2022 – 2023 Annual Report

TOGETHER TOWARDS TOMORROW

Longevity, Resilience and Evolution

Letter from the CEO

Annual reports — by definition — are reflective. What were our goals and aspirations of the last year? How did we do? Certainly, an annual report can be a pathway to strutting one’s achievements and expressing one’s pride. But those are limiting uses. Hopefully – if used for introspection – an annual report can help us see what we are doing right and — more importantly — how we can do things better. The heart of our mission is to partner with those we serve and with those who fund or refer to our interventions and supports to help children, youth, families and others to meet their challenges and to more effectively navigate their lives. We do this by embracing serving those whom other providers may shy away from. We do this by offering and mastering state of the art interventions which are evidence-based or research-informed.Sometimes we fall short. Many with whom we work have experienced high levels of trauma and are distrustful of the system. To be of service to them, we need to always maintain realistic hope,  be willing to relentlessly pursue engagement, and engage in self-care so we do not internalize the pain of those we serve. As my dear friend Dr. Thoman Sexton, a developer of Functional Family Therapy (FFT) always reminds me: “Our first job is to help a family reestablish hope that things can change. Our second is to deliver so that hope is not misplaced in us.”  This is a challenging array of tasks. It takes special people to do this. I am regularly awed by our wonderful staff and our incredible foster parents who do these things with both graciousness and humility. While those we serve are the heart of Cayuga Centers, our staff and foster parents are our soul. They are the Cayuga Centers difference.This report reflects on our last year to both remind us of what we have done and to challenge ourselves to do it — and more — again. Those we serve deserve both our inspiration and our perspiration and our staff and foster parents deliver both which helps us change lives.So please, join in our reflections and — if you have been part of our journey by being someone we serve or someone who funds or licenses our services or a donor or a foster parent or a staff member or part of the support system for one of our staff or foster parents — thank you. And — if you are not one of these — please consider joining us in our work.Thank you.
Edward Hayes

President and CEO

TOGETHER TOWARDS

elevating our culture

Cayuga Centers is proud of the work we have put in over the last couple of years to address the health and safety needs of our staff. As the pandemic ends, we have shifted to new initiatives to help staff be proactive with their health and safety. Some of this year’s initiatives include:

Wellness Challenges, Webinars, & Discounts

We have held numerous walking challenges, a nutrition challenge, and a mental and emotional health challenge through our new platform, Navigate, that allows our staff to earn points towards gifts and gift cards. We continued our Mindful Monday webinar series this year that covered topics such as handling stress, mindfulness techniques, self-empowerment, and anxiety. We partnered with over 25 gyms and wellness centers across the country to provide staff fitness discounts and offered the opportunity to get up to $200 a year back for wellness reimbursements.

Supervisor and Staff Learning & Engagement

Our monthly live webinar series, CEO Office hours, led by CEO Edward Myers Hayes, offers all staff the opportunity to learn about our talented staff and the important work that they do. This year, we hosted panels featuring front-line staff who provided valuable insights into our day-to-day operations. Our Supervisor Roundtable is a monthly gathering for supervisors within our agency to develop professionally. Hosted by our CEO and peer panelists, this interactive series focuses on leadership and management topics in a panel and Q&A format. The Cindi and Kelly Podcast is hosted by Cindi Pagan and Kelly Ware, leaders of home and community programs in Upstate NY. The podcast offers agency staff
exclusive insights from guests in an informal setting.

TOGETHER TOWARDS

diversity, equity, and inclusion

“Cayuga Centers is setting itself apart by remaining steadfast and reaffirming our commitment to being a more diverse, inclusive, and equity-centered organization where we all are valued, respected, welcome, and proud to work.  As we view all that we do through a diversity, inclusion, and belonging lens as well as staying focused on equity, accessibility, and justice, we move closer to our promise to the children, individuals, and families we serve, to our staff, and to the communities in which we live and are a part.”
Andrea Willis, LMSW, MPH

Deputy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Mission Statement

At Cayuga Centers, we embrace Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB). We do this by taking a firm stance against hatred, inequality, bias, and injustice. We do this by providing our staff with the training, coaching, and resources necessary to grow and serve with cultural humility, acceptance, and understanding. We are responsive to the diverse needs of those we serve and staff, and are committed to ensuring that everyone feels respected, valued, and a sense of belonging. Approved by the Cayuga Centers Board of Trustees April 26, 2023.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not what we do – it’s who we are.”

