YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES
Building Community. Growing Leaders.
We offer after-school programs, summer camps, arts, sports, and recreation programs, family counseling, and a Middle School Success Center (MSSSC) to help middle school students navigate high school applications. We run two school-based Beacon community centers offering recreational and educational programming to community residents of all ages. Click on the green boxes or keep scrolling to learn more!
Contact:
Erica Oquendo
Director, Youth and Family Services
276 Chestnut St, Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Erica Oquendo
Director, Youth and Family Services
276 Chestnut St, Brooklyn, NY 11208
After-School Programs
CHLDC provides safe and engaging after-school programs that promote learning and growth in partnership with 11 Community School District 19 schools. All after-school programs are available to the greater community, with the exception of the programs at PS 345 and PS 108 where enrollment is restricted to students at those schools. Most of the after-school programs run on Monday-Friday for three hours per day (with the exception of the Ready Readers program at PS 108 which is 2 afternoons per week for 1st and 2nd graders). Students participate in homework help, literacy, science, arts, sports and wellness, recreation and leadership activities. The programs feature family events and performances several times per year. Most of the programs also operate full day programs on a number of school holidays during the year.
If you are interested in one of the programs for your child, please contact the person listed for each site. Click the map points below or scroll to the list to see the names and phone numbers!
Summer Camp
CHLDC provides Summer Camps for elementary and middle school age children that keep children safe, promote their learning and growth and engage in fun and discovery! The starting age at the start of camp is 5 years old. Generally camp operates for 7 weeks for elementary programs and 6 to 7 weeks for middle school. Camp hours are generally 8am-6pm for elementary and 9am-5pm for middle school. Currently we operate camps for elementary school students at PS 7, PS 65, PS 89, PS 677 and PS 214. We run summer camps for middle school students (pending funding availability) at JHS 218, Liberty Avenue Middle School, IS 171 and Highland Park Community School. The registration period is normally in April. We encourage anyone interested in camp to contact the directors in, or before, April.
BEACON School-Based Community Centers
CHLDC operates two Beacon school-based community centers, the Cypress Hills/East New York (CH/ENY) Beacon at the JHS 218 campus, and the Cypress Hills/Cityline (CH/CL) Beacon at PS 214. The Beacons, which operate afternoons, evenings and Saturdays, serve as safe havens for children, youth, adults and families by providing comprehensive programming including afterschool and summer camp, sports, arts, fitness, educational, service and leadership activities at no cost to all participants. The Beacons also supports community strengthening by hosting events for and collaborating with other community organizations.
Cypress Hills/East New York Beacon at JHS 218
370 Fountain Ave Room 132
Brooklyn, NY 11208
(718) 277-3522
Eric James, Beacon Director
Cypress Hills/Cityline Beacon PS 214 Campus
2944 Pitkin Avenue Gym Room #2
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Romualdo Vasquez, Beacon Director
Office:(718)-647-1740, ext, 2157
Cell: (347) 684-6062
BEACON Family Place
The Beacon Family Place is a comprehensive family counseling center located at IS 218. We offer a supportive, caring environment where families can work together to improve their relationships and their lives.
Our services are free of charge and open to all families in the Cypress Hills/East New York community. We offer evening appointments for working families and have Spanish speaking counselors available.
Contact:
Max Howard, LCSW
Program Director
370 Fountain Avenue, Rm. 129
Brooklyn, NY 11208
maxh@cypresshills.org
(718) 277-9593
Middle School Success Center (MSSSC)
In fall 2013, CHLDC opened a Middle School Student Success Center, the first of its kind in New York City. The MSSSC is a youth-led center that assists students at IS 171 and Highland Park Community School with planning for career and higher education success. We offer services to help middle school students make informed decisions about the high school choice process, prepare their application for admission, and connect them to citywide support organizations for middle school students of color. These services are available for students located at the Abraham Lincoln Middle School campus.
