We Are Change Makers
By: Natalie Borquist, Chief Financial Officer
- Victim’s Rights
- Youth Services
- Housing
- Services
- And more!
- Dutchess County Universal Response to Domestic Violence
- Dutchess County Sexual Assault Response Team
- Mid-Hudson Community of Practice, Integrated Ulster and the Trauma-Informed Care Collaborative
- The Poughkeepsie Alliance
- City of Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet
- And more!
- NYS Council for Community Behavioral Health
- Community & Family Service Association of NYS
- National Council for Behavioral Health
- Council on Addictions of NYS
- OCFS Advantage/Empire Provider Advocacy Network
- CBHS IPA – Advocacy Committee
- NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- NYS Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- And more!
Program Spotlights
Universal Response to Domestic Violence
by Jenna Sarvis, Project Coordinator of URDV
The Universal Response to Domestic Violence (URDV) was established in 1994 with a mission to develop and maintain a coordinated community response to domestic violence. The URDV creates, implements, and monitors protocols among criminal justice, civil justice, law enforcement, and human service agencies working with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. Before URDV was established, different systems were often working in silos, not always collaboratively, to create one victim centered response for the community.
Law enforcement partners are crucial to the success of a coordinated community response. Collaboration with law enforcement opens the lines of communications between agencies. This allows for better, more accurate information sharing and it reduces misunderstandings. An example of collaboration between URDV and law enforcement is the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). LAP is an evidence-based response to intimate partner homicide prevention and has been operational in Dutchess County since 2014.
Through LAP, victims of domestic violence are screened on the scene by law enforcement. If a victim is at increased risk of homicide, the officer calls Family Services for support and encourages the victim to speak with an advocate. Police then follow up with the victim within 96 hours, showing the victim that advocates and law enforcement work together for their safety. We are proud to have partnered with 17 law enforcement agencies to train and implement LAP, resulting in 70% of victims staying connected after their initial connection on scene.
Collaboration leads to combining resources, knowledge, and skills to get the best outcomes for survivors. It improves survivor trust in the system and enhances survivor and officer safety.
After the Bell Program
By Stacey Greenberg, Associate Director of Youth Services and
Outcomes Management
A Look Back
Tree Arrington Mural Dedication
On Saturday, June 19th our community came together at the Family Partnership Center to witness the unveiling of a mural dedicated to the life and legacy of Theodore “Tree” Arrington.
Tree was an inspiration to all who gathered to celebrate his contributions to the community. Tree was a teacher, a leader, a change-maker who empowered everyone around him. His memory will continue to live on within the Family Partnership Center.
Bettina “Poet Gold” Wilkerson penned a beautiful tribute to Tree in spoken word. In reflections of Tree, the first words of Poet Gold’s poem impacted the heart and soul of all those who gathered:
There are those who preach from the pulpit
and those who preach on the street corner standing on boxes
But there is another, who spoke truth to power,
he wants to be remembered as “The Hoodlum Prophet”
We invite you to stop by the Family Partnership Center lobby to read Poet Gold’s entire poem and view the beautiful mural painted by Nestor Madalengoitia.
Hudson Valley Gives Day
On May 19th, Family Services once again participated in Hudson Valley Gives Day, a 24-hour day of giving designed to encourage people to give where they live. This year, the Family Services family had extra fun with the event as staff donated for the chance to win an ice cream party for their team and bonus vacation day for themselves. Congratulations to Margaret Maher from our Rhinebeck and Millbrook Behavioral Health Centers who was the big winner.
This year, with our community’s generous support, we raised $3020 to support the critical work of our programs throughout the community. THANK YOU!
Center for Victim Safety and Support Celebrates PRIDE
During the month of June, staff at our Center for Victim Safety and Support celebrated Pride and continued our efforts to create an inclusive and respectful environment for all who walk through our doors.
CVSS welcomed friends from the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center to share a training on Inclusive Pronouns as we strive to help all clients “Bee Free” to be themselves at CVSS. During the training, staff painted Bees and included their preferred pronouns within their work. This artwork now welcomes visitors to the Center for Victim Safety and Support, so clients and staff would know that they can “Bee Free to Share Pronouns at CVSS”.
Upcoming Events
The Family of the Year Awards Dinner is only a TWO weeks away! On Thursday, July 29 we are thrilled to honor the Ruge Family of Ruges Automotive and Don and Jill Veith of Veith Electric for the many ways they have contributed to our community.
Time is running out to get your in-person or virtual ticket to the event. The last day to purchase tickets is Saturday, July 24th. We hope that you join us at the Grandview (or from your living room if you prefer) to celebrate these wonderful families.
It’s not too late to share your congratulatory message with our honorees through digital ad or share your support for Family Services with an event sponsorship or donation to our auction.
SPONSOR THE EVENT OR SHARE A MESSAGE WITH OUR HONOREES THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT
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Family Services’ 2021 Leadership Partner
