Cayuga Centers, headquartered in Auburn, NY will open this Friday a new administrative offices on Walton Avenue, at the foot of the Madison Avenue Bridge. The new offices will better accommodate the agency’s growing Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care Programs for Bronx County and New York City.
Cayuga Centers, formerly Cayuga Home for Children, established its Bronx presence in 2003, working with NYS OCFS and an existing provider to bring the evidence-based Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care to New York City as an alternative for youth being placed in state facilities. The agency took over the program in 2005, and in 2011 was contracted by NYC Administration for Children’s Services to offer services to 22 youth in need of Treatment Foster Care placement.
“Our program is quite different from traditional foster care programs,” says Troy Brathwaite, Vice President for New York City Programs. “We use a team of skilled counselors to develop individual treatment plans for each youth. We then train host parents in very specific behaviors to work with these youth. We have daily contact with our youth and hosts to support that relationship, and to support daily activity. It is intensive, and we know it is successful in returning the youth back to family and community.”
Brathwaite also states the new offices not only will be a wonderful environment to best assist youth, but also the close proximity to Manhattan will offer new and exciting opportunities for youth skills training. “A large part of our success is to help our youth improve life skills,” Brathwaite says. “From eating in a restaurant or visiting a museum, to taking a hike in Central Park, life experiences are all part of building an effective Treatment Foster Care Program. These can be life-changing elements for a child.”
With the addition of a contract with New York City, the agency will serve 44 youth, aged 11 – 17. The 5500 Square feet facility has a staff of 19, and offers three conference areas for host family training and family therapy sessions. There is also a homework resource area for youth with computer access.
Cayuga Centers services children and families throughout New York State, offering a variety of evidence-based programs, residential and treatment foster care, and services for persons with developmental disabilities.
To find out more about the services in Bronx, or to inquire about becoming a host parent, call Troy Brathwaite, Vice President, NYC Programs at 718-860-1656, Ext. 1608 or visit here.
New Facility Highlights:
• Staff has grown to 19
• Average population serviced is youth aged 11 – 17
• The 5,500 Sq. ft. administrative offices have three conference areas for host family training & therapy sessions
• There are two homework resource areas for youth
• Easy access to Manhattan for youth skills training