothers Big SIsters ofNYC

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofWestchester

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofErie

A PRECIOUS GIFT

moments

When I was fi rst asked to be matched with my Little Sister and heard her story, I was worried. Her parents were both in jail for a crime which is diffi cult for an adult to understand. I wondered how on earth a child could survive this event and be anything but a mess. Well, I found out how. My Little Sister is an amazing young lady.

She has triumphed through some very diffi cult circumstances. She has been passed from home to home and school to school, and is currently being raised by a grandparent, who is stretched far too thin just to make ends meet. The school system and court system have supported my Little very well through the process with counseling and support. Plus, she had lots of great friends.

What was missing was a Big Sister. Someone she could tell secrets to, and talk to when she was deciding whether or not to visit her father. Someone who could listen to the events that preceded the trauma that she experienced. Someone who was not assessing her or interested for sensation sake. Someone who just listened and cared about her thoughts and feelings. Someone who let her tell her story, in her own time, while painting or sewing or sitting in the car on rides back home. I have been proud to be a part of the Big Sisters organization.

In the past I would have written someone like my Little Sister off as a lost cause, as so many might do if it had not been for Big Brothers Big Sisters championing for her and her needs. Thank you for giving me the most precious gift.

88

NUMBER OF YOUTH TO BE SERVED BY BBBS AGENCIES

Executive Director

Cynthia Graham

Who knows but what God has brought us through this child.

Names concealed to preserve match identity.

Gail Duncan, Board of DirectorsNY’s Children of Promise

Sue West, PresidentFamilies Services, Inc.

Carlton Mitchell, Interim Executive DirectorFamilies Services, Inc.

Memory of

Robert F. MossJuly 27, 1952 - August 14, 2010

Group shot of various NYCP staff from throughout New York State

Memoryr ofo

Robert F. MossJuly 27, 1952 - August 14, 2010

PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATION EVENT

On December 2nd, 2010, NYCP partners, affi liates, sponsors, board members and staff came together in celebration of HHS sponsorship which allows NYCP to continue to support mentoring services to children of prisoners. The evening was lead by the Master of Ceremonies, Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr. (Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project, AMCP), and featured presentations from Prison Families New York (PFNY), the Offi ce of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and the New York State Department of Correction Services (NYS DOCS). The BBBS State Association of New York presented Executive Director, Nancy Kosloski, with the fi rst annual ROBERT MOSS AWARD for exemplary leadership, in memory of Robert Moss, founder and CEO of BBBS of Erie County. The keynote inspirational guest speaker was Deborah Jiang Stein, who spoke about her life experiences as a child of a prisoner, born in a federal prison.

Training and Event Photography by Edgar I Ailor IV

Alison, Jay, & Cecily Coleman,, PFNYPrison Families New York, Inc.

Kenneth Perlman, Associate CommissionerNew York State Dept. of

Correctional Services

Greg Owens, OCFSOffi ce of Children

and Families Services

Mark Scott, BBBSABig Brothers

Big Sisters of Americafrom left to rightRev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., Director

Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project

PARTNERSHIP WITH AMACHI MENTORING COALITION PROJECT

$4.5 MILLION AWARDED TO NYCP BY HHS

New York’s Children of Promise (NYCP) was awarded $4.5 million dollars in federal funding by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families in September of 2010. Under this grant, NYCP will provide mentoring services to 1500 children of prisoners over the next 3 years, who reside in more than 41 counties across New York State. “The work that Big Brothers Big Sisters is doing on behalf of these children is critically important,” said New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey, who wrote a letter in support of the grant. “These mentoring services will dramatically improve the lives of these young people who happen to have parents who are in prison. I am so proud to support this funding moving forward.”

Key amongst statewide partnerships is the collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters affi liates and the NYS Department of Correctional Services, in a joint effort to identify and engage eligible children and families. BBBS staff have been welcomed into multiple correctional facilities throughout New York State, to educate incarcerated parents about the benefi ts of mentoring, and how they can refer their child to the program. “Imprisoned parents often feel stripped of all parental rights and authority; NYCP strives to empower these mothers and fathers with the opportunity to extend support to their children by way of a caring adult mentor,” says Cynthia Graham, NYCP Executive Director. “Volunteer mentors are not a replacement for an absent parent, but rather serve as an additional supportive adult in a child’s life.”

