Astor Services for Children & Families is hosting a series of Weekly Workshops for youths. These workshops are offered free of charge.

• Our goal is to provide one workshop per week with either an Independent Living Skill or a Career Orientation as the topic. Some of the workshops will be specific, and some will be more broadly designed to discover young adults' strengths and use these strengths to guide the young adult toward appropriate careers.
• Eligible participants will be Orange County System of Care participants (or SOC eligible) youth, aged 16-21. Youth aged 14 and 15 are welcome to attend if the topic interests them.
• The sessions listed below will all take place at Astor Services for Youth & Families, 390 Crystal Run Road, Middletown, NY  10941, Suite 107, unless indicated otherwise. Funding is available for transportation, if necessary.
• A youth may register for one, several or all of the workshops.

For more information, or to register, please contact Anne Marie Beekman:
(845)343-7487 ext 11
eiraM ennA tca not tnoC

Click for a map of this location or to learn more about System of Care.

Workshop Schedule:

There are no workshops currently scheduled. 

Please check back again soon!

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Planned Workshops:

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Film Production Workshop II

Planned for Spring/Summer 2011.  Dates TBA

In this project, we will be working with our photography expert, Vijay Singh, to work a script, shoot, produce, finish, and submit a short (30 minute) film to festivals for possible consideration for awards.

I am asking anyone who is interested in working on this project to PLEASE call or email me soon to sign up, as we have a limit of 10 youth participants.  Anyone interested in Directing, Camera, Lighting, Sound, Acting, etc. is invited to participate.  You do not have to have prior experience, just a sincere desire to learn and produce a quality end product.

Our second workshop on 9/25 will be a continuation of our first meeting.  We will assign roles and plan for shooting on Saturday and Sunday 10/16 & 17.

 

Fitness for Fun

To be rescheduled as youth interest requests

A fun overview of the importance of fitness for life.  This workshop will contain a short introduction and then a fun workout!

Please arrive dressed in comfortable work out clothing. 

Parents are welcome to stay and use the facility while the youth are in the workshop. 

This class will take place at Gold's Gym, 15 Industrial Drive, Middletown, NY  10941. 

Please register, as space is limited.

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Some of the Workshops we have Offered in the Past:

 

American Red Cross CPR Certification Course

In the American Red Cross CPR Certification Course, participants will learn to recognize when CPR administration is necessary and will learn the skills necessary to perform CPR on adults, children and infants.  Certification card will be earned by all successful participants.

Anger Management Skills Workshop

Ever been frustrated?
Ever been so angry that you felt
as though you were losing control?
Has anyone ever pointed out that you may have anger issues?

If so, this workshop is for you!

During this time, we will discuss ways to better handle our anger, create safety plans keep us and others safe, and plan successfully for future episodes.
If you want a better understanding on what anger is and how to control it, please attend.

Automotive Detailing

Learn about the lucrative field of automotive detailing.  Some topics covered will include hand washing, buffing/waxing, interior shampoo, rim restoration, engine degreasing, window tinting.  Learn the skills, and what it takes to run a business like this!  This workshop will take place at Diamond Detailing at 63 Montgomery St., Middletown, NY.

Circle of Courag

The Circle of Courage is a model of youth empowerment supported by contemporary research, the heritage of early youth work pioneers and Native philosophies of child care. The model is encompassed in four core values: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. The central theme of this model is that a set of shared values must exist in any community to create environments that ultimately benefit all. This is a fun workshop to learn about yourself and others!  Parents are encouraged (but not required) to participate in this workshop.

Communication Skills

Topics and activities in youth communication including: Meet and Greet essentials; nonverbal communication; rules of the road; please thank you and you're welcome; apologies…I'm sorry and making mistakes; tact and discretion; rudeness; the Big Word NO; Lack of affect; sharing; establishing boundaries, propriety and sharing; gift giving and receiving; attending a party; teen parties; table manners; proper attire; grooming and hygiene; teasing and bullying; conversation skills; cyber-civility and social networking; dating etiquette; interviewing for college; job interviews; the importance of other people.

Cosmetology and Beauty Careers

This is a workshop centering around careers in the field of beauty.  Discussion of different careers available and schooling necessary.

Hands-on portion will include activities such as hand massage, manicures, other activities depending on group interest.

Culinary Careers Workshop

This is a workshop for anyone interested in a career in the culinary arts.  The workshop will begin with discussion of careers, schooling, costs, what the job is really like, etc. 

