Q. The school has told me that my child needs counseling and they have referred me to the Youth Bureau. How do I sign up? A. All counseling intakes are scheduled through Deborah Arundale, Supervising Counselor. Ms. Arundale may be reached at 422-7658.
Q. Who is eligible for counseling at the Youth Bureau? A. Counseling services are provided free of charge to Town of Babylon residents only. All counselors on staff possess a Master's degree in community mental health counseling or similar area. They all receive individual case supervision on a weekly basis.
Q. How do the actual counseling sessions work? A. After the intake session is completed, a counselor will be assigned to the case. Each client will be seen for approximately 45 minutes per week, with the remaining 15 minutes assigned to discuss case progress with the child's parent. Sessions take place at the Town Hall Annex located at 281 Phelps Lane in North Babylon and are scheduled for afternoons (Monday through Friday) and evenings (Monday through Thursday). Parents should be aware that there are certain rules of confidentiality which must be observed by all counselors and therefore there may be certain items that have been discussed by the counselor and child which cannot be revealed to the parent(s). Additionally, all counselors working here are Mandated Reporters, meaning that they MUST report allegations of child abuse and/or neglect to the proper authorities. Since we provide what is termed "short term counseling", we see clients for a maximum of six (6) months. If further counseling is indicated at the conclusion of the six-month period, we will provide a referral list of local mental health practitioners.
Q. My son/daughter has runaway from home. Are there any Town services to help us with this situation? A. Project SAFE provides crisis intervention in runaway cases. Staff will meet with parents, the child, and other interested parties in an effort to reunite the child with his family and to develop a plan going forward. In cases where returning home is not a viable option, Project SAFE will assist in securing alternative housing solutions. This service is available to Town of Babylon residents, free of charge.
Q. What activities are available for children during the summer months? A. Please refer to information contained in the Youth Bureau section regarding youth centers funded by the Town of Babylon. Each agency will provide specialized summer activities for the young people of their community. Since each center is an independent organization, it is best to call and find out exactly what programs they will be offering for the summer months. The Youth Bureau also provides a safe summer beach program at the Cedar Beach Complex on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings during the summer months. Basketball, beach volleyball, street hockey, and a DJ are just some of the activities available. There is no charge to attend the Summer Nights at Cedar Beach program and limited transportation is provided. For further information, please call the Youth Bureau Deputy Director at 422-7660. Also, please refer to the Parks and Recreation Department's Summer Guide for information relative to day camps, swimming lessons, and many other activities.
