Author Archives: Renee Riebling

Jin Li and Nara Youn Featured by Robin Hood

February 21, 2025 | Leave a reply

The Child Center of NY is excited to share that Nara Youn, Youth Development Business Manager, and Jin Li, Community Advocate, have been featured in Robin Hood‘s “Faces of Poverty Fighters” campaign for their extensive work on the Undo Poverty Flushing initiative, which aims to help move all Flushing community members out of rapidly growing poverty toward sustainable economic advancement.

From Robin Hood:

Be a lifeline for those in crisis, like Nara Youn and Jin Li.

Nara Youn, the Youth Development Business Manager at The Child Center of NY, embodies the heart of poverty-fighting work in New York City. Raised in an immigrant family, she understands firsthand the struggles of navigating systemic barriers while striving for a better future. Her commitment to equity, fairness, and opportunity isn’t just professional—it’s personal. As a mother, she dreams of a city where every child, including her own daughter, has the chance to thrive.

At The Child Center of NY, Nara and Jin are working to transform lives in low-income and immigrant communities, addressing not only children’s cognitive and emotional well-being, but also the stability of entire families. Their work is rooted in collaboration, co-leading the Undo Poverty Flushing initiative to dismantle systemic barriers and advocate for economic mobility. Fluent in more than two dozen languages, her team ensures that no family is left behind, creating access to critical resources and support.

Nara’s approach goes beyond short-term fixes, focusing on lasting change through relationship-building, holistic care, and systemic advocacy. She believes that breaking cycles of poverty starts with addressing inequities and empowering communities to grow stronger together. For Nara, seeing a child excel, a family find stability, or a neighborhood unite reinforces her belief that a brighter, more equitable future is possible for all. Her story is a powerful reminder that poverty is not just about resources—it’s about opportunity, and creating pathways to lasting change.

Congratulations, Nonaghosa Ohikuare, Our New Director of the Health Home Program!

February 21, 2025 | Leave a reply

Nona poses with former director of the Health Homes program.

Passing the torch: Pierrette Guerrier, former director of the Health Home Program, and our new director, Nonaghosa Ohikuare

We are thrilled to announce that Nonaghosa (Nona) Ohikuare is taking on a new role as Director of the Health Home Program. Nona started her tenure at The Child Center as an individualized care coordinator with the Waiver Program. Through her hard work and dedication to our clients, she was promoted to supervisor, and when the Waiver Program transitioned to the Health Home Program in 2019, she served as one of the assistant program directors. Nona also was a recipient of The Child Center’s Russell L. Carson Visionary Award.

Nona has always had a passion for helping people, especially children, and after graduating from college she served at several nonprofit organizations, including Teach for America, AmeriCorps, and Refugee Family Services. Nona initially studied pre-law and international relations in college; however, it became evident to her that so many of the people she came in contact with who were involved in the legal system also had mental health issues, and these individuals and families needed support.

When asked about her new role, Nona shared, “I am excited to be part of such a great team, and I want to express my sincere appreciation for the great work you all have been doing. I recognize the unique contributions each of you brings to the team, and I’m here to learn from each of you and understand your perspective on how we can move forward together. I am committed to supporting your professional development. My door is always open for feedback and ideas, and I encourage open and honest communication within our team. We are stronger together, so let’s collaborate on solutions and make the most of our collective skills.”

Team Spotlight: Jessica Barrera-Morales, Vice President of Integrated Behavioral Health Services

February 19, 2025 | Leave a reply

The Child Center of NY is excited to announce the promotion of Jessica Barrera-Morales, LCSW-R, to the role of Vice President of Integrated Behavioral Health Services!

In this new position, Jessica oversees our three family wellness centers and implements an innovative management strategy to ensure the highest level of care across all centers. With 24 years of experience in both outpatient and inpatient behavioral health, Jessica has brought a wealth of expertise to the team. As a vital part of our organization for more than 18 years, she’s served in various roles, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her step into this leadership position. Her passion for helping families and her deep commitment to our mission will continue to inspire and drive us forward.

