Parish programs aim to heal family wounds

A boy whose parents have kicked him out of the house needs a place to stay and hopes to work through his domestic problems.

Those are just two of the types of youths receiving assistance through a new program offered by Immaculate Conception parish in Hoosick Falls. The program provides tutoring, counseling, life skills education and other social services for youths and their families, and is the only one of its kind in Hoosick Falls, according to Rev. Philip Cioppa, pastor.

Tools for success

Father Cioppa suggested that the parish implement such a program last November in response to the increase in dropout rates among high school students in Hoosick Falls. The lack of services for at-risk youths in the area also prompted him.

"It's a new program here because nobody ever looked at Hoosick Falls and said we have troubled youth," he said. "There are really no social services out here. There's no traditional counseling taking place, there's no youth-and-family initiative."

Funding

Additional funds have been sought from the Albany Diocese, the Reynolds Foundation, Putnam Memorial Health Corporation, Healthy Capital District Initiative and the New York State Department of Education.

The program currently is being offered at the parish rectory, but a site with a kitchen and more space would be ideal, Ms. Casey noted.

Three parts

1. The education component involves a teacher from the Hoosick Falls Central School District who works with high school students who have dropped out or are in danger of doing so; tutoring also is provided for students.

2. Another component is social services, and Louise Evans, pastoral associate for pastoral care and social outreach, offers counseling for youths and their families, information on assistance programs, and referrals.

3. Ms. Casey oversees the third component, health education, which covers such topics as parenting for young families, nutrition, exercise, smoking prevention, weight loss and abstinence-based sex education.

Interconnected problems

"That's what we're really trying to accomplish -- a comprehensive, intensive program, because you just can't tackle one issue. You have to deal with all their issues at the same time," she said. "It's a godsend to so many of these kids and families that don't know where to go for help."

Although the program focuses primarily on youth issues, it is hoped that services can be expanded to include families as more grant funds and, consequently, employees become available.

Up and running

"It's amazing how things get done. You ask not just as you write the proposals, but also through your prayers," she said.

She believes the program will fill a void in Hoosick Falls, particularly in the area of education because there is no tutoring, summer school or GED instruction offered in the school district. She also hopes that the program can help individuals who are unaware of assistance for which they may be eligible.

"A lot of times, people aren't aware of what's available, and that's where I come into play, just to make sure that if they need services that they're able to get them," she said.

Continuing mission

"I think we forget about our historical roots. We were social services. We started the hospitals, the orphanages. As early Christians, that was always the piece that was part of us."

(For information about the Youth at Risk program or to schedule an appointment, call Louise Evans at 686-5064, ext. 204.)

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