(April 27, 2017) The Berlin Town Council approved increased funding for Worcester Youth and Family Counseling programs and consented to keep funding level for Worcester County Developmental Center during a meeting on Monday.
Worcester Youth programs, which includes the Berlin Youth Club, will get an annual grant of $40,000. The Developmental Center will continue to receive $7,500.
Executive Director Steven Taylor and Youth Program Coordinator Amanda Chaffee briefed the mayor and Council on their activities, including the recent Easter egg hunt and children’s crafts during Spring Celebration.
During the last year, youth club participants went on educational trips to Assateague State Park, the Ocean City Art League and the Salisbury Zoo, and took swimming lessons in Ocean Pines. The kids also had kayaking instructions at Ayers Creek Adventures, where Taylor is the co-owner with his wife, Suzy.
Participants also took part went bowling, had days at the beach and at Town of Berlin parks, and went on a trip to a trampoline park in Fruitland with members of the Berlin Police Department.
Chaffee said the youth club would have a summer kickoff celebration at Dr. William Henry Park on June 22, with summer activities starting on July 5. About 20 children have expressed interest in returning to the Berlin Youth Club, Chaffee said.
Participants also regularly engage in community service both in Berlin and throughout Worcester County.
The additional funding from the town will allow Worcester Youth to incorporate its SAGES (Strengthening Adolescent Girls with Education and Support) and SABERS (strengthening adolescent boys with education and resources) programs in summer activities with the Berlin Youth Club.
Funding increased about $5,300.
Two Youth Club members, Claire Sutka-Leggour and Marqui Henry, wrote letters to the council supporting Worcester Youth.
“When I joined the Berlin Youth Club, I did it to get out of my house during the summer. I did not know that I would ending up having so much fun and get the opportunity to go to new places, try new things and meet new people,” Henry said. “I was in BYC for two summers before I moved into the SABERS program.
“I have learned to make better choices and have learned new ways to communicate,” he continued. “I would like to continue to be a part of the summer programs, since I am too old for BYC, but not old enough to work yet. Even if I can only come a couple times a week, I would help out with the younger kids and … be able to keep having new experiences.”
Sutka-Leggour said her favorite activities were going to the beach and to the trampoline and water parks.
“I joined the Berlin Youth Club because I wanted the chance to see my friends from school and experience new activities. I ended up having more fun than I thought and made new friends,” she said. “I think this is a great way for kids in Berlin to spend their summer.”
Worcester County Developmental Center Executive Director Jack Ferry spoke about the 43-year-old nonprofit, based in Newark.
“We provide employment opportunities, residential services and community-based support for adults who live with intellectual disabilities in the Worcester County area,” Ferry said. “I want to thank you because part of your funding helps keep me in the job, and I have the best job in the world because I get to work with these guys every single day – and they are people who teach me more every day than I could teach them in a lifetime.”
Ferry presented an extensive slide show of some of the workers and beneficiaries of Developmental Center programs. Clients learn show to make all-natural soaps that are sold at the Berlin Peach Festival, do janitorial, laundry and landscaping work, and engage in food service and preparation.
Some clients work out of the center, while others receive training that allows them to find employment in the community.
“Our goal is to help our clients become as independent as possible,” Ferry said. “Our goal really would be to put ourselves out of business by having all of them working jobs in the community.”
The center also sponsors activities for the clients, including birthday parties, trips to Jolly Roger Amusement Park and an annual Halloween costume party at the Berlin American Legion.
Ferry warned, however, that some of the programs will be forced to change — or end altogether — because federal mandates that would require workers to find jobs in the community before receiving training at places like the developmental center.
“In a few years, we are not going to look exactly like we do today. We are still going to be providing great services to our clients. We are still going to be providing meaningful days for them and helping them to achieve their highest level of economic and social independence, but what it looks like is that the [in-house] work is going away,” Ferry said. “We have about three more years to do that, but because of the federal government mandates we’re not going to be able to provide those services.”
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams vowed to continue to combat those regulations.
“It’s not answerable because it’s not comprehensible,” Williams said. “But we’ll keep fighting. These citizens are just as important as everybody else. Sometimes when you’re faced with the incomprehensible you just fight like hell and we will continue. Just let us know what we can do.”