Here’s what Jessica had to say about her Child Center journey.

The Child Center of NY: Can you share a little about your journey at The Child Center and the key experiences that led to your promotion?

Jessica Barrera-Morales, LCSW-R: My journey at The Child Center of NY has been incredibly rewarding and transformative. I started as an intern at the Jamaica Clinic [now called the Jamaica Family Wellness Center], where I worked with children in foster care. This experience was invaluable and solidified my commitment to working with children and families. After graduating, I returned to work at the Woodside Clinic [now called the Cohen Family Wellness Center], at a time when our organization was called Queens Child Guidance Center.

Over the years, I had the privilege of working in various roles that helped me develop my clinical and leadership skills. Leading several clinical teams, I always prioritized enhancing services and outcomes for our clients and community. A particularly impactful experience was spearheading the Alternatives to Residential Treatment programs, which provide crucial support for youth facing severe depression and at risk for suicide. Programs like the Youth Intensive Outpatient and Bridge to Hope are designed to keep youth in their homes and prevent out-of-home placement. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to contribute to these important initiatives.

What do you see as the most important priorities for the family wellness centers in the next 1-3 years? What is your vision for these centers?

I believe our most important priorities for the family wellness centers should be enhancing accessibility, expanding our range of services, and fostering community partnerships. By making our services more accessible, we can ensure that more families receive the support they need. Additionally, strengthening our partnerships with local organizations will help us create a more integrated support network for families. I envision a place where we continuously innovate and adapt to meet the evolving needs of those we serve, always striving to provide the highest quality of care.

How do you envision fostering collaboration among your team, other departments, and community partners to improve services for the families we serve?

By continuing to foster a collaborative environment with colleagues across clinics, divisions, and our community partners, we will be able to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. We can achieve this by establishing regular interdepartmental meetings and joint projects to ensure we are aligned and working toward common goals. We can connect with our community partners by working together on joint initiatives and learning how we can better serve our clients.

Dunkin’ in Jamaica Donates to The Child Center of NY

January 31, 2025 | Leave a reply

Last month, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins in Queens celebrated the grand reopening of their newly remodeled restaurant at 187-11 Jamaica Avenue. Dunkin’ franchisee Jamaica Donuts commemorated the occasion with a generous $1,500 donation to The Child Center of NY’s Jamaica Family Wellness Center (JFWC).

Omar Kazi, LMHC, Program Director of JFWC, expressed gratitude, stating, “I am honored to receive this generous donation from Jamaica’s Dunkin’ Donuts Program on behalf of The Child Center of NY. We are a community-based organization with an extensive behavioral health program as well as a range of support services. Our mission is to strengthen children and families in under-served communities with skills, opportunities, and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives. This donation from Dunkin’ Donuts will directly benefit the same community this location will serve during the upcoming holiday season.”

Photo of the Month: Noelia’s Sweet Delights

January 30, 2025 | Leave a reply

Investing in ingenuity this National Poverty in America Awareness Month

Noelia, a participant of Cash+Community Works, decorates a cake she baked for her business, Noelia's Sweet Delights.

Photo credit: Kyo Morishima Photography

Noelia began baking sweets and selling them to her family members to earn extra cash during tough economic times. Word got around that Noelia’s creations were better than any bakery’s. She started getting requests from other moms for custom-order cakes for birthday parties. With limited resources, though, her business could grow only so much.

Noelia’s story illustrates something we know deeply at The Child Center of NY: that talent, ability, and drive are equally distributed among populations, but opportunity is not. January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month, and it’s an important reminder of the ongoing struggle that millions of people face across the country—and right in our own communities. It’s also a reminder that poverty is not something that is inevitable or intractable; it’s something we all can change.

That’s why The Child Center launched Cash+Community Works (C+C) in 2022. C+C is a movement grounded in the concept of peer-driven change and defined by direct investment in under-resourced families, trusting them with power, and connecting them with peers to uplift whole communities. It works on the premise that families are the experts on what they need to break the cycle of poverty and achieve their goals; our job is to act as investors, advocates, and partners. Through C+C, we invested in Noelia’s obvious talent and hard work—and it paid off not only for Noelia, but also her entire community as she pays it forward.