We will then move into a hands-on portion, where participants will prep, cook, eat what you made, and clean up the restaurant.

This workshop will take place at Fresh Start Cafe, 65 Dorothea Dix Drive, Middletown, NY  (845)956-2233.  (on the grounds that used to be Middletown Psychiatric Center)

Please be sure to call or email to sign up if you are interested, as this is popular, and space is limited!

The Dark Side of Dating

Dating is a major part of teen and young adult social life.  What should be a positive and enriching experience often has a darker side.  Some subjects covered will be:

• Gossip - Why is it a problem?
• Refusal Skills
• Respect in Relationships
• Risks of Sexual Intimacy
• Drugs and Alcohol
• Date-Rape and Date-Rape Drugs
• How to make dating a positive and safe experience!

This class will include video clips and lively discussion.  Please come with comments, opinions, ideas and questions and be prepared to share and gain lots of insights!

Film Production Workshop

In this project, we will be working with our photography expert, Vijay Singh, to work a script, shoot, produce, finish, and submit a short (30 minute) film to festivals for possible consideration for awards.

I am asking anyone who is interested in working on this project to PLEASE call or email me soon to sign up, as we have a limit of 10 youth participants.  Anyone interested in Directing, Camera, Lighting, Sound, Acting, etc. is invited to participate.  You do not have to have prior experience, just a sincere desire to learn and produce a quality end product.

Our first workshop on 9/11 will be a planning meeting to discuss and edit a script, as well as figure a task schedule and a timeline for shooting.

Financial Management for Young Adults

This will be a financial management skills workshop focused on topics of interest to young adults.

Some topics covered will be:

• Check it Out:  How to choose and keep a checking account
• Setting Financial Goals:  How to keep track of your money
• Pay Yourself First:  Why you should save, save, save
• Borrowing Basics:  An introduction to credit
• Charge it Right:  How to make a credit card work for you

Jewelry Making Workshop

Join us for an informative and fun hands-on workshop! 

Learn to make jewelry out of hemp and beads for yourself or for Holiday gifts!  Appropriate for ages 14 and up.

Legal Issues for Young Adults | Careers in Criminal Justice

A practical workshop dealing with legal issues pertaining to topics of interest for young adults.  Some topics covered will be: the need for rules and purpose of law; difference between criminal and civil law; conflict solving; what a lawyer does and does not do; difference between felony and misdemeanor; when to report a crime; drunk driving; date rape; arrest procedure; juvenile rights; school records; family law (parents/kids); getting married; teen parentage/child support; divorce; getting a job; losing a job; places to live/what to consider; landlord/tenant rights; consumer law; credit; buying a car; serving on a jury; voting.

My Culture - Your Custom

Come and learn how much alike we are – explore fun ways we can look at our differences and alikeness - fun and interactive workshop!

Nursing Careers and Health

Discussion of nursing as a career including:

• Types of licensure - RN vs. LPN
• Educational requirements
• Different career paths available...specializations...different work settings

This workshop will also include a hands-on portion, where participants will learn about and practice:

• Taking blood pressure
• Taking pulse
• Respirations
• Palpating for Edema
• Other simple tests and observations

Photography

Back by popular demand!  Led by professional photographer/artist/filmmaker.  Learn the basics of a taking a better picture - including lighting, composition, perspective, etc. Discussion of careers in the photography field.

Real Game

The Real Game Series of career and life skills learning programs enables participants, through an experiential approach that includes role playing and simulations, to discover realities of the contemporary adult world. These programs help participants:

• Imagine the future they want to live
• Learn career management competencies and essential workplace skills
• Realize the impact of choices made now on future quality of life
• To become more intentional and purposeful in pursuing their dreams

Self-Discovery

Developing Self-Esteem for Young Adults

This workshop contains a series of activities designed to help recognize and evaluate how teens view their self-image.  This workshop is designed to make young adults more aware of how self-esteem and self-image are key to healthy development with activities and exercises developed to make young adults self-aware.

Smart Options Plus

Because it's not IF you are smart, it's HOW you are smart!

Everyone is smart in many ways.  There are:

Body Smarts, Image Smarts, Logic Smarts, Music Smarts, Nature Smarts, People Smarts, Self Smarts, and Word Smarts.

The way you are smart may be different from the way someone else is smart, but all smarts are important and valuable to leading a satisfying life and making a good living.

SMART OPTIONS PLUS will take you on a Smart Path that will help you:

• Discover your many different SMARTS;
• understand that you can build your SMARTS;
• learn wys to make your SMARTS work for you.