Scarsdale Middle School PTA

Youth Services Project

                                                                                                September 2009

Dear Parents:

 Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year!  We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as the Scarsdale Community Youth Services Project.  The Youth Services Project (YSP) is a partnership of Scarsdale Schools, Scarsdale Village and Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service (SFCS).  The project places a team of Youth Outreach Workers in the community as a helping resource to young people and their families.  Youth Outreach Workers collaborate with police, schools and community groups to provide a safety net for teens.

 The Youth Services middle school team is composed of Emily Vallario, LCSW, Andrew Weisfeld, NCC and Timothy Nelson, NCC.  We maintain offices in the middle school and are available after school or by appointment at SFCS.  The main objective of our work is to connect with youth and provide counseling, social and emotional support, and education to teens and parents.

 The Youth Services Project offers many exciting and unique programs for parents and teens:

 Individual On-Site Counseling and Personal Growth Groups are available to all middle school students.  Individual and group sessions are designed to provide a comfortable environment for        children to discuss relevant teen issues such as peer pressure, coping skills, self-image, drugs/alcohol, etc.

  • Young Women in Leadership presents its 7th year! It is a ten-session support group for girls in the 7th and 8th grade.  The program’s primary goal is to help girls navigate the challenges of adolescence through interactive experiences.  Examples of activities include community service projects, field trips, and guest speakers.  Young Women in Leadership meets for one hour on Tuesdays and is Facilitated by Emily Vallario and Popham House  Counselor, Deena Paradiso.
  • Young Men in Leadership is offered to 7th and 8th grade boys and is in its 5th year!  It is an eight-session group that is held on Friday evenings from 7-9 pm at Scarsdale Middle School.  Group participants have dinner while discussing a relevant topic and the remainder of the group is devoted to an interactive sport activity.  Topics of discussion may include: peer pressure, bullying, stress, and young men’s self-esteem.  The program goal is help participants gain a better understanding of listening, team work and communicating with peers.
  • Adventure Based Counseling (ABC) is one of SFCS’ unique summer programs.  A week of day trips provide personal growth through outdoors adventures.  Participants are encouraged to challenge themselves to a level at which they feel comfortable. Two successful trips were held this summer and included: hiking, biking, rock climbing, kayaking and white water rafting.  Click here to view this year's itinerary

The Youth Services Project also offers programs to parents.  Many of you are familiar with our Parent Support Groups.  Parent groups are offered to those with children in grades 5 through 12.  The groups are one hour in length and take place monthly from September to June in the homes of parent participants or at the SFCS offices.  Both day and evening groups are available.  We welcome mothers and fathers to participate.  Please contact Emily Vallario if you would like to be placed in a group.

We look forward to working with you and your child.  Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions, comments or concerns.  Emily can be reached at 721-2642, Timothy at 721-2664, and Andrew at 721-2632.

In addition to the Youth Services Project, SFCS also offers individual, family and couple therapy, social skills groups for children, and older adult services.  For more information please contact the offices of SFCS at 723-3281.

If you DO NOT wish your son or daughter to participate in any of the services offered through the Youth Services Project, please click here to download a form, sign it and return it to SFCS.  However, there may be occasions when a Youth Outreach Worker needs to reach out to a student and we will follow appropriate guidelines for keeping you informed.

We welcome you to a new school year and hope it is filled with positive experiences for you and your child.

Kind Regards,

Emily Vallario, LCSW    Andrew Weisfeld, NCC    Timothy Nelson, NCC