Team Spotlight: Denise Buckley, MBA

Senior Program Director, Administrative Services, The Child Center Residential Treatment Facility

My parents’ strong faith and deep belief in God shaped the foundation of who I am. They taught me that giving to others is one of the greatest acts of love, and that humility, gratitude, and appreciation should guide every part of life. I’ve learned to treat every experience—good or bad—as something meaningful.

That is what I carry with me in my work at The Child Center of NY. I’ve had the opportunity to serve in several roles at The Child Center Residential Treatment Facility (RTF). The RTF is a warm, welcoming place for teens with serious emotional disabilities, many of whom have had multiple psychiatric hospital placements and/or involvement with the juvenile justice system. It’s also a place where they are surrounded by people who believe in their ability to grow into the best version of who they are meant to be. The RTF team sees each youth in our care as a whole person. We provide clinical services as well as quality education and vocational skill building and opportunities. We offer enrichment, such as creative arts and strengths-based programming. In a world where they are used to being told what they have done wrong, we are there to help them see all the wonderful things they are capable of.

Working with young people, I’ve learned they often do not attempt to achieve something unless they believe it can be done. If they see that someone like them can do it—and that person believes in their ability—they are more inclined to try, and to succeed. That is the environment we strive for at the RTF. The resiliency they demonstrate in return is extraordinary. They grow to understand that it is possible for them to turn their trauma into triumph, and that there is a village and a community at the RTF to provide them with motivation to never give up on themselves. Even, or especially, when they momentarily lose hope, the RTF team continues to advocate and fight for their well‑being. It is inspiring when they begin to advocate and fight for themselves.

The goals I have for myself are the same as the goals I have for the youth at the RTF: to keep growing into the best version of who I’m meant to be. I will continue advocating for children facing mental health challenges, making sure they receive opportunities that were unfairly taken from them. I’ve been fortunate to serve in several roles at the RTF, and in each one, I’ve kept that top of mind. Right now, as the RTF’s senior director of administrative services, I do everything I can to ensure our youth receive the best care possible. I work closely with families and both internal and external partners to support each young person’s journey. I’m passionate about creating an environment where youth and their families feel respected and valued. The youth at the RTF have been underestimated and undervalued, and there’s nothing like seeing them rise above expectations that have been baselessly set for them.

I am also grateful to have found a place where I can bring my family legacy to my work. My greatest accomplishments in life include being a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and granddaughter, and I am also proud to be a dedicated employee who serves young people who need love, care, kindness, and consistent support.

Being part of the Residential team is more than just work for me—it’s personal. Every day, I’m reminded why this mission matters. I’ve witnessed the resilience of the children we serve and the untiring dedication of a team that shows up with compassion, respect, and heart. The Child Center doesn’t just provide services—it creates hope, stability, and opportunity where it’s needed most. And I see it in the youth who leave here, with more confidence that they can achieve lives they are proud of. I am truly grateful to be part of the Child Center family and to contribute, in my own way, to work that makes a lasting difference.