Page 18 - AnnualReportFlip-2014
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Looking Ahead in 2015
Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth is pleased to announce the following initiatives:
Berkshire Center for Excellence Workforce Development Program & Business Council
In order to promote the best possible outcomes for children and families, Berkshire’s innovative Workforce Development Program has proven so
Berkshire aims to be a nationally recognized Center for Excellence in successful in raising graduation rates and shaping independent, productive
trauma-informed care. Through evidence-based practices and our innovative lives that Berkshire is preparing to expand this highly effective programming to
social and emotional learning curricula, Being Berkshire is becoming synonymous every student in our care, both on our residential campus and across New York
with being your best self, doing your personal best while implementing the most State. The program features ive actual businesses (Pizzeria and Catering
effective trauma-informed work to help children and families. In partnership with services, Nursery/Landscaping, Aquaponics, Vending Service, and Maple Syrup
other outstanding organizations and institutions of higher education, Berkshire is Production) that will become self-sustaining over the next three to ive years.
creating a groundbreaking guide for employees to simultaneously develop With our Workforce Development Council we are developing partnerships with
themselves and the trauma-informed culture in which positive, corrective business leaders to enlarge the scope, geography, and strength of the Workforce
relationships help others to heal, thrive, and learn essential life skills. Development Program.
The Bridge Program Post-Discharge Outcomes: Measuring Impact & Benchmarking
Looking forward to the 2015-2016 academic year, the Columbia-Greene We are expanding an important initiative to follow up with our former youth
Partnership Academy, known as “The Bridge,” is moving to a larger location and families who received services from our Residential Program, six and twelve
within the city of Hudson and will expand to offer Alternative Transition months after discharge. We assess how they are doing in key parts of their lives
Program services to all schools in both counties. The school opened as a three- such as school attendance, employment status, stability of their living situation,
district collaborative between Berkshire, Catskill, and Hudson and was located in legal status, and general well-being. We are now reaching out to our former youth
a building designed for 60 students. The new location will allow for program and families served by our Home-Based Foster Care Program and are preparing
expansion both in number of students and the types of programs we offer. to include those served by our group homes and statewide, community based
Berkshire plans to implement a Community School Model, providing more prevention programs. We want to know how our former clients are doing after
wrap-around services for students and their families. We will also expand our our services have ended so we can assess the degree to which our services have
work-based learning program, a major element in the attainment of New York had an impact on their lives.
State’s new Career Development and Occupational Studies (C-DOS) Credential.
Strategic Partnerships
Capital Improvements Berkshire is identifying potential strategic partnerships across the State to
Berkshire is well underway with its long-term plan to update and renovate the continuously improve and expand our system of care. We are currently engaged
residential campus in Canaan, NY. Our residential cottages have new roofs and in conversations to determine the partnerships that may best complement our
interiors designed for safety and comfort. Certain roadways are being removed current services.
and new walkways and landscaping installed around student cottages to create a
walking campus, providing a safer environment for our students and staff. As we
determine future needs, we may construct new buildings specially designed to
maximize the effectiveness and eficiency of our programs.
Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth is pleased to announce the following initiatives:
Berkshire Center for Excellence Workforce Development Program & Business Council
In order to promote the best possible outcomes for children and families, Berkshire’s innovative Workforce Development Program has proven so
Berkshire aims to be a nationally recognized Center for Excellence in successful in raising graduation rates and shaping independent, productive
trauma-informed care. Through evidence-based practices and our innovative lives that Berkshire is preparing to expand this highly effective programming to
social and emotional learning curricula, Being Berkshire is becoming synonymous every student in our care, both on our residential campus and across New York
with being your best self, doing your personal best while implementing the most State. The program features ive actual businesses (Pizzeria and Catering
effective trauma-informed work to help children and families. In partnership with services, Nursery/Landscaping, Aquaponics, Vending Service, and Maple Syrup
other outstanding organizations and institutions of higher education, Berkshire is Production) that will become self-sustaining over the next three to ive years.
creating a groundbreaking guide for employees to simultaneously develop With our Workforce Development Council we are developing partnerships with
themselves and the trauma-informed culture in which positive, corrective business leaders to enlarge the scope, geography, and strength of the Workforce
relationships help others to heal, thrive, and learn essential life skills. Development Program.
The Bridge Program Post-Discharge Outcomes: Measuring Impact & Benchmarking
Looking forward to the 2015-2016 academic year, the Columbia-Greene We are expanding an important initiative to follow up with our former youth
Partnership Academy, known as “The Bridge,” is moving to a larger location and families who received services from our Residential Program, six and twelve
within the city of Hudson and will expand to offer Alternative Transition months after discharge. We assess how they are doing in key parts of their lives
Program services to all schools in both counties. The school opened as a three- such as school attendance, employment status, stability of their living situation,
district collaborative between Berkshire, Catskill, and Hudson and was located in legal status, and general well-being. We are now reaching out to our former youth
a building designed for 60 students. The new location will allow for program and families served by our Home-Based Foster Care Program and are preparing
expansion both in number of students and the types of programs we offer. to include those served by our group homes and statewide, community based
Berkshire plans to implement a Community School Model, providing more prevention programs. We want to know how our former clients are doing after
wrap-around services for students and their families. We will also expand our our services have ended so we can assess the degree to which our services have
work-based learning program, a major element in the attainment of New York had an impact on their lives.
State’s new Career Development and Occupational Studies (C-DOS) Credential.
Strategic Partnerships
Capital Improvements Berkshire is identifying potential strategic partnerships across the State to
Berkshire is well underway with its long-term plan to update and renovate the continuously improve and expand our system of care. We are currently engaged
residential campus in Canaan, NY. Our residential cottages have new roofs and in conversations to determine the partnerships that may best complement our
interiors designed for safety and comfort. Certain roadways are being removed current services.
and new walkways and landscaping installed around student cottages to create a
walking campus, providing a safer environment for our students and staff. As we
determine future needs, we may construct new buildings specially designed to
maximize the effectiveness and eficiency of our programs.
