Today we’d like to introduce you to Irina Marcoff.
Hi Irina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The idea for TheraYouth began about 6 years ago with a simple but determined goal: to create a nonprofit clinic where children could receive the therapy services they need, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
For many years, while working at Central Physical Therapy, I personally treated five to six children pro bono because their families could not afford therapy or had difficulty finding clinics that accepted their insurance. I saw firsthand how many children were not receiving the care they needed, especially those from middle- to lower-income families.
When COVID-19 struck, the need for pediatric therapy services increased dramatically. Families were struggling more than ever, and the number of children needing help grew exponentially. It became clear that helping only five or six children was no longer enough. I began thinking about how to expand therapy services to reach more families who were being left behind.
The only real solution was to create a nonprofit clinic dedicated to serving these children.
In February 2020, we applied to the IRS for nonprofit status. As part of the application process, we had to conduct extensive research on therapy clinics across New Jersey—specifically how many actually accept children with Medicaid and in-network insurance plans. The findings confirmed what we were seeing every day: access to care for many children was extremely limited.
As an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, I did not have wealthy connections or the financial resources needed to launch a clinic overnight. What I did have was determination and a belief that if the mission was meaningful enough, the right people would come together to support it.
And they did.
One of our very first supporters was Arlene Chasek, who’s name the clinic in Elizabeth Carries, an extraordinary woman, encouraged me to pursue what at times felt like a crazy dream and inspired me to find others who shared the same passion for helping children.
Together with full support from my husband, my brother and my increasable allies and close friends – Svetlana Kozlova, Lucy Schwartzman, Fiqaar Wadley and Margery Ostrow, we began sharing our vision with others in the community. Soon two remarkable people -Jaslynn Vesuvio and her husband Michael Vesuvio— stepped in and did everything possible to help make the opening of our first clinic a reality.
We were also fortunate to receive tremendous support from the community. The encouragement of Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage, Northfield Bank branch manager Miguel Carvajal, and many others helped move this dream forward.
There were and are many challenges along the way, but as more people understand the importance of our mission, more supporters joined us to help keep the vision alive.
About a year after applying, we officially received our nonprofit status from the IRS.
And finally, in August 2023, the doors of the first TheraYouth clinic in Elizabeth, New Jersey opened.
What began as helping a few children pro bono has grown into a mission to provide therapy services and support to many more families who need it most. TheraYouth exists because a community came together around one belief: that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, heal, and reach their full potential.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey to building TheraYouth was filled with many challenges. As an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, I did not begin with connections to people with financial resources or influence who could help launch a nonprofit clinic quickly. Much of the process required learning step by step, meeting people, and building support from the ground up. One of the early obstacles was not having the right grant writer. For a long time, this limited our ability to pursue funding opportunities until we were fortunate enough to meet Karen McLaughlin, an incredibly talented and dedicated grant writer who has since become an invaluable part of our efforts.
Another major challenge was that most grant programs require nonprofits to operate for at least two years and provide detailed financial audits before they can even apply. These audits are extremely expensive, creating another barrier for a young organization like ours that is trying to grow while serving families with limited resources.
At the same time, we were incredibly fortunate to meet people who believed in our mission and stepped forward to help. John McManus generously provided pro bono legal guidance and support, helping us navigate complex legal requirements while also becoming one of our important supporters and donors.
Interestingly, filling the therapy schedule was never the challenge. The need in the community was immediate and overwhelming. What continues to be difficult is securing enough financial support to expand the number of therapy hours and hire more therapists. Today, more than 400 children remain on our waiting list, and knowing that these families are waiting for services while we work to raise the funds to bring on more therapists is one of the most difficult parts of our journey.
