On Tuesday, June 18, the New Cassel/Westbury Youth Services - in partnership with the Yours Ours Mine (YOM) Community Center, Inc. - launched a program entitled "Access to Success Begins with Youth Development." A pizza party to kick off the event was held in the main room of the Westbury Community Center, located 360 Post Avenue in Westbury.

Members of the Westbury/New Cassel community were in attendance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligible families, friends, guests, civic leaders, members of the clergy, school board officials, and Nassau County Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin.

Access to Success is a TANF Services Project from the Department of Social Services. The goal of the program is to promote youth and family development, encourage positive social interaction and self-sufficient skills among TANF eligible and/or "working families." By the creation of a youth directed service network, the program hopes to offer services to TANF eligible "working families" and their 5- to 15-year-old children.

Although a new initiative, the concept of "Access to Success" has been around for years. The term primarily refers to successful families with the necessary resources for the successful development of children and adolescents. Often working families get lost searching for answers in the maze that restricts an economically deprived family. More than ever, working families are faced with an increased host of challenges such as long working hours and dual income families.

Some children and adolescents have little or no parent/guardian supervision. Consequently, this population is at risk since they have more freedom to engage in risky behaviors to include substance abuse. Research has shown that after-school hours are crucial to a child's success.

Program participants in the Access to Success Begins with Youth Development program are pre-selected families from the Department of Social Services and eligible children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 15 in the communities of Westbury, New Cassel, Hicksville and Levittown.

During the meeting, Carol Clarke, management supervisor of the Summer Youth Employment training Program, explained the process that is followed when a youth signs up to learn job training and leadership skills. In addition, Corbin expressed his devotion to embracing the youth of Westbury/New Cassel, David Chan, counselor for the Access to Success program, spoke about the services provided and Erica Heyward, executive director of the YOM Community Center, discussed the center's dedication to a working partnership with the New Cassel/Westbury Youth Services.

Rudy Vanterpool, administrative director of the New Cassel/ Westbury Youth Services, spoke about the services offered to TANF eligible families through the Access to Success program. Vanterpool told the supportive audience about the educational, vocational and leisure time activities offered through the program.

The educational component provided for the eligible families is one-on-one tutorial assistance by volunteer tutors in a variety of different subjects. For those interested in receiving tutoring over the summer, accommodations are available in the form of a six-week summer camp (program fee covers miscellaneous costs).

Vocational skills are an essential part of a youth's transition to adulthood. Youth gain firsthand experience of learning ways to manage their money and gain responsibility. Résumé writing, job search techniques, etiquette and placement, as well as interviewing skills - the necessary tools for preparation in a competitive job world, are also available. An example of this is the Counselor in Training (CIT) Program, offered to 13-year-olds prior to receiving their working papers where youth obtain necessary skills to get a job.

Beyond the books, papers, exams and teachers, youths are entitled to have fun through leisure time activities. Each of the three communities has established its own leisure time program where children and adolescents can gather with their peers and friends to play basketball, table tennis, billiards, foosball, chess, video games and computer use.

For more information, contact Yours Ours Mine Community Center, Inc. at 796-6633, ext. 258.