In addition to her general participation in C+C, Noelia also took the initiative to apply for additional grants that C+C awards for particularly promising projects. Today, Noelia receives—and fills—orders for 50 cakes a week through her business, Noelia’s Sweet Delights. She has expanded her inventory to offer desserts at large events, including weddings, and increased her inventory to include offerings such as sweets for a Viennese table. C+C also enabled Noelia to take courses on food handling and sanitation.

One look at this Photo of the Month and it’s clear that Noelia’s abilities are worth the investment!

Team Spotlight: Sarah Garner, LMSW, honored by New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health

January 27, 2025 | Leave a reply

Sarah Garner, Master Social Worker at The Child Center of NY’s Cohen Family Wellness Center, was recently selected by the NYS Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health as an Employee of the Year! She was honored at a ceremony in Saratoga Springs last month.

A note from Xiomara Borja, Director of Integrated Clinical Services, and Marielys Cruz, Clinical Supervisor and Sarah’s colleague at CFWC, speaks to how this honor was well-deserved: “Since joining The Child Center in July of 2023, Sarah has demonstrated remarkable dedication and a strong commitment to her professional development in the behavioral health field. As a new clinician, Sarah navigated the early challenges of familiarizing herself with our organizational protocols and deadlines. Despite the typical growing pains of a new hire, she consistently displayed an eagerness to improve and refine her clinical skills. Today, Sarah continues to show great determination in her growth, and her clinical abilities have evolved significantly. One of Sarah’s standout qualities is her exceptional level of client engagement. She is resourceful, always advocating for her clients and ensuring they have the support they need. Her colleagues and managers alike have noted her strong work ethic and her ability to collaborate effectively with the team. Sarah is consistently willing to go above and beyond for both her clients and her peers. She has shown a commendable willingness to contribute to the team whenever teamwork is needed, offering support to others and always making herself available when called upon. Sarah’s dedication to her role and her ability to work collaboratively with others truly set her apart. She has not only grown into an outstanding clinician but also a valued team member. I wholeheartedly believe that Sarah Garner deserves to be recognized as Employee of the Year for her hard work, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Sarah spoke about how moved she was to receive this distinction: “It was an honor to attend the New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health celebration. I was privileged to be named the employee of the year at the Cohen Family Wellness Center. The convention not only broadened my perspectives on the necessity for mental health services for adolescents and adults, but it also taught me that implementing a client-centered and holistic approach in my sessions with my clients makes a difference in their lives. I could not have received this award without the support of my colleagues and the Cohen Family Wellness team. I am fortunate to be a part of The Child Center of NY, and I am excited to continue my work here moving forward and making a difference in my clients’ lives.”

Community Unity Cultural Celebration of Kwanzaa: Bringing Hope Through the Seven Principles

January 15, 2025 | Leave a reply

A decoration of the principles of Kwanzaa

Photo credit for all photos on the page: Robert Connor, Unmuted Recordings Inc.

Rockaway residents celebrated Kwanzaa this holiday season the way they strive to live every day: with neighbors helping neighbors and celebrating their rich culture and each other. It all came together at the second Annual Community Unity Cultural Celebration of Kwanzaa on December 28 at B.R.I.D.G.E Family Enrichment Center. The celebration was sponsored and supported by several community organizations and attended by 180 Far Rockaway community members and friends. Thirty people served on the steering committee, making it a truly joint effort.

The event also was a testament to two of our Cash+Community Works participants, Kimberly and Vernell, who epitomize community strength and the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Kimberly

Four years ago, Kimberly survived four aneurisms. Doctors were shocked that she was able to walk and talk when she woke up. “I looked at that as a message from God that He has a mission journey for me to walk,” Kimberly says.