In a prepared statement, Commissioner Brian Fischer, of the New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYS DOCS) extends his continued support: “The kind of role modeling and positive support adult mentors in the community provide to the children of offenders are invaluable in helping each child understand and work through issues related to the incarceration of a parent. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant will pay dividends in a number of important ways: by helping these children make the right choices in life while coming to terms with a parent who is incarcerated; and by improving relationships between incarcerated parents and their children, thus improving the offenders’ chances to make the right choices after their release from prison and thereby reducing recidivism. We fully support and appreciate the efforts of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ulster County and New York State Mentoring Children of Promise in partnering with the DOCS, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for recognizing the importance of funding this important program and enabling us to continue this effective collaboration.”

Over the next three years, BBBS agencies throughout New York State will enroll children (“Littles”) with an incarcerated parent from age four to 18. Volunteer adult mentors (“Bigs”) are recruited, screened, trained, and professionally supported by BBBS staff, to provide long-term friendship-based mentoring to these children. The program seeks a minimum of a one year commitment from volunteer mentors.

BBBS agencies will enhance their support to families by further assessing the needs of youth and caregivers in order to effectively coordinate and monitor supplemental services within the mentoring organization, or by way of referrals to formal linkages with external community resources. “NYCP accepts the challenge of bringing to the forefront the specifi c needs of a once (invisible) population.” said Cynthia Graham “We will continue to serve the children, serve them well, serve as many as possible without compromising the quality of services rendered.”

Commissioner Brian Fischer

CongressmanMaurice Hinchey

New York’s Children of Promise was awarded $675k in funding from the Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project (AMCP) in July of 2010. This funding is part of a national grant from the Offi ce of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The AMCP program provides mentoring services and support to children who are impacted by incarceration. Originally, NYCP received a small grant from AMCP in January 2010, to serve 5 counties in New York. However, the strong need for services in New York State and our ongoing collaborative efforts to service this population of children and families, has expanded our partnership with AMCP from a 5 county program to currently serving 27 counties across the state. This service opportunity has allowed us to provide quality, one-to-one mentoring to over 500 children who are impacted by incarceration in NYS. Currently, NYCP is negotiating the level of continued sponsorship from AMCP for the upcoming fi scal year: July 2011 through June 2012.

Special Thanks to all of our sponsors, agency affiliates, and community partners for these tremendous service opportunities...New York’s Children of Promise humbly accepts

this call to action to service the children and families of New York State.

Big Brothers Big Sisters New York’s Children of Promise

Nancy KosloskiRobert Moss Award

Recipient

Ruth Whatera,NYCP Grant Writer

Cynthia Graham, Executive DirectorNY’s Children of Promise

Deborah Jiang Stein, Keynote Speaker

Chemung

SteubenAllegany

WyomingLivingston Yates

Schuyler

Monroe Wayne

Ontario

Orleans

Genesee

Brooklyn / Queens

g

Brooklyn & Queens

St. Lawrence

Lewis

Onondaga

Onondaga

Rockland

Ulster

Greene

Columbia

Washington

Warren

Broome

Chenango

AlbanyRensselaer

Saratoga

Schenectady

Capital Region

Sullivan

Orange

Dutchess

Putnam

Otsego

Westchester

NYC

NYC

Westchester

Erie

Eiren

New York’s Children of Promise provides one-to-one mentoring services to children who have a parent or caregiver currently incarcerated in a State or Federal prison facility AND children who are impacted by incarceration either within their families or based on the crime rates of where they live. This map shows the service areas that Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies cover under these programs. We are currently servicing 42 counties within NYS. The combined total of children to be served during 2010-2011 is just under 1200 youth.

55 55

125125

8989

128128

114114

1010

1010

1212

130130 1001007979

175175

1010175175

BigBrothers Big Sisters ofCentral Southern Tier

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofRochesterBig Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofBrooklyn & Queens

St. Lawrence

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofthe North Country

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofOnondaga

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofRockland

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofUlsterBig Brothers Big Sisters ofthe Southern Adirondacks

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofChenango

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofthe Capital Region

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofOrange

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofDutchess

Big Brothers Big SIsters ofNYC

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofWestchester

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofErie

A PRECIOUS GIFT

moments

When I was fi rst asked to be matched with my Little Sister and heard her story, I was worried. Her parents were both in jail for a crime which is diffi cult for an adult to understand. I wondered how on earth a child could survive this event and be anything but a mess. Well, I found out how. My Little Sister is an amazing young lady.