Another ongoing challenge has been connecting with local corporations and businesses and finding opportunities to share the story and mission of TheraYouth. As a young nonprofit, building those relationships has been a challenge to reach out and educate how meaningful their support can be. With greater awareness and partnership from the business community, we believe even more children will have the opportunity to receive the care they need.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
TheraYouth helps children in underserved communities overcome physical and developmental barriers through affordable outpatient therapy, creating healthier futures. We are a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to addressing the healthcare-accessibility gap that exists in high-density neighborhoods.
Our program encompasses one-on-one Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical therapy services for children from families with low-to-moderate incomes who are unable to access care due to high costs, too few providers, or gaps in school services. We operate a clinic at 65 Jefferson Avenue in Elizabeth, NJ.
TheraYouth was founded to bridge that gap. At our clinic in Elizabeth, we provide high-quality physical, occupational, and speech therapy to children whose families would otherwise go without care. In less than three years, we have treated more than 180 children and helped over 110 complete their therapy. Yet the need remains great, with more than 400 children still waiting for help.
Due to limited insurance reimbursement for therapy, clinics are forced to charge high out-of-pocket fees to cover the full costs of treatment. With an average cost per session to families of $120.00 – $250.00 in New Jersey, and typical treatment being anywhere from 12 to 20 sessions, this makes therapy unaffordable for many families.
SCARCITY OF PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS: Of the 40 outpatient therapy facilities in Union County, only 9 offer pediatric services, of these only ONE other (Children’s Specialized Hospital) takes Medicaid, government insurance for those with limited incomes. Of the rest, 90% are out-of-network. Many clinics refuse to accept Medicaid due its low reimbursement rate of ~$35 per session.
LIMITED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT: Early Intervention (EI) programs stop at age three, and in high-need New Jersey communities there are six-to-nine-month wait times, delaying therapy and hindering children’s progress. We have treated children who have aged-out of Early Intervention eligibility during this long wait time. School services may not apply if a child’s
learning isn’t directly affected by their condition. This creates a fragmented and inequitable system, leaving countless families without support. That’s where we come in. TheraYouth helps fill the gap in service during these critical windows of child development and eligibility of government-sponsored services. Currently within our practice, 88% of the children in our care rely on Medicaid, 10% have private insurance, and 2% have no insurance. Minority children from low-income families are
disproportionately affected in accessing care (Magnusson, 2016, pp. 27-33). We believe therapy should be accessible to every child who needs it. Because when kids get the right support, they grow stronger, more confident, and ready for the future – bringing lasting benefits to their families and communities.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My husband-Leo Marcoff, My brother George, My Mother Larisa
As I have mentioned My dear friends Svetlana, Lucy, Fiqaar, Margery, Jaslynn and Mike Vesuvio consistently organized and sponsored and fundraiser events, Inna and Igor Berin (consistently sponsored fundraiser events), John and Rose McManus (pro-bono legal guidance and work, consistently sponsored fundraiser events), Marian Cunningham (consistently sponsored fundraiser events), Sean Callagy (consistently sponsored fundraiser events), Dr. Rekha and Dr. Leonid Mandel with Cardiology associates (consistently sponsored fundraiser events), Patricia Cunningham (donated her time and expertise as commercial real state agent-to get us our first clinic location), Christopher and Jennet Warren (consistently sponsored fundraiser events), and may others.
Also essential supporters and believers: Arlene Chasek, Susan Watts, Joan White, Donnie and Kathy Miller, our incredible accountant (kindly donated his time and expertise to do yearly Income Tax) Louis Harraka, Harry and David with Harry’s Fine Jewelry, Jennifer Allan (SLP volunteer) and Family. Miguel Carvalho (Continuously supports and builds awareness of TheraYouth importance in the community)
Thanks to all board members and advisers!!!
Thanks to all donors, sponsors volunteers and Dedicated TheraYouth’s clinic Therapist and Our amazing administrator- Elisa Martinez.
Pricing:
- TheraYouth T-shirts $20.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://therayouth.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therayouthfoundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheraYouth-103221408591031
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/therayouth/about/
