Moving onward after the storms and floods of 2011

Welcome to Hope & Cope, a resource for the Schoharie Schools community featuring useful information from Project Hope and other initiatives to assist in our ongoing recovery and regrowth after the devastation caused by tropical storms Irene and Lee in 2011.

Project HOPE

Project HOPE provides free crisis counseling to those whose lives were impacted by Tropical Storm Irene. Experienced counselors are available to assist individuals, families, comunity groups, businesses and service organizations at no charge, to help them recover from the challenges of the floods that followed Irene.

Project HOPE is funded through a grant from FEMA, facilitated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is a program of the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Project HOPE offers numerous helpful tips for parents and caregivers of children coping with the disaster, including holiday-related advice, as well as information on how to take care of one's self. Schoharie Central School students and their families are welcome to contact Project HOPE at (518)231-2989.

From Project HOPE:
Seasonal Holiday Tips for parents, caregivers & all of us

Holidays are often a time of joy, happiness, and celebration with family and friends. However, even under normal circumstances, holidays can become stressful because of unrealistic expectations and for some, these expectations can result in feelings of loneliness and fatigue known as the “Holiday Blues.”

During this holiday season, people affected by the recent floods may experience a painful sense of loss for past holidays that were joyous occasions of celebration, family gatherings, and gift giving. If you have been sharing your home with family or friends displaced by the flooding, you may find the holidays increasing levels of stress rather than bringing family members closer.

Anticipating that it will be difficult to get through the holidays may not make them easier, but acknowledging feelings and problems in advance can be helpful in having a more positive holiday experience. Group activities such as making gifts or attending community events can help affected individuals create unique and beneficial ways of coping. Children follow the example of the adults around them.

The following SEASONAL HOLIDAY TIPS (pdf) are designed to assist parents and caregivers of children during this holiday season.

[12/23/2011]