She has triumphed through some very diffi cult circumstances. She has been passed from home to home and school to school, and is currently being raised by a grandparent, who is stretched far too thin just to make ends meet. The school system and court system have supported my Little very well through the process with counseling and support. Plus, she had lots of great friends.

What was missing was a Big Sister. Someone she could tell secrets to, and talk to when she was deciding whether or not to visit her father. Someone who could listen to the events that preceded the trauma that she experienced. Someone who was not assessing her or interested for sensation sake. Someone who just listened and cared about her thoughts and feelings. Someone who let her tell her story, in her own time, while painting or sewing or sitting in the car on rides back home. I have been proud to be a part of the Big Sisters organization.

In the past I would have written someone like my Little Sister off as a lost cause, as so many might do if it had not been for Big Brothers Big Sisters championing for her and her needs. Thank you for giving me the most precious gift.

88

NUMBER OF YOUTH TO BE SERVED BY BBBS AGENCIES

Executive Director

Cynthia Graham

Who knows but what God has brought us through this child.

Names concealed to preserve match identity.

Gail Duncan, Board of DirectorsNY’s Children of Promise

Sue West, PresidentFamilies Services, Inc.

Carlton Mitchell, Interim Executive DirectorFamilies Services, Inc.

Memory of

Robert F. MossJuly 27, 1952 - August 14, 2010

Group shot of various NYCP staff from throughout New York State

Memoryr ofo

Robert F. MossJuly 27, 1952 - August 14, 2010

PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATION EVENT

On December 2nd, 2010, NYCP partners, affi liates, sponsors, board members and staff came together in celebration of HHS sponsorship which allows NYCP to continue to support mentoring services to children of prisoners. The evening was lead by the Master of Ceremonies, Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr. (Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project, AMCP), and featured presentations from Prison Families New York (PFNY), the Offi ce of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and the New York State Department of Correction Services (NYS DOCS). The BBBS State Association of New York presented Executive Director, Nancy Kosloski, with the fi rst annual ROBERT MOSS AWARD for exemplary leadership, in memory of Robert Moss, founder and CEO of BBBS of Erie County. The keynote inspirational guest speaker was Deborah Jiang Stein, who spoke about her life experiences as a child of a prisoner, born in a federal prison.

Training and Event Photography by Edgar I Ailor IV

Alison, Jay, & Cecily Coleman,, PFNYPrison Families New York, Inc.

Kenneth Perlman, Associate CommissionerNew York State Dept. of

Correctional Services

Greg Owens, OCFSOffi ce of Children

and Families Services

Mark Scott, BBBSABig Brothers

Big Sisters of Americafrom left to rightRev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., Director

Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project

PARTNERSHIP WITH AMACHI MENTORING COALITION PROJECT

$4.5 MILLION AWARDED TO NYCP BY HHS

New York’s Children of Promise (NYCP) was awarded $4.5 million dollars in federal funding by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families in September of 2010. Under this grant, NYCP will provide mentoring services to 1500 children of prisoners over the next 3 years, who reside in more than 41 counties across New York State. “The work that Big Brothers Big Sisters is doing on behalf of these children is critically important,” said New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey, who wrote a letter in support of the grant. “These mentoring services will dramatically improve the lives of these young people who happen to have parents who are in prison. I am so proud to support this funding moving forward.”

Key amongst statewide partnerships is the collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters affi liates and the NYS Department of Correctional Services, in a joint effort to identify and engage eligible children and families. BBBS staff have been welcomed into multiple correctional facilities throughout New York State, to educate incarcerated parents about the benefi ts of mentoring, and how they can refer their child to the program. “Imprisoned parents often feel stripped of all parental rights and authority; NYCP strives to empower these mothers and fathers with the opportunity to extend support to their children by way of a caring adult mentor,” says Cynthia Graham, NYCP Executive Director. “Volunteer mentors are not a replacement for an absent parent, but rather serve as an additional supportive adult in a child’s life.”

In a prepared statement, Commissioner Brian Fischer, of the New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYS DOCS) extends his continued support: “The kind of role modeling and positive support adult mentors in the community provide to the children of offenders are invaluable in helping each child understand and work through issues related to the incarceration of a parent. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant will pay dividends in a number of important ways: by helping these children make the right choices in life while coming to terms with a parent who is incarcerated; and by improving relationships between incarcerated parents and their children, thus improving the offenders’ chances to make the right choices after their release from prison and thereby reducing recidivism. We fully support and appreciate the efforts of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ulster County and New York State Mentoring Children of Promise in partnering with the DOCS, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for recognizing the importance of funding this important program and enabling us to continue this effective collaboration.”

