Sycom GM RSS feed generatorMon, 28 Dec 2009 15:51:27 GMThttp://voa.org/default.aspxCopyright 2009en-usTue, 16 Mar 2010 03:29:12 GMT1http://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/The-Bronx-Early-Learning-Center.aspxThe Bronx Early Learning Center is a vibrant and nurturing preschool community for children ages 3 to 5 years. This exceptional school serves children with a range of developmental delays as well as typically developing children. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:00:48 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Featured-Program-The-Harman-Home.aspxIn many respects, Jenn is a typical teenager . . . going to school, proud of the 92 grade she just got on her English essay, enjoying amusement parks, socializing with friends, looking forward to a holiday weekend in Pittsburgh and wanting to succeed. This is only a part of the story though, a small part. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:59:48 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Featured-Story-Kathleen-Erikson.aspxWalking into the "Adopt-A-Family" office is sensory overload for me. Twenty phones ringing nonstop, volunteers unpacking donations of clothing & toys, parents waiting their turn to retrieve their Christmas gifts, and volunteers with recipients moving in & out of rooms. A mother calls because she moved from one low-rent apartment to another. Will her sponsor be able to find her? A single father just survived a house fire. Can his kids be adopted for Christmas? Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:05:27 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Look-Up-and-Hope-Initiative-StrengtheningFamilies-Affected-by-Incarceration.aspxVolunteers of America has over 113 years of experience in working with incarcerated populations and their families. We have identified five local offices as pilot sites for the Look Up and Hope program. These local offices have long-standing relationships with at least one of the populations of our focus-incarcerated parents, children or caregivers. Each of these local offices brings a unique perspective and four of the five have previously been Volunteers of America/Annie E. Casey Family Strengthening Awards Winners.* Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:51:27 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Look-Up-and-Hope-Initiative-StrengtheningFamilies-Affected-by-Incarceration/Strengthening-families-impacted-by-incarceration.aspxThe full report includes: . A brief review of the service needs of families affected by incarceration . A review of the most widely agreed upon research-based "practices" related to families af fected by incarceration . An inventory of specific evidence-based programs, service models, and curricula that have been used to provide supportive services to incarcerated parents, their children, and their children's caregiversTue, 29 Sep 2009 14:50:19 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Prevention.aspxWe provide child care, Head Start and early literacy programs to help young children get a bright start. We serve school age children by providing before and after school programs, summer camps and mentoring. Programming for older youth includes leadership development, job training and pregnancy prevention. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:13:09 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Prevention/Camp-POSTCARD.aspx"Who would like to read their story?" asked Shayne's fifth grade teacher as she walked down the aisle toward his desk. Shayne felt a drop of sweat running down his forehead-and then another. His stomach tightened and he stopped breathing. He would have given his favorite Babe Ruth baseball card just to be able to simply disappear, but he was a tall young man and his striking red hair made disappearing all but impossible. As the teacher walked by and chose another student, Shayne started breathing again. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:35:58 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Early-Intervention.aspxAt Volunteers of America, we strive to help families and children at the first sign of trouble. Our family preservation programs help strengthen families by teaching parenting skills, coping techniques, connecting families to a range for services and providing respite. We also provide delinquency prevention programs for youth who show early signs of problem behaviors. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:30:48 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Early-Intervention/Featured-Program-Family-Relief-Nursery-.aspxThe primary goal of the Volunteers of America Oregon Family Relief Nursery is to interrupt the intergenerational cycle of child abuse and neglect and to assist parents in retaining their children in their own homes in a safe, supportive environment. Family Relief Nursery is a prevention/early intervention program designed to strengthen fragile families at serious risk of abusing or neglecting their children or of permanently losing custody of their children. The nursery offers a holistic, positive intervention for both children and parents. It provides therapeutic preschool/respite care services, intensive parent training, home visits, and additional family support services. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:35:05 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Crisis-Intervention.aspxWhen families fall apart, Volunteers of America is there to help piece them back together. We provide foster care for children who cannot safely remain with their families, but we also provide family reunification services to help bring the parents back together at an appropriate time. For those children who cannot be reunited with their families, we provide adoption services. In addition, we provide a full range of services for runaway and homeless youth to help them exit the streets, reunite with family and gain skills to successfully transition into adulthood.Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:58:32 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Crisis-Intervention/Crosswalk-Emergency-Shelter.aspx"I start seeing the kids for what they are beneath all that-terrified children, alone and scared to death-all of them. I have changed. I now realize I am not just playing pool-I am spending time with scared little kids-not because I have to, but because I want to. " - Bridget Canon Director of Youth Services Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:40:12 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Long-Term-Services.aspxThere are some children and youth who, as a result of varying circumstances, need our support for an extended period of time. We provide group homes for children in the foster care system, residential treatment for youth with substance abuse and mental health disorders, and transitional housing and services for youth who are homeless or aging out of the foster care system. For young people with intense needs such as these, we provide the consistent and caring relationships and safe environments that will help them overcome challenging circumstances.Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:16:29 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Long-Term-Services/Featured-Program-The-Reilly-Center-for-Children-and-Families-.aspxFor more than a quarter century, Volunteers of America of Greater Baton Rouge has carried out a special ministry to some very unique Louisiana children - those who have been traumatized to the core of their being by sexual or physical abuse, chronic neglect or abandonment. These children require intensive therapy and loving care to help them grow to lead normal, healthy lives. The Reilly Center for Children and Families, a program of Volunteers of America of Greater Baton Rouge provides a loving home environment for a small number of abused and neglected children from across Louisiana - eight children at a time. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:44:17 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Literacy.aspxWed, 21 Oct 2009 11:43:10 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Literacy/Featured-Program-Words-Travel.aspxWords Travel is a national literacy and family strengthening program that strengthens the bonds between incarcerated parents and their children through reading. Words Travel is a partnership of Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company; Volunteers of America, one of the nation's largest human service organizations; and correctional facilities around the country. Since its start in 2002, the Words Travel program has reached more than 1,500 incarcerated parents -both men and women- and over 2,500 of their children in eight states throughout the country. The goals of the Words Travel program include fostering and maintaining a connection between the incarcerated parent and child, providing a positive experience between the parent and child through reading, and promoting an interest in reading on the part of both the parent and child. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:34:01 GMThttp://voa.org/Get-Help/National-Network-of-Services/Children-Youth-Families/Literacy/Hope-is-an-Open-Heart_1.aspxVolunteers of America has worked with Scholastic to create "Hope is an Open Heart," an uplifting new book that teaches children hope can be found in some of the most unexpected places. Scholastic Inc. will donate one dollar from the sale of each hardcover edition of "Hope is an Open Heart" in the United States - up to $30,000 - to Volunteers of America, which provides services to children in need in communities nationwide. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:40:02 GMT