Children's Services Honors  Exemplary Child Care Programs

Children’s Services honored three child care programs and their executive directors for the work they do in serving families with the highest quality of care. “These three centers are deserving of our praise and commendation,” said Commissioner John Mattingly at the October 5 event. The three honorees include Beverley Campbell, Executive Director of the Afro-American Parents Day Care Center in Queens; Phyllis Forde, Director of the Southeast Bronx Neighborhood Centers/Gwendolyn Bland Day Care Center; and Veronica Klujsza, Director of the St. Mark’s Family Services Council/Head Start.

(l-r) Deputy Commissioner Melanie Hartzog, honoree Beverley Campbell, honoree Veronica Klujsza, Commissioner John Mattingly and honoree Phyllis Forde.

Said Commissioner Mattingly: “These honorees’ programs share the same characteristics, including a focus on the basics, such as reading. They all have qualified, caring professionals and low turnover among their staff; there also is active parent involvement and community support; and each has a director who is a highly-involved leader and manager, constantly focused on excellence.”

The honorees are among the ACS child care providers caring for 120,000 children in New York City, ages 2-months to 12-years old. “ACS-subsidized child care provides children with a solid foundation for appropriate development and education,” said Deputy Commissioner Melanie Hartzog of the Division of Child Care and Head Start. “We are proud of each and every one of our programs and their leaders and all that they have accomplished for the children and families that they serve.”

ACS staff and attendees share a laugh.

The honorees:

Beverley Campbell is Executive Director of the Afro-Americans Parents Education Center, which opened 33 years ago. It currently serves 98 children in Queens in a full day, year-round program. The Afro-American Parents Education Center was the first to create a full-day infant program. Ms. Campbell has been with the Center for 11 years. About her award, she said, “I didn’t get this by myself. I have a Board that is totally supportive and a great staff. Together, we achieve what we do. I really love them and appreciate what we do.”

Phyllis Forde is Director of the Gwendolyn Bland Day Care Center, a 50-year old program in the South Bronx. Ninety children attend the Center year round. Last year, the program received an award from the New York State Department of Education for having an Outstanding Early Childhood Program.  Ms. Forde, who has been the Center’s Director for 20 years, says, “Every day is about the children, their learning and the foundation that we give them.” Ms. Forde’s staff is so highly committed that in 18 years, she has had to replace only 5 staff members.

Veronica Klujsza has been Director of Brooklyn’s St. Marks Family Services Council/Head Start program since 1991. The Head Start program has been around since 1981 in the Flatbush neighborhood, where it serves 182 children, and an additional 62 children in Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Bishop Sexton site. St. Mark’s Head Start is always experimenting with new approaches to nurture the children’s love of learning and celebrates the diverse cultures represented in the classroom. The Center also promotes family literacy skills and works with several colleges to help parents develop these skills. Says Ms. Klujsza: “I believe in the team approach to in our work. We team with parents, with ACS, and the various community groups with whom we collaborate. We can’t do it any other way.”

Commissioner Mattingly and Deputy Commissioner Hartzog also cited the work of ACS staff who support these programs. Said Ms. Hartzog: “It’s been a really challenging time and I want to thank all of you for your commitment.”
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