Over the next three years, BBBS agencies throughout New York State will enroll children (“Littles”) with an incarcerated parent from age four to 18. Volunteer adult mentors (“Bigs”) are recruited, screened, trained, and professionally supported by BBBS staff, to provide long-term friendship-based mentoring to these children. The program seeks a minimum of a one year commitment from volunteer mentors.

BBBS agencies will enhance their support to families by further assessing the needs of youth and caregivers in order to effectively coordinate and monitor supplemental services within the mentoring organization, or by way of referrals to formal linkages with external community resources. “NYCP accepts the challenge of bringing to the forefront the specifi c needs of a once (invisible) population.” said Cynthia Graham “We will continue to serve the children, serve them well, serve as many as possible without compromising the quality of services rendered.”

Commissioner Brian Fischer

CongressmanMaurice Hinchey

New York’s Children of Promise was awarded $675k in funding from the Amachi Mentoring Coalition Project (AMCP) in July of 2010. This funding is part of a national grant from the Offi ce of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The AMCP program provides mentoring services and support to children who are impacted by incarceration. Originally, NYCP received a small grant from AMCP in January 2010, to serve 5 counties in New York. However, the strong need for services in New York State and our ongoing collaborative efforts to service this population of children and families, has expanded our partnership with AMCP from a 5 county program to currently serving 27 counties across the state. This service opportunity has allowed us to provide quality, one-to-one mentoring to over 500 children who are impacted by incarceration in NYS. Currently, NYCP is negotiating the level of continued sponsorship from AMCP for the upcoming fi scal year: July 2011 through June 2012.

Special Thanks to all of our sponsors, agency affiliates, and community partners for these tremendous service opportunities...New York’s Children of Promise humbly accepts

this call to action to service the children and families of New York State.

Big Brothers Big Sisters New York’s Children of Promise

Nancy KosloskiRobert Moss Award

Recipient

Ruth Whatera,NYCP Grant Writer

Cynthia Graham, Executive DirectorNY’s Children of Promise

Deborah Jiang Stein, Keynote Speaker

Chemung

SteubenAllegany

WyomingLivingston Yates

Schuyler

Monroe Wayne

Ontario

Orleans

Genesee

Brooklyn / Queens

g

Brooklyn & Queens

St. Lawrence

Lewis

Onondaga

Onondaga

Rockland

Ulster

Greene

Columbia

Washington

Warren

Broome

Chenango

AlbanyRensselaer

Saratoga

Schenectady

Capital Region

Sullivan

Orange

Dutchess

Putnam

Otsego

Westchester

NYC

NYC

Westchester

Erie

Eiren

New York’s Children of Promise provides one-to-one mentoring services to children who have a parent or caregiver currently incarcerated in a State or Federal prison facility AND children who are impacted by incarceration either within their families or based on the crime rates of where they live. This map shows the service areas that Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies cover under these programs. We are currently servicing 42 counties within NYS. The combined total of children to be served during 2010-2011 is just under 1200 youth.

55 55

125125

8989

128128

114114

1010

1010

1212

130130 1001007979

175175

1010175175

BigBrothers Big Sisters ofCentral Southern Tier

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofRochesterBig Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofBrooklyn & Queens

St. Lawrence

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofthe North Country

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofOnondaga

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofRockland

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofUlsterBig Brothers Big Sisters ofthe Southern Adirondacks

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofChenango

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofthe Capital Region

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofOrange

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofDutchess

Big Brothers Big SIsters ofNYC

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofWestchester

Big Brothers Big Sisters ofErie

A PRECIOUS GIFT

moments

When I was fi rst asked to be matched with my Little Sister and heard her story, I was worried. Her parents were both in jail for a crime which is diffi cult for an adult to understand. I wondered how on earth a child could survive this event and be anything but a mess. Well, I found out how. My Little Sister is an amazing young lady.

She has triumphed through some very diffi cult circumstances. She has been passed from home to home and school to school, and is currently being raised by a grandparent, who is stretched far too thin just to make ends meet. The school system and court system have supported my Little very well through the process with counseling and support. Plus, she had lots of great friends.

