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PROGRAMS Youth Education and Enrichment
Teen Academic and Skills Development
Adult Literacy and Education
Workforce Development Family and Community Building Support for Seniors Resident Resources Phipps CDC Program Sites
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Our Phipps Head Start Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC, the nation's largest organization working on behalf of young children, is particularly focused on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC accreditation is a widely recognized indicator of high quality in programs for young children. With the assistance of several private foundations, we enhance services at our Head Start Centers through collaborations with universities, museums and arts organizations. Phipps CDC's talented staff, high quality curriculum, commitment to parental involvement, and sunny, attractive physical space are helping to define a new standard for early childhood education in New York City. |
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Our summer youth programs are offered in West Farms and Morrisania in the Bronx and the Bellevue South neighborhood in Manhattan. We focus on fun, educational enrichment, and emotional growth under the supervision of caring adult mentors. Field trips to museums, aquariums, state parks and recreation centers broaden the children's horizons. For many children this is their first experience out of the city where they are able to swim in a lake or take a hike in the woods. Their summer activities introduce campers and teens to new ideas, build their self-confidence, encourage new friendships, and provide them with memorable experiences. |
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Achievement ~ Consciousness ~ Community ~ Integrity ~ Opportunity ~ Now!
The third and final class of sixth graders was admitted in September 2006, bringing enrollment to 200 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Phipps continues to offer ongoing support to the school by providing a comprehensive extended day program, supplying adjunct staff, and offering a wealth of community and citywide contacts, resources, and services. We are also committed to providing program enhancements that allow the extended day and other enrichment programs to grow in relation to the school's expansion - and have taken on the corresponding fundraising responsibilities. |
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Advisement services includes:
Since spring 2003, 130 students have been accepted to college; of those, 116 registered. Although a few have dropped out and a few more have not stayed in touch, our advisor is in contact with 95 students who are still enrolled in college. Two have received AA degrees and are continuing at 4-year schools. Phipps CDC is expanding this program to serve students, particularly those in middle schools, throughout the Phipps communities. |
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WEST FARMS COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER
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LANGUAGE AND LITERACY FOR ADULTS
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EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMING
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New Employment Initiatives
at the Phipps West Farms Technology & Career Center |
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In 1995, Phipps CDC worked with West Farms residents to develop A Quality of Life Physical Plan for West Farms. The plan, which won a 1995 American Planning Association award, outlines a number of important community needs and recommends that natural resources in the neighborhood be reclaimed by transforming vacant lots into usable open spaces, improving a public park, and cleaning up the Bronx River. Many sites targeted for transformation into community open spaces were being used for illegal dumping, prostitution, and drug dealing. Following the study's recommendations, Phipps CDC initiated its first environmental beautification project in West Farms, transforming a large garbage-strewn lot wedged between the Bronx River and CS 214 into Drew Gardens. Drew Gardens has become a symbol of a community-led effort to restore, improve, protect, and preserve the natural environment in an at-risk community. The reclamation of this site has been a catalyst for other environmental improvement initiatives in the neighborhood. Phipps CDC's after-school and summer programs take advantage of the new and improved open spaces for outdoor recreation and educational activities. |
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At Henry Phipps Plaza/Kips Bay Court, we provide a "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" (NORC) program funded by NYC's Department for the Aging with a mission to maintain older tenants safely in their homes. This is accomplished through a comprehensive need-based program which includes: increased resident access to appropriate supportive services, preventive health care, and medication reviews; assistance with housekeeping, chores and shopping; and therapeutic recreation, telephone re-assurance calls and a friendly visitor program. The program stresses early professional intervention and engages residents in planning and evaluating their service delivery. The NORC staff includes the Program Director who acts as the program's full time caseworker, one part-time caseworker, a Registered Nurse, an Activities Coordinator and second year social work interns from Hunter College's School of Social Work. ECHO apartments in Manhattan offers its 98 seniors meditation and exercise classes, optional resident-sponsored Bible study classes, recreation activities, and monthly excursions. Our Forget Me Nots at Lambert Houses in the Bronx take full advantage of the network of social and education services we have in place in West Farms. Seniors take computer classes at the Technology Center, attend health seminars presented by local hospitals, and enjoy the performing arts at nearby Lehman College. Phipps Houses will complete construction of La Casa de Felicidad in Fall 2006. This 85-unit building in the Melrose section of the Bronx will provide housing exclusively for low-income tenants over the age of 62. Phipps CDC will assume responsibility for providing the same breadth of social services we have established at our other properties with large numbers of elderly residents. |
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Housing Specialists help families locate affordable apartments and counselors provide family support services that include on-site childcare, life skills counseling, medical and mental health referrals, and education and employment assistance to help parents achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. In 2005, our shelters were recognized by DHS for their strong performance, with Lee Goodwin Residence scoring 8th of 150 such programs citywide on a comprehensive review emphasizing successful placements of families in affordable permanent apartments. |
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CONTACT INFO After-School & Teen Programs Educational Technology After-School & Teen Programs |
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As
an increasing number of residents in the communities we serve have
returned to the workforce, Phipps CDC has stepped in to serve their
childcare needs. Phipps CDC serves 123 children ages three to five
in seven classrooms in two centers in the Bronx: the Phipps Head
Start Center and Lambert Houses Head Start Center. Phipps operates
both centers in accordance with the guidelines of the Federal Head
Start program. The program mandates that 90% of the children come
from families whose income is at or below the Federal poverty level.
