2009 NYFS Leadership Luncheon: Serving Your Community at the Speed of Laughter
On Wednesday, May 6, over 300 community leaders met at Midland Hills Country Club for the Sixth Annual NYFS Leadership Luncheon. 
John Sweeney, co-owner of the Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre, spoke about “Serving Your Community at the Speed of Laughter.” Over $22,000 has been donated at this event.
In addition to running the Brave New Workshop, Sweeney has also created a corporate training program based on the principles, behaviors and skills derived from improvisational theatre. His client list includes Microsoft, Medtronic, General Mills and Hewlett Packard. John generously donated his time to the luncheon and attendees received a free copy of “Return to Civility: A Speed of Laughter Project,” a book written by John and the Brave New Workshop.
NYFS would like to thank our event sponsors:
Gold Sponsors: Pioneer Press
Silver Sponsors: Anchor Bank, ION Corporation, Lakeside Homes, Sandy Martin, John Sweeney
Bronze Sponsors: CB Richard Ellis, Eide Bailly, Maguire Agency
This fundraising event will benefit youth and families served by NYFS. For more information about how you can support the work of NYFS, please visit us on the web at www.nyfs.org or call us at 651-486-3808.
Good Mental Health is Critical at Any Age
Did you know that 75 to 85 percent of children and youth in need of mental health services don’t get the help they need?
May 8 is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. At NYFS, we know that in addition to good physical health and a safe living environment, good mental health is a key component in a child’s healthy development. Children can suffer from diseases such as anxiety, depression and even bipolar disorder just like adults.
In fact, half of all lifetime cases of mental illness are diagnosable by age 14. And if they can be diagnosed, then they can be treated. Untreated mental disorders can lead to more severe, more difficult to treat disorders later on.
NYFS has specialized in the mental health needs of youth and families since we opened our doors in 1976 and we have helped thousands of young people and their families lead healthier, happier lives.
But there is still much more work to be done.
The first step in treating the problem is finding out if there is one. Raising children is difficult enough under the best of circumstances. Temper tantrums, mood swings and the plain hard work of growing up can take a toll on any child and family. But if you suspect that your child is struggling more than normal, or if you just need help parenting your child through the rough times of childhood and adolescence, NYFS is here to help. We offer one-to-one and family based counseling services, parenting classes and support services to help struggling families get back on track. For more information, please call us at 651-486-3808 or visit us on the web at www.nyfs.org.
Children’s Mental Health: A NYFS Success Story
NYFS recently helped a 10 year old boy who has having problems in school. According to school staff, the boy had problems paying attention, staying on task and was easily distracted to the point that it was affecting his success in the classroom.
While this can be a common problem for young children, this boy had more to deal with than the average child: his father had been deployed to Iraq and he was forced to change schools and leave his home to live with his aunt while his father was gone.
NYFS Counseling Center staff worked with the boy and helped him express his feelings about his father’s absence. His classroom behavior steadily improved. With help, the boy also learned to manage his impulsive behavior in the classroom and maintain his focus and attention without difficulty. His home life improved too and the child was better able to show appropriate and respectful behavior toward his aunt during these difficult times. His counselor showed him how to seek and receive help from others when he was having a hard time dealing with his father’s absence.
During the course of therapy, the boy was also able to use his newfound problem solving skills to address potential difficulties with adjusting back to his previous living situation when his father returned from Iraq. Throughout the entire process, he was able to maintain above average academic scores throughout the school year.
This child’s story represents just one of thousands of lives touched by the dedicated staff of Northwest Youth & Family Services. Each year, the Counseling center serves over 1,500 youth and their families through one to one and group counseling. For more information about NYFS mental health programs and services, please call 651-486-3808 or visit us on the web at www.nyfs.org.
Discovery Center Update
Who says fundraising isn’t fun? Key community members dedicated to raising money for NYFS’ new Discovery Center are hosting a series of “house parties” to raise money and get the word out about the new facility. They are an integral part of the “1,000 Champions for Kids” initiative to support the facility.
To date over $700,000 has been committed to this project through the generous donations and pledges of individuals, businesses and foundations.
Scheduled for completion in 2009, the 10,000 square foot Discovery Center is a 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 and mainly after school hours. It is estimated that over 10,000 people will use the facility each year.
If you are interested supporting the new Discovery Center by hosting a house party, please contact Sandra Bahr at 651-379-3422. To get a sneak peak of the new building, or donate online, please click here.
Spring Clean Up Helps Seniors Get Ready for Summer 
On April 26 over 100 volunteers spread throughout our community to help older adults clean up debris, put out patio furniture and get ready for spring. Through their efforts, NYFS Senior Chore Program was able to clean up over 78 homes.
“Our seniors tell us all the time they don’t know what they would do if we weren’t out here helping them,” said Debbie Petersen, Senior Chore Program Specialist. “They’re just so happy to see us out there.”
An additional clean up event will be held on May 14. On that day, volunteers from Keller Williams Realty will not only clean up yards, but also perform light maintenance, repairs and painting on selected homes. “We are so happy to have them come out and help,” Petersen adds.
Both events are coordinated through the NYFS Senior Chore Program which helps older adults live in their homes for as long as possible with dignity and independence. While the Spring Clean Up is a seasonal event, seniors can sign up for year round help with regular housekeeping chores, lawn maintenance, snow shoveling and other services. For more information, or to volunteer, please call Debbie Petersen, Senior Chore Program Specialist, at 651-379-3451.
Penny Pinchers Adds More Donation Drop Off Sites
The economy may be down, but business at NYFS Penny Pinchers Thrift Store in Mounds View is on the rise. According to Community Services Director Tim Gusk, the store has seen sales increase 40% in recent months.
“The store is a valuable resource for the communities we serve,” he adds. “We have something for everyone and in this economy, our services are especially needed.” The store also serves as a work skills training site for youth.
The store sells gently used furniture, household goods, clothes, shoes and seasonal items. In response to growing demand, the store has recently expanded the number of donation drop off sites in the area. Residents can drop off their gently used items at seven convenient locations:
4061 Lexington Ave. N.
Arden Hills, MN 55112
651-481-9500
Fairview Community Center
1910 County Road B West
Roseville, MN 55113
651-604-3500
Falcon Heights City Hall
2077 Larpenteur Ave. W.
Falcon Heights, MN 55112
Roseville City Hall
2660 Civic Center Drive
Roseville, MN 55113
651-792-7001
Guidant John Rose MN OVAL
2660 Civic Center Drive
Roseville, MN 55113
651-792-7000
Shoreview Community Center
4580 Victoria St. N.
Shoreview, MN 55126
Northwest Youth & Family Services
3490 Lexington Ave. N.
Shoreview, MN 55126
651-486-3808
New Locations Coming in August:
Mounds View Community Center
5394 Edgewood Drive
Mounds View, MN 55112
763-717-4000
New Brighton Family Service Center
400 10th St. NW
New Brighton, MN 55112
651-638-2100
For more information about donation guidelines, please click on this link or call Jim Rider, Donations Coordinator, at 763-783-3626.
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:
- Family-friendly board games
- 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