A NOTE FROM OUR CEO
Brian Doyle
Family Partnership Center Delivers Remarkable Return on Investment
According to the Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz, every one dollar spent on services provided by organizations at the Family Partnership Center, yields a 72 dollar return on investment!
Many of us have long known the great value of the services provided by all of our partner agencies here in the Family Partnership Center. The significance found in the human stories of successes paint a vivid and compelling story. But how can that value be otherwise measured?
- How important is shelter from the freezing cold for a man who finds himself homeless due to the loss of a job?
- What price tag can you put on keeping a teen safe and away from gang and gun violence that poisons his neighborhood?
- How much savings do taxpayers derive when a person with diabetes and with little money receives regular healthcare at the nearby clinic instead of making frequent visits to the hospital?
- What exactly does it mean to the health of a child in their first year when her expectant mother and father receive lessons on prenatal care, parenting skills and good nutrition, and what is the dollar value of those lessons?
- When a family is able to put a week’s worth of nutritious food on the table, what does it mean to them and the community in terms of warding off hunger and poor nutrition?
These are the questions answered in the recently released report authored by Dr. Eve Waltermaurer, Senior Research Scientist at the Benjamin Center.
After extensive data collection and analysis, Dr. Waltermaurer has provided the commissioned report on the Short Term Social Return on Investment / Economic Impact study surrounding services provided at the Family Partnership Center.
Services provided by the partner agencies at the Family Partnership Center (FPC) are clearly essential to our neighbors, enabling many to achieve otherwise unattainable goals, overcome distress; and be healthy and self-possessed members of the community.
It is important for us to be convey to our partners, funders and donors, that their investment is sound, Thanks to Dr. Waltermaurer and the Benjamin Center for reminding us of just how important services provided at the FPC are!
By the Numbers
$72 FOR EVERY $1
For every $1 invested in a Family Partnership Center program, the short-term social return on investment averages $72 for the persons served and the community.
Wear Orange to Raise Awareness About Gun Violence
Casey Hons
Vice President for Operations
Vice President for Operations
We live in a world where mass shootings are a disturbingly common occurrence. I am the mother of three girls, one in elementary school, one in middle school, and one graduating high school in just a couple of weeks. They have so many questions and fears about gun violence, particularly about school shootings. They have seen too many horrific incidents such as those in Sandy Hook, CT and Parkland, FL. While it is my job to make them feel safe, I struggle to explain why these shootings happen. Why would anyone want to hurt innocent children? Why can’t they just go to school to learn and feel safe there? It is amazing how children can surprise their parents with insight beyond their years. One day, shortly after the Parkland shooting, my girls told me that they decided that rather than be afraid, they wanted to help stop gun violence.
Every day, 100 Americans are killed by a gun and many more injured. Firearms are the 2nd leading cause of death for American teens and children. This is unacceptable, so I ask that this month you join me and wear orange in support of gun violence prevention. Why orange? Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s family and friends wore in her honor after she was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013. Hadiya was a 15 year old girl who had performed in President Obama’s inaugural parade only weeks before she was killed. Since then the “wear orange” movement has spread beyond Chicago and June has been designated as Gun Violence Prevention Month across the country.
The fight to prevent senseless gun violence starts with all of us standing together. Standing up as people who want safer communities for our families. Standing up as parents protecting our children and freeing them from fear that they may not make it to recess today. Standing up as moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents and neighbors who are putting their foot down to say “no more”.
Last year my girls and I went to the March for our Lives in Washington D.C… I have never been more proud than I was in that moment as I watched them stand side by side with people of all ages, races, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds fighting for the same cause. The right to feel safe. The right to gun free schools. The right to live.
Check out more information at www.wearorange.org.
Program Spotlights
After School Programs
As Family Services’ After School programming is coming to an end for this school year, we are happy to share highlights of the school year. This year, we served over 175 Poughkeepsie students at four locations: Krieger Elementary, Clinton Elementary, Warring Elementary and Morse Elementary Schools. Funding through the Advantage and Empire grants allowed all of our students to attend at no cost. Children not only benefited from the enthusiasm of Family Services staff, but also the participation of college interns and volunteers from Marist College, Adelphi University, Dutchess Community College, Vassar College, and Mount St. Mary College.
Throughout the school year, students were engaged in homework assistance, enrichment projects and recreational activities includingtalent shows, a Harlem Renaissance Fair, holiday themed parties, and arts and crafts. This year students enjoyed yoga once per month, thanks to a local volunteer. The Poughkeepsie Farm Project provided fun activities in which the children learned about nutrition and gardening and everyone was amazed when Happy Dan’s Magic Show performed.
The children take pride in giving back to their community. For this year’s projects, they collected food for those in need and donated clothing to school Kid’s Closets. Older children participated on Youth Councils, helping to build leadership and mentoring skills. The Youth Councils selected community projects and special activities throughout the year, such as Game Day, Movie Day with popcorn and hot chocolate, and their end of the school year parties.
Poughkeepsie Youth Theatre
Poughkeepsie Youth Theatre (PYT), The Teen Resource Activity Center’s newest initiative, wrapped another successful year with a rousing culminating performance. On May 21, in the Family Partnership Center Lateef Islam Auditorium, youth presented STREETS, an original theater production created by the youth, all ages 13-18.
The evening featured seven dramatic vignettes, including movement-based first and last scenes. A humorous, albeit contentious scene was played, re-wound and replayed, with an invitation for audience participation and reflection. The vocal and engaged audience was comprised of local community, friends and family of the cast, Family Services staff, and faculty from both Vassar College and Dutchess Community College, who have student-interns at PYT.
Participation in PYT requires no audition or experience; only a willingness to share ideas, fully commit, and engage with fellow participants with a sense of humor and good will. The program, which runs during the school year, is free to participants and PYT welcomes new participants throughout the year.
PYT is grateful for the support of various entities. The Bunnell Family and Ann and Abe Effron Donor Advised Fund each gifted PYT with trips to New York City to attend theatre performances. PYT is also supported by Vassar’s Good Neighbors Fund, the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, and the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council of the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.
A Look Back
On April 25, 2019, over 350 friends and supporters attended Family Services’ Family of the Year Awards Dinner at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie. For almost 30 years, this noteworthy event has recognized and commended individuals who have made significant contributions to the community and whose ideals reflect those of Family Services by providing hope, improving lives, and strengthening community. This year, we were pleased to honor the Arnoff Family with the Quality of Life Award and the Rossi Family with the Good Neighbor Award.
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On May 30, 2019 Family Partnership Center Steward, Kellie Wofford, along with Professor McCabe from Dutchess Community College and her Graphic Design III class, coordinated an unveiling of The Family Partnership Center Partner Mural.
Each graphic design student chose an organization and digitally illustrated that particular organization in a single square of the mural. When assembled, the squares comprise a quilt representing all partners organizations housed within the Family Partnership Center.
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On May 30, 2019 Kathy Peluso, Family Services Center for Victim Safety and Support Coordinator of Training and Outreach who will soon be leading the Sexual Assault Response Team, received recognition from the Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse (CASADA). Kathy has worked tirelessly in support of victims for 15 years. Family Services is so proud of all that she has done and will continue to do to improve our community’s response for victims.
Upcoming Events
On Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Heritage Food + Drink will host a charity dinner for Family Services, donating 10% of the proceeds to support our critical work in the community. Come out an enjoy good food for a great cause!
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