VCS History at a Glance 1970-2025

The “Volunteer Family Counseling Project” of the family service association of Rockland County is initiated by the Ford foundation to test whether an unused resource of the county - people of intelligence and good will - could be trained to counsel an underserved population - clients of the family court. Dr Stephen A. Shapiro appointed as project director to work in conjunction with Martin Eastman, director of Family Service Association. The project is funded by a four year descending grant and receives $25,000 the first year. The premise is that if, after four years, the project is proven to be valuable to the community, then the community will fund it. Project training manual prepared; a rigorous screening of 60 candidates conducted - seventeen are selected to be the first group of volunteer counselors who will undergo a rigorous thrice weekly training for three months. At the end of the training period, the first group of counselors is assigned thirty-four cases

Regular system of referral from the probation department and family court is set up with help from John Mulholland, director of Probation and Jennie Tulevech and Mike Frenchak, Probation Officers. Fundraising activities begin in order to meet the Ford Foundation matching fund specifications for the 2nd year of the Demonstration. A recommendation is made to reorganize the Project into a separate agency

Project Committee of the Family Service Association completes its months’ long task of transforming the Project into a separate incorporated agency called Volunteer Counseling Service of Rockland County, Inc. With a successful fundraiser held at the home of Jerry and Simona Chazen and funding from the County of Rockland, services were expanded by 60 trained volunteer counselors and 21 volunteer supervisors and 2 staff hired to assist Executive Director, Stephen Shapiro

The number of volunteer counselors increases to 82 and twenty-six professional supervisors volunteer to supervise their cases. The VCS Board of Directors conducts a comprehensive client evaluation with highly favorable results

Agency moves from 22 New Hempstead Road to 151 South Main Street in New City to accommodate a newly implemented Graduate Student internship training program and the many demands being placed on staff and Board of Directors

Due to the growth of VCS and increases demands on the Agency, new staff are hired and groups for parents, adolescents, women in crisis, and first offenders are initiated. Simona Chazen hired as the first full time Assistant Director. By year end, 426 families receive service

This is a period of significant programmatic growth and expansion that saw the emerging emphasis on assisting victims of domestic violence, a firmer VCS role with the Family Court, a new partnership with the County Office for the Aging focusing on the elderly who are isolated. Simona Chazen, working with Family Court Judges Howard Miller and Alfred J. Weiner, creates the VCS Post Divorce Parenting Program. Additionally a Corporate Outreach Program is started and Simona Chazen, in collaboration with the District Attorney Kenneth Gribitz, initiates the VCS Volunteer Mediation Program. During its 10th year of operation (1980), a total of 4,348 people served

During this time of fiscal uncertainty, VCS is chosen as a of United Way member agency, a contract agency for the County of Rockland and the agency’s role as an expert in the field of domestic violence is solidified.

Federal and State budget cuts force VCS into an increased self-reliant and independent strategic planning process even while the agency expands its services with a greater reach into the community it serves. Gail Golden appointed Clinical Director

Three new counselor training programs produce 47 new volunteer counselors requiring the recruitment of an increased number of volunteer supervisors, which by year end totals 71. Marge Lipson is appointed as Assistant Director. Phyllis B. Frank expands the domestic violence offender training programs throughout the country

When Dr. Stephen Shapiro resigns as Executive Director after fourteen years of service, Marjorie Lipson, CSW is appointed Interim Executive Director. The Agency continues to assert its role in the field of domestic violence, hosting conferences for men and women.

Marjorie Lipson appointed Executive Director. During its fifteenth year of continuous service, a total of four thousand, one hundred and twenty seven people benefit from at least one VCS program. Phyllis Frank appointed Assistant Director for Administration

VCS continues to expand its programs and services to members of the community in need and begins the long and arduous process of community organizing focused on a zero tolerance for domestic violence. During this year, six thousand seven hundred and eighty three people are served

VCS honored for many of its activities including the 1st United Way Enterprise Grant in honor of a program entitled “Clergy Stress and Role Conflict”. New programs initiated for caregivers

With a great deal of advocacy from VCS, New York State approves legislation that creates a funding stream for batterers’ programs. Twelve colleges and universities place fourteen graduate student interns in the VCS Training Program. Six thousand, six hundred and forty nine people served during this year.

VCS receives a grant award to support the Caregivers Resource Center; the 7th Annual Men’s Conference is co-sponsored by Rockland Community College and VCS; VCS serves an additional four hundred and forty people during this year compared to the year before.

NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives awards a three year grant to VCS to expand service to batterers and to coordinate a comprehensive systems approach to domestic violence

The ’91 State fiscal crisis creates the need to diversify funding streams. Marge Lipson and her professional staff initiate new programming while maintaining the programs and services already in place at the highest levels possible. Fourteen graduate student interns and more than two hundred volunteer counselors and mediators provide services to more than seven thousand people

New programs initiated for mentally disabled adults and for parents whose children are being adversely affected by a separation or divorce. Again, more than seven thousand people are served

A new Fathers’ Group Program is organized for parents who abuse their children and their partners and an additional Mothers’ Group begins for parents with issues of child abuse and neglect. One thousand more people are served this year as compared to 1992

These years see VCS at a critical time period in its development both in regard to is public persona, the range of programs and services being initiated for older adults and their families, young people, cancer survivors, men who batter and around issues of domestic violence prevention , race and oppression. Phyllis B. Frank begins the VCS Community Change Project, often regarded as the agency’s conscience. It is the time when, under the leadership of Marge Lipson and the diligence of the Board of Directors, VCS buys its own building. By the end of 1996, VCS is serving more than eleven thousand people.

