record serving children supporting families strengthening communities vol. xxxi issue no. 1
Blanche T. Enders Charitable Trust Funds Educational Coordinator Position
Mental Health:
School-Based Helping Children and Their Families
ictor, a second grader from PS30 in Harlem, was struggling last fall with behav-
V
ioral problems that caused him to fall behind in school and disrupted his home
With the support of a $25,000 grant from the Blanche T. Enders Charitable Trust,
life. Victor’s mother needed help. She was concerned that her son was in a
downward spiral and that her three other children would follow the same path. “Victor
Graham Windham will be able to hire an
can be helpful around the house, but he is starting to act badly and I don’t want his
educational coordinator for Bronx foster
brothers and sisters to start acting the same way.” She reached out to Graham Windham.
care children. The educational coordinator
Working one-on-one with a preventive service counselor from our School-Based
will work with the New York City public
Mental Health Program, and later as part of a group, Victor found out how to address
school system to ensure that children are
and overcome his frustrations. He learned basic social and classroom skills; he learned
enrolled in school within two weeks of
how to listen to and respect others; he learned how to control his temper and he
entering foster care, monitor educational
learned to take responsibility for his behavior. “I want to go to college and I’d like to
progress, and coordinate tutoring and
make studying something that I’ll do for the rest of my life,” Victor said.
other academic supports. It is Graham
Graham Windham staff also worked with Victor’s mother and helped her estab-
Windham’s goal that 100% of the children
lish limits and rewards connected to behavior improvements and accomplishments in
in our care are promoted to the next grade
school. By the end of the school year, Victor was awarded the “Most Improved
level and maintain math and reading
Student” award for his accomplish-
scores relevant to their grade level.
ments by the principal of PS30. “I am so thankful to Graham Windham for
“Foster children routinely fall behind in school, and by the time they reach ado-
helping my son,” Victor’s mother said.
lescence, they are often three to five years
“He is going to graduate near the top
behind grade level in reading and math,
of his class, and that is much more
with little hope of reducing this gap,” says
than I could ever have hoped for.”
continued on page 8
Graham Windham’s School-Based Mental Health Services are provided at
inside J Holiday Volunteers
PS 30M, The Raphael Hernandez Langston Hughes Learning Academy in East Harlem. The program offers individual and family counseling, case management, empowerment group counseling, art therapy, a Rites of Passage after school program, emergency financial assistance to families and a school-based summer enhancement program. Parent development workshops are also available. Please call Dara Elebe-
Mentor Q & A
Williams, Director of School-Based Mental Health Program, at 212 987-0641 for more information.
Alumni Bio
GW
winter 2005