What was missing was a Big Sister. Someone she could tell secrets to, and talk to when she was deciding whether or not to visit her father. Someone who could listen to the events that preceded the trauma that she experienced. Someone who was not assessing her or interested for sensation sake. Someone who just listened and cared about her thoughts and feelings. Someone who let her tell her story, in her own time, while painting or sewing or sitting in the car on rides back home. I have been proud to be a part of the Big Sisters organization.

In the past I would have written someone like my Little Sister off as a lost cause, as so many might do if it had not been for Big Brothers Big Sisters championing for her and her needs. Thank you for giving me the most precious gift.

88

NUMBER OF YOUTH TO BE SERVED BY BBBS AGENCIES

Executive Director

Cynthia Graham

Who knows but what God has brought us through this child.

Names concealed to preserve match identity.

Gail Duncan, Board of DirectorsNY’s Children of Promise

Sue West, PresidentFamilies Services, Inc.

Carlton Mitchell, Interim Executive DirectorFamilies Services, Inc.

Memory of

Robert F. MossJuly 27, 1952 - August 14, 2010

Group shot of various NYCP staff from throughout New York State

Memoryr ofo

Robert F. MossJuly 27, 1952 - August 14, 2010

Agency Contact:Agency Contact:

Cynthia L. GrahamExecutive Director

Rachel BaldelliMarketing &

PR Coordinator

Rita WorthingtonExecutive Administrative

Assistant

DecemberDecemberStress FREE

Family Month!

Rita WorthingtonExecutive Administrative

Assistant

MATT AND PLIEKOU

BBBS of Brooklyn/Queens BBBS of the Capital RegionBBBS of Central Southern Tier BBBS of Chenango CountyBBBS of Dutchess CountyBBBS of Erie CountyBBBS of Long IslandBBBS of New York City BBBS of the North Country

BBBS of Onondaga CountyBBBS of Orange CountyBBBS of Greater RochesterBBBS of Rockland CountyBBBS of the Southern Adirondacks BBBS of Ulster CountyBBBS of Family Services of Westchester

BBBIIGGGG BBBRRROOOOTTTTHHHHEEERRRRSSS BBBIIGGGG SSSIISSSTTTTEEERRSSS AAAAGGGEEENNNCCCIIIEEESSSSin partnership throughout New York State

1-866-766-BIGSwww.WhichOneAreYou.org

All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.- Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Mentoring brings us together – across generation, class, and often race – in a manner that forces us to acknowledge our

interdependence, to appreciate, in Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, that ‘we are caught in an inescapable network of

mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny.’ In this way, mentoring enables us to participate in the essential but unfinished drama of reinventing community, while reaffirming that there is an important role for each of us in it.

- Marc Freedman

“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution…how we can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness” – Anne Frank

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. – Mother Teresa

To the world, you may just be somebody. But to somebody, you may just might be the world. – Unknown

CCoConnttaactt RRaacachheell BBaalldeelellli toto o rrececceeiveivve me me moreoreor ininnfoforrf mmaatm iioonn aaabbouuuto oouuur pprroggraammm.rbbbaaldddelllli@@bbbigbbbrotttheerrssbbiiggssisstterrrsusulststeeer.oorrgg

Mentoften

int

mwaybut reaf

- Mar

In honor of

JANUARY 17

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

MarchMarchWomen’s History Month

Nutrition Month

AprilApril

Volunteer Month

MayMayPhyisical Fitness

and Sports Month

JuneJuneSafety Month

JulyBlueberry Month

AugustImmunization

Awareness Month

SeptemberHispanic Heritage

Month

OctoberOctoberBook Month

QUOTE CORNER

QUOTE CORNER: January is National Mentoring Mon

th &

Feb

rua

ry is B

ack

Histo

ry Month

: January is National Mentoring Mon

th &

Feb

rua

ry is B

ack

Histo

ry Month

NovemberNovemberNative American Heritage Month

Ann Adalist-Estrin is Director of the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated at the Family and Corrections Network in Philadelphia and a Child and Family Therapist, in Jenkintown, Pa. Ann is also adjunct faculty at Boston University Medical School/Healthy Steps for Young Children Pediatric Training Program where she teaches courses on the impact of parental/adult caregiver behaviors on child development and attachment.

Examined how attachment, trauma, and brain development theories provide a framework for understanding the impact that adverse childhood experiences such as parental incarceration and community violence has on children and families

Described how to utilize theories of attachment, trauma, and brain development in designing match support protocols for mentoring program staff

Assessed the staff/agency capacity for providing high quality match support when children, families and mentors are reacting to trauma and attachment disturbances

Heard directly from adult children, who have survived parental incarceration and other risk factors, what they needed from mentors, and program staff.

