History 2001-Present
"As Hillside Behavioral Health System begins a new century, our goal of providing better services for children and families continues to shape our decisions and focuses our attention on the future. Keeping that goal at the forefront, much of our efforts have centered on building relationships and identifying synergies. As an integrated family of agencies, we are striving to reach out to our communities by developing services specific to their needs. Within each of our agencies, we remain committed to providing customized care based on the individuality of every child and family." –Allan Illig, Chair, Hillside Behavioral Health System and Dennis M. Richardson, President and CEO, Hillside Behavioral Health System, 2000 HBHS Annual Report.2001
Hillside Behavioral Health System, consisting of Hillside Children’s Center, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, Hillside-Children’s Foundation, Crestwood Children’s Center and Crestwood Children’s Foundation, changes its name to Hillside Family of Agencies. Hillside Family of Agencies was selected to most accurately represent the diversity of services provided by each affiliate.
In March, the Lella building on Hillside Children’s Center’s Monroe Avenue Campus is leveled to prepare for construction of a new family center. On June 7, ground is broken for the new construction.
"Today’s Family,” an award winning television series developed to increase awareness and understanding about critical issues affecting New York State families is first aired in September in Rochester, New York on the CBS affiliate WROC New 8 Now. The program is co-produced by Hillside Family of Agencies and WROC New 8 Now. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of the Rochester Region is the sponsor.
Hillside Family of Agencies launches Homers for Hillside initiatives in Rochester, Auburn, and Batavia. Partnerships with the Auburn Double Days, Batavia Muck Dogs and Rochester Red Wings baseball teams are established to raise funds for Hillside children and families.
2002
Hillside Children's Center held a dedication ceremony at its 1183 Monroe Avenue location on Thursday, September 19, at 2:00 p.m. The event is the culmination of Hillside's vision to create a new residential and medical center on the campus. Hillside broke ground on the new building on May 31, 2001.
Snell Farm opens a new residential hall housing eight male youth, a newly created central food service department, and dining hall.
2003
Hillside Children's Center's Finger Lakes Campus to celebrate 10 years of operations.
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection was recognized on September 18 at an awards ceremony held by the United States Department of Labor and the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) in Washington, D.C. It was singled out as a PEPNet (Promising and Effective Practices Network) honoree among peer programs across the nation for demonstrating effectiveness in preparing youth for careers and independent learning.
2004
A comprehensive evaluation of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection (HW-SC) entitled “Charting a Course for the Future” is released in May by the Center for Governmental Research (CGR). It is based on a cohort evaluation, utilizing a controlled comparison group, that details a series of outcomes for 1,250 students who entered HW-SC since the beginning of the 1996-97 academic year through the middle of the 2002-2003 year. The evaluation, which was completed December 2003, states “HW-SC makes a dramatic impact on the graduation rates of the students it serves.”
- “The Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection: Charting a Course for the Future” – Report by the Center for Governmental Research
The Boards of Governors of Hillside Family of Agencies and New Life Homes-Snell Farm, Inc. (Snell Farm) signed an affiliation agreement on Monday, May 24. The signing comes after a six-month due diligence process conducted by Snell Farm and Hillside Family of Agencies Board of Governors and management to determine affiliation feasibility.
Karen Sylvester, formerly Hillside Children’s Center’s Western Region Services Leader, is appointed executive director of Snell Farm Children’s Center.
A new campus school is opened at Snell Farm Children’s Center with new staff, portable classrooms, equipment, and school supplies allowing for the continuation of the therapeutic milieu into the classroom.
Board votes held among Adoption Resources Network, Inc. (ARNI) membership and board members and those of Hillside Children’s Center and Hillside Family of Agencies resulted in a unanimous recommendation to initiate finalization of a merger of ARNI into Hillside Children’s Center.
Hillside Children’s Center acquires the former Seneca Woods Youth Residential Treatment Center in Varick, New York and begins operations there on December 10. In conducting operations of the campus, Hillside plans to make a $4.3 million investment in the project. The 122-bed facility, consisting of 11 buildings totaling 80,000 square feet, had formerly been operated by KidsPeace.
