SCS News

SCS, a Queens-based community organization that improves the lives of more than 16,000 people annually, has received $275,000 in funding from the federal government. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Senator Chuck Schumer helped secure the funding which will support two SCS programs: a training program for individuals who wish to become home health aides, and a youth program for elementary, middle school, and high school students at Woodside Houses in Woodside, Queens. 

“We are so honored that the U.S. Congress has generously funded two of our programs,” said Judy Zangwill, Executive Director of SCS. “These programs help improve the Queens community in many ways. Our Home Health Aide Training Program offers an entryway to the home health care field for those who are unemployed or underemployed. Once the trainees graduate and are certified, they care for homebound seniors who are some of our most vulnerable citizens. And our Safety, Learning, and College Access Program at Woodside Houses provides youth with programming that helps them build skills, increase their academic performance, and explore college and careers with confidence.” 

The SCS projects were two of 10 community projects in New York’s 14th Congressional District to be nominated by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “I know these projects will be deeply impactful,” said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “We are thrilled these projects will now become reality — and we are confident that all these projects fulfill our nation’s collective goals, advance our collective pursuit of justice, and are deeply worthy of federal support.” 

Home Health Aide Training Program 
The SCS Home Health Aide Training Program will receive $175,000 in funding from the federal government. This workforce development program helps unemployed and underemployed individuals, primarily immigrant women, enter the healthcare field as home health aides who help elderly homebound clients with daily activities such as getting dressed, preparing meals, and going to appointments. The four-week free training is offered in both Spanish and English, and is open to those without a high school diploma or who have limited work experience. Recent data show that 92% of trainees in this program were unemployed and/or receiving public benefits at the time of enrollment. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive certification by the New York State Department of Health. Many graduates are placed in jobs with SCS’s two affiliated home care agencies – Sunnyside Citywide Home Care Services and Sunnyside Home Care Project – and become members of 1199SEIU with full union benefits. More than 300 people are expected to take part in the training program in 2022. 

Safety, Learning, and College Access Program  
The Safety, Learning, and College Access Program will receive $100,000 in funding. The program will be provided to 70 young people at Cornerstone Community Center at Woodside Houses, a public housing complex in Woodside, Queens. The program’s activities will vary by age, and will include leadership skill building and project-based learning, tutoring, homework help, college advisement and support, career exploration activities, SAT classes, essay writing, field trips to local colleges, and college application assistance.  

SCS has won a national caregiving award for its Care NYC program. Care NYC at SCS provides support to Queens-based caregivers who are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. The Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award is presented by The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Inc., and Family Caregiver Alliance.  

“Six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. They are often cared for by family members who need support and respite to give their loved ones the best care they can,” said Judy Zangwill, Executive Director of SCS. “With services such as skills workshops and support groups, our Care NYC program aims to give caregivers the help they need. We’re so honored that our program was recognized with the Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award.” 

The Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award is a national award that is presented each year to recognize three outstanding programs. Care NYC is this year’s only NYC-based winner; other winners include Seattle-based Elderwise and Chicago-based “Art Is…In.” Care NYC was recognized for its work in multicultural communities. As part of the award, each program receives a $20,000 grant. 

Care NYC matches 1,400 caregivers annually to SCS staff members who provide a range of assistance and connect caregivers to other services. Care NYC services include education and caregiver skills workshops, peer support groups, long term care planning, and more. The program is targeted to honor differences in cultural, linguistic, family dynamics, and religious identities for caregivers.  

On March 10, SCS staff joined workers, elected officials, and community members at a rally in Manhattan to advocate for higher pay for human services workers. Read more about the rally in the Queens Times article above.

On March 10, staff from Sunnyside Community Services joined human services workers, elected officials, and community members at City Hall Park in Manhattan to advocate for an end to poverty wages for the human services workforce.

The rally was hosted by the Human Services Council and is part of their Just Pay campaign, which seeks to raise pay among human services workers through:

• An automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment on all human services contracts.
• A wage of no less than $21 an hour for all City and State-funded human services workers.
• A comprehensive wage and benefit schedule for government contracted human services workers that is comparable to the salaries made by City and State employees in the same field.

Sunnyside Community Services staff and members of the SCS senior center participated in this year’s St. Pat’s for All Parade. We were greeted by several elected officials along the Skillman Avenue parade route. The parade, Sunnyside and Woodside’s largest annual event, celebrates Irish culture and identity with an inclusive event that welcomes everyone. 

The application deadline for pre-K enrollment is March 18 and the deadline for 3-K is April 14.

Pre-K is free for students age four—born in 2018 for the 2022-23 school year. 3-K is free for students age three—born in 2019 for the 2022-23 school year.

If you would like to enroll your child in our free Sunnyside UP program, contact us at 718-784-6173 ext. 535 or at info@scsny.org for help with your application.

Registration for our free English for Speakers of Other Languages classes opens in mid-March. The classes are taught by expert ESOL instructors. The curriculum was created to meet the needs of all immigrants. Each day will help you to build the skills you need to communicate with employers, doctors, landlords, your children’s teachers, and others in the community.

Classes will be offered from April 19 – June 23 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Participants will have a choice of morning (9 am – noon) or evening (6 – 9 pm) classes.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning English this spring, email us at English@scsny.org.

The Florence V. Burden Foundation has awarded us with a $25,000 grant for the 2022 calendar year for our Home Health Aide Training Program. This free four-week program trains 250 people each year to be certified home care workers, and provides participants with a direct track to employment.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a home health aide, register for one of our open house sessions, which are held on the first and 2nd Mondays of each month. Register by calling 718-784-6160 ext. 342 or emailing ivillanueva@scsny.org.

You can help save lives by donating blood at our location in Sunnyside, Queens. New York Blood Center is holding the drive on Monday, March 14 from 3 – 7:30 pm. Schedule an appointment online at nybc.org/save1feed1. 

When you donate blood in March, you can double your impact! Register online and New York Blood Center will donate to Feeding New York State or Community Foodbank of New Jersey on your behalf.

Please remember to eat, drink, and bring your donor ID card or your photo ID to your appointment.

QNS highlights the ribbon cutting of a new TF Cornerstone development in Long Island City as one of their top stories of December 2021. The building at 5241 Center Blvd. will include a community center where SCS will provide services and programming. 

You can read the article online at: 
https://qns.com/2021/12/year-in-review-queens-top-stories-december-2021/