A Message from our New President and CEO
As many of you know, NYFS has recently experienced historical change. After 33 years of service to youth and families in our area, Kay Andrews has retired and moved on to her next venture in life and I have been selected by the board to become our new President and CEO.
In keeping with her tireless passion for helping people realize their potential, Kay has formed a new business called KZA Consulting which will coach nonprofit managers on honing their skills and talents. We wish Kay well and are confident in her success.
I personally would like to thank Kay for the guidance she has given me during my tenure with NYFS, especially over the past year and a half while we focused on her pending departure. This partnership helped prepare me to succeed her and will contribute to a more seamless transition in leadership as I assume the role of President/CEO of NYFS.
Part of the reason I agreed to accept the offer to lead NYFS is because it’s a great organization with a rich history of working in partnership with others in our community. Together, we can provide a greater range of quality programs that serve the needs of youth and families in our area.
I also agreed to be the President/CEO because of the leadership provided by the board. Their foresight and decisiveness has helped NYFS become what it is today. I am honored to be entrusted with the task of leading NYFS into the future. We will continue to build upon our tradition of working in community partnership to respond to the challenges and opportunities present in our immediate community and society at large.
At the outset, I don’t think people will notice many changes to NYFS. We are a sound organization with a talented and dedicated staff. But we are operating at a time when the world around us is changing dramatically. No longer can we do things simply because that’s “the way we always have done it.” Whether we like it or not, our world is changing at a rapid pace and we must be equipped to embrace and cope with this change or we will be left behind.
And yet one of the ways to cope with change is to be clear about the core principles that guide decisions. At NYFS we will continue to hold dear to our values of quality, integrity, respect, and creativity. We are neither naïve enough, nor arrogant enough, to believe that we can do this work alone. We are proud of our goodwill in the community and are aware that it affords us opportunity and responsibility.
I look forward to working with our community partners, clients, volunteers and staff as we craft the next chapter in NYFS history. I hope you find me worthy of your trust as we continue to realize our mission of preparing youth and families for healthy lives. I am excited at the prospect of new and deepening relationships with you and others who care about our community.
Until then,
Jerry Hromatka
Former NYFS President and CEO Celebrates Retirement
About 200 people wished former NYFS President Kay Andrews a fond farewell at her retirement party held on Feb. 5 at the Midland Hills Country Club. 
The event honored Kay’s 33 years of service to NYFS – first as a family therapist in 1976 and eventually as President and CEO. Over the years, Kay has watched NYFS grow from a small nonprofit that served 100 youth and families in its first years to a regional service provider that touches the lives of over 3,500 youth and families.
When asked about her philosophy, Kay says: “We’re all here for a purpose, and our challenge is to discover what that purpose is – and to fulfill our dreams, regardless of the barriers we encounter.”
As Kay begins retirement, she credits many for their assistance on her journey: past and current board and staff members; school teachers and administrators; nonprofit colleagues; local supportive businesses; government officials, loyal foundations. “Too many to thank specifically, but they know who they are.”
We, in return, are so thankful to Kay for her many years of service, encouragement and leadership. We wish her a well earned rest from the rigors of leading a nonprofit and success in her new endeavor as an executive consultant.
If you would like to leave a note for Kay, there is still time. Please follow this link to a special web site we have created in her honor.
NYFS Success Story: Bernice Bartz
“Whatever you do, you get it back tenfold,” says Bernice Bartz, a Senior Chore Program participant and a new volunteer at NYFS’ Penny Pinchers Thrift Store. 
Bernice has been using NYFS’ Senior Chore services for about three years for assistance with maintaining her yard. While she no longer has the ability to do outside chore work, she hasn’t lost her desire to help others.
With the help of Senior Chore Program Coordinator Debbie Peterson, Bernice signed on as a volunteer at Penny Pinchers Thrift Store and now helps organize merchandise at the store and works alongside youth enrolled in our Youth Employment Training program.
“Yesterday was my first day and I loved it!” she says, adding that she is glad to give something back to an organization that has helped her and her husband live independently in their home.
“I have not enough words to thank you people,” she says. “With this help, we can stay here. We could never afford to go into assisted living. We’ll stay here as long as we have you.”
Discovery Center Project Update
The walls are being raised, and so are the funds for the new NYFS Discovery Center. To date, over $167,000 has been raised to fund this effort. 
