Life Skills and Education Services

Goals:

To assess basic strengths and gaps and basic needs for skills and education.

To form an individualized goal plan with prioritized goals.

To set up enrollment and involvement.

To empower people to manage their own lives by regular evaluations, levels of increasing volunteer responsibilities, relevant workshop and involvement in community decision making.

Socialization - BCI opens its doors at 10:15 am, providing early entry from the street show a movie as a basis for discussion and serve coffee, fruit and oatmeal.   Usually 25 to 40 show up and there is an opportunity for personal conversation, which sometimes leads to an openness and inquiry about other services and activities.
Leader:
Lenny Fincher

Coaching (Case management) - This service is for those who are willing to commit to a social service plan based on individualized and prioritized goals, including specific volunteer time in the program.   Regular progress sessions are arranged with a coach from the social service staff.   Currently 15 participants commit to this system of intense education and training experience.
Leader:
Eleanor Donaldson CSW

Painting by BCI ClientHealing Art Program - These workshops provide an atmosphere of healing for those who have not been involved in the arts to express their feelings freely in their painting and then in observing and sharing as a group what their art expresses about their lives. The group also makes note cards of their paintings to sell at two art shows open to the public twice a year.   Ten participants form the group's core.
Leader:
Dorothy Cameron, Experience Art Therapist

Theater Arts - Small group meet once a week to explore solutions in daily life situations.
Leader:
LeVerne Middleton , Intern

Spirituality - Meditation, yoga and personal prayer are available at different times using various staff and volunteers as a vehicle to help people be still and feel safe. The number attending varies from 2 to 15 participants.
Varied leaders, special volunteers

Empowerment Program - This weekly group is run by the participants themselves and they plan the skills, activities, and counsel they feel they need, inviting experts to talk about chosen topics.   Learning to advocate for themselves and others is the primary goal. Approximately 20 to 30 are involved. The objective is to discuss specific personal skills needed to manage their lives, such as opening a bank account, and preparing tax returns.

Family Relations - This is a series of sharing classes to discuss family relations since many parents need to understand what they experienced as children themselves and be healed of the hurt and anger from those times.   A psychiatrist who is a Board director and a social worker lead this group through a discovery and healing process.
Leader:
Eleanor Donaldson and Special Consultants

Creative Home Crafts - Knitting, crocheting and sewing activities are the basis for this new group, available twice a week.   The goal is to relieve stress in a peaceful atmosphere and build confidence by completing projects and learning to share with others while learning these crafts.
Leader:
Nevada Solano

Home Nutrition & Cooking Workshop - Twice a month on Saturdays the BCI Chef leads a cooking class on how to prepare low-cost, nutritional meals.   Each session concentrates on different topics such as grains, beans, sugar, etc., and after the teaching session participants cook and eat together the food they learned about. Each participant receives a pantry bag of the foods taught and cooked in the workshop to take home, along with recipes.   Children are welcome and childcare is provided.
Leader:
Chef Michael Ennes

FANTAP Vocational Food Service - This six-week program offered twice a year provides training in nutrition education, sanitation, meal service as well as general training in working with others, completing tasks, and learning consistency in attendance.   Participants who complete the class read the class handouts are given the chance to take the New York City Health Department Food Sanitation test. BCI pays the cost of $105 per test. Established links with a catering organization offer the most promising graduates an opportunity to work in the food industry.
Leader:
Chef Michael Ennes Volunteer Coordinator

Computer Training - This practice session is a basic introduction to computers and gives participants the opportunity to practice skills on site. Those who desire beginner, intermediate and advanced courses are registered in nightly courses offered by collaborating agency, Community Impact.   Those who finish the courses receive help in getting jobs by a job search group.
Leader:
Bill Davis, Volunteer Experienced Instructor


For further information, you may contact 212-864-6100 ext. 120.