Program News 2005
GSS Expansion in the Bronx
On July 1, Good Shepherd reached a major landmark in our history of providing services to vulnerable children, youth and families. Following months of exploration, we officially took over the contracts for a network of programs that mirrors our Brooklyn continuum of community-based services.
Developed by Pius XII over the past 30 years, our new Bronx network offers a range of services to more than 6,000 people in poor neighborhoods within central Bronx each year. It will complement the work of our foster boarding home and adoption program as well as our recently-opened DJJ supported group home, both of which serve the same community. The Bronx network currently operates from 16 sites, primarily in school facilities, and consists of two preventive programs, seven after-school programs, a Beacon, six school-based attendance improvement programs, a Pre K program and six specialized programs working with dropouts and former dropouts. In addition, we manage a daycare and family daycare program.
Good Shepherd's assumption of the Bronx contracts will ensure the continuation of these vital community supports and the retention of the full-time staff who have delivered such high quality and effective services. It is also very much in line with the programmatic directions identified in our 2005-2009 Strategic Plan, where we specifically articulated our desire to expand our after-school and school-based work and committed to placing particular focus on expanding services to disconnected adolescents, an area of work in which these programs have demonstrated tremendous competence.
This new development in our work will have significant benefits for the vulnerable children, youth and families to whom we are all committed. Under the umbrella of Good Shepherd, we are looking forward to enhancing our services, strengthening our collaborations and enjoying rich opportunities for cross-program sharing of best practices.
To check out maps of all of our programs, click here.
July 8, 2005
