BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Providing funds and assistance with a new teen-focused after-school program at Bergen Family Center should be a priority now for Englewood in addition to eventually creating a community center, said two program advocates Dec. 18 to City Council members.
A new program for teens at Bergen Family Center—originally located at Janis Dismus Middle School for two years but forced to move recently—now has 45 teenagers enrolled for its after-school program but needs additional funding to continue through 2019, said the advocates.
Elizabeth Corsini, vice president and director of programs at Bergen Family Center, and Barry Harris, a resident and teen program volunteer, spoke before City Council to discuss program and funding needs and the teen program’s value to Englewood.
Corsini noted Bergen Family Center has been helping local families with a variety of needs stemming from social, emotional and practical needs, including counseling, providing meals, senior programming, adult day care, pre-kindergarten and after-school programs.
From its founding in 1898, the Bergen Family Center at 44 Armory Street is probably the county’s oldest continuously operating nonprofit family service agency.
A high school after-school program assisting teens at Dwight Morrow High School has been in place for years, said Corsini, but a middle school program was needed to reach at-risk teens earlier to assist with social and educational challenges in middle school.
She said the Teen Center program, unofficially called The Zone, provides tutoring, workforce readiness, leadership development, counseling, health education and recreation programs.
It operates 2:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Corsini said she hopes to stretch funds to continue the program into 2019 but really needs $120,000 in funding to run the program successfully in 2019.
$120K needed for 2019
She said $120,000 would pay for some staff, possibly a social worker, snacks and meals, and in essence, amounts to about $2.50 per kid per day.
“Bergen Family Center has a history of serving teens. We’ve all talked about a teen center, a youth center and it’s yet to be built but there are a lot of people in this community that care about young people. So two months ago we opened a teen center for middle school students,” Corsini said, following the program’s removal from the middle school due to space limits.
Initially, $60,000 in private donations helped fund the program’s start-up costs, she said.
“Really what we just need is the support to keep our doors open. We don’t have the money quite frankly,” said Corsini to members.
Harris said often up to 65 kids come to the after-school program, getting a snack around 2:45 p.m. and then later they help with dinner preparation and cleanup.
“The kids are coming and every day you get different kids coming,” said Harris, 55, who said he has a hard time keeping up with teenagers’ energy levels.
Councilman Charles Cobb urged members to visit the teen center program, volunteer and see the center and its work up close.
Corsini noted Cobb visited several times to see how the teen program was working.
“We’re doing this and we’ve been talking about this community center. We’re already doing it,” noted Corsini.
Added Harris: “If we do not help them now and support them, their vision is not going to come because they are going to move out of here,” he said of local teens. “I’m telling you that you need this,” he added.
‘Reach their full potential’
Corsini noted that “the reality is most of our kids coming into this program are living at or below federal poverty levels.”
“That is a reality. With poverty comes trauma and with trauma an inability to concentrate in school,” said Corsini. “There is a whole host of issues that get in the way of performing successfully at school or to reach their full potential.”
She said the teen center is the only local after-school program for low-income families or families with both parents working long hours to make ends meet.
“There are children in this community that have access and opportunity and children in this community that do not have access and opportunity,” Corsini said.
She said the teen center “offers that and healthy relationships with adults who care about them.”
Corsini said between Bergen Family Center and the Teen Center, approximately 225 meals are served daily, often for kids whose parents may not be home to cook dinner or able to serve a nutritious meal.
“It’s hard to be a parent today, and it’s often hard to put food on the table with two working parents,” said Corsini, noting many kids get at least one hot meal there daily.
‘Food is a big part’
“Food is a big part of our community and it’s a great way to build relationships with the kids,” she said, noting teens are not allowed to use cell phones during dinner.
Several times while addressing the council, Corsini and Harris noted that Bergen Family Center’s new Teen Center needs financial support and that a youth-focused center should be a priority now compared to a future community center.
City Council members started seeking public input on possible community center ideas at one town hall meeting in November, but little discussion or action has occurred since.
Council President Wayne Hamer has mentioned possible council hiring of a consultant to assist input-gathering efforts.