Vernell heard about The Child Center’s Cash+Community Works (C+C) initiative soon after she had retired from her job at Elmhurst Hospital. C+C is a neighborhood-based, peer-driven initiative that provides participants with cash incentives to pursue individual and community goals. Vernell applied to C+C and used the incentives to launch a grassroots nonprofit, Rockaways Neighbors Helping Neighbors. The organization serves as a conduit for exactly what the name says—neighbors and helping neighbors—and for bringing the community together. The annual Kwanzaa celebration is one of many ways Vernell accomplishes this goal.

Vernell

“A lot of our community members haven’t experienced a Kwanzaa event before,” Vernell says. “This was an opportunity to learn about the celebration, why and when it was created, for people to gain an understanding of how the seven principles can be incorporated in daily life, and for the community to come together in unity.”

The event began with the opening call to order, a prayer by Pastor Philip Sharp, and the singing of the Black National Anthem, followed by the libation, which is when participants “acknowledge their ancestors, all the people who came before them and struggled to make life better for us,” Vernell explains. “We did the ritual of pouring water into a bowl or plant and called out the names of our ancestors to pay homage to God for them.”

Since the Kwanzaa celebration derives from Africa, where they would celebrate the harvest and first fruits, Vernell says that the celebration is meant to pay homage to God for providing the first fruits and caring for the people. As such, they celebrated with food, singing, dancing, and looking forward to the coming year in unity. Kimberly says she was “blown away” by the singers, dancers, and drummers.

Making and giving gifts is also traditionally a part of Kwanzaa. There was a room at the celebration where children could choose toys to take home. “It was beautiful,” Kimberly says.

While all seven of the principles speak to Vernell, she finds Ujima—collective work and responsibility—particularly poignant. It’s why she started Rockaways Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and it’s one of the main reasons the annual Kwanzaa celebration is so close to her heart. “It was important for me to continue on our path of bringing people together and unifying the community in accord with the principles of Kwanzaa—introducing them to some, reiterating them to others—while impressing on everyone the importance of us coming together: My problem is your problem, and we can solve each one together.”

Vernell acknowledges that doing the work of incorporating the principles into daily life is not something that can be accomplished with one event. That is why they are planning to continue with the work of promoting the principles by educating the youth throughout the winter and training them on incorporating the principles into their lives.

One aspect of Kwanzaa that speaks to Kimberly is not one of the seven principles, but it is something that Kimberly thinks the observance is all about: hope. “Many residents in our communities feel like they have no hope. Studying, understanding, and practicing the seven principles can return hope to them. If your problem becomes mine and mine becomes yours, then it’s not so overwhelming. If I can be of help to you in the situation you’re in, I’ll do it. I’ll watch the kids so you can take care of business, and I know that you’ll be there for me another time, when I need it. If I see my 99-year-old neighbor going to the store all by herself, I will walk with her. There is so much going on in our communities. People can lose hope. But let’s come up with a solution. If it’s following the Kwanzaa principles to come together and unify and have self-determination, that’s what we’re trying to share and empower.”

Kimberly has leveraged her C+C participation to support her community work through the Redfern Houses Resident Council. She was voted in as president of the council and is using her C+C incentives to organize events and meet community needs in other ways, such as Narcan demonstrations.

Vernell and Kimberly are both mothers and grandmothers, and they believe teaching young people about the seven principles is important. “It gives youth an option, a better way to deal with life,” Vernell says. “Incorporating these principles gives them the hope that Kim was talking about.”

FV’s Story

January 9, 2025 | Leave a reply

FV is a 10-year-old boy who receives therapy at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center. Through The Child Center of NY’s Behavioral Health Consultation model, The Child Center shares its expertise in mental health and provides support and training to community organizations like Kingsbridge. This means that people like FV can receive mental health care at a place they already know and trust, in their own neighborhood. This enables The Child Center to reach exponentially more New Yorkers with the care they need and deserve. Below, FV says in his own words what therapy means to him.

