Dr. Robert Blume, Ed.D., Former Chief Deputy Commissioner, Nassau County Department of Mental Health; Consultant to the National Institutes of Mental Health

Sara's Center offers a unique approach to helping seriously emotionally disabled individuals with long histories of hospitalization. Its approach has proven to be successful. It has a palliative impact upon the emotionally disturbed. Art therapy within a group setting is most effective. Sara's Center provides a home-away-from-home that is most conducive to the care and treatment of the severely disabled client population. These clients do not receive this type of extended care in any other outpatient program.

Michele Schwartz, Social Worker

Sara's Center offers an alternative to the standard treatment programs that is different from anything else I've seen - especially on Long Island. The one thing that strikes me about Sara's Center is that a client doesn't have to be an artist or musician in order for the program to work for them. In fact, from what I've seen, Sara's Center works in cases where nothing else will. For the right client, it is an amazing program. From the minute you walk through the front door, it feels homey and comfortable; you don't feel like you're in a treatment center. Instead, Sara's Center tries to make clients feel like part of the family, and that's pretty incredible.

Linda Hopfensitz, Client

The counselors at Sara's Center are dedicated to helping clients. My counselor worked out a great program for me and coordinated with my residence counselors. They really go the extra mile.

Judy Fasman, Client

Sara's Center gives me something productive to do. Before Sara's Center, no program would take me. Now I paint, listen to music, exercise, go to the luncheonette, and do a lot of things that I couldn't do in the past.

Jerry and Lillian Kirsh, Parents of Client

In the past, our son attended many programs but wouldn't stay with any one in particular because they didn't answer his needs. That was before we found Sara's Center. Our son has attended Sara's Center now for five years. The program gives him what he needs, and the fact that he enjoys going and participating is a big plus. Sara's Center's family support group provides an important network to deal with some of the outlying issues related to care. For example, the group helped ensure transportation for clients when current funding threatened to cut off support.