Making a difference … one life at a time

Over the years, Cardinal McCloskey Services has continually developed new programs and services to meet the changing needs of the children and families we serve. For more than 60 years, CMS's goal and philosophy has been to provide the highest level of quality care to those we serve. Several recent accomplishments illustrate our commitment to our mission:

In March 2008, our Hayden House Emergency Residence was awarded a second grant of $20,000 from Entergy. This contribution will continue funding the WRAP (Wellness Recreation And Play) Program, which introduces abused and neglected children at Hayden House to a healthy lifestyle through recreational means.

In February 2008 we received a second grant of $35,000 from the Frances L. & Edwin L. Cummings Memorial Fund. This contribution will continue funding our BEST (Building Emotional Support Together) Program, which currently provides individualized treatment plans to 165 at-risk families throughout the Bronx and Harlem. Given the program's proven success, we will seek to hire additional staff to expand our services.

In January 2008, we received a very generous grant of $60,000 from the Heckscher Foundation for Children. This contribution will be used to implement an Educational Advocacy Program for all children in our foster care program. The program will provide each child with an educational coordinator that would guide them, beginning at age 11, through their adolescent and teenage years to determine the appropriate path towards a successful future. Whether a child would like to pursue career opportunities, vocational training or higher education, their coordinator will assist them in this transformative time in their lives.

We were thrilled to begin 2008 with our selection as one of five agencies chosen by the New York State Office of Children and Families Services to participate in the Bridges to Health (B2H) Program. B2H is a new state initiative designed to tailor comprehensive care plans for children in foster care with serious emotional disturbances, developmental disabilities and medical frailties. This revolutionary program is the only one in the United States that would cover these children until they are 21 years old.

In December 2007, we were awarded a grant of $10,000 from The Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation to fund a new playground and recreation area at our Hayden House Emergency Residence and Cardinal McCloskey School. The Carvel Foundation has been a leading donor in the recent renovations to Hayden House, which include three new classrooms, a science lab, new bedrooms, a lounge area and an exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment.

In December 2007, Hayden House Emergency Residence received $15,000 from the Charles A. Mastronardi Foundation. This contribution will be used to initiate Bunny's Closet, named in honor of Margaret "Bunny" Mastronardi. Bunny's Closet will provide each child at Hayden House with a basket containing a new comforter, a set of sheets, slippers, a robe, toiletries and a backpack. These basic items will be used to welcome each child as they transition into their new environment.

In the 2007 city-wide evaluation by New York City's Administration for Children's Services of foster boarding home programs, Cardinal McCloskey Services' Foster Boarding Home Program was ranked third in the "TOP TEN".

For the 15th consecutive year, Cardinal McCloskey Services' Adoption Program was awarded the highest honor of "Outstanding Achievement in Adoption Services" from the NYC Administration for Children's Services.

Through excellent performance, our Family Day Care Program has continued to be awarded additional contracts with NYC, making ours the largest day care program in NYC serving over 850 children.

Cardinal McCloskey's Service Coordination Supervisor, a consumer, and VP of Developmental Disabilities and Residential Services enjoying the opening celebration of our Waterbury Parkway home.