Therapy is cool because you get to talk to someone about your problems. It provides different opportunities to express myself. I like that I get to join different groups and use different techniques without having to speak 1:1 to someone. I can get involved in art, play, and social groups.

Therapy is also helping me reach my goals. One goal I have for myself is to continue learning how to use my art skills to grow my career and express my emotions more effectively. Another is learning to work on my spontaneous responses to unannounced or uncomfortable scenarios. And to make lots of friends. In therapy, I have learned to be more confident and more social.

I am a guy who likes to be silly. I sketch spontaneous things that come to mind and create digital art, listening to game OST [original soundtracks], for example, Palmtree Panic from the Sonic CD. That’s one of my ways of being silly!

Therapist’s note: FV was referred for therapy at KHCC because he was having difficulties adjusting to changes in the household, especially his father no longer living in the home. He was having challenges expressing and managing his emotions, especially anger, hyperactivity, and worries, so we have been working on coping skills and ways to manage feelings. FV loves art, so we leaned into that. Art and play therapy have really helped FV open up. These sessions have improved FV’s well-being and mood self-regulation skills. He also is participating in an EMDR art group and improving his mood levels by using bilateral stimulation (BLS) to process emotions with a coping mechanism. In addition, he has benefited from family sessions with his mother to improve their communication and relationship. He has been excited to socialize and express his artistic self through various activities. I am excited to share that he is now being discharged from services after meeting all his goals! –Yadirys Batista, Community Coordinator/Social Worker at Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.

Note from FV’s mom: When my son first came into therapy, he was frustrated and irritable. He was isolated and felt away from me. Now, he is more communicative, caring, and kind. He is able to resolve conflicts on his own without getting angry, and when he needs help, he seems more open to asking for my help. He seems more open with me in general, and he comes to me for anything that is happening in school or anywhere. He is more secure and strong-minded as he has improved his self-esteem. Now, he is a confident young man, which makes me happy.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story included references to Pepe the Frog. In the days following the original posting, we were saddened to learn that Pepe has been used as a hate symbol. Although this, of course, was not FV’s intention, and there have been efforts—including efforts by Pepe’s creator and the ADL—to reclaim Pepe, we decided to remove those images and references.

Photo of the Month: Thank you, Council Member Ung!

December 31, 2024 | Leave a reply

Spreading toys and joy this holiday season

Council Member Sandra Ung poses with T'yana Coutrier, program director, and students of The Child Center of NY's COMPASS program at P.S. 24Q in Flushing, Queens

Council Member Sandra Ung (left) and COMPASS Program Director T’yana Coutrier (far right) with participants of The Child Center of NY’s COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 24Q.

‘Twas truly the season for joy, giving, and gratitude at The Child Center of NY! Friends and supporters showed up for our families in a big way, leaving no doubt that there is a whole community that cares about them and considers them part of our larger New York family.

With this Photo of the Month, we especially want to thank New York City Council Member Sandra Ung, who stopped by our DYCD-funded COMPASS afterschool program at P.S. 24Q in Flushing to deliver toys and sports equipment to our children for the holidays. As you can see, Council Member Ung delivered not just presents, but smiles, too!

“Government and government officials, and what they do, can seem abstract to children this age,” says T’yana Coutrier, the COMPASS P.S. 24 program director. “This was a wonderful way to talk to the children about public service and what it means to be part of a community—and, most important, for them to experience joy!”

Between individual efforts like Council Member Ung’s visit and The Child Center’s annual holiday drive, we truly had kids covered this season!

The holidays can be a difficult time for families who face daunting financial challenges but, like all of us, want their children to have a gift to unwrap. The Child Center of NY’s holiday drive aims to bridge the gap and bring unexpected joy to our families by offering new, unwrapped toys and gift cards during this special time of year. Thank you to all who contributed to our drive and played a part in creating a season of giving and a lifetime of smiles!

Editor’s Note: While our holiday drive has ended, you still can bring joy to a child’s life and contribute to the spirit of giving by supporting our programming. A gift of any size helps children grow emotionally, thrive academically, and reach their full potential.