POUGHKEEPSIE – The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie has a Family Opportunity Center in Wingdale. The Children’s Home is one of eight agencies in New York to receive grant funding from the State Office of Children and Family Services.
The three-year grant is aimed at improving the safety and well-being of children and families by addressing issues of poverty, education barriers, substance use disorders and lack of adequate physical and mental health care.
“Family opportunity centers offer a child and family-centered program designed to meet concrete needs, improve school attendance, and provide a broad range of family strengthening services in easily accessible and welcoming locations in the community,” said Gail Geohagen-Pratt, deputy commissioner for Child Welfare and Community Services at the State Office of Children and Family Services. “The program is one of many ‘upstream’ prevention services intended to help strengthen families and reduce the need for more costly intervention services down the road resulting from reports of abuse and maltreatment.”
“The Children’s Home continues its efforts to bring creative services to children and families in our community in partnership with the NYS Office of Children and Family Services and Dutchess County’s Department of Children and Family Services. The Family Opportunity Center provides an opportunity to support families and offer assistance through the flexible funding structure of the grant,” said Walter Joseph, Executive Director and CEO at the Children’s Home.
The Family Opportunity Center, located at 6423 Route 55 in Wingdale, provides a safe place for youth of all ages and their families to gather. The Center includes space for programs such as literacy enrichment, homework support, sports and games, arts and crafts, and cooking. Additionally, families will have access to an array of services including Care Management, Children and Family Treatment and Support Services, Home and Community Based Services and a Parent Partner.
“We are excited to open the Family Opportunity Center in Wingdale”, said Courtney Doyle, Assistant Executive Director, Community Based Services at the Children’s Home. “This new program allows the Children’s Home to bring much-needed services to the Eastern part of Dutchess County, to help ensure every child and family have access to the tools, skills and support they need to thrive.”
The Family Opportunity Center is free and open to the public and can be visited on Tuesday-Thursday from 11:00 am-7:00 pm, Friday from 11:30 am-8:00 pm, and Saturday from 10 am-7 pm. The center is closed on Sundays. Mondays are by appointment only. Families may also call 845-473-8289 to arrange a time that suits their schedule. Or email: cbs@childrenshome.us.