In addition to the well-acclaimed VCS Volunteer Counselor Training Program, VCS is fast becoming a training institute for people throughout the country who are interested in Undoing Racism©, batterers programming, and issues of heterosexism and homophobia and other issues of oppression. Marjorie Lipson retires as Executive Director after 13 years of remarkable service

Deborah Cary Murnion appointed as the 3rd Executive Director. The agency is reorganized into four distinct departments: General Counseling Services, Center for Conflict Resolution, Services to Older Adults and their Families, Community Change Project.

VCS Gay Pride Rockland, “It’s not a parade, it’s an event for everyone!” held in Nyack; a Spanish Speaking Mothers’ Group initiated in Haverstraw, and LGBT Counseling services initiated

Agency reorganized into three departments: Clinical Services, Center for Conflict Resolution and Community Change Project; the annual VCS Gay Pride Rockland event attracts 800 people and
Undoing Racism Workshop presentations expand to local school districts. Gail Golden organizes a community coalition to examine issues related to immigration

The VCS Relatives as Parents Program begins and the US Dept of Justice continues to fund the Village of Spring Valley Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, a collaboration between the Village, Rockland Family Shelter and VCS. VCS clinical staff responds to the devastation caused by the attacks on September 11, by training over 60 volunteers in post-traumatic stress counseling skills and by developing outreach and support groups for several schools and libraries. Out of this effort, the “VCS 9/11 History Project” is completed.

New VCS programs are developed in response to articulated community needs: the “Madre a Madre Proyecto”, Rockland Student Advocacy Program, Center for Student Development all respond to a needed void in the county. Many initiatives continue and expand including VCS Gay Pride Rockland which adds more opportunities for the LGBT community and their families to come together. Also new this year is the publication of the Directory of LGBT Friendly Businesses, Services and Community Organizations. Shortly after the US invaded Iraq, VCS offered support groups for families with loved ones in the military

One hundred and eleven volunteer counselors and student interns provide 4,593 counseling sessions to more than one thousand customers. VCS renovates its third floor space to expand its capacity to serve more people. VCS staff complete the first phase of the collaborative work with the Center for Court Innovation, a national study entitled Court Responses to Batterer Program Noncompliance. The 7th Annual VCS Gay Pride Rockland event, the 5th Juried Art Exhibit and Sale to Benefit Gay Pride Rockland, Cabaret Night and the annual publication of the LBGT Directory catapults VCS into the national spotlight when The Advocate publishes an article about successful small town pride events. The Avon Foundation joins other charitable foundations that support the cutting edge work at VCS, especially for victims of domestic violence. VCS is front and center in addressing issues of immigration.

The United Way of Rockland County awards VCS a Community Impact Grant to collaborate with community-based organizations in the Village of Spring Valley to ensure that culturally competent counseling services are easily accessible to residents in that community. VCS co-sponsors the third Annual Immigration Forum at Dominican College which was attended by well over 100 people focusing on “Immigrant Health”. Gail Golden initiates the VCS Vets for Vets program to respond to the needs of returning soldiers coming home from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The VCS Positive Alternatives to School Suspension Program is implemented in the East Ramapo School District

VCS launches a new website www.vetsforvetsrockland.org to support the work of the twelve volunteer peer counselors in the Vets for Vets program. VCS continues its leadership in the Rockland County STOP FEAR Coalition, a county-wide initiative that since 1986 seeks to establish a zero-tolerance for domestic violence. The “great recession” begins to influence public funding and charitable giving.

The VCS Vets for Vets program hosts Dr. Edward Tick, the author of “War and Soul” and a national expert on helping veterans heal from the wounds of war. The program, held at the New City Library, attracted close to 100 people. VCS nominates the 2009 awardees for Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year in Rockland County: Simona and Jerry Chazen. VCS celebrates the 11th year of Gay Pride Rockland, sponsoring an event with honorary guest, Tim Gunn of “Project Runway” fame! VCS is awarded a grant by the Corporation for National and Community Service to sponsor the Foster Grandparent Program in Rockland County.

VCS begins its year-long celebration of its 40th Anniversary which culminates in a Gala Celebration honoring Simona Chazen!

VCS moves down the road from its home at 151 S Main Street to 77 S Main Street.

VCS launches its New York State Office of Mental Health Article 31 Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Clinic in June of 2015! Beginning with just two clients in July, the clinic grew quickly to serve 136 individuals with 774 total appointments for the year.

VCS grows in a number of ways. Adult Peer Specialists and Family Peer Advocates are trained and hired to fill in gaps in services provided to clients. Dr. Douglas Landy is brought on as the first full-time psychiatrist in the Clinic to accommodate a growing client base. Additionally, the general counseling program is rebranded as the VCS Wellness Coaching Program, spearheaded by Kristine Lopez-Morell, the first Division Director of Community Services at VCS. Over the summer, ground is broken for the new VCS Wellness Garden.

VCS celebrates its 55th Anniversary as an organization, and the Clinic celebrates its 10th anniversary! A new property at 7 Stokum Lane is purchased as the main building at 77 South Main Street is bursting at the seams. The first group of volunteers graduate from the VCS Wellness Coaching training program, and begin coaching their clients. All of this growth is celebrated at the Hope, Healing, and Growth Gala.