Business Profile: KidsPeace, Buchanan
Founded in 1882, KidsPeace is a nationwide charity in 10 states that is dedicated to serving the behavioral and mental health needs of children, pre-adolescents, teens, young adults and families by providing specialized residential treatment services and a comprehensive range of treatment programs and educational services.
Locally, KidsPeace provides services in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange counties and has an office at 2 Greentown Road in the Village of Buchanan, where Program Manager Kevin Gonzalez and his staff can work closely with the seven children currently in foster homes in Ossining, Mahopac, White Plains and New Rochelle.
“We go above and beyond giving our support to families because we live in the communities as well,” said Gonzalez, who has worked in the social services field since 1990. “We help the community by providing these kids with a place to live. The key thing is safety. We’re all about safety. These children have gone through a traumatic event being removed from their home. We just don’t place kids in a home. We don’t want to set anyone up for failure.”
Funded by the New York State Office of Family and Child Services, KidsPeace receives referrals of children in need through the Family Court system in each county. KidsPeace then tries to match children with families who go through rigorous background checks, training and home visits.
“You want to be as normal as possible, with the least restrictions,” Gonzalez explained. “When we place kids in a home most of our families will consider adoption. We look to see what families will be a good fit.”
KidsPeace provides foster care services for newborns through children 18 years old, although children are permitted to stay with foster families until the age of 21. Gonzalez said the foster families are compensated as if they are employees.
“They are part of our family. They opened up their homes to welcome these children,” said Gonzalez, who noted KidsPeace also has respite services available. “They all do it because they want to give back.”
Gonzalez grew up in Westchester, moved to Florida and then returned to New York. He said his goal for KidsPeace is to double the number of children they serve within a year and expand the roster of foster families.
“It was a passion I stumbled upon,” Gonzalez said. “It pays in dividends when you have a kid come up to you and say thank you, or trust you enough to talk about their feelings. It’s unfortunate kids will always be part of the system. We make it clear up front what kind of services we offer. There’s a great need for that out there.”
Anyone interested in learning more about KidsPeace or possibly becoming a foster family can visit www.fostercare.com or www.kidspeace.org, send an email to Kevin.Gonzalez@kidspeace.org or call (914) 736-1986.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
