Organization Details:

**Important Contact Information: Primary Contact Ms. Green travels between school sites. To connect with her call main office at 718-574-7994, ID yourself as a volunteer and ask for the number to reach Ms. Green for that day. Leaving a message on her voicemail could lead to a very long wait for a return call. She sincerely needs volunteers but needs to be tracked down due to her hectic schedule..

P.S. 4k, located in Brooklyn’s Bedford Styvasent is a special education elementary public school. The staff faithfully believe despite all the obstacles in their lives the children have the potential to develop successfully The intention is to provide loving, highly disadvantaged children with a voice to move more agilely and calmly through their lives.

Description and/or History:
The inner city's children are a fragile potentially explosive population. The children are ages five to eleven years old, mildly to moderately retarded and emotionally disturbed with a program for 5 year old autistic children. There are approximately 375 children. The school population is composed of a wide range of disabilities such as Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, speech pathology, non-verbal children, and children with physical disabilities. Many of the children are in foster homes, have been abused and come from dysfunctional families. 95% of the children qualify for the free lunch program based on poverty line income status. Despite all the obstacles in their lives they are children that are very much like other children with love in their hearts. These children need an extra reassurance that they are special and worth caring for. Too often they get much less than they deserve. It is frightening how easy it could be for them to slip into believing they are worth nothing and self destruct.
P.S. 4k is a District 75 Special Ed. Elementary School. Over the years the staff has expanded to cover the diversified needs of new populations. An example... approximately 10 years ago the program for autistic children was added to the school's area of expertise.

Contact people:

Natasha Green, Parent Coordinator, 718) 574-7994, Voicemail (718) 443-8594, (email) Beth Levine, School Advocate, (860) 799-0590, (email) Emily Sheppard (Assistant Principal), (718) 443-7702, (email)

Address:

P.S. 4 @ P.S. 81, 990 Dekalb Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11221 (See a map)

Directions:

Directions from where?   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Koskiasko Street, J Train (need to check spelli   Nearest Bus Stop: Lafayette & Styvasant, B38