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Phipps CDC Programs Youth Education and Enrichment
Teen Academic and Skills Development
Adult Literacy and Education
Workforce Development Family and Community Building Resident Resources Phipps CDC Program Sites
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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION/HEAD START
Phipps CDC provides a comprehensive early childhood program that is grounded in developmentally appropriate practices to prepare children for successful entry into the school system. Our programs are committed to providing children and their families with a caring, encouraging community in which they can develop the skills needed to succeed in school and life. We also work extensively with parents of the participants to reinforce academic, conflict resolution, and communication skills learned during the day. With the assistance of several private foundations, we enhance services through collaborations with universities, museums and arts organizations. The Phipps CDC Head Start Centers are two of only 37 programs in the Bronx that have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a widely recognized indicator of high quality in programs for young children. |
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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. ACCIÓN Academy graduated its inaugural class from the eighth grade in spring of 2007 and nearly every one of the original 76 students progressed, receiving the school's first middle school diplomas. Later that same year, the school received a "B" in the citywide ratings. 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  The Phipps Community Education Center in West Farms offers a range of education and recreation programs for teens and adults. The West Farms Teen Program helps teens aspire to successful and productive lives with after-school and summer programs that focus on academic, cultural, and social development. Work readiness, community service, leadership and mentoring are core elements in many of the programs so teens develop important life skills, get involved in their community, and have fun.Older teens and young adults can enroll in a General Education Diploma (GED) program taught by instructors from the NYC Dept. of Education. The Phipps Community Education Center also houses College Advisement, Greening, Summer Youth Employment, and Family Literacy programs. Students enrolled at the Center have access to all activities including special events, cultural celebrations, "meet the author" sessions, and field trips, as well as referrals to job and internship opportunities. |
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LITERACY/ADULT BASIC EDUCATION
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EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMING
The West Farms Technology & Career Center and Phipps Opportunity Center feature well-equipped computer facilities, professional training staff, and a range of classes for beginners to more experienced users. Classes are held in PC and Macintosh computer labs equipped with high-speed Internet, printers, and scanners. When scheduled classes are not in session, computer labs are available for public use such as school work, job search, and online courses. All computer classes are free of charge and advance registration is recommended. |
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Earn Benefits |
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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. In 2006, Phipps Houses completed construction of La Casa de Felicidad, an 85-unit building in the Melrose section of the Bronx exclusively for low-income tenants over the age of 62. Phipps CDC provides the same breadth of social services and recreation programming 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. Our shelters have been recognized by DHS for their strong performance and have a solid record of successful placement of families in affordable permanent apartments. In 2007, Sojourner Truth House was ranked 6th in New York City among the 135 shelters working with DHS. |
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PHIPPS
OPPORTUNITY CENTER The Phipps Opportunity Center is also the site for the City's first Financial Empowerment Center, which offers free workshops and one-on-one financial counseling services for Bronx residents led by trained professionals. Services are conducted in English and Spanish and focus on managing personal finances, resolving credit and debt issues, basic banking, and access to affordable financial services and products. The Financial Empowerment Center in Melrose was created in partnership with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs' Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE), with support from the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation of New York. |
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Enrichment activities for children aged 6-12 include computer instruction, multicultural cooking, gardening, basketball, chess, dance, yoga, journaling, arts & crafts, and team fitness. Educational programs include homework help and reading/literacy. Teen activities also include group outings such as bowling, ice skating, skiing, leadership retreats, and college tours. Special collaborations include arts and educational programming provided by partners such as the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Leap. |
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CONTACT INFO After-School & Teen Programs After-School & Teen Programs After-School & Teen Programs Educational Technology After-School & Teen Programs NYC Justice Corps |
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Recognizing that early childhood education sets the stage for academic achievement and effective social development, Phipps CDC offers programs that provide young children and their families with the foundation and opportunities to put them on the path to future learning and growth. Phipps CDC serves 123 children ages three to five in seven classrooms at two licensed Head Start programs in the Bronx: the Phipps Head Start Center and Lambert Houses Head Start Center. Both centers operate in accordance with the guidelines of the Federal Head Start program, which mandates that 90% of the children come from families whose income is at or below the Federal poverty level. 
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 13 after-school
programs and serves more than 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.
Since 1994, Phipps CDC has operated a Beacon program in West Farms providing engaging activities for youth and adults during non-school hours as well as weekends, holidays and vacations. In 2008, Phipps CDC assumed operation of a second Beacon location, serving 3 middle schools and local residents in Throgs Neck. For children and teens, the Beacon focus is on academic enrichment, college and career awareness, life skills and recreation. Activities include tutoring, art, dance, computer instruction, sports, martial arts and environmental studies. Adults can take GED and ESL classes and participate in programs designed for adults including parenting and social activities. Each Beacon program site is also a center for large-scale community events such as holiday celebrations and community meetings.
Phipps CDC recognizes computer literacy as a key component of educational, career, and personal development and provides a range of classes that teach skills to help clients and students access genuine opportunities and enable them to participate, and stay competitive, in the global economy. To meet the range of needs in the community, Educational Technology includes a diverse curriculum of basic computer skills, business applications, Internet-based learning, and new media, with classes taught in both English and Spanish. Phipps CDC also incorporates computer and Internet use into its 
Phipps CDC helps individuals prepare for employment with programs and resources that provide the skills they need to be competitive, secure stable employment, and develop future careers. Whether returning to work or navigating employment for the first time, participants can take advantage of coaching, skills training, and referrals to facilitate their transition into the workforce.
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, ECHO Apartments and La Casa de Felicidad.
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). The program at Town and Country Shelter is 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 offers a full range of Phipps CDC educational programs and community services. Regular classes include basic and intermediate 
The Phipps Classic Center, a 22,000-square-foot community and recreation center in the Melrose section of the Bronx, offers a range of after-school and summer programs for elementary school children and teens. Sports, arts and cultural activities, academic enhancement, and community involvement provide a wide range of learning and recreation opportunities.
