Astor Through the Years: 1990's

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1990

• 20th Anniversary of the Beacon Child Guidance Clinic.
• In January 1990, The Astor Early Childhood Program moved one Head Start classroom, formerly located in the Charles Street Housing Complex, Poughkeepsie, to Red Hook (St. Christopher’s School). The classroom serves 18 children in Head Start and expands needed services to the northern part of the County.
• At the January 23, 1990 meeting, The Astor Home for Children Board of Directors approved a resolution to file a Certificate of Incorporation with New York State to form The Children’s Fund of the Astor Home, Inc., a non-profit Foundation established under the laws of New York State. The corporation was approved April 6, 1990.
• On May 1, 1990, Astor was selected by the Orange County Department of Social Services to establish a Prevention Program to serve up to 60 families in the western part of Orange County. The Prevention Program will serve children, at-risk of placement, and their families, with assistance in parenting skills, conflict management and other issues. The Program will closely follow the Intensive Parenting Program in the Bronx.
• On May 23, 1990, the Board of Directors of The Astor Home for Children held a reception to honor two professional staff members, John B. Mordock, Ph.D., Assistant Executive Director, and David A. Crenshaw, Ph.D., Clinical Director, for their accomplishments in the field of mental health. John was elected a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. David was honored as author of a new book, Counseling the Grieving Throughout the Life Cycle, and for his appointment to the Editorial Board of the mental health journal, Comprehensive Mental Health Care.
• At the June meeting, The Astor Home for Children Board of Directors approved the purchase of the Little Red Schoolhouse on Dyre Avenue in the Bronx. Astor and the New York City Board of Education are expanding their partnership to embark on developing a Therapeutic Nursery Program for emotionally disturbed preschool children under the auspices of The Astor Day Treatment Program.
• In the fall of 1990, plans were finalized to move the Administrative Staffs of the following Astor Programs to 13 Mt. Carmel Place, Poughkeepsie, NY – Foster Boarding Home Program; Mental Health Programs/Dutchess County including School-Based Services and the Crisis Intervention Team; the Early Childhood Programs; and the Orange County Programs. This consolidation into one location in the refurbished Mt. Carmel Church, planned for early 1991, will be more cost effective and provide for better interaction among Astor’s Programs.
• In September 1990, in collaboration with Dutchess County BOCES, Astor established an integrated Special Education classroom at the Red Hook Head Start Center. Special needs preschoolers (8 or 18 children in the classroom) are mainstreamed into a regular Head Start setting.
• On November 1, 1990, The Astor Home for Children received an expansion grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for provision of health and dental care, advocacy and speech therapy to eligible Day Care children.
• Alice A. Linder, M.D., joined the staff of The Astor Home for Children as Medical Director in November 1990.
• On December 12, 1990, the agency was approved by the NYS Education Department for training in identification of child abuse and maltreatment as required by NYS Law.

1991

• 25th Anniversary of the Rhinebeck Child Guidance Clinic.
• In February 1991, the Administrative Staffs of the Foster Boarding Home Program, Quality Assurance, Mental Health Programs/Dutchess County including School-Based Services and the Crisis Intervention Team, Head Start and Day Care and the Orange County Prevention Program moved into the refurbished Mt. Carmel Church, Poughkeepsie. The converted building was dedicated the Father Nicola Pavone Building on July 14, 1991. Father Richard LaMorte, Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, hosted the occasion.
• A surveyor for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) reviewed all applicable programs and the agency from April 8-11, 1991. Three-year accreditation, effective April 16, 1991, was received by The Astor Home for Children on May 28.
• The Children’s Fund of The Astor Home, Inc., purchased the HVOIC building, 50 Delafield Street, Poughkeepsie, on June 13, 1991. The former school building is being updated and renovated and will house the Poughkeepsie Head Start Program and the new center-based Parent and Child Center. The portion of the building not occupied by Astor’s programs will be leased to other community agencies compatible with early childhood services.
• In September 1991, Astor Head Start and Day Care Programs in Beacon vacated the Sargent Avenue site, and will be moving to a new location at 95 Catherine Street in January 1992. While the Catherine Street site is being renovated this fall, children and parents participating in Head Start are being transported to Astor’s Poughkeepsie Head Start classes at The Astor Center, 50 Delafield Street. One day care classroom is operating in the Sargent Elementary School on Wolcott Avenue, Beacon.
• The first annual report of The Children’s Fund of the Astor Home, Inc., a nonprofit corporation established to be the fund-raising, investment and public relations arm of The Astor Home for Children, was published in September 1991. The report was disseminated to interested parties and donors in November 1991.
• On September 24, 1991, a benefit cocktail reception was held at the Russian Tearoom in New York City to honor Lawrence F. Hickey, a member of Astor’s Board of Directors and a tireless worker for children and families in the New York City area. The event announced the opening of the Lawrence F. Hickey Child Development Center, Little Red Schoolhouse, in the Northeast Bronx. The Center is a therapeutic nursery for 3-5 year old children with developmental disabilities including those born HIV infected and drug exposed. The event was chaired by his daughter, Magee Hickey, and Master of Ceremonies was Chuck Scarborough, both members of the Channel 4 News Team.
• On September 30, 1991, the Astor Head Start Program was awarded a continuing grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Parent and Child Center (PCC) program in Dutchess County. The grant provided $300,000 in operating funds, and $85,000 in one-time funds for start-up costs including equipment and supplies. The PCC program will provide early intervention services to children 0-3 years and their families, and pregnant women. A center-based program in Poughkeepsie will serve 24 children, together with home-based programs in Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Millerton, Dover Plains and Red Hook. Each home-based program will serve 12 families. Six individuals with experience in prenatal services have been hired and trained as Home Visitors. The home-based component of the PCC program began on November 18.
• On November 25, 1991, The Lawrence F. Hickey Center for Child Development opened with 17 children in four classrooms.

