Luis & George’s Marathon for mental health youth
Tax deductible
On April 24th, my best friend George Suarez and I will be running the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon to support The Family Center (https://www.thefamilycenter.org), a nonprofit organization born from the vision of four women that provides essential holistic mental and behavioral health services to New Yorkers, their children and families living on incomes below the federal poverty threshold. The mission of The Family Center is to strengthen families affected by illness, crisis or loss to create a more secure present and future for their children. All services are evidence-based and trauma-informed.
Over 96% of client families served are raising their children and living below the federal poverty measure. The conditions and unavailability to certain resources makes recovery and efficiency very difficult for these families and their children.The Family Center provides vulnerable NYC children and families with holistic interventions to address trauma symptoms in youth. Some specific interventions utilized by The Family Center for the benefit of their clients include: Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress, or SPARCS, which is a teen group model; and Parent Child Interaction Therapy, or PCIT, which empowers parents and caregivers of young children with play therapy skills.
The Family Center evaluates all services for efficacy and some programs have involved randomized clinical trials! Some of the outcomes that The Family Center has achieved for youth include:
After six months of treatment, 85% of youth receiving our mental health services experience significant symptom reduction.
Our family-based interventions show a statistically significant, positive impact on parental depression and a child’s home environment. After receiving services through our child development and parenting program, parents and caregivers are less depressed and the home environment is more intellectually stimulating.
Our child welfare-funded programs have achieved a 0% out-of-home placement rate.
After 6 months of receiving our medical case management and treatment adherence support services, HIV-positive parents experience lower viral loads and higher CD4 counts. After 18 months of service, hospitalization rates for all family members also drops
George Suarez:
As a Registered Nurse in New York City, I have personally seen the effects of trauma and how it can directly impact our physiological state. Effects of trauma not only prevents us and our bodies from being in a state of safety, but it takes us away from our true potential, both psychologically and physiologically. I believe protecting the youth and vulnerable families is of absolute importance. Our youth is the foundation of our future. These communities have the capability and power to create change. Assisting in providing resources to strengthen, and unite their community with positively impact their health. With providing education and resources to holistic measures, we are creating resources to make a difference for these communities. As a child, I dealt with severe anxiety and selective mutism until the age of eight. Resources like these provided by The Family Center are part of what helped me, and continue to help me in my journey.
I slowly integrated running into my life within the last 4 years, and it quickly became an outlet for managing oxidative stress, and enhancing creativity in my personal life. Most often I am not in the mood to run, although I have personally found that the best runs are those I am not mentally up for. I find that many physical components of movement, such as running, to be an extremely important pillar of health that everyone should consider. This Marathon will be my first Marathon, and I am excited to run for something far greater than myself. I am forever thankful for my family, my friends, my girlfriend, and all of those who have supported me and continue to support me on this wonderful journey. I ask you to please join me in supporting our youth and their families by making a donation to our fundraiser below
Over 96% of client families served are raising their children and living below the federal poverty measure. The conditions and unavailability to certain resources makes recovery and efficiency very difficult for these families and their children.The Family Center provides vulnerable NYC children and families with holistic interventions to address trauma symptoms in youth. Some specific interventions utilized by The Family Center for the benefit of their clients include: Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress, or SPARCS, which is a teen group model; and Parent Child Interaction Therapy, or PCIT, which empowers parents and caregivers of young children with play therapy skills.
The Family Center evaluates all services for efficacy and some programs have involved randomized clinical trials! Some of the outcomes that The Family Center has achieved for youth include:
After six months of treatment, 85% of youth receiving our mental health services experience significant symptom reduction.
Our family-based interventions show a statistically significant, positive impact on parental depression and a child’s home environment. After receiving services through our child development and parenting program, parents and caregivers are less depressed and the home environment is more intellectually stimulating.
Our child welfare-funded programs have achieved a 0% out-of-home placement rate.
After 6 months of receiving our medical case management and treatment adherence support services, HIV-positive parents experience lower viral loads and higher CD4 counts. After 18 months of service, hospitalization rates for all family members also drops
George Suarez:
As a Registered Nurse in New York City, I have personally seen the effects of trauma and how it can directly impact our physiological state. Effects of trauma not only prevents us and our bodies from being in a state of safety, but it takes us away from our true potential, both psychologically and physiologically. I believe protecting the youth and vulnerable families is of absolute importance. Our youth is the foundation of our future. These communities have the capability and power to create change. Assisting in providing resources to strengthen, and unite their community with positively impact their health. With providing education and resources to holistic measures, we are creating resources to make a difference for these communities. As a child, I dealt with severe anxiety and selective mutism until the age of eight. Resources like these provided by The Family Center are part of what helped me, and continue to help me in my journey.
I slowly integrated running into my life within the last 4 years, and it quickly became an outlet for managing oxidative stress, and enhancing creativity in my personal life. Most often I am not in the mood to run, although I have personally found that the best runs are those I am not mentally up for. I find that many physical components of movement, such as running, to be an extremely important pillar of health that everyone should consider. This Marathon will be my first Marathon, and I am excited to run for something far greater than myself. I am forever thankful for my family, my friends, my girlfriend, and all of those who have supported me and continue to support me on this wonderful journey. I ask you to please join me in supporting our youth and their families by making a donation to our fundraiser below
Fundraising team (2)
Luis Cabrera
Organizer
New York, NY
The Family Center
Beneficiary
George Suarez
Team member