NYFS has recently launched a “1000 Champions for Kids” appeal that is drawing community support by seeking special and major gifts from local individual donors, businesses, civic groups and community leaders. Over $116,000 has been raised through this appeal.
Scheduled for completion in 2009, the 10,000 square foot expansion to our existing building will create a new, multipurpose facility that will give our Northwest Educational & Therapeutic Services (NETS) participants a much-needed space for physical and mental wellness activities, movement and art-based therapeutic sessions as well as youth and family events. The facility will also be open to youth attending other NYFS programs such as: the Youth Diversion Program, the Discovery Initiative and Summer Camp and for the general public as well during after school hours. It is estimated that over 10,000 people will use the facility each year.
To view pictures of the project, track our progress during construction, or donate online, please click here.
Anxiety Grows as Economy Shrinks
A recent Gallup Poll indicates that Americans are experiencing a great deal of anxiety over the recent economic downturn. While most of us don’t need a poll to tell us that we live in stressful times, perhaps we do need some helpful information about how to cope with them.
Elaine Moore, Outpatient Therapist at NYFS, says anxiety itself is not always a bad thing. It is a basic emotion that can serve as a legitimate warning to danger. But excessive anxiety, the kind that interferes with a person’s quality of life and ability to carry out day to day tasks, is a problem. Common symptoms can include obsessive thoughts, muscle tension, frequent feelings of restlessness, difficulty relaxing or panic attacks.
“Anxiety is exhausting and it doesn’t solve your problem,” Moore says. “It is kind of like being a hamster in an exercise wheel: you’re working hard, but you aren’t getting anywhere.” She adds that anxiety also creates health risks such as hypertension, depression and a weakened immune system.
At NYFS, anxiety and depression are the two leading diagnoses among clients served through our Outpatient Mental Health Services program. Even though anxiety is a common problem faced by many, Moore says there are many things you can do to immediately reduce your level of anxiety. Strategies include:
Reduce your media intake. While it is good to be aware of current events, Moore says our minds were not built to cope with a 24-hour news cycle and its constant barrage of information, especially since so much of it is negative. Moore says one of the easiest ways to reduce anxiety is to turn off the TV, screen telephone calls and text messages and limit the amount of time you spend surfing the Web. “It’s really okay to make a conscious choice about what you expose yourself to,” she adds.
Don’t isolate yourself. When we don’t feel well, it is easy to retreat into ourselves and stay at home. Moore says this only exacerbates the problem. “You’re much more likely to think too much about your problems if you are alone. Call a trusted friend who can help you gain perspective.”
Exercise and eat well. Physical activity releases endorphins that will make you feel better and it also serves as a distraction. “Don’t sit and eat or drink too much,” says Moore. “It will actually make you feel worse in the long run.”
Do something for someone else. “Often the best way to help ourselves is to help others,” Moore says. “It gives you so much perspective on your own problems and helps you realize how much power you really do have.”
If anxiety is still interfering with your quality of life, Moore says it may be time to take stronger action. “It is really okay to get help. Buy a self-help book on anxiety, attend a support group or get therapy.”
For more information about mental health services at NYFS, please call 651-486-3808 or visit us on the web at www.nyfs.org.
Service to Youth Awards Honors Community Leaders
NYFS is proud to announce the winners of the 2009 Service to Youth Awards:
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Winners were honored for their achievements on February 12 at the Mounds View Community Center.
The “Service to Youth Awards” is designed to honor people who provide outstanding service or activities for the benefit of youth in our community. Award recipients are chosen from five categories: law enforcement, educators, community volunteers, elected officials and youth. For more information about the award please call Sandra Bahr at 651-379-3422.
NYFS Wish List
Have an item you don’t want anymore but that someone else might need? Check out the NYFS Wish List and see if your trash might become our treasure!
In an effort to be fiscally responsible, NYFS staff has created a wish list of items that will help us do our jobs. The public is invited to donate an item directly to NYFS and receive a donation slip that can be used to record donations at tax time. Any donation would be sincerely appreciated.
Our current needs include:
- Hewlett Packard P1006 Personal Laser Jet Printer
- SATA internal hard drive – 80 Gigabyte
- Baseball gloves
- Basketballs
- Golf clubs and balls
- Hockey nets and sticks
- Tennis rackets
- Cutting Boards
- Large Pots
- Sautee pans
- Colander
- Youth appropriate DVD's