Still Connected: An Eden II Programs Update
An Update From Dr. Joanne Sgambati,
Director of Psychological Services on Long Island
As the Director of Psychological Services on Long Island, I oversee many programs. I am fortunate to work with amazing Behavior Analysts and Behavior Specialists at the Genesis School, the Day Habilitation Program, the Residential Program, and the Behavior Clinic. I work closely with Erin Archibald, Hester Bekisz, Lauren Colon, James Corrigan, Jaimie Blaszcyk, Jackie Libretti, Irene Stefas, Jillian Braccolino , and Kathleen Rotan. Everyone I mentioned is just exceptional, professional, and highly skilled in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA.) Besides overseeing the behavior interventions at Genesis, I also work closely with our resident social worker, Patricia Thompson. Patricia has been an amazing addition to our programs and we work together to provide counseling and testing to many participants each year.

Since the COVID-19 quarantine and remote services began, the team I work with has been incredible, flexible, and amazingly creative to ensure services get delivered to our students, participants, and their families. They continue to go above and beyond to ensure that our Genesis families are receiving the supports they need, and the students and participants are having their behavioral needs addressed.

We continue to have our monthly BMC (Behavior Management Committee) and HRC (Human Rights Committee) meetings via video Google meet. We have added a bi-weekly Clinical meeting to discuss any cases of concern and share ideas and support as a team.

There are weekly phone calls to check up on the behavioral status of individuals in each setting, especially our residential settings where individuals have been quarantined.

Patricia and I have conducted webinars on stress management for parents and Direct Care Workers for some extra support to those working hands on with our students and participants on a daily basis. Our next webinar will focus on self-care for parents during COVID-19. 

Patricia and I have also been able to continue our mandated counseling sessions remotely with a video platform in Google. It has its challenges, but we are making it work and seeing the students respond well is wonderful. Students have questions about the pandemic, they are confused and scared. Some are having a hard time understanding all the new rules and changes going on. The video counseling gives us an opportunity to discuss and educate our students.  
We developed an informational share section in Google Drive for our teachers and behaviorists to access, addressing issues such as the pandemic, anxiety, coping strategies, relaxation, and anger management.

We continue to share information through various Eden ll webinars and gather information as well. A number of us were able to do a workshop at ABAI (virtually) and attend many informative talks during the Memorial Day weekend. 

Although my team is at different locations, we continue to collaborate and work together to ensure the individuals we serve are supported emotionally during these difficult times.
Order From Pampered Chef for All Your Summer Hosting Needs & Support Our Programs!
Thank you to everyone who attended last week's Pampered Chef demo!

There is still time to place an order through our virtual party link.

Eden II will receive a portion of all proceeds from orders made through Sunday, June 28th. Please share with family and friends!

Pampered Chef has hundreds of high-quality products priced for every budget, and it's the perfect time to order all of your must-have summer items.

Eden II Parent Gives Back with #HSITAGgivesback
Nominated to take part in the  #HSITAGgivesback  challenge, Eden II parent Valerie Tucci recently gave back to our group homes with a delicious catered dinner from  Towne Deli . We are so thankful to Val, and Towne Deli's owner, Rosemarie Catania, for providing this wonderful meal!

Our Sherwood Residence Manager, Lana Rudshteyn, shared, "It was very fresh, still warm and delivered on time! The staff were very appreciative. They said it was the best and most generous meal!"
Eagle Scout Dedicates Service Project to Helping
Genesis Group Homes
Thank you to Sean Urban, who generously donated recreational games and funds towards activities for our Genesis group homes! Read below to hear about Sean's background on the project from Eden II board member and Genesis parent, Michael Giangregorio:

I couldn’t be more proud of Sean Urban. When he was considering a service project to fulfill his requirement towards his advancement to Eagle Scout, Sean reached out to me. He knew of my position at the Genesis School and wanted to do something that would benefit individuals with autism. Sean, diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, wanted to give back and provide something meaningful to other people on the autism spectrum. I reached out to Erin Archibald, Director of Long Island Administration and Outreach, and she said she had always wanted carnival games to use at the Genesis Family Fun Day, as well as to provide some entertainment to the students on rainy days.

Sean thought this was the perfect project for him and it couldn’t have come at a better time for us. The games were sent to our residents to provide some additional entertainment during this time of quarantine. Sean is a remarkable young man, as is his family. Sean will be attending Iona College in the fall and I have no doubts of his future successes. Becoming an Eagle Scout is just the beginning. A huge thank you Sean and the entire Urban Family; his parents, Sean, Kristen and sister Molly.
Show Your Support For Frontline Workers with a Lawn Sign
Proudly display your gratitude for all hard-working essential frontline workers!

Price: $20 each

Lawn signs MUST be pre-purchased with a credit card.
No cash or checks accepted at this time.

600 Newbridge Road, East Meadow, NY 11554
15 Beach Street, Staten Island NY 10304

Arrangement for pickups MUST be confirmed with Development after purchasing.

