 Barbara Faron
Happy New Year! Welcome to our first e-newsletter. We at Federation of Organizations are excited to present a new on-line edition of our newsletter. It will enable us to reach out to more people and keep our friends in the community updated on Federation's news.
Please feel free to Like us on Facebook, join our mailing list or visit our web site. We hope you enjoy the video about our Foster Grandparent Program and look forward to bringing you more videos in future editions.
Again, we hope you enjoy the new look of our newsletter and we look forward to your continued support. |
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Federation's Building 74 Opens in 2012
After 7 years of planning, design and development, we are proud to announce the opening of our new Queens Village Community Residence/Single Room Occupancy (CR/SRO) which will provide safe, transitional housing for 50 people who are recovering from mental illness and are leaving Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. The project is funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health and Richman Asset Management. No recovery can ever happen without safe, affordable housing. Federation believes housing is the keystone of recovery. Thirty-six apartments will provide a safe place for people in early recovery to develop the skills to live and thrive in the community. The facility also includes opportunities for people to work in the Big Nosh Too!, a convenience store on the lower level scheduled to open later this Spring. "We like to think of this facility as a hidden gem on the Creedmoor campus tucked away on 6th Street! The building will be a tremendous asset to the community and we are very proud to be a part of this important project", said Doris Wagner, LMSW, CPRP, Chief Administrative Officer.
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Keeping Families Healthy Program
Thanks to funding from a Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL NY 6) grant, Federation of Organizations has partnered with Stony Brook Primary Care physician practices in Patchogue and Islip. Federation hires, trains and manages Community Health Workers who in turn, make home visits to qualifying patients in between office visits. The workers spend quality time with parents and their children, helping them to make and keep their appointments, and helping them to locate other medical resources. They provide information on nutrition, safety, development, immunizations and other preventive care. And they provide language assistance to families who do not speak English.
Since starting in July, Federation has helped more than 240 children through more than 500 home visits. More than 2,000 phone calls and letters have been sent out on behalf of children and their families, and more than 6,000 contacts have been made to help obtain resources. Children up to 18 years of age are eligible if they have Medicaid or a chronic health condition.
Keeping Families Healthy has three main areas of focus: (1) management of prevalent chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes and obesity; (2) well child/adolescent care, including such issues as developing healthy eating habits, preventing disease and building a relationship with a pediatrician; and (3) newborn care during the first two months of life, when parents often need more education and support. The service is free to those who qualify. |
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Tracy Falkner Receives Partners with Families Award
Federation of Organizations is proud to announce that Tracy Falkner, Director of Community Services received the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services' (NYAPRS) prestigious Partners with Families Award. The Partners with Families Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated inspiring leadership in the advancement of the alliance of families and consumers in promoting the recovery, rehabilitation and rights of people with psychiatric disabilities. The award was presented at the annual NYAPRS conference held at the Hudson Valley Resort and Conference Center in September.
We are very proud of Tracy for her tireless efforts on behalf of the consumers and their families dealing with mental illness. There is no one more deserving of this award! |
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Foster Grandparent Program-In the News
Foster Grandparent volunteers are deeply committed to their volunteer service, and rarely ever take a day off. After this past week-long winter break, the volunteers were thrilled to return to school and see the faces of the children once again. These children deeply rely on the love, attention, nurturing, support and guidance these volunteers so unselfishly provide, and the impact that the volunteers have on the children's growth and development in the classroom is remarkable. The program is so effective that the 2010-2011 end of year survey showed an academic improvement in 99% of the children working with a Foster Grandparent.
None of this would be possible without the support of our community. The monetary support and donations provided to the program significantly help maintain its operation, especially during these tough economic times. Due to the generosity of Lincoln Computer Services, Toshiba Business Solutions and WALK 97.5 radio, we received three extraordinary donations that were raffled off at our Volunteer Holiday Luncheon and helped raise money in support of our program. The donations included an iPad, a digital camera/video recorder and Broadway show tickets. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Lincoln, Toshiba and WALK radio for their support of the Foster Grandparent Program. We would also like to thank all of the raffle participators who bought and sold tickets in support of the Foster Grandparent Program and CA, Inc. for allowing our volunteers to sell tickets at their facility. Congratulations to the winners! |
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Community Feedback
It is always nice to hear from family members about the impact our services have on their loved one. We thought we would share this letter with our readers:
I have a son who is under the care of one of your ICM workers, Emmett. I just would like to say that it is a blessing for me and my son to have him as his ICM worker. I highly commend him for his dedication, compassion and sensitivity to the mental and emotional needs of my son. He is also a big source of comfort and support for me. I have gone through a lot of stress dealing with my son's illness, this is his first breakdown, and having Emmett to help my son get into the right programs and resources that are available for him, was such a huge relief. He is an asset to your organization.
