New York Adult & Teen Challenge (NYATC) utilizes a work therapy program which entails our students learning life skills through occupational training in actual fields. We believe that by incorporating work therapy, we help to build confidence in the lives of our students. We understand that often people who come to us have not experienced a healthy view and approach toward work. Therefore, we have found that as we offer various possibilities for exposure to a variety of work experiences, students begin to not only learn the importance of having a good work ethic but they add value to their lives.
Our Work Therapy Program also gives students the ability to maintain a current resume without having a gap. The opportunity to engage in a variety of work calls also affords a chance to learn new skills as well as the potential of new paths of employment once they graduate. Our Work Therapy program includes but is not limited to our Blessingdales Clearance & Thrift Center, TC Furniture Gallery & Clearance Center, Snow Removal Services, Walk for Hope Campaign and Drug & Alcohol Awareness Campaign.
Blessingdales Clearance & Thrift Center is a clearance store that gives our students an opportunity to gain experience in the retail market. Students engage in customer relations, processing products, maintaining and managing inventory, and cashier responsibilities. The students acquire skills regarding visual sales, shipping and receiving, merchandise showcases and many other business-related skills.
TC Furniture Gallery & Clearance Center is another avenue in the retail market that is used to help students grow and learn about a positive work ethic. At TC Furniture, students further learn about care and handling, and the sales process of furniture. Each day students experience firsthand relationship building, business-oriented tasks and skills as it relates to business and sales.
Our Walk for Hope and Drug & Alcohol Awareness Campaign’s are one of our foremost avenues for prevention, intervention, and reaching at-risk youth and adults in our community. Representatives of New York Adult & Teen Challenge have the ability to inform the community about the current drug epidemic and the services we provide to those in need.
Among these, we also are involved in other seasonal occupations that aid in the growth of our students and that open the door to many opportunities. Our organization has a range of community relationships dating back decades which affords our students opportunities to learn new vocational skills, practice healthy living in an everyday world, and raise finances for our program to continue to help many more men and women experience freedom from addiction.