Anthony Cooper declares independence
For young people, declaring independence often represents the desire
for freedom, not responsibility. Sadly, many youth served by
Northeast Parent & Child Society say they felt forced to accept
adult responsibilities as children. Now 20, Schenectady resident
Anthony Cooper recalls the fallout of his family's dependence on
him.
"My mom was a drug addict, so my older sister and I took care of our
younger sister. We rarely saw our dad. Childhood was definitely
stressful. As I got older and saw other families who got along
better than mine, it got to me."
Anthony, whose friends call him Coop, says he was kicked out of
school several times for fighting. "I was always angry. I had to
find a better way to deal with my home life." He bounced around
between foster homes and residential facilities, switching schools
five times in one year and repeating the 7th grade. At
15, coming to Northeast Parent & Child Society helped him turn his
life around.
At our Mynderse Group Home, Coop began his transition from youth to
adulthood. Today, employees at Northeast's Supervised Independent
Living Program are helping him to achieve his potential. He enjoys
the increased accountability and better appreciates his own
strengths. "I've learned to trust people. I'm patient. I don't give
up on myself so quickly. I'm a good friend, good with children, and
I'm trustworthy."
Independent Living offers many benefits, including support from
staff until youth turn 21, a free apartment with utilities included,
stipends for meals and transportation, professional job training and
placement, as well as time and money management training. Fourteen
youth at a time learn how to get and keep good jobs, prepare to live
without public assistance, get into college, and secure funding for
their education.
With help from Site Supervisor Kerry Benway, Coop selected Erie
Community College in Buffalo from the five colleges that accepted
him. "I really liked working at the YMCA's daycare, and I want to
open my own daycare center. Erie has a great child development
program." While he says he would never have made it into college
without Northeast's help, Kerry sees him as a leader amongst his
peers. "He supports other youth and advises them on making good
choices. He wants them to feel wanted and welcomed when they come
into the program. Coop's a wonderful young man, and we're very proud
of him."
