Nassau County

KINSHIP CAREGIVER PROGRAMS

National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights: Long Island Kinship Connection
Stony Brook, NY (Suffolk County) 631-444-3160
Hempstead, NY (Nassau County) 516-481-1006
National Hotline: 1-866-624-9900
Email: abcast@optonline.net


Provides a toll-free phone for information concerning direct services for kinship caregivers in Long Island. Also provides direct services through case management, referral, legal information and referrals, support groups (in both counties), counseling, and family group conferencing. Two locations: Stony Brook and Hempstead.

A New York State Office of Children and Family Services Kinship Caregiver Program.

Hispanic Counseling Center
344 Fulton Avenue
Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 538-2613
Fax: (516) 538-0772
Website: http://www.hispaniccounseling.org/

HCC is Long Island’s leading not-for-profit agency providing comprehensive treatment/human services with a focus on Latino families, serving more than 1,200 clients per month. HCC offers 16 programs ranging from outpatient mental health, alcohol and drug treatment to family support services such as after school tutoring for children and adolescents, School Age Child Care, a socialization center for at-risk teens, summer camp for children, parenting workshops, adult literacy and ESL classes, supported housing for the mentally ill and people in recovery from addictions, respite for parents of children with serious emotional disturbances, case management for children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, case management for children at risk of foster care placement, mental health services for people affected by HIV/AIDS. HCC is a single point of entry for a range of ancillary services for every family member, strengthening families and keeping them together, using a culturally competent holistic approach. HCC is unique in that all professional staff members are fully bilingual and bicultural, reflecting the cultures of Long Island’s Latino immigrants, and the only agency in Long Island licensed by the state to provide mental health and chemical dependence treatment in a fully bilingual/bicultural approach.

A New York State Office of Children and Family Services Kinship Caregiver Program.

AGING PROGRAMS

Nassau County Dept. of Senior Citizen Affairs
60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard
Uniondale, NY 11553-3653
(516) 227-8900
FAX: (516) 227-8972

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc.
925 Hempstead Turnpike
Franklin Square, NY 11010
516-358-9250
Email: bmontalbano@childcarenassau.org

The Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc. can assist you with finding child care (We maintain a database of over 1000 child care options including child care centers, family and group family child care homes, summer camps and other children’s programs.) and choosing child care (We offer information and counseling on evaluating and choosing child care) and provide workshops for parents. We also offr a Grandparents as Caregivers support group.

Nassau County Youth Board
60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd. Suite 220
Uniondale, NY 11553
(516) 227-7134
(516) 227-7107 (fax)
Email: george.siberon@hhsnassaucountyny.us

Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
207 Hillside Avenue
Williston Park, NY 11596
(Nassau County)
Phone: 516-747-2606
Fax: 516-747-0714
Contact Person: Valerie Taylor, MS, MHC, Program Coordinator
Email: vtaylor@licadd.org
Website: www.licadd.org

Agency Overview:
LICADD is a not-for-profit agency that provides professional prevention, intervention, evaluation and referral services to the community. LICADD conducts alcoholism and other drug risk education for individuals, families and communities from kindergarten through adulthood. Programs include adolescent evaluations, parenting workshops, elementary and middle school interactive modules, and support curricula for children in addiction-based families (ages 7-12). A broad range of problem solving presentations can be custom designed and delivered upon demand for higher education institutions, business groups, church and community organizations.

Program Overview:

Our new BUDDY (Building Unique, Dynamic & Diverse Youth) brings together three of Long Island’s premier nonprofit organizations -- the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), the Long Island Council of Churches (LICC) and the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island (MPLI) who have teamed-up to launch and sustain a mentoring program for children in Nassau County whose mothers are incarcerated. LICADD defines “mentoring” as a “highly structured, carefully managed program in which children are appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers who meet one-on-one with the children on a regular basis to provide guidance and support with the goal of establishing a trusting relationship between each child and a caring adult mentor that lasts for no less than one year, and hopefully for a lifetime.”

Many children benefit from an additional adult who can help them with their homework and encourage them in school. Other children may enjoy playing games and sports with their mentor. Often, mentors can provide an empathetic ear and support as children deal with their mother’s incarceration. Research indicates that children with mentors have better relationships with parents and peers, are less likely to skip school, and are more likely to feel confident about their schoolwork and themselves. Finally, mentors can help link children and families to community-based services.

Youth participating in LICADD’s BUDDY program will experience new, predictable, attached and sustained relationships with their mentors. They’ll participate in fun social activities that build competence and confidence. Youth, their caretakers and families will also gain enhanced access to a wide variety of professionally delivered health, mental health, social and financial services designed to enhance their quality of life and sense of well-being.

The BUDDY program is supported by the federal Administration for Children and Families and relies on volunteers. If you are caring for a child whose mother is incarcerated and are interested in hearing more about our new program, please call Valerie Taylor at 516-747-2606.

 

LEGAL SERVICES

Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc. (NSLS – Hempstead)
1 Helen Keller Way
Hempstead, NY 11550-3903
PHONE: (516) 292-8100
FAX: (516) 292-6529
www.nslawservices.org
Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee Inc. or "Law Services" is a non-profit, community based poverty law program which provides legal assistance in civil (non-criminal) matters to low income people throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State.

OTHER LOCAL SERVICES

Hour Children
36-11A 12th Street
Long Island City, NY 11106
(718) 433-4724
(718) 433-4728 (fax)
www.hourchildren.org/default.aspx

Hour Children’s community-based programs offer employment assistance, family reunification program, supportive housing, after school program, thrift shop, and furniture outlet.

SCO Family of Services
1 Alexander Place
Glen Cove, NY 11542
(516) 671-1253 or (718) 895-2555, x108
www.stchristopher-ottilie.org/default.htm
SCO offers the following program services: foster care and adoption, family enhancement services, programs for children and adults with special needs, adolescent services, preventive services, and educational programs. Family enhancement services include developmental play groups for caregivers and children and a home-based literacy program.