September 6, 2014

Spreading the Word
Written by Brian Doyle, Chief Executive Officer 
       As we are all subject to heaps of information coming our way and more and more every day it's all the more important that we provide the community with clear and useful information about what we do here at Family Services and information about the many wonderful agencies and programs that our partners at the Family Partnership Center extend to the community. On the first account I'm thrilled to see that after many months of work with our IT consultant, (MVP Works) as well as the talented staff within Family Services including Jean Calyer, Jessica Wallach, and Pam Tarquinio, we are about to unveil our completely redesigned website.
      On September 10th you'll be able to click on www.familyservicesny.org to see a more user friendly and complete website that provides detail about the many services offered through our agency. As well as the programs and services that are ongoing, the website provides information about events both past and future that are offered to the community. And, quite importantly, it offers ways for our supporters in the community to "click and contribute" to the work of Family Services.

       I'm also very pleased that after many months of work by our Vassar interns in collaboration with the partners within the Family Partnership Center, we now have a newly revised and up-to-date Family Partnership Center Directory that provides clear and comprehensive information about the twenty-one agencies and programs that call the Family Partnership Center their home. As well as detailing the depth and breadth of services provided by each, this directory provides contact information and direction as to location within the Family Partnership Center for each program. Hard copies are available to be viewed at the reception desk as well as with each of our partner agencies that may want to use these directories as referral resources. Finally the directory is available online through our website by clicking on the Family Partnership Center tab so that the directory can be viewed electronically.

          This is all part of our on-going effort to be clear, informative and transparent to our community supporters as well as the people who rely on the many services provided by Family Services and our Partners. So please take the opportunity as of September 10th to look at our new website and to click on the Family Partnership Center directory as well.

Featured Story

Remembering those lost

 

          In 2007, Congress designated Sept. 25th as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. Robert and Charlotte Hullinger of Cincinnati formed Parents of Murdered Children following the murder of their 19-year-old daughter, Lisa, on September 25th 1978 while she was studying in Germany. The annual National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims gives us all the opportunity to remember those lost to homicide, and honor their memories.

 

The purpose of this day of remembrance is to focus on the impact of murder on families, and communities, and ways to support and serve survivors. The grief response following a loss due to violence is often intensified; families and friends are suddenly forced to face the loss of a loved one instantaneously and without warning. The intense grief responses experienced by survivors include shock, anger, guilt, sudden depression, despair and hopelessness. Survivors may experience a greater sense of vulnerability and heightened anxiety. Survivors can become overwhelmingly preoccupied with thoughts that such a random act of violence might happen again.

 

The safe world they once knew, no longer exists.

 

Family Services continues its commitment to emotionally support those individuals who are left with the grief and trauma resulting from their loss. Family Services' Crime Victims Assistance Program continues to hold the Homicide Survivor's Support Group which meets the first and third Monday of each month at the Family Services' North Annex Building at 29 North Hamilton St. in Poughkeepsie from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. These groups provide those who attend with the needed support that comes from a sudden loss to a violent act. Below are attestations from the individuals who attend the support group:

 

"I am a part of the murder victims support group. My 5 year old son was murdered by his biological father 3 years ago. I have tried other support groups, but none understood what I am going through like this group. I leave here feeling more peaceful every time."

 

"Thank you for having started the Homicide Survivors Support Group; those of us who have shared our thoughts and experiences have benefited from our group sessions."

 

Those interested in attending a meeting or for more information, should contact Kathy Peluso at 845-452-1110 ext. 3138.  

In addition to providing this support, the Family Services Crime Victims Assistance Program holds a community event for National Day of Remembrance for Murder victims to honor the lives of those taken by violence in Dutchess County and to recognize the impact on the surviving loved ones and our community. This year's event will be held on September 25th at the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum Pavilion on the Hudson.  

 

If you have lost a loved one to murder and would like to have their name read during the ceremony, or for more information about the event, please call: Kathy Peluso, Crime Victims Assistance Program Coordinator, (845) 452-1110 ext. 3138. We are also creating a Remembrance Board to display pictures of your loved ones. Please feel free to bring a picture.

 

Staff & Volunteers

A Red Carpet Event!

