PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION

Former Synagogue's New Mission: Caring for Children

By JORDAN MOSS

Two critical programs for children run by Montefiore Medical Center have a new home on Reservoir Oval in Norwood. 

The former Gun Hill Jewish Center, which had been padlocked for five years, will now house the clinical office of Montefiore's expanded Child Protection Center (CPC) and the administrative offices of Montefiore's School Health Program. 

The $750,000 renovation project was overseen by Dart Westphal, president of Mosholu Preservation Corporation, the not-for-profit support corporation of Montefiore that publishes the Norwood News. It is MPC's fourth restoration project on the Oval, including the nearby Reservoir Keeper's House, which is the organization's headquarters. 

The project "restores a property to this community that had unfortunately fallen into significant neglect," said Spencer Foreman, MD, Montefiore's president, at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 5. 

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion said the project should be a symbol of society's priorities.

"Every single human being -- no matter where they start -- should have a chance to succeed," he said.

Carrion inherited the job of securing city funding for the project from his predecessor, Fernando Ferrer. At one point, the funding was in danger of disappearing.

"I got on the phone and I won't tell you what I said," Carrion joked. "But it wasn't pretty." 

Ferrer was present as well. He said the project was an "important statement that we make about caring for children."

In addition to the city funding secured by the borough presidents, the Engelberg 
Foundation, the Independence Community Foundation and Montefiore contributed to the project. 

The restored building will provide additional space for the CPC that will be used for a pro-active child abuse prevention program, the Parent Empowerment Program, a new psychologist, a new clinical social worker and a collaborative project with five social work graduate students. 

The CPC, which also has a building on Steuben Avenue, is a state-of-the-art diagnostic and evaluation treatment center that works to reduce trauma of children and their families who are victims of sexual and physical abuse or neglect. The setup shields children from additional trauma by bringing representatives of law enforcement and social service agencies to see the child in one setting rather than shuttling the child from office to office.

"The new CPC site has given us the opportunity to develop longer term relationships with children who have been abused, as well as their families," said Karel Amaranth, the CPC's executive director, in a statement.

The School Health Program, which administers health centers in 12 Bronx public 
schools, including PS 8 and PS 95 in this area, will move its administrative offices to the new site and will use conference room space to conduct meetings and workshops for parents. The program offers comprehensive medical, dental and mental health services to students. 

David Appel, MD, the program's director, described it as the "largest and most 
comprehensive school-based health program in the country." The new offices "make it possible to have centralized activities under one roof," he said. 

Amaranth said it was fitting for the projects to have a new home in an old synagogue.

"The soul of this building has been here all along," she said at the ceremony. "It took the faith and vision of so many here to set it free."

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion cut the ribbon on the new offices of 
Montefiore's Child Protection Center and School Health Program. His predecessor, Fernando Ferrer (third from left) was also on hand. With them were, from left: Spencer Foreman, MD, president of Montefiore; Rabbi Balfour Brickner of the Engelberg Foundation; David Appel, director of the School Health Program; and Karel Amaranth, executive director of the CPC.

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