J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6
C O N N E C T E D
H E R K I M E R
N E W S L E T T E R
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Connected District Bulletin
Connected Partners
Collaborations & Contributions
Training Highlights
Initiative Wide Highlights
Upcoming Events
Staff
READERSINACTION READERSINACTION
Every Tuesday after school, 3rd grade students meet in the HUB to enjoy a snack, listen to a read-aloud, and work together on a service project. This month, the groups collaborated to create care kits for individuals experiencing homelessness, filling backpacks with hygiene items, snacks, winter supplies, and other essentials. Students also shared ideas for future service projects to continue supporting this cause. All completed kits will be donated to the Loaves and Fishes Warming Center!
Marina from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County’s Child Care Council visits the Herkimer HUB each month to support students across the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In January, she led an engaging session focused on impulse control, helping students understand why thoughtful decision making matters both in and out of the classroom. Through an interactive game, students practiced slowing down, carefully reading directions, and thinking before acting even when the answer was not what it first appeared to be.
The activity challenged students to pause, process information, and make intentional choices. Students were highly engaged and excited to test their skills, celebrating both their successes and their growth.
The Connected Herkimer Team hosted its monthly Open HUB on January 27th at the centrally located Herkimer Middle School/High School HUB. Several families attended to access food and other essential items for themselves and their loved ones. In anticipation of an approaching snowstorm, we also saw an increase in families reaching out ahead of time to seek support. Following the Open HUB, additional community members contacted us looking for resources and assistance and food was provided to the families that were unable to attend. We were pleased to welcome Sarah Smith from Fidelis Care, who was on site to share information and provide guidance on health insurance options for those in attendance.
StudentsareregularlycomingintotheHUBtorelaxandconnectduringtheirlunchperiods.Theyhavebeendivinginto activities,enjoyingintenseroundsofUNO,whetherit’sUnoNoMercyorthegiantUNOversion,andturningGiant Connect4intoafriendly(bu paceforstudentsto unwind,de-stress,makefrie
LookingaheadtoFebruary, ycrafts,andmanymore engagingeventstocome!
ThismonthintheHerkimerMS/HSHUB,studentswere engagedinseveralgoal-makingactivities.Earlierintheyear, studentssettheirownSMARTgoals.Thismonth,wechecked inonthosegoalstoseehowtheyareprogressing Additionally,wedidaNewYear’sResolution-focusedSMART goalsostudentscanactuallyaccomplishwhatevergoalsthey set!
OtherfuneventsintheHUBthismonthincludedSticker Trivia,Frozen&Snowmanmaking,Snowflakearts&crafts, andaHotChocolateBartowarmusupfromallthecold weatherandactivities!
Connected Connected
PARTNERS PARTNERS
CHBS operates a satellite clinic within the district. This collaboration allows for seamless access to mental health support, as school counseling staff are in direct contact with the on-site CHBS clinician.
We are proud to continue our meaningful collaboration with Family School Navigation (FSN), formerly known as R4K FSN remains a vital partner in Connected Herkimer’s missiontosupportlocalfamilies.
We are currently collaborating to plan a series of family-friendly events in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County’s Child Care Council, Healthy Families,HerkimerHealthNet,HelpMeGrow,andtheFrankBasloeLibrary.
Theseeventswillprovidevaluableresourcesforparentsandcaregivers,alongwithfunandengagingactivitiesfor children.AnupcomingeventwillbeonFebruary19thfrom2-4pmattheFrankJ.BasloeLibrary! Weareexcitedaboutwhat’saheadandthankfulfortheopportunitytoservefamiliesside-by-sidewithsuch dedicatedpartners.
The Liberty Partnerships Program was established in 1988 under Section 612 Subdivision 6 of Education Law to address the significant dropout rate and promote positive outcomes of post-graduation among New York State Youth. One of 52 collegiate programs, SUNY Polytechnic Institute was awarded the Liberty Partnership Program Grant in Fall of 2022. The SUNY Poly Liberty Partnership Program team strives to provide academic support, career and employment preparation as well as social emotional skill building for 5th - 12th grade students within six Herkimer County school districts: Central Valley, Dolgeville, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Little Falls, and Mount Markham.
The LPP team includes:
Caryn Schweinsberg – SUNY Poly LPP Project Director
Mrs. Schweinsberg is a graduate of SUNY Polytechnic with a B.S. in Community and Behavioral Health. Caryn’s professional interests are in the areas of school prevention, mental health support and social emotional learning to promote positive outcomes in children and adolescents. Prior to assuming the Director role for LPP, Mrs. Schweinsberg worked for several other local non-profit agencies serving vulnerable populations experiencing mental health and substance abuse challenges. Mrs. Schweinsberg is currently seeking a master's in social work from Keuka College.
Amelia Vella – Assistant Project Director
Ms. Amelia Vella is a current SUNY Polytechnic Institute student. Prior to assuming the role of Assistant Project Director, Ms. Vella has worked in a variety of community engagement, behavioral health outreach and youth and family engagement-based roles across Oneida County. Ms. Vella’s professional interests include Ms. Vella’s professional interests include supporting vulnerable populations through community-based outreach, proactive and preventative support services, and initiatives that strengthen access to behavioral health, youth, and family resources. Ms. Vella also serves as the Student & Family Advocate of Central Valley and Dolgeville School Districts.
