April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
DIOCESAN MAINSTAY
St. Anne's Institute shepherds troubled teens
St. Anne's Institute shepherds troubled teens
When St. Anne's Institute in Albany opened in 1887 as a convent, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd used the building to take in unwed mothers and provide them with the assistance they needed. Today, St. Anne's continues to help young women in need, only now it is for teenage girls who have experienced a harsh lifestyle of drugs, harassment or abuse.
"The girls have very poor images of themselves," explained Richard Riccio, executive director at St. Anne's. "Because they have self-image problems, their first instinct is to run away."
At St. Anne's, the mission is to dispose of all the negativity and get the girls back on their feet. The institute is a residential service for around 130 girls in seventh to 12th grade, where they will live and go to classes on a daily basis. All classes are New York State Regents accredited and all credits are transferable to public schools.
The girls are placed in St. Anne's by the courts, and the program is state funded.
According to Mr. Riccio, St. Anne's takes in around $17 million a year from the State Office of Children and Family Services and the State Education Department.
The hope is that the girls will not only receive an education, but have a better life afterward.
Long gains
"I like to think we are successful in that the girls begin to feel better about themselves," said Mr. Riccio. "But a lot of the times the girls don't see the benefit they got here until they mature."
Caroline Casale, director of public relations at St. Anne's, feels the girls just need a second chance.
"Everyone is kind of afraid of St. Anne's," she said. "Obviously, the girls don't want to be here. But really, they're sweethearts. They just need to be loved."
Some of the girls there (whose last names have been withheld) have already seen some of the benefits St. Anne's has to offer.
"If it weren't for the school I wouldn't have passed," said 18-year-old Andrea.
"Outside of here you can't see a therapist without doing a lot of work," added 15-year-old Maria. "But here, it's free and you go all the time."
The staff at St. Anne's makes sure the girls have the proper help they need. Each girl is assigned a social worker who they meet with once a week for therapy. They also hold group sessions to discuss issues such as violence and anger.
"It's helped me grow and become a better person," said Joliyne, 15, who has been at St. Anne's for over a year and a half due to drug-related problems.
Personal growth
Since being there, Joliyne says she has now been drug-free for 15 months and hopes to go to school for cosmetology and law in the future. She credited the class environment for her success.
"In [public] school, it's bigger classes and you really have to pay attention," she said. "But here, the classes are smaller and they talk to you more and explain the work."
The classes at St. Anne's have no more than six girls. During their summer program, the girls are allowed to take classes that are of interest to them, such as arts and crafts.
The school principal, Eleanore Rosenberg, was quick to point out that the healing process goes beyond academics and comfort.
"A lot of these kids don't have a positive hobby," she explained. "This gives them an opportunity to find something they love doing and keep them occupied."
Outside, the girls can go swimming in an underground pool, play basketball or volleyball on the courts or play softball or kickball on the field that St. Anne's has in the middle of the small campus.
While the institute thrives on helping the girls academically and socially, Ms. Rosenberg points out the main goal is to show them just how successful they can be.
"St. Anne's gives the girls an opportunity to reach their highest potential in a warm, secure, educational setting."
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