I would also like to thank your organization for providing such programs that make a big difference in the lives of people who are suffering from this devastating illness. You cannot imagine how hard it is to accept, let alone deal with mental illness especially when it is the person that you care and love so much that has the illness. I wish you more power and success for your organization and have Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
R.L. |
Work is Within Reach
Since it's inception in May of 2007, Federation of Organizations' Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) has assisted over sixty people, who are in recovery from mental illness, with their employment goals. Using recovery oriented person centered planning and other evidenced based practices that are proven to work, Federation is helping people to realize their short term employment goals as well as their long-term career ambitions.
"Not only is work an important aspect of recovery, it is an integral part of life", states, Jason Vandewater, LMSW, Job Developer. Gaps in work history, social doubts, decreased confidence and stamina, lack of higher education and fear of loosing social benefits and insurance are some of the barriers people with mental health conditions face when returning to work. Through the PROS Program and a combination of other employment services such as Ticket to Work and ACCES/VR (formerly VESID) supported employment services, Federation is working with people to overcome these barriers.
"Having a job and doing something meaningful gives people the confidence they need to move forward in their life and their recovery", said Honora Stephan, LMSW, CPRP Associate Director of Community Services. Federation's dedicated staff has assisted individuals with securing jobs at the following companies: Radio Shack, Marcy Haven, Johnny Rockets, United Parcel Services, Canada Dry, Pet Smart, Bayport Flower House, Target, Wal-Mart,Whole Foods Market, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Kohl's, Just Kids, Sears, Right at Home and others.
Federation of Organizations is proud to be able to give hope to the people we serve. |
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Federation Celebrates 40 Years of Helping People to Help Themselves
We are proud to be celebrating Federation of Organizations' 40th anniversary. Today, the participation of families and consumers in mental health service delivery is almost accepted as a matter of course. It's easy to forget the pioneering efforts of the people who made this possible.
Irving and Irene Berkowitz, Michael and Sylvia Halper, Max Schneier, founding President of Federation's Board of Directors, and others were determined to improve the system and give families a voice. They brought together the members of the various psychiatric hospital guilds in New York State who had long fought to improve hospital conditions and create a network of community-based care in response to deinstitutionalization. In 1972 the group became incorporated as Federation of Organizations.
We've come a long way! Mental health services are now delivered in the community. Consumers and families are respected participants in mental health planning and service delivery. We know that mental illness can be treated and people can recover and rebuild their lives.
We have worked hard to make necessary changes over the last 40 years. There are many dedicated people to whom we owe our success. We know we can count on our supporters, our staff and all our program participants for the energy and commitment necessary to meet the challenges we face as we move forward in 2012. |
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Federation is Awarded a Grant in Support of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Federation recently received a $15,000 grant in support of our Nassau County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The grant was made possible by the Leone Scott Wise Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Long Island Community Foundation. The Long Island Community Foundation (LICF) has been making grants to improve our region and helping donors with their philanthropy since 1978. The focus of the grant is to recruit more senior volunteers to address the needs of isolated, homebound seniors in Nassau County.
RSVP volunteers are needed to provide these isolated seniors with transportation to medical appointments, delivering nutritious meals, provide friendly visiting services and companionship and to act as senior advocates. For more information on becoming a volunteer please call (516) 541-RSVP (7787).
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Foster Grandparents-
Making a Difference
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An interview with Morgan, Austin and Patty |
Help us to continue our mission!
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In Suffolk County, many people have been affected by Tropical Storm Irene. The goal of Project Hope is to help people find ways to cope with the stress caused by Irene.
Project Hope provides free crisis counseling services through community outreach, public education and information and referrals.
Project Hope staff are available to individuals, families, community groups, businesses and service organizations at no charge for the purpose of realizing wholeness and coping with the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene.
Project Hope is funded through a grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and facilitated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Project Hope is a program of the NYS Office of Mental Health. For more information call 631-335-9009. |
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We Are Proud To Thank
Our Corporate Sponsors
For Their Support
Because of the tremendous success of Federation's programs in communities all across Long Island, numerous corporate sponsors have generously pledged their support. We would like to extend our thanks to:
Astoria Federal Savings Bank
Bank of America
Flushing Savings Bank
Holtz Rubenstein Reminick LLP
Morritt Hock Hamroff & Horowitz
M.P. Agency
Mutual of America Life Insurance Company
National Grid
State Bank of Long Island
The Dammann Fund
The Knapp Swezey Foundation
The New York Community Bank Foundation
The Townwide Fund of Huntington
TLC Transportation
United Health Care
United Way of Long Island |
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Federation of Organizations
One Farmingdale Road
West Babylon, NY 11704
(631) 669-5355
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