2005
On February 3, just eight months after Hillside Family of Agencies’ Board of Governors and Snell Farm Children’s Center’s Board of Governors initiated the affiliation of the two service providers; that affiliation was officially finalized.
United States Senator Charles Schumer recognizes, through an official congratulatory letter, Hillside Family of Agencies, CBS 5, and Fidelis Care for their partnership in creating the "Family Focus" television series. Senator Schumer commends the series for creating "an innovative method of educating viewers about health and wellness issues."
Hillside Family of Agencies is named by the Balanced Scorecard Collaborative (BSC) as a Hall of Fame award winner. Hillside Family of Agencies is the first ever not-for-profit organization to receive this prestigious honor from the BSC. Hillside Family of Agencies’ selection to the Hall of Fame comes after a three-year BSC revitalization effort that culminated in early 2005 with the successful integration of the BSC philosophy of strategic organizational focus across all of Hillside Family of Agencies’ affiliates.
On December 9, the merger of Adoption Resource Network, Inc. with Hillside Children’s Center, an affiliate of Hillside Family of Agencies, was finalized. The unification of Hillside Children’s Center with Adoption Resource Network facilitates the development of services and the generation of funding to support permanency planning and increase the connection with those seeking to adopt.
The Boards of Crestwood Children’s Center and Hillside Family of Agencies vote to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Family Resource Centers of Rochester to proceed with the acquisition of assets of Family Resource Centers of Rochester by Crestwood Children’s Center.
Hillside Children’s Center’s Erie Team establishes a community-based office in West Seneca.
2006
The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, a 30-year-old New York City-based foundation committed to improving the lives of youth, recently invited Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to become part of its Youth Development Fund. Promising an initial investment of up to $250,000 for a period of up to nine months, the Foundation will work with Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to develop a business plan aimed at growing the number of youth it serves.
New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio secures a $500,000 State grant for Hillside Children’s Center’s Varick campus. The funding will be used for infrastructure improvements and renovations needed throughout the campus, which is situated on the grounds of the former Seneca Army Depot in Romulus.
Hillside Children’s Center is selected by City Council to provide a location and staffing for the City of Rochester’s Curfew Center, which will provide a safe, comfortable environment until a parent or other responsible adult can be contacted and the youth can be returned home.
2007
Wegmans, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the Syracuse City School District announce they are investing $300,000 to boost fundraising efforts that will aid the expansion of the newly combined Syracuse CHOICE and Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection programs in Syracuse. The two programs will serve 180 students from the city school district during the upcoming school year.
The Intensive Support Unit (ISU) opens on Hillside Children's Center (HCC) Monroe Avenue Campus in Rochester to serve youth diagnosed with developmental disabilities and serious emotional needs. It is the first of its kind in New York State to provide this specialized level of care.
2008
A bi-partisan effort by the 25th Congressional District’s former (Congressman James Walsh) and current representatives (Congressman Dan Maffei) secures $400,000 in appropriations funding for Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to assist in increasing the graduation rate for students in the Syracuse City School District.
The National Council on Aging awards the Skip Generations program at Family Resource Centers of Crestwood Children’s Center with a Multi-generation & Civic Engagement Initiative grant for the demonstration of potential as a locally developed program model for adult volunteers 55 years and older.2009
During a news conference held at the Syracuse City School District offices, Danny Wegman, CEO of Wegmans, gave details about a four-year grant from the Wegman Family Charitable Foundation that will provide $2 million to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection (HW-SC) in $500,000 a year increments.
2009
During a news conference held at the Syracuse City School District offices, Danny Wegman, CEO of Wegmans, gave details about a four-year grant from the Wegman Family Charitable Foundation that will provide $2 million to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection (HW-SC) in $500,000 a year increments.
2010
Hillside Family of Agencies partners with Monroe County Department on a new community collaboration to provide an effective community-based alternative to detention for local youth within targeted neighborhoods. Nearly a dozen not-for-profit agencies will work in partnership with the Monroe County Department of Human Services, the Monroe County Department of Probation, and the Rochester City School District to provide services to approximately 100 youth during its first year.
Hillside Children’s Center’s community-based office in Oswego relocates to Fulton.