1992

• On February 3, 1992, the Board of Directors appointed Sister Rose Logan as Executive Director.
• The Astor Home for Children was the recipient of the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children 1992 Recognition Award for outstanding contributions to the provision of children’s mental health services presented on February 25, 1992 in New Orleans, LA.
• The new Center for the Beacon Head Start/Day Care Programs opened in April, 1992.
• The sixth classroom, second of preschoolers, was established in April, 1992 at the Poughkeepsie Day Treatment Program.
• June 9, 1992 – Dedication and Open House ceremonies for the Beacon Head Start/Day Care Programs.
• July 1, 1992 – The Lawrence F. Hickey Center for Child Development, Bronx, received certification from the New York State Office of Mental Health.
• Fall, 1992 – Initiation of Astor Adoption Services and refocusing of Foster Boarding Home Program.
• BOCES-collaborative Special Education Classrooms for Head Start Children expanded to four classrooms located at: Red Hook (2) – Beacon (1) – Poughkeepsie (1).
• The US Department of Health and Human Services approved expansion of Head Start slots to 316 and Parent and Child slots to 85.
• October 27, 1992 – Annual Board Meeting – Election of J. Joseph McGowan as President.
• October 27, 1992 – Dedication and Open House ceremonies were held at The Lawrence F. Hickey Center for Child Development, Bronx, followed by an agency 40th Anniversary Kick-Off Fund Raising Reception at the Tavern on the Green in Manhattan at which Cardinal O’Connor was honored.
• The second annual report of The Children’s Fund of the Astor Home, Inc. was published and distributed.

1993

• January 5, 1993 was the 40th Anniversary of the admission of children to The Astor Home Residence.
• 20th Anniversary of the Bronx and Dutchess Day Treatment Programs.
• 15th Anniversary of the Head Start Program.
• The Home-Based Crisis Intervention Program will receive $125,000 in funding to implement a foster care diversion program utilizing the model they currently employ.
• On July 1, 1993, Poughkeepsie Day Treatment preschool children will be transferred from the Todd Hill site to the Delafield site. However, due to necessary renovations at Delafield site, these children will be temporarily housed at BOCES (Salt Point).
• Astor’s 40th Anniversary Weekend celebrated the following events: Friday, July 16, 1993, 5:30-7:30 p.m. “The World Through our Children’s Eyes” – An exhibition of children’s art, reception and commemorative program. State Senator, Stephen M. Saland and State Assemblywoman, Eileen M. Hickey presented a Joint State Resolution to the agency; Dutchess County Executive, Mr. William R. Steinhaus, and County Legislator, John M. Kennedy presented a County Commendation Resolution; Board President, J. Joseph McGowan, Esq. announced the designation of the former chapel as “Founders Hall.”
• Saturday, July 17, 1993, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. A Community Open House with tours of the living areas, school and art show followed by refreshments.
• Sunday, July 18, 1993, 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Barbecue for Astor staff/families, former staff/families and former residents/families. Open House Tours, Children’s Art Show, Entertainment, Children’s Activities.
• Through a request of the Archdiocese of New York, Astor is providing mental health services to the Highbridge community of the Bronx via foundation funding.
• A collaborative venture between Poughkeepsie Day Treatment and Dutchess County BOCES with Astor providing clinical services and BOCES providing the educational component of a class at the BOCES (Salt Point) site was approved.
• An Open House was held at the Wingdale Head Start Center on October 28, 1993 from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
• The Head Start Program located at the Bell School, Dover Plains was moved to the Wingdale School of the Dover Union Free School District in September in order to expand much needed services to families in the Harlem Valley including the Special Education Nursery children.
• Due to a lack of sufficient referrals, the Marian Group Home in Goshen was formally closed on October 30.
• A Therapeutic Foster Care Program with Orange County Department of Social Services will be initiated in November, 1993.
• An Adult Literacy Program began in the Poughkeepsie Head Start Center in September and in the Bell School, Dover Plains in December.