Discussed, applied and practiced match support strategies that will help mentors effectively respond to children at risk and their families to minimize diffi culties, frustrations and disappointments for the children, families and mentors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUTURE TRAININGS, PLEASE CONTACT RITA WORTHINGTON AT 845-338-0431 EXT. 247.

1

2

3

4

5

BIGLittle

MATT AND PLIEKOUMATT AND PLIEKOU

Matt became Pliekou’s Big Brother when Pliekou was just 8 years old. At that time, Pliekou and his older sister were living with Mom and Grandma, as mom awaited sentencing. Pliekou’s Dad was incarcerated and had very little contact with the family. Less than a year into the match, Mom was sentenced to be in Florida, while Pliekou and his sister stayed with Grandma.

Matt is a student at Hobart College and deliberately engaged Pliekou in the campus opportunities. Matt picked Pliekou up at least once a week for dinner, homework, football, swimming, video games or just hanging out. They have formed a strong bond over time and built a lasting trusting relationship. Matt has watched Pliekou grow, gain awareness and independence for the past two years.

The pair were known to faculty and students at Hobart College and became a great example for the program- so much so, they recruited new volunteers without knowing it. At volunteer orientations, many perspective Bigs would comment on wanting to be a Big because they had seen Matt and Pliekou on campus and wanted to be matched because of it.

Pliekou’s Grandmother recently informed us that he would be fi nishing out this school year, and then moving to Florida to live with mom as she completes treatment and re-entry programs. As everyone would, the family wrestles with mixed emotion; the joy of reunifi cation and the pain of leaving all things familiar.

Big Brother Matt is heartbroken. He will miss his Little Brother, but shares the joy of Pliekou joining his mother and reunifying their home. Matt and Pliekou know the relationship does not end- the friendship they share will span the distance to Florida. Technology will allow them to stay in touch and remain ‘brothers’ for years to come.

Matt’s experience as a Big for 2 years has encouraged him to join the student staff for Big Brothers Big Sisters at Hobart. He will now support other volunteers in having this meaningful friendship.

By Tina ChristensenBBBS of Rochester

The winter 2010 NYCP statewide staff training was held on December 2nd and 3rd, 2010 and focussed on Understanding the Impact of Trauma and Attachment Disruptions on Mentor/Mentee Relationships: A Match Support Enhancement Training for Mentoring Programs Serving Children At Risk. Instructor Ann Adalist-Estrin discussed the following key points during the training:

TRAINING WITH ANN ADALIST-ESTRIN

Helping each child to reach their full potential

NY’s Children of Promise95 Grand Street

Kingston, NY 12401

Agency Contact:Agency Contact:

Cynthia L. GrahamExecutive Director

Rachel BaldelliMarketing &

PR Coordinator

Rita WorthingtonExecutive Administrative

Assistant

DecemberDecemberStress FREE

Family Month!

Rita WorthingtonExecutive Administrative

Assistant

MATT AND PLIEKOU

BBBS of Brooklyn/Queens BBBS of the Capital RegionBBBS of Central Southern Tier BBBS of Chenango CountyBBBS of Dutchess CountyBBBS of Erie CountyBBBS of Long IslandBBBS of New York City BBBS of the North Country

BBBS of Onondaga CountyBBBS of Orange CountyBBBS of Greater RochesterBBBS of Rockland CountyBBBS of the Southern Adirondacks BBBS of Ulster CountyBBBS of Family Services of Westchester

BBBIIGGGG BBBRRROOOOTTTTHHHHEEERRRRSSS BBBIIGGGG SSSIISSSTTTTEEERRSSS AAAAGGGEEENNNCCCIIIEEESSSSin partnership throughout New York State

1-866-766-BIGSwww.WhichOneAreYou.org

All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.- Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Mentoring brings us together – across generation, class, and often race – in a manner that forces us to acknowledge our

interdependence, to appreciate, in Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, that ‘we are caught in an inescapable network of

mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny.’ In this way, mentoring enables us to participate in the essential but unfinished drama of reinventing community, while reaffirming that there is an important role for each of us in it.