We asked our changemakers…

Which agency competency resonates with you the most?

Jen Hayes I 16 Years

Assistant Director of Diversion Programs

Teamwork and Partnership

“It’s a great feeling when you know you can rely on your co-workers. When it comes to working with the youth and families, teamwork and partnership helps them feel like they are part of the solution. By working together they will get out of the situation they are in and will learn that there are people out there that want them to be successful.”

Erin Herr I 4 Years

Care Manager

Acting and leading with human sensitivity and respect

“I am a firm believer that we need to meet youth and families where they are, respect their abilities, and build on their current strengths.
It is paramount that we adopt a “support, not rescue” philosophy and continue to encourage confidence in their autonomy and individuality. With this approach,I hope my clients feel validated and proud as we achieve their short and long-term goals.”

César Rodriguez, MSW I 5 Years

Director of Home Study and Post Release Services

Teamwork and Partnership

“I believe that having trust in your team while providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed in their role will create
effective case workers, positively impacting the services we provide as an agency. Those we serve warrant the right to be provided with quality care and we as a department strive to do so.

Resiliency in

foster care

The Importance of Kinship Foster Care

In the past year, Cayuga Centers has been taking on more kinship care cases. Kinship care allows a unique opportunity for extended family to care for foster youth and avoids the youth having to stay in an unfamiliar foster home. Kinship care can also help keep siblings together.

Read our Blog: "Why kinship care is so important"

A Kinship Success Story

Gabriella, a devoted big sister, intervened when the adoption world failed her much younger siblings. The minute she found out her sisters, ages 8 and 12, had to be removed from their adoptive family, she reached out to Cayuga Centers’ Treatment Family Foster Care Program in Central New York to start having overnight visits and begin the process of becoming their kinship caregiver. Being a foster parent to her sisters came easily as they quickly fell into a rhythm of a tight-knit family who enjoys playing games and taking lots of family vacations. Gabriella’s support from Cayuga Centers has given her the parenting skills to be more confident, and the therapy the family receives is invaluable.

Finding Purpose in Fostering

Sharika Kellogg achieved success as an entrepreneur with two businesses and as a consultant for stay-at-home moms wanting to start businesses. With her inspirational, strong, self-reliant, and intellectual qualities, she had yet to attain the title of ‘Mom’. After trying for years, she found herself in a support group for women who could not have children. Here is where she learned about the world of foster care. During her training, she realized her foster journey was not just to be a mom but to be an advocate for children.

Read Sharika's Story

EVOLVING

our services

Growth in Upstate New York

In Yates County, our resiliency programs expanded to include our Family Support Program and Enhanced Foster Care Support. In Madison County, our therapy and juvenile justice services expanded to including Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Restorative Case Management (RCM). In Schuyler County, we have also continued to grow and adapt to community needs by offering our Family Support Program. Our Cayuga County contract expanded to include Diversion Case Management.

Delaware Expansions

Delaware extended their offerings to include Home and Community Based Treatment and Support. These programs include Outpatient Counseling, Mobile Outpatient Counseling, and Therapeutic Support for Families (TSF). These new services provide additional therapeautic support to our existing Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and TFFC programs serving the community.

New Space for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

In early 2023, we launched a two-phased renovation plan for our I/DD program spaces. These renovations allow the individuals to better engage with one another and overall enhance their day-to-day experiences. Launching these renovations in two phases allowed the programs to continue uninterrupted, enhancing one space at a time. The first phase began in March, adding an arts and crafts area, electronics area and updating
furniture. The second phase, in April, included new flooring, fresh paint, updating furniture, and purchasing arcade games funded by a donation from the Italian American Club Lodge.

Learn more about I/DD Programs

6 YEARS OF

SafeCare

Since 2017, Cayuga Centers has been providing SafeCare, a free, in-home, evidence-based prevention program for parents of children ages 0-8 focused on parent-infant/child interactions, home safety, and child health. The program started in Cayuga County, NY, and has expanded to serve Cortland, Onondaga, and Oneida counties.

