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As I hear about the many people who are facing financial hardship, I realize that the services that NYIPT provides are needed in our communities now more than ever. Due to the financial pressures that are being felt by many in our struggling economy, for the first time, we have decided to forego our Annual Fall Fundraiser, known as "A Night of Play." We hope that things will continue to improve and that our Board of Directors will plan an event for the Spring of 2010. If we do, we would like to see each of you at that time. In the meantime, we are hoping that you will support our efforts by sending in a donation in the enclosed envelope. Your generosity enables us to continue to run and expand our programs.

Much research has shown that early intervention with emerging emotional and behavioral problems in childhood can change the course of a child's life, and can prevent more serious problems down the road. The excellent faculty and supervisors of NYIPT are teaching those who come in contact with troubled children and parents how to help youth overcome their challenges, and how to treat and prevent serious emotional and behavioral problems in children.

Throughout this issue of NYIPT TODAY, you will read about the wonderful work that the professionals of NYIPT are doing to further our mission "to improve the mental health services of needy children of all ages throughout New York City." Over the past year, our candidates have helped hundreds of school-age children and adolescents, and our graduates and faculty have run countless workshops and trainings for the benefit of the mental health of children from different backgrounds and their families.

In this issue, you will read what our recent graduates have to say about how NYIPT training has helped them become effective therapists with mothers, infants, children and adolescents (See article "From the Graduates, 2009"). You will read interesting case studies that give an in-depth view of what goes on in child therapy, from a recent graduate (Jamillah Brown), from a past graduate (Susan Bolles), and from a supervisor (Simone Sternberg). In an article by a faculty member [Kim Kleinman] you will get insight into what's going on in the minds of young people who harm themselves, important information for people who work with adolescents. And, you will learn about some of the many NYIPT initiatives that are going on - how we are reaching out to the community at-large by offering training at a Charter School in Harlem, at the Brooklyn DA's Domestic Violence Program, and at NYC's Administration for Children's Services (ACS), providing training for those dealing with abandoned and abused children in foster care. These stories all illustrate the valuable work of NYIPT.

During the past year we lost two members of our community: Jeanette Levitt and Fern Cohen. Each of these women made generous contributions to our program, and to the field. Their contributions exemplify the heart of NYIPT’s mission - to offer specialized training to therapists who work with children-at-risk, as well as their parents, teachers and others. As our program grows in scope and practice, we strive to fulfill our mission, and Jeanette’s vision, as we graduate more and more therapists who are helping troubled children.

Help us honor the memory of Jeanette and Fern, as well as that of Micki Mc Cabe (see article), to continue their work, by supporting the NYIPT Program. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and will help us achieve our goals. I thank you in advance for supporting us.

Dr. Phyllis Cohen, Executive Co-Director, NYIPT