- Marc Freedman

“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution…how we can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness” – Anne Frank

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. – Mother Teresa

To the world, you may just be somebody. But to somebody, you may just might be the world. – Unknown

CCoConnttaactt RRaacachheell BBaalldeelellli toto o rrececceeiveivve me me moreoreor ininnfoforrf mmaatm iioonn aaabbouuuto oouuur pprroggraammm.rbbbaaldddelllli@@bbbigbbbrotttheerrssbbiiggssisstterrrsusulststeeer.oorrgg

Mentoften

int

mwaybut reaf

- Mar

In honor of

JANUARY 17

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

MarchMarchWomen’s History Month

Nutrition Month

AprilApril

Volunteer Month

MayMayPhyisical Fitness

and Sports Month

JuneJuneSafety Month

JulyBlueberry Month

AugustImmunization

Awareness Month

SeptemberHispanic Heritage

Month

OctoberOctoberBook Month

QUOTE CORNER

QUOTE CORNER: January is National Mentoring Mon

th &

Feb

rua

ry is B

ack

Histo

ry Month

: January is National Mentoring Mon

th &

Feb

rua

ry is B

ack

Histo

ry Month

NovemberNovemberNative American Heritage Month

Ann Adalist-Estrin is Director of the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated at the Family and Corrections Network in Philadelphia and a Child and Family Therapist, in Jenkintown, Pa. Ann is also adjunct faculty at Boston University Medical School/Healthy Steps for Young Children Pediatric Training Program where she teaches courses on the impact of parental/adult caregiver behaviors on child development and attachment.

Examined how attachment, trauma, and brain development theories provide a framework for understanding the impact that adverse childhood experiences such as parental incarceration and community violence has on children and families

Described how to utilize theories of attachment, trauma, and brain development in designing match support protocols for mentoring program staff

Assessed the staff/agency capacity for providing high quality match support when children, families and mentors are reacting to trauma and attachment disturbances

Heard directly from adult children, who have survived parental incarceration and other risk factors, what they needed from mentors, and program staff.

Discussed, applied and practiced match support strategies that will help mentors effectively respond to children at risk and their families to minimize diffi culties, frustrations and disappointments for the children, families and mentors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUTURE TRAININGS, PLEASE CONTACT RITA WORTHINGTON AT 845-338-0431 EXT. 247.

1

2

3

4

5

BIGLittle

MATT AND PLIEKOUMATT AND PLIEKOU

Matt became Pliekou’s Big Brother when Pliekou was just 8 years old. At that time, Pliekou and his older sister were living with Mom and Grandma, as mom awaited sentencing. Pliekou’s Dad was incarcerated and had very little contact with the family. Less than a year into the match, Mom was sentenced to be in Florida, while Pliekou and his sister stayed with Grandma.

Matt is a student at Hobart College and deliberately engaged Pliekou in the campus opportunities. Matt picked Pliekou up at least once a week for dinner, homework, football, swimming, video games or just hanging out. They have formed a strong bond over time and built a lasting trusting relationship. Matt has watched Pliekou grow, gain awareness and independence for the past two years.

The pair were known to faculty and students at Hobart College and became a great example for the program- so much so, they recruited new volunteers without knowing it. At volunteer orientations, many perspective Bigs would comment on wanting to be a Big because they had seen Matt and Pliekou on campus and wanted to be matched because of it.

Pliekou’s Grandmother recently informed us that he would be fi nishing out this school year, and then moving to Florida to live with mom as she completes treatment and re-entry programs. As everyone would, the family wrestles with mixed emotion; the joy of reunifi cation and the pain of leaving all things familiar.

Big Brother Matt is heartbroken. He will miss his Little Brother, but shares the joy of Pliekou joining his mother and reunifying their home. Matt and Pliekou know the relationship does not end- the friendship they share will span the distance to Florida. Technology will allow them to stay in touch and remain ‘brothers’ for years to come.

Matt’s experience as a Big for 2 years has encouraged him to join the student staff for Big Brothers Big Sisters at Hobart. He will now support other volunteers in having this meaningful friendship.

By Tina ChristensenBBBS of Rochester

The winter 2010 NYCP statewide staff training was held on December 2nd and 3rd, 2010 and focussed on Understanding the Impact of Trauma and Attachment Disruptions on Mentor/Mentee Relationships: A Match Support Enhancement Training for Mentoring Programs Serving Children At Risk. Instructor Ann Adalist-Estrin discussed the following key points during the training:

TRAINING WITH ANN ADALIST-ESTRIN

Helping each child to reach their full potential

NY’s Children of Promise95 Grand Street

Kingston, NY 12401