May 2026
We’re so glad to be providing you updates on all the wonderful things happening at St. Catherine’s Center for Children – all of which are made possible through “Friends of St. Catherine’s” – like you! Thank you for your support. We hope you enjoy our newsletter!
The Art School of Columbia County hosted another collaging workshop, this time at Michael’s House, a program within our Homeless & Housing Services.
From rolling marbles dipped in ink over paper in large tupperware containers – to painting stripes and stamping various abstract shapes on paper – everyone had a blast getting creative!
The project, “Every Layer Tells a Story, Every Hand Adds Hope,” encourages children and families to express themselves through the accessible art of collaging.
SEPTEMBER 14TH
Join us once again at Franklin Plaza in Troy, NY for our most entertaining night of the year, the 16th Annual Spring Event: Casino Royale!
Honoring: Broadview Federal Credit Union, Northwestern Mutual’s Alessandro & Gina Tronco, the Albany & Troy Lion’s Club, Ruth Sano, and Gerald & Maryanne Gordon.
Will your number hit on the roulette wheel? Can you beat the dealer to 21? Maybe you’ll make the pull of the night at our wine pull…Perhaps you’re looking forward to the music, delicious food and the company of great friends? Our event has it all and we can’t wait to see you there!
All proceeds from your participation and sponsorship of this event directly support the 20+ human services programs offered by St. Catherine’s Center for Children. Your participation directly impacts the number of people we can serve.
To learn more, click the button at right, or head to www.st-cath.org/casino-royale
May is National Foster Care Month, a special time for us to recognize the urgent need for foster families, honor the staff and caregivers who selflessly dedicate themselves to helping children and families in crisis, and spotlight the services we provide through our Foster Care program!
Children deserve the opportunity to grow up in a home where they are loved, nurtured, and wanted. Regrettably, that is not always the case. Parents or legal guardians may lose temporary custody of a child for any number of reasons, including neglect, the inability to provide a child with adequate food, shelter and clothing, or even abuse. We believe that every child deserves a loving home, and our network of professionally trained foster parents ensures just that.
St. Catherine’s Foster Care program serves children removed from parental care in a therapeutic home setting. Our children are matched with trained foster parents and families who provide a safe and stable home environment.
Once a potential foster care provider is identified and passes background checks, St. Catherine’s employs the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC), a state-of-the-art classroom and online program that trains prospective foster parents, and provides information and resources needed to continue building skills once they have a child in their home.This is a new curriculum based on research and input from experts in the field, including families who have experience with fostering children, and former foster and adoptive youth.
After a foster care provider receives initial training, the provider is ready to be matched with a child. St. Catherine’s then provides 24/7 staff support, opportunities for peer-to-peer meetings with other foster parents, respite services, and additional training and resources to help foster families succeed. The support also includes support in the planning and implementation of treatment plans for the child.
In situations where it is appropriate for a child to be reunited with their biological parent(s), that is the program’s ultimate goal–restoration of the family unit. When reunification is not possible, our team works to find a loving and supportive home for adoption. It is not uncommon for a deep bond to develop between foster parents and a child, resulting in the relationship becoming permanent through legal adoption.
Do you have room in your heart and in your home? Click right to find out more!
Our Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS) program’s Therapeutic Family Room, located at 441 Western Ave., recently got a makeover, transforming the space into a more calming environment for the clients we serve!
Our maintenance department helped wax the floors and assemble new furniture, including organizers, bookshelves, tables, an interactive “feelings” magnetic dart board, a rug, chairs, a chalk board easel and a mobile television.
The Therapeutic Family Room’s purpose is to provide a safe, calming, and fun environment to nurture problem solving skills, anger management skills, expression of feelings, self identity expression, and more. These crucial skills are developed when clients work with CPST (Community Psychiatric Supports and Treatment Services) and PSR (Psychosocial Rehabilitation) staff, along with St. Catherine’s therapists.
The Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS) program is a community-based mental health services program for ages 3 to 21. We provide clinical and rehabilitation support services aimed at preventing children who need on-going health or medical care from entering institutional care.
The goal of the program is to provide varying levels of individualized mental health services to stabilize a youth in their family and community. These services can take place in a variety of locations depending on the needs of the youth and family, including, at home, school or in a community setting. Once admitted, a comprehensive evaluation will be conducted to determine which medical services are most appropriate for the needs of the youth and family.
Community Psychiatric Supports and Treatment Services (CPST) assists youth and family/caregivers to achieve stability and functional improvement in daily living, personal recovery, family and interpersonal relationships in school, and community integration.
To learn more about our CFTSS program, click the button!
We are sending a massive thank you to our friends at the Colonie-Guilderland Rotary Club for transforming our R & E May School cafeteria with a fresh splash of paint!
Volunteers replaced the walls of yellow with softer hues of blue and white.
A special thank you to Wayne Richard for his help in coordinating this incredible project!
Dayla Crisafulli delivered the sweetest treat! She raised nearly $300 for St. Catherine’s through her bake sale at the Voorheesville Community Fair. Thank you Dayla for your hardwork and generosity!
To learn more about how you can get involved, click the button below!
The SCCC Foundation’s wishlist highlights meaningful ways to support the everyday needs of the children and families we serve.
• Body Wash
• Deodorant
• Disposable Washcloths
• Diapers (All Sizes)
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Nail Clippers
• Hand Sanitizer
• Kleenex
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothpaste
• Aldi
• Hannaford
• Toothbrush Hygiene Gift Cards
• Price Chopper
• Stewart’s
• Walmart Activities
• Spring & Summer Outfits (New)
• Sizing: Children 8 to Adult XXL
• Age-appropriate DVDs for children ages 9-12
• Backpacks
• School Supplies
*Please keep donations in their original packaging. We are unable to accept used items. For more information, visit: www.st-cath.org.
For any questions or to arrange a donation drop off, please contact: Michele Puleo O'Hare: mpuleoohare@st-cath.org Clothing
• SUPPORTS GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN
• CAN BE USED TO FINALIZE ESTATE PLANS
• LEGAL THROUGHOUT THE U.S.
At the St. Catherine’s Center for Children, we are always looking for meaningful ways to support our community—not only today, but for generations to come. One of the ways we are able to do this is by offering access to a free and secure online estate planning tool through FreeWill.
Through this easy-to-use platform, you can create or update your will in as little as 20 minutes, completely free of charge. FreeWill was designed to make estate planning simple, accessible, and legally valid. While this tool is an excellent resource, we always recommend that you have your will reviewed by your own attorney and consult with your financial advisor for personalized guidance.
If you wish, you can choose to support St. Catherine’s Center for Children, or any organization that is meaningful to you, through a legacy gift. These gifts cost nothing today but help ensure that critical programs and services continue well into the future.
Creating a will is one of the most thoughtful things you can do not only for your family, but also for the causes you care about. It provides peace of mind, clarity, and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.
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May - August 15th M-F, 9am - 4pm