For any questions please contact Kara Lamendola at klamendola@eden2.org or Maureen Higgins at mhiggins@eden2.org.
Amazon Wishlist-Thank You For Your Continued Support!
We are thankful to everyone who has purchased items from our residential wishlist to help keep the participants in our group homes engaged and entertained while they practice social distancing.
Aaron
Andrea (Jimmy's sister)
Bryna 
Michelle & Daniel (Friends of Rosengarten)
Steven Anderson
Phyllis Attianese 
Julie Azuma
Lauren Baker-Anderson
Denise Bianchi & Family
Nick Block 
Rochelle Basovitch
Diana Caputo
Keith Chambery
Jennifer Chabus
 Jamie Coen-Scholfield
Sarah Collins 
Dawn & Ken Doherty
Fran Enia 
Stephen Fine
Stephen Gavosto
Sandy Gagstetter
Melissa Gavinelli
Deborah Goldschmidt
Adriana Grimaldi
Eileen Hopkins
Sue & Andy Jacobs
The Jensen Family
Deanna Jones
Cindy Kaplan
Judith Kaplan
Ruth Kestenbaum
Irene & Marty Kofman
Charles Kramer 
Matt Lamendola
Jennifer Leyendecker
Angela Natale
Nina Novie
The Paulsen Family 
Sherie Pennino
Denise Perciballi
Lenore Puleo 
Susan Ribaudo
Mindy Rosengarten
Yigal Rosengarten
Stephanie Russo
Christian Salinas
Lisa Seraté
Lisa Sclafani Sorrento
William Stanley
Valerie Tucci
Joe & Claudine Votto 
Olena Zaretska
Zuppardi Family

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our front line campaign!

If you do not see your name listed please contact info@eden2.org. We apologize in advance for any missing names.
Michael Ackerman 
Pamela Adamo
Nancy Ambery 
Lisa Anderson
Mercy Anjorin
Erin Archibald 
Jamie Arnold 
Julie Azuma 
Patti Barker
Elisa Belcastro 
Maidelle Benamy
Marc Benanti
Marissa Bennett
Robert Berkowitz
Sharon Berkowitz 
Denise Bianchi 
Richard Boehm 
Matthew Brander 
Stephen Brewi
Terry Burn 
PS Burns 
Ross Burwasser
James Caldarella 
Lisa Caldarera 
Susan Canny 
Chrisie Canny 
Marissa Capizzi
Acela Carlin 
Sue Carter 
Jason Casano
Michael Cassas
Stephanie Cassas
Anthony Castiglione 
Irene Cavanagh 
Robert Cavanagh 
Donna Ceman 
Maureen Chalos 
Keith Chambery 
Georgia Christoforou
Rick Chou 
Frank Cicero 
Chris Citarrella
Jeanette Collins 
Sarah Collins 
Maria Contino
Michael Contino 
Jill Cornell
Sharlene Corrigan 
Rob Croccito 
James Cronin 
Dan Cunningham 
Julie Debernardo 
Geoff Debery 
Lorelai Dee
Paula Delfino 
Michael DeMaio 
Anna DeMeo 
Joanne D'Esposito 
Maria DiGiacomo
Marietta Dimina 
Ronnie Dineen 
Darren Diprima 
Dominic DiPrisco
Christine DiTomasso 
David Dobell 
Jan Downey 
Beti Duli-Tale 
Shirley Dunn
Andy Dunscombe 
Stephanie Dussel
Samia El Moslimany
Matt Emmer 
Carly Emmer 
Lauren Epifanio 
Nancy Everett
JoAnn Farrell
Corinne Farrell
Marlene Feinberg 
Barbara Ferrante 
Pier Fetz 
Marisa Filupeit 
Lorenz Fish 
Cynthia Fisher 
Eileen Fitzpatrick
Rob Fodera
Angela Fuschetto 
Malki Gartenberg 
Gerald Gartner 
Geri Garvin 
Karen Gates 
Melissa Gavinelli 
Toni Gennuso 
Joanne Gerenser
Michael Giangregorio
Nick Gilbo 
Laurie Giordano 
Joanne Giuliano
Ariel Glaubach 
David Glick 
Barry Goldberg 
Lori Gray 
AnnMarie Grieco
Adriana Grimaldi 
Janet Grosser 
Moe Hageko 
Lauren Hakim 
LouAnne Haley
Faye Hamid 
Gail Hansche 
Melissa Hess
Maureen Higgins 
Patricia Hincken 
Hannah Hoch 
Denise Holzka 
JoAnn Hope 
Eileen Hopkins 
Jackie Huey 
Patty Hutton
Hope Iliceto 
Thomas Iliceto 
Dyane Irvine
AnnMarie Itgen 
Lyudmila Ivanova 
Linell Iversen 
Donald Johnson
Alexander Jones
DeAnna Jones 
Michael Joseph 
Susan Kaplan
Michael Kaplan
Loretta Kennedy 
Barbara Kenny
Solomon Kinard 
Steve Kirschbaum
Jessica Klein 
Rosemarie Klingele 
Maryann Korn
Charles Kramer 
Mark Krinsky 
Eugene Krupatkin
Janet Lamantia 
Kara Lamendola 
Marcia Langaigne
Stefanie Lavelle
Pat Leahy
Jessica Leather 
Sandy Levine
Jackie Libretti
Alison Lipshin
Kristine Lombardo 
Vivian Lynch 
Laura Maguire 
Christopher Maher 
Alfred Mahoney 
Elena Maldonado 
Patty Marceante 
Nancy Marchese 
Paula Marocchi
Valerie Martin 
Ann McDermott
Mary McDonald 
Joanne McDougall 
Janet McGill 
Meaghan McGoldrick 
Beth McLoughlin 
Kevin McShane 
Nicole Memoli 
Dan Miran 
Linda Mitchell
Janet Moley 
Julie Morawek 
Barbara Morello 
Maria Mucciarone 
Richard Murdison 
Mutual of America
Angale Natale 
Paula Neenan
Ashley Nicole 
Cathy Nicoletti 
William Nolan 
Nina Novie 
Despina Novie
Chris Nuzzi 
Debra Ochs 
Marge O'Neil 
Rita Ormsby 
Olivia O'Rourke 
Toni Ann Pabon 
Bernardo Pace 
Lisa Padla
Bonnie Patala
Larry Paterno
Ken Paulsen 
Christopher Pekoff
Sherrie Penino
Lisa Perani-Anderson
Nancy Phillips 
Sandina Popper
Christine Porizio 
Richard Portello 
Brenda Principe
Ellen Proszak
Frank Pugliese 
Denise Purcell
Daniel Rauch 
Shanx Ravisankar 
Brooklyn Re
RoseMarie Reel 
Susan Ribaudo 
Anjail Rice
Joseph Rinaldi 
Sulma Rivera 
Celia Roche
David Roll 
Yvonne Roman 
Mindy Rosengarten
Joshua Rosengarten 
Katie Rotan
Susan Rotsztajn 
Mary Rowan
Sharyn Ruggiero 
Donald Russo
Breeda Ryan 
Carolyn Sagnelli
Leonard Scandaglia
Ada Schechtman 
Wendy Schmidt 
Robyn Schneider 
Bonnie Schneider 
Anne Seifried 
Lisa Seraté
Joanne Sgambati 
Katherine Sgarlato 
Victoria Shurott 
Michele Sileo 
Kimberly Smith 
Sophie Sophororos 
Lisa Sorrento 
Anna Spadafora 
Denise Sperduto
Tamio Spiegel 
Jaime Sposito 
Maria Stabinsky 
Kathleen Stanley
Marianne Stanley 
Rosemarie Stavola 
Irene Stefas 
Harvey Stein
Wendy Stynes 
Christina Swiderski 
Terry Tarangelo 
Eve Taranto
Veronica Taura 
Nicole Tibaldi
Michelle Tittel
Sheila Tjon
Valerie Tucci 
Gretchen Turner 
Shannon Viggio 
Teresa Visconti 
Ben von Doussa 
Keith Ward 
Denise Wiatre
Linda Williams 
Alexis Yarmolowitz 
Dominick working on a solar system puzzle donated to his group home from our Amazon wishlist!
Matthew enjoying some time in the pool!
Thank you Fran Iliceto for showing support for our frontline workers with an Eden II lawn sign!
Alec is all smiles after brunch!
Donate Supplies or Funds Today!
Our residential staff are working around the clock to take care of our participants, and are doing an amazing job! We currently have supplies for all of our locations that need them, but with a surge in demand, we are being proactive and looking to increase our current supply. If you or someone you know have any of the following items available to donate, please contact info@eden2.org to arrange a dropoff.

