News Releases
Trip of a Lifetime WINNER!
Nov 21st, 2012 - On Monday, November 19th the winner was chosen for the Trip of a Lifetime!! Congratulations Marie Fenton of Oriskany!!!
LESS THAN 200 Tickets LEFT for The Trip of a Lifetime!
Nov 19th, 2012 - There’s still time left to buy a Trip of a Lifetime Raffle Ticket
Tonight at 7:30 is the Drawing!
Honestly, who hasn’t dreamed of just getting away? Well, the Trip of a Lifetime Raffle offers that chance.
There’s something for everyone--- group tours to any one of five destinations --- Danube cruise, China & Tibet, Italy, South Africa, or Australia and New Zealand each valued at $23,000. If you’ve always dreamed of a unique trip---say a trip on the Orient Express--- you can even create a trip of your own. But if none of these options is exciting, you can opt to take $20,000 in cash. Tickets are $50, and only 1200 will be sold. They can be purchased by buying online at www.ChangingChildrensLives.com or calling 235-7771. The drawing is November 19, 7:30 p.m. at Swifty’s 257 Genesee Street, Utica, NY.
The best part of all is this is a fun way to help the children served at The House of the Good Shepherd. Each day The House provides care to 440 traumatized children. Our services are life changing and, sometimes, life saving. That message was underscored recently if you noticed the article in the Utica Observer-Dispatch this week. The father of the eight-week old baby with the two broken legs and a broken arm was sentenced. That child came to The House after her injuries were discovered, and now she has a safe home. Where would that little baby have been without The House?
Buy a ticket online at www.ChangingChildrensLives.com or call 235-7771.
Tickets are $50. Drawing is Monday, November 19 – 7:30 p.m.
Thanks from all the children at The House of the Good Shepherd and GOOD LUCK!
Wine All You Want is a Huge Success!
Sep 27th, 2012 - The seventh annual “Wine All You Want” benefit was recently held on the evening of Friday, September 21st at the Fort Schuyler Club in Utica. Featuring all exclusive fine wines privately selected by Robert Morris and John Romano the event was a huge success, raising an impressive $31,000 for the children at The House of the Good Shepherd. Approximately 153 people attended the fundraiser all of whom contributed greatly to the cause.
The focus of the event was to support the Music and Art programs at The House of the Good Shepherd. Based on research highlighting the positive psychological impact of such programs on traumatized children, a percentage of the money that was raised will be used to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of the children at The House.
HGS Kids Shine at Art Show!
Apr 19th, 2012 - When you walk by the art room at the Tilton School on campus at The House of the Good Shepherd you might never know the emotional scars that children bear from their pasts. You see powerful colors, wild shapes and artwork imitating cubism, impressionism, and more. You see children excited and feeling great about what they are creating. There’s great joy when kids have the opportunity to be kids. Trauma has a way of stealing childhoods, but creative activities like drawing and painting can restore them. It’s an escape that offers a sense of accomplishment and allows children to shine.
On February 7th, nine children from The House participated in an art show at the New Hartford Town Library. The artwork was a compilation of photography, drawing and painting. Of the nine participants, four children won monetary prizes. Takota won first place and received a $20 award, while Marvin, Kenneth, and Delila each received a $10 award. Two of the children even sold their artwork to individuals who attended the show. A House staff member recalls Qwuamain standing next to his work as a woman approached him and asked, “Are you going to sell this?”
Qwuamain replied in a whisper, “You mean someone would actually buy this…how much?” He turned to his art teacher and asked “Can I sell this?”
Qwuamain did sell his picture and may still be glowing with pride knowing that someone believes in him and values his creativity. Sometimes, that’s all it takes for children to succeed, that sliver of hope that can follow them through a lifetime. Personal achievements cannot be taken away no matter how challenging his young life may be. This is just one more example of how The House of the Good Shepherd is changing children’s’ lives.
SANCTUARY CERTIFICATION AWARDED TO THE HOUSE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Mar 5th, 2012 - The House of the Good Shepherd recently earned Sanctuary certification from the Sanctuary
Institute joining 35 certified treatment organizations worldwide committed to the Sanctuary Model and trauma-informed care.
The House pursued Sanctuary certification in response to the growing numbers of children coming into care with histories of acute physical and psychological trauma. By achieving Sanctuary certification standards, The House demonstrated a capacity to respond to trauma in the lives of children and families by developing a therapeutic community that promotes safety as the foundation for all recovery.
The certification culminates a three-year agency wide commitment to embed trauma-informed care practices in every aspect of service when working with children, families, and staff. As a result of implementing the Sanctuary model, the staff at The House integrate Sanctuary practices as part of their everyday work. The basis for a Sanctuary organizational culture is a commitment to non-violence, emotional intelligence, open communication, shared governance, social responsibility, social learning, and growth and change.
As part of the on-site survey, The House was commended for introducing new Sanctuary initiatives for children living in the community. Over 70% of children at The House are served in community.
The Sanctuary Model was introduced more than 20 years ago as an evidence-supported treatment practice for traumatized adults in psychiatric care. Since then, it has been adopted in a variety of therapeutic settings for its effectiveness in improving treatment outcomes.
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