Doing Well And Doing Good: Jawonio Unveils New $20M New City Campus

NEW CITY, NY — A brand new facility not only promises to help those with special needs, but might just offer a boost to the local economy as well.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday the completion of the $20 million Jawonio campus in New City. Jawonio is the largest provider of lifespan services in the Hudson Valley for those with developmental disabilities, behavioral health challenges and chronic medical conditions.

The project involved the relocation of Jawonio's summer education facility and construction of a new 70,000-sq.-ft. facility for corporate offices and a new Workforce Training Center. As part of the project, Jawonio has committed to creating 230 new jobs and retaining nearly 700 full-time positions. New York State supported the expansion with more than $3.3 million in Empire State Development capital grants, after the recommendation of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council.

"For decades, Jawonio has provided important services in the Mid-Hudson region that have created pathways to success for individuals who are now able to fully participate in the job market," Hochul said. "This new campus expands on that success and will provide a streamlined continuum of services and training from childhood to adulthood that will not only prepare qualified workers for jobs in the region, but it will also give them the ability to overcome barriers and thrive."

The project included the redevelopment of Jawonio's 16-acre campus, consisting of demolition and construction of new summer education cabins, building a new corporate headquarters to consolidate IT functions from multiple sites and expanding provider services.

Jawonio's new headquarters include a service delivery facility, which will allow service recipients and their families to access the services they need under one roof. According to the organization, the new headquarters are designed to accommodate the company's professional workforce, which provides assessment, evaluation, training, treatment and wellness activities to assist special needs individuals in obtaining gainful employment in the community and fully live up to their potential. The building will have an evaluation and assessment area, with special phones, IT equipment and the tools necessary to help those who are vision and hearing impaired, physically or behaviorally challenged, or struggle with learning and developmental disabilities. Jawonio also upgraded its entire IT infrastructure with technology and services to accommodate the present and future growth of the organization.

The Phase One part of the project, the construction of the Summer Education Cabins, was completed in July 2018. The three cabins are for children with special needs who attend a six-week summer education program, with all cabins outfitted as a multi-purpose space. Phase Two of the project, the 70,000-sq. foot facility, was completed in October 2020 and the exterior landscaping was completed this month.

Jawonio Executive Director Randi Rios-Castro said the new facility is especially sweet given the groups humble beginnings.

"Jawonio has been a staple in our community for 75 years. Since 1947, beginning with six families seeking treatment and supports for their children with disabilities," Rios-Castro said. "This new building and campus is a testament to their advocacy and insistence that children with disabilities can live their lives as independently with supports as possible. And today, we have not wavered from our mission to support individuals with disabilities, mental health challenges and chronic medical needs to help them reach their highest potential."

Jawonio is a registered 501C3 organization that was organized in 1947 as the Cerebral Palsy Society of Rockland County, a provider of outpatient treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities, behavioral health challenges and chronic medical conditions. In 1949, the company founded the first summer camp program for children with disabilities in Rockland County. Two years later, it was expanded to include an overnight program called "Camp Jawonio."

"The Jawonio revisioning and revitalization project was perhaps one of the most important projects in our Town in my tenure as Supervisor," Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann said. "The new jobs and opportunities for enhanced services is making a world of difference for countless people. Having spent well over 20 years working in the field of disabilities prior to becoming Supervisor I cannot be prouder of the project and what it means to our Town and people with disabilities."

The $50 million non-profit organization, with locations in Rockland and Westchester counties, has continued to expand its programs. Services include early intervention, special education preschool, school-aged respite and summer education. Jawonio adult services include community living day habilitation, behavioral health care management, employment and vocational services. Additionally, Jawonio operates a $6 million commercial cleaning division with more than 100 employees with contracts in both Rockland and Westchester Counties.

"This is incredible news for Jawonio, an organization always going above and beyond for people with disabilities," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said. "I hope this new facility enables Jawanio to continue leaving an indelible mark on our community."