Vassar-Warner Home will be holding a grand fundraising event, "Puttin' on the Glitz". Great food, fantastic musical entertainment, silent auction, prizes and much more! Brian Doyle, CEO of Family Services will be honored for his continued commitment to the Vassar-Warner Home. He will be recognized along with Mr. Stephen Wing. Family Services would like to congratulate both gentlemen on this great honor. Vassar-Warner Home is the Only Not-for-profit Adult Home and Assisted Living Program in Dutchess County. Tickets are only $125 and help to support the much needed programs and services that Vassar-Warner Home provides for the elderly.  Call 845-454-3754, extension 14, for more details!

 

Recent Events
Family Services' Family Education Program hosted their first annual Summer Sizzle event
Family Education Program had it's first annual SUMMER SIZZLE at The Anchor, a local pub located in Mid-town Kingston.  Summer Sizzle tickets included draft beer, house wine, appetizers, coffee, tea, and soda, as well as live music performed by Denise Parent, Mike Johnson and Gregg Low.  Denise Parent is the programs' assistant by day and a professional musician by night.  As a strong supporter of the child abuse prevention work done in the program, she enlisted other musicians to volunteer their time to support the cause.  Guests enjoyed classic rock and Mo-town music and lots of dancing.  There were also more than 20 silent auction items for guests to bid on ranging from restaurant gift certificates to handmade wares crafted by local artists.  This event was the first of it's kind for FEP and our hope is that it gets larger and larger each year attracting more supporters of the critical services provided to the parents and children in Ulster County.
    

Special Thanks to Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union for their generous donation of school supplies!!
Special Thanks to the Susie Reizod Foundation for their generous donation of backpacks!
!

Crime Victims Assistance Program Staff Sasha Helton, Justin Whalen, and Kathy Peluso collect supplies for their clients
In This Issue
By the Numbers: 38 Individuals impacted of homicide were served through Family Services Crime Victims Assistance Program from January 2014 to June 2014

Quick Links



Leadership Partner

Family Services' 2013-2014 Leadership Partner
http://www.health-quest.org/


Upcoming Events

2014 National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims

Community Event

 Thursday, September 25th 3:00 pm  

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum Pavilion on the Hudson  

75 North Water Street    Poughkeepsie    

Rain or shine

 

For more information please call: Kathy Peluso, Crime Victims Assistance Program Coordinator, (845) 452-1110 ext. 3138.

 

Training to  

BECOME A NURTURING PROGRAM FACILITATOR!

OCTOBER 7, 8, 9th
 9:00 am-4:00 pm
 at the Family Partnership Center

$350.00 fee includes Lunch  

Payment is Due by October 1, 2014

Make Checks payable to Family Services and write Nurturing Workshop in the Memo line.  

Please mail payment to

Family Services

29 North Hamilton Street

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

 

For questions, please call Amy Cole 845-331-5641 x 223  

 

The Family Services 4th Walk a Mile in Her Shoes�
Saturday, October 18, 2014  
All Sport Health and Fitness Club 17 Old Main Street Fishkill
For more information, please contact Pam Tarquinio at [email protected] or 845-452-1110 ext 3116
To Register Click here


Our Leadership Team
Brian Doyle 
Chief Executive Officer 
[email protected]

Joan Crawford
Deputy Executive Director 
[email protected]

Natalie Borquist
Chief Financial Officer 
[email protected]

Sharon Doane
Director of Forensic Services and Crime Victims Assistance Program 
[email protected]
 
Leah Feldman
Director of Domestic Violence Services of Dutchess County 
[email protected]

Christopher Pels
Director of Human Resources and Risk Management
[email protected]
 
   
Our Partners
Born Again Disciples 
  
Community Voices Heard

 www.cvhactionheard.org  

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County

 www.ccedutchess.org

 

Dutchess County Department of Health  

www.dutchess.gov 

 
Dutchess County Healthy Families

www.healthyfamiliesnewyork.org 

 

Dutchess Outreach 

 

Hudson River Community Health Care

 

Hudson River Housing -    
   

John Flowers Community Events

 

Marist Liberty Partnership Program

www.marist.edu\campuslife\libertypartnership

 

Mental Health America - Mel's Place


New Day Repertory Company, Inc.

 

Planned Parenthood


R.E.A.L.Skills Network, Inc.

www.realskillsnetwork.org

 

Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library

 Mid Hudson Regional Turning Point

  

Youth Mission Outreach

 
Family Services |  http://www.familyservicesny.org
Family Partnership Center
29 N. Hamilton St.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
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