Youth Graduate From Transition to Work Program and Learn the Value of Experience

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) an agency that supports individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury throughout Long Island, Queens and New York City and Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, one of the largest and most respected agencies providing critical programs and services to children, families and adults with developmental disabilities in New York City and across Long Island will be celebrating the “graduation” of four young men from FREE’s Transition to Work program, a collaborative venture between the two agencies. The ceremony will be taking place on Monday, October 26, at 3p.m. at FREE’s Saddle Rock Ranch, 41 Coram Swezeytown, Rd, Middle Island, NY.

Where:
Saddle Rock Ranch
41 Coram Swezeytown Rd
Middle Island, NY 11953

When:
Monday October 26, 2015
3:00 p.m.

*Great Visuals as Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker will present the youth with certificates of recognition*

Work experience is a critical component of preparing youth for transition to adulthood. The collaboration between FREE and Little Flower has enabled 20 youth to gain valuable hands-on work experience in a safe and friendly environment. After completing the ten week transition to employment workshop, four Little Flower youth secured internships at FREE’s Saddle Rock Ranch in Middle Island, NY. The interns benefitted by gaining job readiness skills that employers look for in entry level workers such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem solving, and time management.

The youth came away with tangible occupational skills in construction, maintenance, property management, animal care, agricultural and the culinary arts. The Transition to Work Program was made possible by a grant from the Long Island Community Foundation.

Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker will be on-hand to congratulate the interns and present them with certificates of recognition.