What they reported doing
- #1 primary $427KMental Health and Wellness Programs: The organizations mental health and counseling services provide safe, supportive spaces and diverse opportunities to improve well-being and help youth and families cope with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, addiction, alcohol and substance abuse, ADHD/ASD, social issues, behavioral issues, and bereavement. Counselors are licensed professionals providing safe, confidential counseling to children and adults, ages 5 and older. Counselors can also provide crisis intervention and referrals for additional services. NSYC clinicians help families recognize and resolve conflicts and improve their relationships and assist individuals gain clarity, develop effective communication, and strengthen problem-solving skills to produce positive outcomes. The program offers unique, ongoing group programs that target and nurture specific areas, including learning and reinforcing social skills, developing healthy coping skills, managing and reducing stress and anxiety, and identifying and understanding emotions.
- #2 $246KHeritage Park & Cultural Center Programs: Heritage Park is an 18.2-acre park located in Mt. Sinai in the Town of Brookhaven, NY. Adjacent to the park is the Heritage Cultural Center. The organization serves as steward to the park and administrator to the Cultural Center. The center offers year-round community events and on-site programming. As park stewards, initiatives include park enhancements, plantings, and keeping the park a safe, clean environment for community members.
What they call their work
What they do
-
After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- After-school and summer youth enrichment programsOperates after-school and summer recreation programs for children and teens, including drop-in programs at Mount Sinai Middle School and the NSYC Rec Room, and New York State-certified summer programs for youth entering kindergarten through seventh grade and for preteens/teens. Programs include STEM learning, arts, sports, homework support, and special events such as animal interactions and visits from community organizations.
-
-
Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Community park and cultural center stewardshipManages an 18.2-acre park in Mt. Sinai, NY, including maintenance, plantings, and park enhancements, and hosts year-round community events and programming at the adjacent Heritage Cultural Center.
-
-
Outpatient Mental Health Clinic Services 1 activity
- Mental health counseling and wellness servicesProvides licensed mental health counseling, individual and group therapy, and wellness programs for youth and families dealing with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, ADHD/ASD, behavioral issues, and bereavement. Services are available to individuals aged 5 and older and are delivered through the Wellness Center and on-site in school districts.
-
-
Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Seasonal and holiday support programsOrganizes seasonal initiatives including Thanksgiving meal basket distribution to 100 families and holiday giving programs that provide toys, clothing, shoes, gift cards, and other necessities to dozens of local children and teens annually.
-
-
Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Teen recreational and social eventsHosts supervised, drug- and alcohol-free Teen Rec Nights on Friday evenings and organizes ongoing youth events such as open mic nights, game tournaments, seasonal parties, community cleanups, and restaurant outings for middle and high school students.
-
-
Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Volunteer engagement and in-kind donation managementEngages volunteers to support youth programs and special events, and accepts and distributes in-kind donations of supplies, gift cards, clothing, and essential items to support youth and families.
-
-
Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
- Youth employment and internship programsOffers paid and unpaid internships, job-linkage services, and employment opportunities for youth as counselors and in roles such as tutoring, child care, and office support, providing real-world work experience and career development.
-
-
Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
- Youth mentoring programsRuns peer mentoring initiatives including the Big Buddy-Little Buddy program pairing high school students with younger peers, and a school-based mentoring service for at-risk youth. These programs provide structured weekly interactions to support social and emotional development.
-
-
Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Youth-led leadership and engagement programRuns the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), a youth-led initiative that plans events, organizes community service projects, and promotes peer engagement in schools and the broader community.
-
Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Woods | Executive Director | 40 | $195K |
- Betty Jean Wrase — Trustee
- Boneh Avidor — Trustee
- Jamie Johnson — Vice President
- Jean Guli — Trustee
- Jennifer J Maertz — Treasurer
- John Lebrun — Trustee
- Larry Kogel — President
- Matthew Clarke — Trustee
Who they work with
- Comsewogue Public Library Partner — Collaborates on story readings during the Summer Buddies program.
- County of Suffolk Government — Government funding partner
- Crossover Christian Church Partner — Partner organization collaborating with North Shore Youth Council to distribute Thanksgiving meal baskets.
- Heritage Cultural Center Partner — NSYC administers the Cultural Center and delivers on-site programming and community events.
- Joseph A. Edgar School Partner — Hosts the North Shore Youth Council office on its grounds in Rocky Point, NY.
- Joseph A. Edgar School Partner — Provides grounds for North Shore Youth Council's main office and Rec Room program location.
- Long Island Aquarium Partner — Provides animal interaction experiences during week 5 of the Summer Buddies program.
- Long Island Mentoring Partnership Partner — Provides training guidelines for the Big Buddy-Little Buddy mentoring program.
- Mount Sinai Middle School Partner — Hosts North Shore Youth Council's after-school drop-in program on its campus.
- Nature Nick's Animal Adventures Partner — Provides animal interaction experiences during week 4 of the Summer Buddies program.
- North Shore Consortium Funder — Private funding partner
- North Shore Public Libraries Partner — Partners for story readings during the Summer Buddies program.
- Quogue Wildlife Refuge Partner — Provides animal interaction experiences during week 3 of the Summer Buddies program.
- Rocky Point School District Partner — Collaborates with NSYC clinicians to provide on-site mental health support for students.
- Rocky Point School District Partner — Collaborates with North Shore Youth Council to provide student assistance counseling and youth prevention programs.
- Shoreham-Wading River School District Partner — Collaborates with NSYC clinicians to provide on-site mental health support for students.
- Shoreham-Wading River School District Partner — Partners with North Shore Youth Council to deliver student assistance counseling services.
- State of New York Government — Government funding partner
- Town of Brookhaven Government — Government funding partner
- local elected officials Government — Collaborates with and has earned the trust of local elected officials in the communities served.
- school districts Partner — Partners with school districts in the North Shore communities.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Client-Centered Holiday Givingmethodology: client_choice_pantryBy using family-submitted wish lists and distributing complete holiday meal baskets through community partnerships, the organization ensures dignified access to seasonal resources because honoring expressed preferences increases relevance, reduces stigma, and strengthens trust in support systems.
- Life-Cycle Engagement Modelmethodology: life-cycle_modelBy providing age-appropriate programming and evolving opportunities for leadership, mentorship, and career development, the organization sustains youth involvement from childhood through adulthood because continuous, developmentally-tailored support prevents disengagement and fosters long-term growth.
- Positive Youth Development Through Engagementmethodology: risk-prevention-through-positive-engagementBy engaging youth in recreational, creative, and community-based activities, the organization prevents risky behaviors and promotes well-being because meaningful participation fosters empowerment, builds responsibility, and strengthens community connections.
- Stigma-Free Mental Health Supportmethodology: stigma-free mental health careBy creating a supportive, judgment-free environment and using open conversations to build personalized coping skills, the organization promotes emotional wellness because reducing stigma and fostering self-efficacy empowers youth to explore emotions safely and develop long-term resilience.