Eva Fuess – Student & Family Advocate
Ms. Eva Fuess is a graduate of SUNY Polytechnic with a B.S. In Community and Behavioral Health. Prior to receiving this role, Ms. Fuess was involved with advocating for student mental and physical health on her campus. Ms. Fuess is currently seeking a master's in social work from the University at Buffalo. Her professional interests include student mental health and school prevention. Ms. Fuess serves as the Student & Family Advocate of Herkimer, Little Falls and Dolgeville School Districts.
Sophie Valente – Student & Family Advocate
Ms. Sophie Valente graduated from the College of Saint Rose with a B.S. in Psychology with a clinical counseling concentration. Before starting at LPP, Ms. Valente worked with children and students in a variety of capacities, including individual and group settings. Ms. Valente’s professional interests include student mental health and how social media influences mental health and self-image. Ms. Valente serves as the Student & Family Advocate of Mount Markham and Frankfort-Schuyler School Districts.
The SUNY Polytechnic Institute Liberty Partnerships Program currently serves over 200 students providing a series of engaging and supportive programs to aid in individual goal achievement and positive outcomes. Supports and Services include:
Individual Academic Support Meetings
Social Emotional Assessments
Personalized Learning Plans Career Exploration
Employment Preparation
TrendsTrends
School-based academic support programs Summer Programs
AmajortrendinJanuarywascontinuedfoodinsecurity WithWinterBreakatthestartofthemonth,alongwith snowdaysandotherschoolclosures,theConnectedHerkimerTeamsawanincreaseinindividualsseekingfood assistanceasfamiliesexhaustedtheirresourcessoonerthananticipated.Wecontinuetoconnectfamiliestoother resourcesinordertohelpcombatthestruggle.
Herkimer County has teamed up with Connected Community Schools as part of the Herkimer County System of Care Initiative in order to provide Mental Health support and connections to Herkimer County Youth. The Youth Ambassador Coordinator will work with school administration, school staff and Connected Community Schools staff to identify students who could benefit from serving as an ambassador within their school district and community. The Youth Ambassador Coordinator will organize and facilitate Youth Ambassador Councils across Herkimer County School districts and within the community. Monthly meetings will be held in order to organize and implement activities, events and programming related to Mental Health support and awareness. Youth Ambassadors may also have opportunities to coordinate with Youth Ambassador Councils across Herkimer County including the Annual Youth Summit.
Youth Ambassador Coordinator Katie connected with students at Jarvis during lunch, sparking both laughter and reflection using PEP cards from The One Trusted Adult curriculum. Students were asked fun, thoughtprovoking questions—such as describing their day as a weather report— and did a wonderful job sharing their responses while enjoying a few laughs along the way.
Mother Daughter Circle will begin on Monday, February 9 at the Central Valley Academy Connected HUB and continue for eight Mondays from 4:30–5:30 p.m. We welcome families of Connected Central Valley, Dolgeville, Herkimer, and Mount Markham families to join us. This group offers a welcoming space for mothers and daughters to connect, share, and grow together through meaningful conversations and activities. Please click this link or reach out to Katie to sign up.
YouthAmbassadorCoordinator,KatiespendstimeineachoftheHerkimerCounty ConnectedDistricts.Herscheduleisasfollows:
Monday - Mount Markham
Tuesday - Herkimer
Wednesday - Central Valley
Thursday - Herkimer
Friday - Dolgeville
Katie can be reached at 315-360-4978 or katieb@connectedcs.org.
Herkimer County System of Care is funded by
UPCOMING UPCOMINGEvents
INITIATIVE INITIATIVE
The Connected Community Schools Advisory Board brings together a diverse group of leaders, educators, families, youth, businesses, and community partners to guide and sustain the initiative’s work across our region. The Board meets quarterly at the Connected Court at the James Impact Center and represents over 400 established partners On February 5, members gathered alongside guest speakers from Fidelis and the Oneida County Department of Family & Community Services to continue strengthening collaboration and impact.
Oneida County Department of Family & Community Services
Oneida County Department of Family & Community Services Director, Kari Barber, shared updates with the Advisory Board on regional Warming Centers in response to the cold temperatures, announcing cold blue. Under state regulation, a Code Blue is automatically in effect whenever temperature and wing chill equal less than 32 degrees The discussion emphasized the importance of spreading the word and connecting individuals and families especially those experiencing housing instability—to safe, warm spaces and critical support. Community members are encouraged to share this information and help ensure neighbors in need know where to find assistance during the winter months.
Nicole Patrei of Fidelis Insurance provided a comprehensive overview of Fidelis Care's offerings, including vital health plans like Child Health Plus, Managed Medicaid, and various Senior Care options, alongside ancillary benefits such as vision and dental coverage. She also detailed the organization's commitment to community engagement and accessibility through multiple outreach channels, specifically mentioning the Fidelis Mobile Vehicle, the physical community center in Utica, and providing her direct contact email, npatrei@fideliscare.org, for further inquiries. NIcole shared that her and her team strive to be a valuable resource to our community and encouraged those looking for assistance in finding medical coverage and providers to follow up with them whenever the need arises
Fidelis
TRAINING TRAINING Highlights Highlights
Cornell Cooperative Extension's Energy HUB
Monthly virtual Partner Highlights give staff the opportunity to learn about and connect with community partners. In January, We were joined by Brittany Amore, Daniel Sharfarz, Josephine Roman and Juliet Jalonack, and Lucas Russell from Cornell Cooperative Extension's Energy HUB in order to learn about their programming opportunities and services. CCE's Mohawk Valley Regional Clean Energy HUB's goal is to provide education and support to help Upstate New York residents save money, aiming for a healthy and affordable home or business. The Hub covers Herkimer, Fulton, Montgomery,Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie Counties.