A SafeCare Success Story

In the midst of a challenging situation, our dedicated SafeCare team joined forces with a courageous mother caught in the grip of a domestic violence relationship. Her children were removed from her home. Step by step, we worked with this resilient mother through the 3 modules of the SafeCare curriculum. Together, we empowered her to take a bold step towards change by finding refuge in a domestic violence shelter. As her journey continued, she embraced personal growth by securing a new home, acing her GED, and seizing a
promising job opportunity. The mother was then able to be reunited with her beloved children in the comfort of her new home. The success of our services brought immense satisfaction to her, and we stand in awe of her spirit, strength, and unyielding determination. Her journey is a testament to the profound impact that can be achieved when compassion and resilience unite.

Learn more about SafeCare

EVOLVING

in Florida

An exciting Cayuga Centers’ first, September marked our merger with a Miami-Dade-based agency formerly known as the Institute for Child & Family Health. This addition has enabled us to welcome seven new community-based programs to our service array, along with the dedicated and knowledgeable staff who provide those services. The integration and post-merger growth of the Florida Programs is under the leadership of Dr. Tamaru Phillips, LMFT, who joined the agency in July as the Senior VP of Florida Programs.

Read More About the Merger with ICFH

All Florida Programs

All-Aboard After School
Miami-Dade County
All-Aboard Parents as Teachers
Miami-Dade County
Substance Abuse Prevention
Broward County

Child and Family Counseling
Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Broward Counties
Treasure Coast
Functional Family Therapy (FFT)
Miami-Dade County
Healthy Steps Program
Miami-Dade County

Parent and Child Enrichment (PACE)
Miami-Dade County
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Miami-Dade County
Treatment Family Foster Care (TFFC)
Palm Beach and Broward Counties, and Treasure Coast

Mother’s Day Event

In May, our All-Aboard Parents as Teachers program hosted a Mother’s Day event. The event focused on self-care and wellness. The 19 attendees ate lunch together and participated in a variety of activities. Those activities included manicures, crafting picture frames, raffles, and the ability to “shop” through donated clothing for their families. Parents shared testimonials of how the program has impacted them, and staff talked about the importance of parent self-care in order to better take care of their families.

“In Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, and the Treasure Coast, program growth and success have soared with staff engagement at their core. During my first year, enthusiastic collaboration among dedicated professionals has driven innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships. This dynamic approach, rooted in local insights and community needs, has positioned the region as a model for program development and community involvement.”
Dr. Tamaru Phillips, LMFT

Deputy of Florida Programs

170 Years

of paving new ways

170th Anniversary Celebrations

In 2022, Cayuga Centers celebrated a historic milestone – 170 years of dedicated service to children, families and communities. This occasion gave us an opportunity to reflect on our journey that began in 1852, express gratitude, and reinforce our commitment to serving our communities. Throughout this momentous anniversary year, we organized a series of celebratory social events, and invited our communities to join us in commemorating this achievement.

Open Houses

We opened our doors to the community and provided an opportunity for everyone, including those unfamiliar with us, to learn about the  impact our programs have made over the years. These events were held at many of our offices including:

• Rochester, NY
• Utica, NY
• Albany, NY
• Boynton Beach, FL
• Port St. Lucie, FL
• Middletown, DE
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Fort Lauderdale, FL

New York City and Auburn, NY Celebrations

At our main headquarters in New York City and Auburn, NY surrounded by the history that shaped us, we hosted social events, where we connected with our roots and embraced the future with renewed enthusiasm. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us in this milestone celebration. With the continued support of our communities and the dedication of our teams across the organization, we look forward to creating an even brighter and more transformative future for the families we serve.

Beyond the on-site celebrations, we also took the opportunity to document our legacy. We created a docuseries featuring staff who were there when programs began. We published an 8-chapter history booklet offering a deeper narrative of pivotal milestones and paired that with an interactive website that allows visitors to explore years of our organization’s rich history and growth.

