The Rockland Parent-Child Center was incorporated in 1986 and called “The Rockland Family Resource Center”. The mission of the organization was to provide a unique environment in which parents could support each other as well as get the advice of professionals in order to more fully understand their children and their unique role as a parent. This would benefit their children by reducing stress and enabling the parents to provide a stimulating, developmentally sensitive and more nurturing environment for their children. RPCC was unique in that it recognized that families come in a variety of structures and can include more than just a mother, father and child. RPCC also provides resources and referrals to families for mental health, health or legal services and adjust its programs to meet the changing needs of our community.
RPCC was founded by Barbara Keil and Jean Kelly who had known each other socially but met again as volunteers at the Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center where they ultimately became Co-Directors of Volunteer Services. In their experience working with high risk mothers and their children, they saw a need that wasn’t being met, and they also saw services that weren’t being adequately utilized.
The programs began with a once a week support group for mothers and their babies. This expanded to include toddlers and moved to the facility at 7777 Avenue with expanded hours within two years. The name was changed to the “Rockland Parent-Child Center” in 1987.
The programs quickly expanded to include a diverse array of support groups, parenting education workshops, community speaker events as well as the Infant & Toddler Play and Parent Support groups. RPCC also gave parents access to specialists in child development, pediatrics, holistic health services, mental health, child safety and other areas by sponsoring talks and lectures.
They also started a support group for mothers in the county jail in 1989 with the help of Leigh Scherholz who was one of the first facilitators of the group. This support group expanded in 2000 to include a men’s group (thanks to funding from the Rockland County Department of Social Services), pre and post-release case management and most recently a mentor program and post release support group for the moms. The program is now called “Family Connections” and is currently in the planning phases of a support group for the children of program participants as well.
Barbara Keil and Jean Kelly’s Story
Jean is originally from Plymouth, Massachusetts and is a proud member of the Bradford clan. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and attended Long Island University, Pace College and the New School for Social Research. She moved to Rockland County with her late husband, the Honorable Theodore W. Kelly, Supreme Court Justice of NY State, in 1952 and they raised their four children here - Christopher, Ted, Gail and Alison.
Barbara grew up in Kalamazoo, MI, graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Education and started teaching kindergarten in East Lansing. She moved to New York City to work as an editor for Time Forum Films, a branch of Time Inc. She met and married Jack Keil, a creative director in advertising. They moved to Rockland County in 1951 and raised their three children Betsy, Peter and Nicholas. They are moving again, very soon, this time to Vermont to live closer to Nicholas and three of their five grandchildren.
The move to Rockland opened a new world of community involvement. Barbara and Jean had met each other socially but met again as volunteers at the Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center where they ultimately became Co-Directors of Volunteer Services. This led Barbara to an MSW from Fordham, and back to RCPC working with high-risk mothers and babies.
“Upon retirement Jean and I embarked upon our quest to provide support and enrichment to new parents,” Barbara said. Jean added: “Barbara had the vision, and I had the contacts.” They knocked on many doors to raise funds and finally found understanding and a first grant from the Rockland County Youth Bureau. The Center started in one room at Nyack Hospital and has grown to occupy a whole house belonging to Grace Church on Nyack’s First Avenue. Its family support services include groups for single parents, incarcerated parents, adoptive families and toddler and infant playgroups.
“Of all the things in which I have been involved,” said Barbara, “nothing has been more rewarding than to watch the Rockland Parent-Child Center flourish and grow to what it is today. I am most grateful to all the talented, energetic people who have developed what we started.”
A Few Highlights from RPCC’s 20 Year History
1986
Launch of “Rockland Family Resource Center”- Once a week group for infant and toddler parents at Nyack Hospital
- Barbara Keil, President and Jean C. Kelly, Vice President
1987
- Single Parent Group starts
- First County funding
1988
- Grace Church gives home to groups at 7777 Avenue
- Spanish-language program in Haverstraw
1989
- Teen Parent Support Group with BOCES
- First Paid Program Director hired
1990
- Mother’s Support Group in the County Jail starts
1992
- Renamed “Rockland Parent-Child Center”
1993
- Groups include: Adoptive Parents, Teen Mothers Recovering Families
1994
- Financial urgency leads to first River Auction
1997
- Barbara & Jean retire from the Board
1999
- In Harmony grant from United Way to create multi-level project addressing racism and tolerance in our community
- Head Start Parenting program begins
2000
- “Home Sweet Home” Capital Campaign launched to renovate building
- Lesbian Mother’s Group launched
- Ongoing workshop based on “How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk”
2001
- Family Connections grant awarded and program in jail expands to incl. group for dads, pre and post-release case-management.
- Renovations completed, offices moved onto 2nd floor
2002
- Website launch
- Dr. Joy Leary speaks at Nyack Center, completes In Harmony project co-sponsored with VCS and funded by United Way
- Central Nyack Playgroup co-sponsored with FRC, Parents of Adolescents group
2003
- Family Connections government funding cut; program reduced
- New groups: Working Mothers, Mothers at Midlife
- Safety issue of possible lead in building moves groups to Grace Church
2004
- Lead problem resolved and groups return to 7777 Ave.
- New groups include: Permissive Parenting
- Increased funding from county
- Leigh Shuerholtz Mentor Project Starts with grant from Quakers (part of Family Connections post-release case management program)
2005
- Auction raises $45,000
- Parents’ Night Out - themed parenting meetings with speakers, round tables and film discussions
- Revised Mission Statement
