This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Rockland Teens Graduate from "One-of-a-Kind" Program

Proud family members and guests filled the Rockland Jewish Community Campus Social Hall on August 14, cheering for graduates of “Total Teen Experience,” a summer program for teens with Asperger’s and related social deficits.

A six-week summer program run by Rockland Jewish Family Service (rjfs.org), Total Teen Experience teaches social skills and provides job training to adolescents with social deficits such as Asperger’s disorder. The teens in the program also learned self-expression through the creative arts and spent time enjoying the JCC’s new in-ground swimming pool.

According to Maria Dowling, CEO of Rockland Jewish Family Service, "There is no other program in Rockland County like Total Teen Experience, which teaches social skills and provides job training to a unique population of high-school-aged kids. The program is in its fourth year and 75% of participants from last year signed on again this summer. We are pleased with the success of the program and proud to be able to help these young people feel confident and succeed, in college and beyond."

Find out what's happening in New Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the Total Teen Experience graduation, participants showed off “self-expression” video projects which they filmed and edited throughout the summer. The 20 program graduates received awards and graduation diplomas as well.

The following local companies and organizations provided workplace training to the teens in the program: Best Friends Pet Care, Big Lots, Camp Bow Wow, Goodwill of NY/NJ, Israel Bonds, JCC Rockland, Jewish Federation of Rockland County, Meals on Wheels of Rockland, People to People and Pine Valley Rehab.

Find out what's happening in New Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About Rockland Jewish Family Service

Rockland Jewish Family Service is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, community benefit agency. Our mission, based on core Jewish values, is to strengthen the physical and emotional well-being of adults, children and families. Our community-based services enable individuals to overcome a wide range of personal challenges and develop coping strategies that will lead to richer, more meaningful lives. Learn more about us online at http://www.rjfs.org and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RJFS.org

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?