Powder free exam gloves
Medical isolation gowns
Chemical splash goggles
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer wipes
Surface sanitizer wipes
Disinfectant spray
N95 face masks

Thank you to those who have generously donated PPE for our staff:

Borough President James Oddo
Senator  Andrew J. Lanza
Assemblyman Michael Cusick
Assemblywoman  Nicole Malliotakis
Assemblyman  Mike Reilly
Assemblyman Charles D. Fall
Councilman Steven Matteo
Councilman  Joe Borelli
Councilwoman  Debi Rose
District Attorney Mike McMahon
-
Steven Anderson
Clara Azadegan
Lauren Baker-Anderson
Anthony Castiglione
Amy Hume Bellisano on behalf of The Woodbridge Center
Denise Bianchi
Brooklyn Home Foundation
Debbie Burwasser
Joe Caldarera
Stephanie Cassas
Sabrina Rose Dallas
Denise Eget
Dr. Ryan Galligan
Hatteras
Audrey Hassuer & other
Metuchen residents
Dr. Jane Howard
Magnacare
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis
Shelley Chi Mawhinney, Metuchen
Randy McArthur
Joe McCormack
Making Waves Foundation
Medtrak Rx
Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America
Sue Reek
Rab's Country Lanes
Rescuing Families, Inc.
Sulma Rivera
Staten Island Elected Officials
Staten Island Glove & Safety
Elizabeth Thomas
Westpoint Home
Oscar Valera, Metuchen
Amazon Smile is a free and easy way to help support Eden II. Simply select Eden II as the charity of your choice, and Amazon will donate a percentage of every purchase made back to Eden II when you shop through Amazon Smile. Click here to select Eden II.