Worcester Youth programs, which includes the Berlin Youth Club, will get an annual grant of $40,000. The Developmental Center will continue to receive $7,500.
Executive Director Steven Taylor and Youth Program Coordinator Amanda Chaffee briefed the mayor and Council on their activities, including the recent Easter egg hunt and children’s crafts during Spring Celebration.
During the last year, youth club participants went on educational trips to Assateague State Park, the Ocean City Art League and the Salisbury Zoo, and took swimming lessons in Ocean Pines. The kids also had kayaking instructions at Ayers Creek Adventures, where Taylor is the co-owner with his wife, Suzy.
Participants also took part went bowling, had days at the beach and at Town of Berlin parks, and went on a trip to a trampoline park in Fruitland with members of the Berlin Police Department.
Chaffee said the youth club would have a summer kickoff celebration at Dr. William Henry Park on June 22, with summer activities starting on July 5. About 20 children have expressed interest in returning to the Berlin Youth Club, Chaffee said.
Participants also regularly engage in community service both in Berlin and throughout Worcester County.
The additional funding from the town will allow Worcester Youth to incorporate its SAGES (Strengthening Adolescent Girls with Education and Support) and SABERS (strengthening adolescent boys with education and resources) programs in summer activities with the Berlin Youth Club.
Funding increased about $5,300.
Two Youth Club members, Claire Sutka-Leggour and Marqui Henry, wrote letters to the council supporting Worcester Youth.
“When I joined the Berlin Youth Club, I did it to get out of my house during the summer. I did not know that I would ending up having so much fun and get the opportunity to go to new places, try new things and meet new people,” Henry said. “I was in BYC for two summers before I moved into the SABERS program.
“I have learned to make better choices and have learned new ways to communicate,” he continued. “I would like to continue to be a part of the summer programs, since I am too old for BYC, but not old enough to work yet. Even if I can only come a couple times a week, I would help out with the younger kids and … be able to keep having new experiences.”
Sutka-Leggour said her favorite activities were going to the beach and to the trampoline and water parks.
“I joined the Berlin Youth Club because I wanted the chance to see my friends from school and experience new activities. I ended up having more fun than I thought and made new friends,” she said. “I think this is a great way for kids in Berlin to spend their summer.”
Worcester County Developmental Center Executive Director Jack Ferry spoke about the 43-year-old nonprofit, based in Newark.
“We provide employment opportunities, residential services and community-based support for adults who live with intellectual disabilities in the Worcester County area,” Ferry said. “I want to thank you because part of your funding helps keep me in the job, and I have the best job in the world because I get to work with these guys every single day – and they are people who teach me more every day than I could teach them in a lifetime.”
Ferry presented an extensive slide show of some of the workers and beneficiaries of Developmental Center programs. Clients learn show to make all-natural soaps that are sold at the Berlin Peach Festival, do janitorial, laundry and landscaping work, and engage in food service and preparation.
Some clients work out of the center, while others receive training that allows them to find employment in the community.
“Our goal is to help our clients become as independent as possible,” Ferry said. “Our goal really would be to put ourselves out of business by having all of them working jobs in the community.”
The center also sponsors activities for the clients, including birthday parties, trips to Jolly Roger Amusement Park and an annual Halloween costume party at the Berlin American Legion.
Ferry warned, however, that some of the programs will be forced to change — or end altogether — because federal mandates that would require workers to find jobs in the community before receiving training at places like the developmental center.
“In a few years, we are not going to look exactly like we do today. We are still going to be providing great services to our clients. We are still going to be providing meaningful days for them and helping them to achieve their highest level of economic and social independence, but what it looks like is that the [in-house] work is going away,” Ferry said. “We have about three more years to do that, but because of the federal government mandates we’re not going to be able to provide those services.”
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams vowed to continue to combat those regulations.
“It’s not answerable because it’s not comprehensible,” Williams said. “But we’ll keep fighting. These citizens are just as important as everybody else. Sometimes when you’re faced with the incomprehensible you just fight like hell and we will continue. Just let us know what we can do.”