Family Peer Support Services
St. John’s
Episcopal Hospital’s Family Peer Support Services provides a comprehensive range of
formal and informal family support services that are individualized,
coordinated, family-driven, youth-guided, culturally competent, and strength–based to families of children and adolescents from birth to 24 years of age whom
are experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges in their
home, school placement and/or community. Services can be directed to parents/caregivers and to youth as long as the youth meets the eligibility criteria
stated above. The program is proud to serve community members throughout Eastern
Queens.
"I have been there, I know the frustration, pain, confusion and tears my whole family experienced when trying to get the services my son needed. You cannot do this alone," said Kathy Gardini, Clinical Coordinator of the Family Peer Support Program.
Goals and Objectives:
- To provide families and youth with information, support and advocacy so that they are empowered to make informed decisions, advocate for their needs, guide services received and navigate the children’s mental health other children-serving system.
- To provide
timely access to a comprehensive range of family support services in order to
reduce parent and caregiver stress, strengthen relationships between parent/caregiver and child, and help families enhance skills to provide positive youth functioning
and enhance their child’s ability to live in their community.
What makes
the Family Peer Support Services unique:
- Our staff members have walked in the shoes of those coming to receive services through their own lived experiences. We are all parents of children with emotional and/or behavioral needs
- Our strength-based approach
- Our peer-to-peer model
- Our staff members are all credentialed Family Advocates
The Family Peer Support Services staff is here to help. Our staff has undergone extensive training to provide a variety of services which include providing information and referral to community organizations, teaching parenting skills, running support groups, and assisting parents in advocating for their children's needs. All of our services are Medicaid and Managed Care reimbursable, including:
- Information line
- Peer-to-peer groups for parents and youth
- One-on-one advocacy
- Workshops
- Referrals
- Public education and outreach assistance
- Recreational activities
- Anger management
- Parenting skills classes
Our parenting skills classes include:
- Circle of Security
- Parents/caregivers of children from birth to age five
- Class sessions are 8 weeks long
- Classes meet once per week
- Certificate given upon completion
- Common Sense Parenting (CSP)
- Parents/caregivers of children from ages 6 to 24
- Children with disabilities
- Children with IEPs
- Class sessions are 6 weeks long
- Classes are available in English and Spanish
For more information or an appointment at the Family Peer Support Services - Eastern Queens please call: 718-869-7923.
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Family Peer Support Services
1914 Brookhaven Avenue
Far Rockaway, NY 11691
