Community-Based Care from MHA (Aired on Aug. 28, 2022)

           

Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) provides a wide range of services to veterans, families, children, and those who, because of poverty, need help from local nonprofits or government-sponsored services. MHA’s CEO, Andrew O’Grady, returns to Radio Rotary to describe several of the programs that MHA has in place to provide community-based solutions to mental-health problems. The 250 workers at MHA are not all therapists—although some are—but they are all able to meet with those in need, direct them to sources of assistance, and follow up for as long as necessary. MHA partnerships with local businesses lead to employment opportunities. A newly donated building will enable MHA to set up a one-stop-shop for veteran’s services. Apartments and community residences can help with housing. MHA services are free or very inexpensive for its clients.

Learn More:
Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA): https://mhadutchess.org/
Veterans Services in Dutchess County: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Veteran-Services/Veterans-Services.htm
Home and Community-Based Services: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/American-Indian-Alaska-Native/AIAN/LTSS-TA-Center/info/hcbs

Did you like this? Share it:
September 2, 2022 · Posted in Addiction Recovery, Dutchess County, Housing Assistance, Mental Health, Service Organizations, Veterans  

Rebuilding Together in Dutchess County (Aired on Aug. 14, 2022)

        

Poughkeepsie-Arlington Rotarian Darcy McCourt, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together in Dutchess County, is the guest on this week’s Radio- Rotary program. Rebuilding Together grew out of an annual event called “Christmas in April,” for which volunteers on one day in April would repair homes of low-income senior citizens. The name was changed to “Rebuilding Together”
to reflect its transition to a year-round program. The mission, however, remains the same, although expanded: to make critical repairs for safety in private homes of those who cannot afford to pay for similar work. Rebuilding Together Dutchess County provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy efficiency improvements for seniors, persons living with disability, families with children, and active or retired members of the armed services. These services are provided at no cost to the homeowner. The work is done by local volunteers while much of the funding comes from grants or from local businesses.

Learn More:
Rebuilding Together. Dutchess County: https://www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org/
Rebuilding Together (national network): https://rebuildingtogether.org/

Did you like this? Share it:
August 22, 2022 · Posted in Aging, Dutchess County, Housing Assistance, Service Organizations, Veterans  

Foster Care in Dutchess County (Aired on July 24, 2022)

Sabrina Jaar Marzouka, Commissioner of the Dutchess Country Department of Community and Family Services, and Ashely Tilton, case manager for foster care for Dutchess County, visit Radio Rotary to explain how foster care provides a safe environment for children newborn up to age eighteen who are unable to live with their birth families. The goal of using foster care is to provide a temporary refuge; if a permanent arrangement is needed, adoption is the answer. Ms. Tilton has a pool of foster parents who have been through background checks and a ten-week training. She works to match a child who has been identified by Child Protective Services with an appropriate foster family from this foster-parent pool. The ultimate goal is to reunite the child with biological parents.

Learn More:
Dutchess Country Department of Community and Family Services: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Community-Family-Services/Community-and-Family-Services.htm
Foster Care, Dutchess County Family Services: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Community-Family-Services/Foster-Care.htm
Child Protective Services in Dutchess County: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Community-Family-Services/Child-Protective-Services-CPS.htm
Dutchess Foster Care Agencies: https://affcny.org/foster-care-agencies-dutchess-county-ny/

Did you like this? Share it:
August 15, 2022 · Posted in Children, Dutchess County  

Community Action Partnership (Aired on June 19, 2022)

Elizabeth Spira, CEO of the Community Action Partnership of Dutchess Country(CAP), visits Radio Rotary to describe the many programs that CAP offers to assist low-income residents with food, housing, energy needs, prescription medicine costs, and more. Community Action agencies originated as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” which began in 1964, and are an example of a federal program the works at the country or regional level. For those in need, CAP supplied 3 days of food (3 meals a day) at 4 locations in Dutchess County. For energy needs, not only is there financial help in buying fuel, but a weatherization offer that dramatically reduces fuel needs. The employment program helps seekers “Dress for Success” and prepare resumes.
Case workers help sort out the problems people face and find solutions to them. There is much more in this fascinating interview.

Learn More:
Community Action Partnership for Dutchess Country: https://www.dutchesscap.org/
History of Community Action: https://www.ncap.info/about/history/history-of-community-action.html

Did you like this? Share it:
June 27, 2022 · Posted in Aging, Business Assistance, Dutchess County, Financial Aid, Housing Assistance, Nutrition, Service Organizations  

« Previous Page — Next Page »