View our Full History

ENGAGING

our communities

Foster a Love of Reading Book Drive

MARCH 2023

During National Reading Month, we organized our inaugural Foster a Love of Reading Book Drive to benefit the youth and families in our Cayuga Centers foster care programs. Twenty-two community partners from Upstate New York, New York City, South Florida, and Pennsylvania joined us, helping collect over 3,000 books. During the drive, we also hosted a #WhyILovetoRead campaign, where 19 supporters shared their love of reading on our social media channels.

Book Drive

Manhattan Borough President and
Literacy Inc. Reading Event

MARCH 2023

Cayuga Centers partnered with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Literary Inc. (LINC) to host a reading event for children in our Transitional Foster Care program. The event included an interactive game of bilingual Bingo, lunch, and a reading of the Spanish version of the children’s book Dreamers. LINC also donated 100 books in multiple languages.

Reading Event

Foster Care Night at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

MAY 2023

Cayuga Centers teamed up with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to hold a community night for foster parents and families in Allegheny County, PA to celebrate National Foster Care Month. The event hosted foster families from various agencies who were invited to participate in engaging activities and explore the entire museum. The event had 134 attendees from foster care agencies, including Cayuga Centers.

Children's Museum Event

Foster Care and Mental Health Month Fundraisers

MAY 2023

Our Foster Care and Mental Health Awareness month fundraisers were a success. Our generous 29 community partners throughout the Eastern Seaboard engaged through 10 dine-to-donate events, 10 in-kind donations, 7 staff and foster parent discounts, and helped us raise over $3,500 toward our foster care programs. Thank you to our generous donors!

EVOLVING OUR

Funding Impact

Cayuga Centers Mini-Grants Program

These grants fund projects and enhancements suggested by staff that directly benefit those we serve. These ideas are submitted twice a year and reviewed by a cross-departmental committee. We are able to fund these initiatives thanks to the incredible generosity of our staff during our fall campaign. Starting this year, you can contribute to our Mini-Grant fund and help staff enhance the lives of those we serve. Every dollar raised helps improve the lives of those in our care.

“It is important for me to host the TFFC Teen Summit in order to empower our youth to explore innovative ideas, tackle challenges socially, emotionally and developmentally. ”
Tiquishia Covington

Assistant Manager of Youth Skills and Development

Contribute Today

Enhancements Funded Include

Rewards for attending therapy sessions
Cayuga Cares kits for foster youth
Howard University tour for youth
Transportation for birth parents
Gift cards for families and youth

Gift cards for families and youth
Menstrual hygiene products
Backpacks for unaccompanied children
Extracurricular activity fee assistance

Drum circles for I/DD participants
Zoo and park passes
Therapeutic skills outings
Calming kits for youth in foster care

Changes to our Board of Trustees

In October 2022, Faye Hylton was elected as our new Board Chair and five new board members were added. The new members increase Cayuga Centers’ board from 15 to 21 members, a reflection of our recent expansion to new states.

Hylton has served on the board since 2018. A Florida resident, Hylton is the owner of Seastar Technologies, a disaster recovery and business continuity services provider, and has worked in the information technology services industry for more than 25 years. Hylton succeeds former Cayuga Centers Board Chair David Warren Connelly, who has
served on the board since 1997 and as Board Chair since 2016.

View Press Release

“I believe strongly in Cayuga Centers’ mission of helping children and families in need through innovative, impactful practices and I couldn’t be more proud to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees, I look forward to working with Edward and the entire Cayuga Centers team to support the agency during this exciting period of growth.”

Faye Hylton

Chair, Cayuga Centers Board of Trustees

Our Annual Impact

 

Our national footprint now spans 23 offices across 8 states and we are comprised of over 1,100 passionate changemakers who work tirelessly to show up, support, and advocate for those we serve. Our programs are not static; they are dynamic and ever-evolving to meet the changing needs of communities. We believe in the power of progress, and our expanding array of services reflect our determination to make a lasting impact. But our success would be impossible without our incredible staff and foster parents. We are eternally grateful for their unwavering dedication, compassion and resilience. They are the heart and soul of our organization, and it is through their tireless efforts that we are able to touch the lives of so many.

Download Full Report

Our 2022 – 2023 Annual Report Together Towards Tomorrow is a winner in the 2023 American Graphic Design Awards