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Founded in 1862, McQuade is a private, accredited not for profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic residential care, special education, community group homes, emergency shelter services, and community based prevention programs for special needs children and their families. | ||||||||||||||||
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What is McQuade?
We are a non-profit, private organization dedicated to building
successful futures for children facing personal, school, family and life obstacles.
Who are the children at McQuade and where do they
come from?
McQuade serves special needs boys and girls, ranging in age
from 8-18. Most are Hudson Valley children, primarily from Orange, Dutchess,
Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Ulster and Sullivan counties, who, along with
their families, can benefit from McQuade's broad array of services.
Why are they at McQuade?
They are experiencing problems at home, in school or in the
community and need treatment and support to achieve their potential.
Where do they go to school?
Some attend public school, but most study at the Kaplan School
for Special Education at McQuade's New Windsor Campus.
Who pays for the children to be at McQuade?
The counties or school districts where the children are from
pay for our services. We supplement this by raising money to enrich the lives
of the children in our care.
What kind of care do they receive?
The children here are provided with a consistent, accepting
and organized environment, supervised by caring, experienced staff. Special
education, psychiatric, psychological, group and family therapy, recreation,
and medical services all play a role in helping our children grow into caring,
productive adults.
How does McQuade help children succeed?
We give homes to those who need them, guidance and counseling
to help children make good decisions, special education to those with academic
and behavior challenges, career readiness training, or even emergency diagnostic
assessment or therapeutic residential treatment, if needed.
What happens when they are ready to leave McQuade?
Most children return to their homes. Others are either placed
in foster or adoptive homes, a group home, another institution, or they begin
living and working independently.
Do the kids have families?
Most do, however many of the families are fraught with issues
such as poverty, alcoholism, abuse, neglect, imprisonment, mental illness, drug
addiction, etc.
What kind of problems do the kids have?
Varies widely, but include severe truancy or school behavior
problems, learning disabilities, panic or anxiety disorders, emotional breakdowns,
anger management issues, and an inability to appropriately cope with personal,
school and or family problems.
Do parents sign their kids in to McQuade?
No, all children are channeled to us via referrals from Family
Courts, Departments of Social Services or School Districts.
How long has McQuade been in business?
Since 1862. We started as an orphanage in the city of Newburgh.
What is McQuade's philosophy today?
We believe in creating a positive environment where having
successful experiences and opportunities abound. We believe that once children
get used to feeling successful, they won't want to feel like failures again.
With the right coping skills, role modeling, education, counseling and care,
their self confidence builds, as does their progress. Every day is a new day
for kids at McQuade: an opportunity to make better choices.
How successful are you with the kids?
We've turned lives around for many of them, and others come
back later in life to tell us how they are doing. Since most are still underage
when they leave us, it's difficult to track them, but we know that the agencies
and schools sending children to us feel that we do make a difference.
Are you a 501C-3 charity?
Yes.
Does McQuade need contributions?
Yes. Even though we receive a set payment (regulated by NYS)
per child per program, that fee only covers the basics. We try to enrich our
programs in every way possible through private contributions and also seek help
for building or capital improvements.
Do you need
volunteers? Click
here for a printable (PDF) Volunteer application
Yes, we have volunteer oportunities throughout McQuade and
we currently have a very successful mentoring program that pairs students with
adult mentors from local companies. New company participants are always being
sought. If you have or know of a business interested in learning more
about our mentoring program please email Katherine
Keating or call (845) 561-0436.
Who is McQuade named after?
In the 1920's, Dr. Milton Ash McQuade set up a medical practice
in Newburgh, down the street from the orphanage, the Home for the Friendless.
He was an orphan himself, and had a soft spot for the kids. He was a bachelor
when he died, and left his entire estate to the orphanage. The Board named the
Home after him in 1945, calling it the McQuade Foundation. In 1985 we became
McQuade Children's Services.
Can I Help?
You can help by contributing funds or your time. Donations
help us develop new initiatives, make capital improvements and cope with unexpected
emergencies. To find out more, click How
You Can Help.
