Birch Family Services

10/20/2026

We are pleased to announce that Josh Scher, our current Chief Financial and Operating Officer, has been appointed Birch’s next President & CEO, effective January 1, 2027.

Already part of Birch’s leadership team, Josh will bring his experience and knowledge of our organization to this new role, working alongside our community to expand opportunities for people with autism and developmental disabilities.

Josh will succeed Matt Sturiale, who retires at the end of 2026 after an extraordinary 48 years of service to the field with over 10 years as Birch’s President and CEO. We are deeply grateful for Matt’s leadership and lasting contributions.

Please join us in congratulating Josh!

Read the announcement: https://birchfamilyservices.org/birch-family-services-names-josh-scher-as-chief-executive-officer/

10/19/2026

Looking back at a day of celebration and appreciation! 💙🎉

Last week, the Birch community came together for our annual DSP Day celebration to honor our Direct Support Professionals and recognize staff celebrating milestone anniversaries.

Enjoy a few moments from the celebration! To our DSPs and milestone honorees: thank you for all you do for the individuals and families we support.

Shared album · Tap to view!

10/16/2026

Fall is bringing a splash of color to our schools! 🍂🎨

Students are celebrating the season with creative, hands-on activities, including a fall painting project! At our Pelham Bay Early Childhood Center, students used cutouts of their hands to create tree trunks and branches, students added colorful autumn leaves with Q-tips, bringing their own unique trees to life.

Along with exploring the colors of fall, this activity gave students a fun way to practice fine motor skills and express their creativity!

10/14/2026

Today, we came together to celebrate our annual DSP Day! 🎉💙

It was a special opportunity to recognize and honor our incredible Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), whose dedication, compassion, and commitment make a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals we support every day.

We also proudly celebrated staff members reaching milestone service anniversaries, between five and 25 years, recognizing their years of dedication and the lasting impact they have made throughout our organization.

To all our DSPs and dedicated staff, thank you for everything you do to advance abilities, unlock potential, and make Birch such a special community!

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

🍎 Food Glorious Food!

Join Birch Family Services for a FREE virtual Parent and Family Training this Thursday! Take some time to learn with us and help spread the word by sharing this opportunity.

📅 Thursday, October 15
🕙 10:00 a.m.
💻 Via Zoom

Reserve your spot today:
🔗 Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/inx2Y-ffQNmqpsHNb0qf7A

10/09/2026

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and we’re celebrating the voices, strengths, interests, and experiences of individuals like Soha! 💙💛

Soha is an individual we support at our Queens Day Habilitation Program, she says she has “fun every day,” with opportunities to draw, go outside in her community, and take part in activities she enjoys!

This month and throughout the year, we celebrate people with Down syndrome at Birch and in the community and support their right to be included, heard, and valued.

10/08/2026

At our schools, we invite families to take part in meaningful cultural celebrations that connect home, school, and community.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, families at our Pelham Bay Early Childhood Center selected flags to represent and celebrate Hispanic cultures and heritage. Their participation helped make this celebration an opportunity to learn together, honor cultural traditions, and strengthen connections within our school community.

Thank you to our families for being part of the celebration and helping our students explore the cultures that enrich the world around them!

10/08/2026

Today is DAF Day—a day to put your generosity into action! 💙

If you have a donor-advised fund (DAF), consider recommending a grant to Birch Family Services to help create opportunities for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities.

Your support helps students discover new ways to communicate, adults prepare for meaningful employment, and individuals build greater independence in their homes and communities. Every gift helps sustain the personalized support that makes this progress possible.

This DAF Day, turn the charitable funds you’ve set aside into opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.

👉 Learn more about giving through your DAF: birchfamilyservices.org/daf/

10/07/2026

Join us in celebrating Jerfari Cole, a DSP at one of our residences in Brooklyn, for earning the DSP I Certification through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) E-Badge Academy!

👏 Congratulations, Jerfari! We are grateful for the energy, compassion, and professionalism you bring to your role. Your willingness to learn, grow, and make a positive difference in the lives of others is truly appreciated. Thank you for all you do as a valued member of the Birch Family Services team!