Contact:
Sindy Nuesi
Sindy Nuesi, Director of MSSSC
528 Ridgewood Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208-1730
Sindyn@cypresshills.org
(516) 654-4642
Use the map to find our different program sites
Afterschool Sites
Elementary School
PS 7
858 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Latanya Simpson, Program Director
t:(718) 235-2345
f:(718) 827-4004 (Attn: CHLDC)
PS 65
700 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Brenda Gerena, Director
t:(718) 235-2223 ext.6172
PS/IS 89 Cypress Hills Community School
265 Warwick Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207
Contact:
Yasirys Pichardo, Director
Office: (718) 964-1180 ext.1111
PS 108 Community School
200 Linwood St
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Lea KixMiller, Community School Director
Office:(718) 235-2345
Cypress Hills/Cityline Beacon PS 214 Campus
2944 Pitkin Avenue Gym Room #2
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Romualdo Vasquez, Beacon Director
Office:(718)-647-1740, ext, 2157
Cell: (347) 684-6062
PS 290
135 Schenck Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11207
(347) 383-8388
Staffena Adams, Program Director
PS 345
111 Berriman Street, Room 307
Brooklyn, NY 11208-2307
(347) 383-8388
(Only students who attend PS 345
may enroll in this after-school program.)
Gladys Maldonado, Program Director
PS 677
605 Shepherd Avenue, Room 230D
Brooklyn, NY 11208-3649
Contact:
Deandra Barnes, Director
Middle School
Cypress Hills Community Learning Center at IS 171 and Highland Park Community School
528 Ridgewood Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208-1730
(718) 635-2518
Contact:
Yaritza Cano, Campus Director
IS302 Campus
Liberty Avenue Middle School SONYC Program
350 Linwood Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Najeri Cox-Grant, After-School Director
najericg@cypresshills.org
Website: Liberty Avenue Middle School Afterschool Program
Vista Academy SONYC Program
350 Linwood Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact: Brittanyw@cypresshills.org
Brittany Wilkinson, After-School Director
Website: Vista Academy Afterschool Program
Cypress Hills/East New York Beacon at JHS 218
370 Fountain Ave Room 132
Brooklyn, NY 11208
(718) 277-3522
Mobile: (860) 591-9531
Nkenge Wiggins, After-School/Summer Program Director
Summer Camp Sites
Elementary School
PS 7
858 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Latanya Simpson, Program Director
(718) 235-2345
Fax: (718) 827-4004 (Attn: CHLDC)
PS 65
700 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Brenda Gerena, Director
kristeng@cypresshills.org
t:(718) 235-2223 ext.6172
PS/IS 89 Cypress Hills Community School
265 Warwick Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207
Contact:
Yasirys Pichardo, Director
Office: (718) 964-1180 ext.1111
Cypress Hills/Cityline Beacon PS 214 Campus
2944 Pitkin Avenue Gym Room #2
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Romualdo Vasquez, Beacon Director
Office:(718)-647-1740, ext, 2157
Cell: (347) 684-6062
PS 677
605 Shepherd Avenue, Room 230D
Brooklyn, NY 11208-3649
Contact:
Deandra Barnes, Director
Middle School
Cypress Hills Community Learning Center at IS 171 and Highland Park Community School
528 Ridgewood Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11208-1730
(718) 635-2518
Contact:
Yaritza Cano, Campus Director
IS302 Campus
Liberty Avenue Middle School SONYC Program
350 Linwood Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact:
Najeri Cox-Grant, After-School Director
najericg@cypresshills.org
Website: Liberty Avenue Middle School Afterschool Program
Vista Academy SONYC Program
350 Linwood Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Contact: Brittanyw@cypresshills.org
Brittany Wilkinson, After-School Director
Website: Vista Academy Afterschool Program
Cypress Hills/East New York Beacon at JHS 218
370 Fountain Ave Room 132
Brooklyn, NY 11208
(718) 277-3522
Mobile: (860) 591-9531
Contact:
Nkenge Wiggins, After-School/Summer Program Director