Federation Of Organizations For The New York State Mentally Disabled

PARTNERS WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE WELLNESS & ENRICH QUALITY OF LIFE.

RESIDENTIAL - FEDERATION ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, WITH ELDERLY AND/OR DISABLED MEMBERS, TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS THROUGH SELF HELP, PROVISION OF QUALITY SERVICES, ADVOCACY AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES. THE BELIEF IS THAT INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES FLOURISH BY HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN COMMUNITY LIFE. FEDERATION OFFERS INDIVIDUALS RECOVERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO WORK IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH THE COMPANION PROGRAM PEOPLE ARE PROVIDED WITH PREVOCATIONAL ON-SITE TRAINING, SUPPORT, A DAILY STIPEND AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT WHILE WORKING WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY RECOVERING FROM A MENTAL ILLNESS. FEDERATION'S OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDE EMERGENCY CRISIS ASSISTANCE, IMMEDIATE SUPPORT ADVOCACY, AND INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO THE HOMELESS, AND INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECOVERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH A MOBILE OUTREACH UNIT, PHONE CONTACT AND OFFICE VISITS.

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH - INDIVIDUALS ARE OFTEN DISCHARGED FROM PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPERVISION OR COMMUNITY SUPPORT. WHILE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, RESIDENTS LEARN HOW TO MANAGE DAILY LIVING SKILLS SUCH AS MEAL PREPARATION, BUDGETING, HOUSE CLEANING, SHOPPING, AND SOCIALIZATION SKILLS. OUR PROGRAMS HAVE A VARIETY OF LEVELS OF SUPERVISION, FROM 24 HOUR SUPERVISION TO MONTHLY VISITS.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS - OUR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION CONSISTS OF A VARIETY OF SERVICES DELIVERED TO MENTAL HEALTH CLIENTS BY PEER WORKERS, WHO ARE THEMSELVES IN RECOVERY OF MENTAL ILLNESS. THE NATURE OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES (PEERS) DIFFERS FROM THAT OF THE PROFESSIONAL INTERACTION IN THAT THE PEER WORKER IS VIEWED AS A ROLE MODEL WHO IS ABLE TO SHARE HIS PERSONAL RECOVERY EXPERIENCES.

THE SUFFOLK COUNTY RESPITE CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES TIME OFF TO CAREGIVERS OF THE FRAIL ELDERLY AGED 60 AND OLDER. TRAINED RESPITE WORKERS PROVIDE COMPANIONSHIP AND SUPERVISION TO THE ELDERLY. RESPITE CARE OFFERS AN AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO PREMATURE INSTITUTIONALIZED CARE.FEDERATION'S FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM GIVES SENIOR CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS WHILE EARNING EXTRA INCOME. OUR GRANDPARENTS, PLACED THROUGHOUT SUFFOLK COUNTY IN LOCAL SCHOOLS, HEAD START PROGRAMS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT NEEDED TO ASSIST THE CHILD IN MAXIMIZING HIS OR HER POTENTIAL. THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM IS A SENIOR-TO-SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES OLDER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEIR ADULT RECIPIENTS IN A NUMBER OF ESSENTIAL WAYS. VOLUNTEERS OFFER DIRECT SUPPORT, FRIENDSHIP, ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FRAIL OR HOMEBOUND AND HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. SENIOR COMPANIONS ASSIST WITH PREPARING A LIGHT MEAL, PARTICIPATING IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PLAYING CARDS, GAMES OR KNITTING AND PROVIDING RESOURCES AND REFERRALS. VOLUNTEERS ALSO PROVIDE OCCASIONAL TRANSPORTATION TO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, SHOPPING, AND COMMUNITY OUTINGS, SO THAT THEIR RECIPIENTS CAN STAY INDEPENDENT, ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERS MUST BE 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, IN CERTIFIABLE GOOD HEALTH, ABLE TO VOLUNTEER A MINIMUM OF 5 HOURS PER WEEKS, AND BE INCOME ELIGIBLE IN ORDER TO RECEIVED THE TAX - FREE STIPEND.