1994

• 20th Anniversary of the Bronx Child Guidance Clinic.
• 25th Anniversary of the Poughkeepsie Child Guidance Clinic.
• The Astor Home Dutchess Clinics contracted with the Dutchess County Department of Mental Hygiene to operate the Intensive Case Management for Children beginning January 1, 1994.
• A surveyor for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) reviewed all applicable programs and the agency from April 18-21, 1994. Three-year accreditation, effective April 16, 1991, was received by The Astor Home for Children on June 2.
• The Astor Home co-sponsored an all-day workshop with the Association of Mental Health Administrators on managed care and mental health at the Catholic Center, Poughkeepsie, on May 6th.
• On May 26, 1994, The Astor Learning Center was notified by the United States Department of Education that the school received the 1993-1994 National Blue Ribbon School Award. Official presentation was made in Washington, D.C. on October 6-7, 1994.
• In June 1994, the Dutchess Mental Health Programs are deploying staff to serve eastern Dutchess County for three-days-a-week. Astor staff work out of Dutchess County Department of Mental Hygiene buildings in Millbrook and Dover Plains.
• In July 1994, the Dutchess County Department of Mental Hygiene ceased providing clinical services directly and transferred its Adolescent Day Programs to The Astor Home for Children.
• On July 1, 1994, Astor assumed the responsibility for the Adolescent Day Treatment/School-Based Clinic located at Dutchess County BOCES.
• The Head Start Program became an AmeriCorps grantee with a member in each of our five Centers.
• On December 6, 1994, the Dutchess County Family-Based Treatment Program received it’s New York State Office of Mental Health Operating Certificate.

1995

• 25th Anniversary of the Beacon Child Guidance Clinic.
• Family Literacy services became available to all Head Start Centers.
• The Adoption Program closed in June 1995.
• On July 1, 1995, all New York City Foster Boarding Home Program cases were transferred to Pius XII.
• In the fall, the Parent Child Centers of the Head Start Program became Early Head Start programs at each site.
• The Head Start Program will participate in a three-year research study conducted by Healthy Start.

1996

• 30th Anniversary of the Rhinebeck Child Guidance Clinic.
• 40th Anniversary of the Psychology Training Program.
• On April 1, 1996, the Astor Child Guidance Center in the Bronx received a $75,000 grant from the New York City Department of Mental Health to expand and strengthen its Family Support Program for parents of children considered seriously emotionally disturbed.
• On June 1, 1996, Astor assumed responsibility to staff the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative in Dutchess County.
• In September 1996, the Dutchess Day Treatment kindergarten aged children were moved from the Todd Hill to Delafield site.
• In the fall of 1996, Dutchess Clinics deployed staff to provide onsite mental health services to the Beacon, Red Hook, Poughkeepsie, Millerton and Wingdale Head Start Centers.
• Head Start discontinued the AmeriCorp contract.

1997

• On January 1, 1997, a decision was made to discontinue the Orange County Prevention Program.
• An Infant Toddler Day Care Program, in collaboration with Early Head Start and Poughkeepsie Day Nursery opened in Poughkeepsie.
• Two surveyors for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) reviewed all applicable programs and the agency from March 17-20, 1997.

1998

• 45th Anniversary of The Astor Home for Children.
• 25th Anniversary of the Bronx and Dutchess Day Treatment Programs.
• 20th Anniversary of the Head Start Program.
• 15th Anniversary of the Residential Treatment Facility.
• Ground breaking ceremony for new wing to The Astor Learning Center held on September 1, 1998.
• A new program of non-traditional services opened in Public School C.E.S. 104 in the Highbridge section of the Bronx on September 1, 1998.
• Construction on The Astor Learning Center new wing begun on September 9, 1998.
• Dedication of 50 Delafield Street Building as: John E. Mack III Building held on September 17, 1998.
• Closing on mortgage for The Astor Learning Center construction held on October 27, 1998.
• School-Age Day Treatment moved from Todd Hill to Family Partnership Building, Poughkeepsie.

1999

• 25th Anniversary of the Bronx Child Guidance Clinic.
• 30th Anniversary of the Poughkeepsie Child Guidance Clinic.
• In January, 1999, The Astor Home for Children entered into a contractual arrangement with Pius XII Youth and Family Services whereby Astor agreed to provide Clinical Assessment and Treatment Planning Services for youth admitted to the Rhinecliff Campus of Pius XII.
• As of January, 1999, Astor began providing short term respite services (24 hours to 72 hours) as a service to families in Dutchess County who are taking care of children with serious emotional problems at home.
• Satellite Clinic Licenses were obtained from the Office of Mental Health to locate clinic services in local school districts that had entered into contracts with Astor for school-based services and our own Head Start Centers.
• The Branson Wing (of the Astor Learning Center) was dedicated on September 23, 1999 in honor of Sister Serena Branson, D.C., the first Executive Director of The Astor Home for Children.
• Classes began in the new Astor Learning Center Wing on June 7, 1999.
• Astor at Highbridge was initiated with two staff (a psychologist and a family advocate) on location at C.E.S.104.
• MICA services for dually diagnosed youth (Mental Health and Chemical Addiction) were established at
  Astor Counseling Centers in Dutchess County and at the Probation Department locations.
• Full-day day care was discontinued. Day care is provided as a wrap around to the Head Start day.