We also work extensively with parents of the participants to reinforce
academic, conflict resolution, and communication skills learned
during the day.
Recognizing
the need for a safe, structured environment where children can do
their homework, and participate in cultural, recreational and personal
development activities, Phipps CDC operates eleven after-school
programs and serves over 1,000 children in grades K-8. We also operate
drop-in programs at four housing developments that provide tutoring
and cultural enrichment to elementary school students. The program
goals are to develop a community of lifelong learners and to help
disadvantaged youth achieve academic excellence. Activities include:
Phipps
CDC's Summer Programs provide nearly 1,000 children and teens with
a wide range of exciting and educational activities: day camps,
sleep away camps, sports programs, environmental education, leadership
development, internships and community service. These critically
needed programs are offered in at-risk communities where families
often have no summer options for their children other than dangerous
and unsupervised urban streets.
The
College Advisement Program is designed to help low-income high school
students and former high school dropouts become successful college
students. It also provides students with career development that
will make it possible for them to successfully achieve their goals.
The program prepares students by offering activities designed
to develop personal and social competence and by guiding students
and their parents through the testing, financial aid, admissions
and registration processes.
Phipps
CDC is committed to enhancing quality education for all ages through
innovative technological strategies that respond to different learning
styles. We use a project-based approach that involves staff and
students and results in a dynamic learning community. As a
longstanding community-based organization, we recognize the equity
issues that surround access to technology, which we address by designing
courses including office applications, technology-supported academic
instruction, new media offerings, and bilingual classes
The employment services offered at our West Farms Technology and
Career Center help people get jobs and develop careers. Staff provides
education and skills assessment, referrals to potential employers
or training programs, professional resume and cover letter writing
assistance, job readiness workshops including practice interviews,
job search assistance, and guidance with company research. During
the job search process, our staff is a valuable source of support
and advice for employment and other work-related issues including
transportation, professional attire and childcare. Additional
employment services include an on-site resource center where individuals
have access to computers, phones and a fax machine to facilitate
research on employment opportunities.
Because
there is a lack of open green space in West Farms, Phipps CDC works
to create and restore community gardens and parks, and to educate
students and community members through our Growing Through Greening
programs. Growing Through Greening is designed to spark and increase
participants' understanding of, and vocational interest in, the
fields of environmental science and horticulture.
As
tenants in Phipps' apartment complexes "age in place"
we find that coordinated supportive services for the elderly on
limited incomes have been a great success in maintaining their physical
and mental health, and improving their quality of life. Phipps
CDC's Senior Services Director focuses on improving social and support
services at Henry Phipps Plazas/Kips Bay Court, Lambert Houses,
and ECHO Apartments.
The
Phipps Houses Group has three Tier II transitional housing shelters.
Sojourner Truth House and Lee Goodwin Residence are owned and managed
by Phipps Houses and Phipps CDC, and operated under contracts with
the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS). Town and Country
Shelter is a new Transitional Shelter managed by Phipps CDC also
under contract with DHS. Located in the Bronx, the residences provide
163 furnished apartments with kitchens for homeless families that
are in the process of finding affordable, permanent homes. Families
are referred by DHS and most stay for five to nine months.
The Phipps Opportunity Center is Phipps CDC's new community education center in the Melrose section of the Bronx. Programs in language skills and technology education include basic ESL and literacy instruction, and a range of computer classes. Free public computer access is also available. The Family Room is the site's resource center for parents and kids providing member families with parenting programs, family activities, and referrals to special services free of charge, as well as drop-in childcare for parents enrolled in classes at the Center. The Center has been a site for Opportunity NYC Work Rewards, an employment study/incentive program launched by the Mayor's Center for Economic Opportunity. The program recruited eligible participants through March, and Phipps CDC is currently administering enrollment and providing referrals for education, employment and training to participants. In coming weeks, the Center will also launch a financial literacy program through the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment, which is piloting local counseling centers to provide one-on-one financial counseling and workshops in managing credit and debt, basic banking, and access to affordable financial services and products.
The Phipps Classic Center, a 22,000-square-foot community and recreation center in the Bronx, is the newest location for Phipps CDC youth programs. The Phipps Classic Center offers a range of after-school and summer programs for elementary school children and teens that include academic enhancement, sports and recreation, arts and cultural activities, life skills, and community involvement.
