Today’s family comes in a variety of forms, with divorce and remarriage increasingly common. Given these many combinations, making plans for the holidays can be complex. Which parent gets the kids and when? How do exes divide up the gift lists? Those are just a hint of the many issues that come up this time of year. Whether your relationship with your ex is amicable or not, your job as...
The recent death of our 41st President George H.W. Bush brought forth a memory from my earlier years at North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center. For decades I worked as a frontline clinician in the Guidance Center’s outpatient mental health program. My specialty was working with adolescents in groups. One of the lessons I learned over the years is the importance of paying attention to what is happening in the world...
During the holiday season, it seems that spending time appreciating the beauty of the natural world takes a backseat to hitting the shopping malls and hunting for bargains online. That’s a shame, because being in the outdoors provides huge benefits in every season of the year. The healing power of nature is why North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center created our Wilderness Respite Program, which this year celebrates its 20th...
(From left) Honorees Andrea and Michael Leeds, Congressman Tom Suozzi, honorees Rita and Frank Castagna, state Sen. Todd Kaminsky and honoree Deirdre Costa Major contributed to the success of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s 65th Sapphire Anniversary Gala....
Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, Adriann J. Combs and Dr. Martine Hackett On Nov. 19, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center held a special event at its Leeds Place site in Westbury entitled “World Prematurity Awareness Breakfast.” At the event, the audience, which consisted of healthcare professionals and community members, learned that over 300,000 babies in the United States are born premature each year, and the statistics indicate a wide...
Roslyn Heights, NY, November 26, 2018 —On November 19, 2018, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center held a special event at its Leeds Place site in Westbury entitled “World Prematurity Awareness Breakfast.” At the event, the audience, which consisted of healthcare professionals and community members, learned that over 300,000 babies in the United States are born premature each year, and the statistics indicate a wide racial disparity. According to...
When tragedy strikes, the grief can be overwhelming. One way that some people choose to deal with their pain is to try to make something good come out of a horrible situation. That’s what the parents of Timothy O’Clair did when their 12-year-old son died by suicide on March 6, 2001 after mental health benefits provided by their insurance company ran out. The O’Clair family fought tirelessly for years for New...
Preparing for the birth of a new baby is a joyful time. But here’s some news that is far from joyful: More than 300,000 babies in the United States are born premature each year, and the statistics indicate a wide racial disparity. In Nassau County, the infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births is 9.4 for black babies versus 2.2 reported for white non-Hispanic babies. According to the New York...
At North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, our team of social workers, psychologists, family advocates and other dedicated staff members work throughout the year to bring hope and healing to children and families facing mental health and substance use challenges. We are grateful to our clients, who put their trust in us, and to our supporters, who make our work possible. Below, some members of our team share what...
Violence — random, sudden, illogical, and lethal — has become a fact of life. Years of social and economic injustice have resulted in large numbers of people who are frustrated and without hope for the future, people to whom bravado is everything, and anything that seems the slightest bit threatening — a put-down, a disagreement, a dirty look — demands immediate retaliation. As I write these words, this kind of...