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Jeff Simmons, the host of the It’s in Queens podcast, speaks with SCS Executive Director Judy Zangwill, and SCS Associate Executive Director for Older Adult Services Shyvonne Noboa about elder justice, affordable housing, and more.
Listen to the full podcast online here.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and NYC Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vásquez addressed more than 100 seniors at SCS as part of our Elder Justice Program. Other speakers at the event included Chief of Staff for New York City Council, Nick Gulotta; SCS Executive Director Judy Zangwill; SCS Elder Justice Director Asia Piña-Smith, MSW; and a client who offered a firsthand account about the impact of our Elder Justice Program.
Read the article online at https://sunnysidepost.com/queens-da-elder-abuse-sunnyside-community-services.
Photo by Shane O’Brien; courtesy of Sunnyside Post
Hundreds of seniors and their advocates, joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, for a rally protesting the $102 million proposed budget cut to the New York City Department for the Aging. The reduced funding would impact services to older adults and could lead to the closure of up to 90 senior centers across the city. The rally, held at Queens Borough Hall, was organized by LiveOn NY.
Read the Queens Post article about the rally here: https://queenspost.com/hundreds-rally-at-queens-borough-hall-to-protest-102m-cuts-to-senior-services
Photo above: SCS staff and members of our Center for Active Older Adults joined hundreds of seniors and advocates at a rally protesting cuts to senior centers.
SCS Case Manager Guisela Lara has received the LiveOn NY Hero Award for her work advocating for more than 1,300 homebound older adults in Western Queens. The Hero Award is awarded by LiveOn NY to front line workers who positively impact the lives of older adults in New York City. Guisela is one of only six individuals who were honored with the award. Guisela has been a dedicated case manager at SCS for 23 years and we’re proud of her unwavering dedication to her work.
Recently, PIX11 News stopped by our offices to talk to Guisela and congratulate her. Watch the PIX11 News piece online here.
SCS Executive Director Judy Zangwill has been selected as one of City & State’s “50 Over 50” – 50 distinguished leaders over the age of 50 who have been driving change in New York for decades. This year’s list is presented in partnership with AARP New York and highlights the accomplishments of these talented and motivated individuals.
In the City & State New York article, Judy Zangwill talks about what keeps her motivated: “I’m motivated by seeing our services make a difference, by the passion exhibited from staff, by seeing wrong and making a concerted effort to right it.”
See the full list online at https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2025/01/2025-50-over-50/402409/
Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) will train an estimated 420 New Yorkers to become home health aides and personal care aides, supported in part by a $200,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. Participants will complete a comprehensive program at SCS, equipping them with the skills to assist homebound individuals with daily living tasks and basic health needs.
The two-year grant will fund SCS’s Home Health Aide and Personal Care Aide Training Programs. It is anticipated that about 420 trainees will successfully complete the training. Data from previous years indicates that most enrollees are unemployed at the time of registration.
The grant will also support outreach efforts, with SCS planning to host over 40 open houses in both 2025 and 2026 for prospective trainees interested in joining the program. Upcoming open houses will occur on the second week of each month on Mondays at 10 am and 2 pm.
“This year our Foundation hit a milestone in our impact and continued responding to key issues across the state – from maternal health and childhood hunger to immigrant healthcare workforces and mental healthcare for our senior citizens. Our grantees and their commitment to the health and well-being of New Yorkers inspire our grantmaking processes and focus areas year after year. We’re looking forward to another year of the collaboration and community engagement that motivates our work,” said Daniel Frascella, Chief Programs and Grants Officer of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.
Home health aides and personal care aides help homebound seniors with daily activities such as preparing meals, getting dressed, and going to appointments. The demand for home health aides and personal care aides is high and New York currently faces a shortage of these critically important home care workers. As New York’s current population ages, the demand for home care workers is expected to increase.
“Queens has the second largest population of older adults in New York State,” said Judy Zangwill, Executive Director of SCS. “It’s crucial to have skilled professionals available to help homebound older adults with their daily needs. Thanks to the generous support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, we can train hundreds of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals for this vital work. We deeply appreciate their contribution.”
The Home Health Aide Training Program at SCS consists of more than 100 hours of training over the course of four weeks, led by a registered nurse. The training includes hands-on demonstrations with mannequins and classroom practice. The curriculum covers essential topics along with specialized training to care patients with neuromuscular disorders.
The Personal Care Aide training is shorter but equally comprehensive, offering a state-approved curriculum that leads to certification. Both programs are free of charge and available in English and Spanish. Enrollment is open to New York City residents.
Graduates receive certification from the New York State Department of Health and are placed in positions with SCS-affiliated organizations, Sunnyside Citywide Home Care Services and Sunnyside Home Care Project. Participants also gain access to additional career advancement opportunities.
For more information about the Home Health Aide Training Program and the Personal Care Aide Training Program, call 718-784-6160, Ext. 342, email info@scsny.org, or visit online at https://www.scsny.org/programs/care-home/become-home-health-aide.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit cabrinihealth.org or email communications@cabrinihealth.org.
Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) is a community-based nonprofit centered on the belief that every person deserves meaningful support to achieve their aspirations – especially struggling families and individuals. SCS serves a diverse community of over 16,000 people of all ethnicities and income levels throughout Queens with programs that range from pre-K to college and career readiness, home care and home health aide training, Beacon and Cornerstone community centers for children and families, legal assistance for immigrants, ESOL classes for community members to improve their English language skills, a vibrant senior center and full range of services for at-risk older adults including social adult day care for individuals with Alzheimer’s, a city-wide program of supportive services for those who care for them, and an elder justice program. With programs designed to enrich lives and strengthen communities through services and engagement for individuals at all ages, beginning with those most in need, SCS has been lighting up lives with programs as diverse as the people they serve since 1974.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has awarded 209 grants totaling $208 million to nonprofits across the city. SCS was awarded $200,000 for our Home Health Aide and Personal Care Aide Training Programs.
Read more in this Sunnyside Post article: https://sunnysidepost.com/mother-cabrini-foundation-immigrant-healthcare-workforce-queens-brooklyn
Students at our after-school program at P.S. 199Q in Sunnyside, Queens showed off their holiday spirit at Holiday Spirit Week and our New Year’s Eve party.
Our after-school program at P.S. 199Q provides a fun and challenging environment for students in grades K–5. The program includes homework help; project-based learning activities such as creating their own comic books and building model bridges; sports, dance, and martial arts classes; nutrition-related activities; and community service projects that promote leadership and teamwork skills.
Learn more about our after-school programs here.
The Queens Gazette featured SCS in an article highlighting our 50 years of service to Queens. The article explores how we started, how much we’ve expanded in the past 50 years, and our plans for the future. Click here to read the story online.
In this issue of the News and Views newsletter, you can read about recent news regarding SCS. Stories in this issue include: a new initiative that will create affordable housing for seniors Queens; an update about the SCS ESOL Program; Halloween photos of some SCS participants; a backpack giveaway at Woodside Houses; photos from Sunnyside Post Mile and Lights On Afterschool; the SCS Elder Justice program; holiday giving; and more!
Read the newsletter online at issuu.com.
Above photo by Cormac Nataro/Office of Senator Michael Gianaris.