In 1862, the Sisters of Mercy sheltered five boys orphaned by fire and a tradition was born. The agency was officially incorporated in 1865. Mercy Home, in caring for young children, was a magnet for generous individuals and groups. Pictured on the right are children of Mercy Home enjoying a party given by the Navy men and, of course, supervised by the Sisters of Mercy who sponsor the agency.

In 1976, responsive to the changing needs of New York, Mercy Home joined forces with the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (formerly OMRDD) to continue its growing mission to children with disabilities. The children we served have grown into adulthood and have moved to agency operated group homes that meet their mature needs. Like all families, we are quite proud of how “our” children have grown up and our pictures capture a “then and now” moment in the lives of two of our consumers.

Debbie as a child
Debbie as an adult

Debbie as a child

Debbie as an adult

MERCY HOME VIDEO - "Life Skills... Life Long"



MERCY HOME FACTS: Important Dates

 

Founded: 1862 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community
Incorporated: 1865
Licensed by: New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (formerly OMRDD)
   
1862 First five children were sheltered.
1865 Agency officially incorporated.
1883 West wing is added to the building to accommodate the increase in admissions.
   
1935 Girls attend community high schools to increase inclusion opportunities.
1941 Pre-school boys are admitted.
1955 Family groups admitted to help keep siblings together.
1967 The agency becomes a temporary shelter for abused and abandoned children under NYC auspices.
1969 School established on the grounds under the direction of the NYC Board of Education.
1971 Agency name is officially changed to Mercy Home for Children.
1976 Mercy Home becomes a long-term residential facility for severely developmentally disabled children admitted through the city emergency temporary care program
1977 The Developmental Therapy Unit is established.
1978 Visitation Residence opens for 10 youngsters in Red Hook, Brooklyn. This was the first Intermediate Care Facility opened by Mercy Home.
1979 Harold Warren Residence opens for 6 boys in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
1981 M. Vincent Haire Residence opens for 10 young men in Downtown, Brooklyn.
The agency Certificate of Incorporation is amended providing lifetime care for every resident.
1986 Kevin Keating Residence opens for 20 teenage boys in Rosedale, Queens.
1987 The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) honors Mercy Home for its outstanding programs
1988 Jasper Littlejohn Residence opens for 12 youngsters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
1989 Richard T. Santulli Residence opens for 15 young ladies in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
1990 125th anniversary celebrated
1993 New York Newsday honors Mercy Home volunteers.
1994 Mercy Home receives recognition from the New York City Council, Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, The Mayor’s Office, and the President’s Council.
1997 Adult Respite Program begins in Park Slope, Brooklyn
2000

The Gail Addeo Residence opens for 4 women in Old Mill Basin, Brooklyn.
The Chrys Residence opens for 8 women in Flushing, Queens.
M. Vincent Haire Residence is relocated to Park Slope, Brooklyn and re-named the dePorres  

Residence.
2001

The Rev. Michael J. McGivney Residence opens for 8 adults in Marine Park, Brooklyn.
2002 The Augusta Residence opens for 5 adults in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
2003 The Littlejohn residence is relocated to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
 Visitation Residence celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
2005 Frank's Residence opens in South Ozone Park, Queens for 8 young men.
2005  Day Habilitation without walls opens in Rosedale, Queens for 3 consumers
2006 Respite Program for Children with autism begins in Kensington, Brooklyn
2006 Respite Program for teens begins in Kensington, Brooklyn
2006 Kevin Keating residence celebrates its 20th Anniversary
2007 The agency begins the 145th Year of Service with a host of celebrations
2007 Mercy Home establishes a Creative Arts Center in Kensington, Brooklyn.
2007 Mercy Home and the Mitsui & Co. (USA) partner to support the Creative Arts Center, Kensington, Brooklyn.
2007 Melodic Soul, the Mercy Home Band, gives workshop at the NYFAC-WORC Autism Awareness Conference in New York City
2008

Melodic Soul presents a workshop entitled “The Making of the Band; How a Group of People with Special Needs Went from random Music Makers to Professional Trained Musicians” at the YAI National Conference in NYC

2008

The Sanctuary Model is introduced throughout the agency
2008

The Therapeutic Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) begins at Mercy Home
2008

The James P. Slattery CPA Creative Arts center opens at St. Joseph's College, Fort Greene Brooklyn
2008 Mercy Home opens its first supportive IRA residence for 2 women in Fort Greene, Brooklyn
2008 Mercy Home opens Joseph Residence, an IRA for 4 men in Fort Greene, Brooklyn
2009 Melodic Soul, the Mercy performance band plays Barnes & Noble, appears on Currents, a Cathlic television program and for Mitsui & Co. at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC.
2009 The agency introduces the College of Direct Support, an innovative training program for front line staff.

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION and BOARD

Board Members

Carmen Aquilone, Board Chair
Frank J. Keating, Vice Chair
Sr. Mariette Schmidt, RSM., Vice Chair
Richard T. Santulli, Vice Chair
Robert DeSiena, Treasurer
Sr. Mary Mercedes Somma, RSM, CSW, Secretary

Directors

Sr. Theresa Agliardi, RSM
Pauline Blake
Laverne Taylor-Brooks
Desmond J. Burke
Sr. Camille D'Arienzo, RSM, Ph.D.
Hon. Matthew D'Emic
Sr. Linda Esposito, RSM
Louis Esposito

David Orlinsky
Rev. Michael Perry, M.Div.
Sr. Frances Picone, RSM

Mildred Shanley, Esq.
James P. Slattery, CPA

James P. Slattery, Esq.
Hon. James P. Sullivan
Rose Travers
Donna Whiteford



Advisory Board

Ferne Farber
Roberta Kyle
Sr. M. dePorres McAllen, RSM                                                                 

Sr. Kathleen Quinn, RSM
Sr. Mary Mercedes Somma, RSM, CSW

 John D. Summa                      

Staff

Sr. Catherine Crumlish, RSM, Executive Director

Ian Bates, Controller
Sr. Maureen King, RSM, VP, Mission
Elinor LaTouche, Chief Operations Officer
Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM, Chief Develoment Officer

Nasima Akter, Senior Accountant
Beradine Cadagon, Dir., IRA Programs

Ellen Dart, RN, Dir., Nursing Services
Michael DeGrottole, Sr. Dir., Programs

Carmela Giambruno, Asst. Dir., IRA Programs
Joseph Gioia, Ph.D, Dir., Psychological Services
Melissa Frisina, Sr. Dir., Human Resources

Jesse Lore, Dir. Training
Angela M. Pionegro, Dir., ICF Programs

Dorothy Rice-Fuller, Chief Compliance Officer

Miguel Torres-Castro, Dir., Support Programs

 
   


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Mercy Home
243 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tel: 718-832-1075
Fax: 718-832-7612

Email: info@mercyhomeny.org