Project Community Salutes Our Project CHILDD Nurses

Project Community joins the celebration of the extraordinary nurses who care for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We also celebrate the nurses who share their education and experience for our programs, while balancing a full-time career and family demands. Margaret M. Monahan, BSN, RN, is the Clinical Director of Project CHILDD and Teen Project CHILDD in Pelham. Joanne Rooney CFNP, is the Clinical Director of Project CHILDD in the Bronx. Their care reflects a commitment to the health and well-being of children and families, particularly those in need of specialized services.

Project CHILDD & Teen Project CHILDD

Mainstreaming children and teens with special needs in the public school system often results in social isolation. ProjectCHILDD (Community Help In Learning about Developmental Disabilities) offers participants, ages 3 through 18, a dedicated safe space for learning and socialization. Teen Project CHILDD serves adolescents and young adults by offering Friday night socialization. They are treated to a range of activities to gain independence and establish new friendships. Both programs are provided free of charg

Teen Mentors

Teen mentors are critical to the success of Project CHILDD and Teen Project CHILDD. To qualify for participation, teen mentors must undertake an orientation program that focuses on the special needs of the participants and prepares the mentors for supportive interactions.

Margaret M. Monahan, Director of Project CHILDD - Pelham

Margaret is a practicing registered nurse whose career began at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, where she practiced with the cystic fibrosis team, involved in facilitating groups for young adults. Margaret then became the Director of Nursing at Sound Shore Hospital in New Rochelle. She is currently Executive Director for a Jesuit retirement community at Fordham University and will start a Masters Program in Clinical Ethics at Georgetown this fall. 

Joanne Rooney, Director of Project CHILDD - Bronx

Joanne earned a BSN from Lehman College, a Masters Degree from the College of New Rochelle, and a Postgraduate Degree from Pace University. For over 40 years, Joanne practiced at Montefiore Medical Center in the Pediatric Intensive Care Center, the Neurosurgical Cranial Base Center, Ambulatory Surgery, and the School-Based Health Center.

Joanne has expressed a deep love for Project CHILDD, for which she has been a Director for over 30 years. Joanne feels great joy in the smiles, laughs and pride that the children feel in their newfound accomplishments. Parents routinely tell her how important the program is to reducing stress and bringing happiness to the entire family.

Knowledge to Navigate

We are happy to share some successful strategies used by teen mentors in Project CHILDD:

Click here to learn how to help those with ADHD/ADD. 

Click here to learn how to help those with Autism.

.