Our Programs

Every program builds confidence, independence, social skills and offers opportunities for teambuilding while also providing financial literacy, professional and personal development, cultural enrichment, and exposure to activities and experiences outside the limits of their home and school environments.

Academic Support Services

Services: PHCD offers one-on-one tutoring in mathematics and ELA as well as prep for standardized tests, including standard Regents exams, SAT and ACT tests.

Time Period: Several days a week, for three (3) hours after school and several hours on Saturday or Sunday, depending on need.

Outcome: PHCD quantifies how the academic support provides improve test scores and increases college acceptances. Student participants are asked to return as tutors for the younger grades, thus creating a built-in mentoring and tutoring pool.

Advocacy Services

• Suspension Disparities. PHCD provides a safe space for suspended students to keep up with their studies as well as one-on-one tutoring and educational support. Students are often suspended for being disruptive in their regular classroom setting. Having access to a dedicated tutor and a supportive environment tends to provide the attention they need to modify their behavior and increase their focus on their studies.

• Legal Advocacy goes hand-in-hand with the suspension services outlined above. PHCD appeals to principals on the student’s behalf to have their suspension terms shortened by demonstrating academic and behavioral improvement. Additionally, in the cases where juvenile courts are involved with at-risk youth, PHCD provides a letter attesting to the student’s participation and attendance which may be included in the student’s court file.

Time Period: Walk-in assistance between Mon-Wed and by appointment, during regular business hours. 

Outcome: PHCD’s programs are designed to turn at-risk youth into attending, and participatory students. Thus, offering their family and their community-at-large an opportunity to decrease youth offender statistics.

Community / School Partnerships

• Services: PHCD works in concert with teachers, principals and guidance counselors to provide seamless educational and mentoring services to students. PHCD Board members continue to introduce themselves and their services to school administration as services expand throughout the County.  PHCD partner with other social service and educational non-profits and agencies to promote services and garner student and young professionals for participation in all programs.
• Time Period: School year Outcome: Community participation fosters greater diversity as well as understanding and appreciation for diversity. Exposure to opportunities throughout the county tends to create stronger, more engaged and safer communities; at-risk students are saved from further infraction.

Life Skills

• Services: Hands-on career counseling, interview role-playing, job training, time management, successful salary negotiation, interview wardrobe assistance, resume writing, etiquette, basic finance skills such as how to write a check, basic household budgeting, personal documents needed to open a bank account, general business ethics, and basic computer skills. 
• Time Period: Walk-in assistance between Monday-Wednesday and by appointment, during regular business hours.
• Outcome:  Participants receive a “Certificate of Completion” after each session is completed. By providing these skills, we ensure a successful transition to adulthood for students and young adults, creating a generation ready to handle employment, and running their own households.

Mentoring Programs

• Services: Participating students as well as young professionals are paired with a mature, professional who offers education and career guidance. Mentor and mentee will are matched according to career interest and individual student’s need.
• Time Period: Ongoing throughout the school year, subject to mentors’ schedule, but with an agreed upon commitment of 10 hours per month.
• Outcome: Mentors provide students with letters of recommendation for their college applications, and provide referrals for young professionals for jobs, associations and societies. These services are invaluable as they may provide academic and professional access to schools and organizations these participants may not have on their own.

Recreational Time Activities

• Programs in the arts that augment existing school programs, and replace programs that may have been cut for budgetary reasons – arts programs are often the first casualty when funding is cut. Programs would include: Ballet/tap/jazz dance, musical appreciation and instruction in brass, woodwind and other instruments. PHCD would look to partner with non-profits that donate instruments and/or donations from music schools and stores.
• Educational and cultural enrichment day trips to local museums, botanical gardens, zoos and other institutions that foster curiosity, and hands-on learning.

Professional instructors and educators staffed to lead these programs.

Time Period: Several days a week for two (2) hours, after school, and extended hours during July and August.

Outcome: A “Certificate of Completion” as each student completes a level of proficiency as well as a multi-grade performance at the end of each session to bolster the students’ confidence performing in front of an audience, and to allow participation from parents, school administration and community stakeholders.

Youth Employment

Services: Summer Youth Employment, providing a stipend for a set number of hours completed during the work period. PHCD partners with local businesses to provide professional and practical experiences to students, identified by their guidance counselors in their respective schools. PHCD and the counselors aim to match students with businesses that provide services that are of interest to them.

25-50 youth will be employed

Time Period: Four (4) weeks between July and August.

Outcome: Participating students receive a “Certificate of Completion” along with the potential for employment at one of the participating businesses.

Youth Leadership Programs

Services: A full day seminar giving students a chance to spend time with a professional mentor who will teach them leadership skills. Five (5) Student leaders will be chosen from a group of at least 25.

Time Period: One Weekend Day, Each School Quarter

Outcome: Participating students receive a “Certificate of Completion”, which will augment their college applications. Selected Student Leaders will have their photos and bios added to PHCD’s website, making them de facto members of the team, and the point of contact for new students who may want to join the program. One student is generally selected to make a presentation.

Currently, PHCD programs have been implemented in the Nassau County towns of Elmont and Hempstead. However, there is existing staff support and capacity to expand programs to every town for which the OYS is providing funding.  Dr. Palmer’s relationships with faculty and students at the two CUNY institutions where he is currently teaching provide a pool of educated, enthusiastic volunteers, and where appropriate, paid staff, who are eager to mentor youth in the community