March 23, 2022 at 11:24 p.m.
St. Catherine’s model lauded at Lions Day with the United Nations
St. Catherine’s model lauded at Lions Day with the United Nations
“When we think about helping refugees, there tends to be reactionary responses around family prevention, child-custody arrangements made under duress and emergency health-care needs, which are often exacerbated during times of crises,” said Puleo O’Hare, who leads the philanthropic efforts at St. Catherine’s. “St. Catherine’s clients seek assistance with the same needs found among displaced populations.”
The Capital District recently became home to a large number of Afghani refugees who needed immediate and significant assistance navigating New York’s legal infrastructure, social services, court systems and health-care networks.
Puleo O’Hare was chosen to speak on behalf of the Lions Club International and represents NY District 20-W, where she serves as district governor.
Although St. Catherine’s Center for Children does not work directly with refugee populations, Puleo O’Hare said its interconnected structure — specifically in the areas of family prevention, advocacy, kinship care, community outreach and wraparound services which are “designed to bridge gaps between available community resources and individual needs” — is a model for other organizations to follow when working with vulnerable populations.
“Understanding and planning for circumstances that may strain existing resources for society’s most vulnerable, is crucial in how we navigate sudden changes to the human-services landscape,” said Frank Pindiak, executive director of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
St. Catherine’s programs and services include provisions for appointing case managers to line up health screenings, and assigning advocates to formalize custody arrangements or make assessments with a clinician for children with special needs.
Arterberry named to board
Michael Arterberry, a long-time friend of St. Catherine’s Center for Children, who has devoted his life to improving the lives of New York’s youth navigating issues of poverty, neglect and racial inequity, was named to the board of directors last month.
Arterberry is a motivational speaker, life and accountability coach, and well known throughout the human-services community. Arterberry is the executive director of Youth Voices Center, Inc., and the creator of the Power Peace Program. Arterberry founded the Youth Voices Center, Inc., in 2008 while working on the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) in Green Haven Correctional Facility, and built a life out of “helping others launch their best future.”
“Michael’s expertise brings a new and unique perspective into our board discussions. We are grateful he accepted our invitation and look forward to his guidance,” Pindiak said.
Arterberry has hosted numerous workshops, initiating critical discussions around tolerance and prejudice. He has influenced a generation of young people and has received numerous awards including the 100 Men of Color Award in 2014 and the Educator of the Year Award from Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP) in 2016. He is an advocate for children’s well-being, social workers, and the author of a number of books on social welfare and justice.
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