Archive for category: Uncategorized

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan & Family of Woodstock Announce Free County-wide Naloxone Trainings and Kits

County Executive Pat Ryan announced today that Family of Woodstock is now providing ongoing and discreet, one-on-one trainings in the delivery of Naloxone. Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent overdose by opioids such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. It blocks opioid receptor sites, reversing the toxic effects of the overdose. The medication is administered through intranasal spray. Once trained, individuals with health insurance can access a Naloxone kit at most pharmacies. Individuals who do not have health insurance will be provided a Naloxone kit from the agency, free of charge.

Michael Berg, Executive Director of Family of Woodstock has assisted Ulster County in its work to combat the opioid epidemic since the inception of the Opioid Task Force in 2018 and continues to serve on the Opioid Strategic Action Team today. Family of Woodstock has been a major player in delivering substance use prevention and many other valuable services that have benefited residents of the Ulster County community since 1970.

“Behind every statistic is a person. Behind every person is a family. We cannot allow this crisis to continue to rip apart our community and our families,” County Executive Ryan said. “We need partners in fighting this epidemic and I thank Family of Woodstock for continuing to step up for our community. I am committed to reducing our opioid fatalities by 50 percent in two years, efforts like these help us achieve that goal.”

“Too many of our neighbors are losing their lives to opioids,” Michael Berg, Executive Director of Family of Woodstock, Inc. said. “If you or someone close to you is using, I hope that you will take the opportunity to be trained and receive a Naloxone kit. It might well save a life. If you need to talk to someone about what is happening for you or your loved one, Family’s hotline is available 24 hours a day to help.”

“Family’s decision to make access to Narcan easier will definitely save lives,” Dr. Carol Smith, Ulster County Commissioner of Health and Mental Health said. “It is a highly effective tool for reversing overdoses and for reducing the possibility of fatal consequences. While it is not the solution to the opioid epidemic, it can help those who have overdosed to live another day, with a chance to work toward healing, recovery – and a brighter future.”

Individuals wishing to receive training in the delivery of Naloxone can come to any of the agency’s four walk-in centers. Appointments are not required and no questions will be asked.

Family of Woodstock, Inc. Walk-in Centers:

Family of Woodstock
Location: 16 Rock City Rd.
Walk-in Hours: 7 days a week, 9:30am to 9:30pm

Family of New Paltz
Location: 51 North Chestnut St.
Walk-in Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-5:00pm, and Friday, 10:00am-4:00pm

Family of Ellenville
Location: 221 Canal St.
Walk-in Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm, and Wednesday, 10:00am-6:30pm.

Family of Kingston
Location: 39 John St.
Walk-in Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm

If you’ve got a problem…
Contact our hotline before it becomes a crisis:
Call 24/7 or Text to (845) 679-2485

Please check out & share Family’s new one minute PSA created by our friends at Folded Leaf Productions to learn more about the wide range of services we provide to the community. Our 24/7 call & text help hotline is available for any problem under the sun @ 845 679 2485. Visit https://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org for more info about our shelters and food pantries, plus domestic abuse, child care, youth, adolescent and adult assistance outreach.

Watch video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw2GftK9jXU&feature=youtu.be

Chat Now

We need your help getting the word out about Family’s newest service! Check out the new TextMeBack video and please share with those you know who could benefit from the service, “Like” the new Facebook page or donate to our Generosity fundraiser campaign.  The campaign will help purchase training materials and provide stipends for our trainers, outreach materials to share with schools, other agencies and mental health professionals, ergonomic workstations for TextMeBack staff & volunteers, and develop a resource database which can be shared by our program staff and will ultimately be made available to other agencies and the public. Learn more about TextMeBack on our website; start using the service by texting us at 845 679 2485; or Chat Now. Thank you so much to JL Aronson, www.creativearson.com for donating his services to create the video, and to everyone who is able to support this important new service!

Watch the Video + Donate Now!

Family is excited to launch a new service to provide additional access to help for individuals in the community. As substance abuse and addiction issues continue to make headlines, Family intends to provide additional access to support and resources by launching a texting service. Since one in five teens have a mental health condition, and are one of the most underserved populations, and recognizing that most young people are more comfortable using texting than a phone, we are establishing a texting hotline to meet that need.

Family of Woodstock’s textmeback.org confidential text + chat hotline is a new way to access our extensive crisis intervention services and knowledge of local resources. Texting has become a popular form of communication and can be used to seek help with a wide variety of topics. More than 14 million crisis texts have been received nationwide over the past three years, showing the need for this valuable service in Ulster County.

As Family’s Executive Director Michael Berg explains: “Clearly texting is the future and Family’s history has always been to provide the maximum access for people to get help.”

This texting service can be used by all members of the Ulster County community. Family has a dedicated history of helping with such issues as domestic violence, mental health challenges, homelessness, substance use and abuse, loneliness, and suicide, among others. The Agency provides assistance to thousands of individuals annually and is committed to serving the changing communication needs in the community.

Family offers an opportunity to be part of the change you wish to see in the world. Intervention is as simple as answering a phone call or text message at the moment someone reaches out. It is as direct as offering a cup of coffee and a bag of food to someone who is hungry. Family of Woodstock is now accepting hotline and textline volunteer applications.

To access the service, text to 845 679 2485 or visit textmeback.org for the online chat service. For comments, questions, or to find out how to volunteer, call our 24-7 hotline at the same number, 845-679-2485 or stop by 16 Rock City Road Woodstock, NY 12498.

Chat Now

Need food, clothing, shelter, or fuel?
The need for Emergency Food has increased dramatically in recent years. In the last year, FAMILY’s Food Pantries gave out over 140,000 meals through its pantries and an additional 50,000 meals at the agencies emergency shelters.

FAMILY of Ellenville
221 Canal Street
Ellenville, NY 12428
(845) 647-2443
Fax: (845) 647-2460
Email: foeh@familyofwoodstockinc.org
Program Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Mon, Wed
9:00 am – 4:30 pm Tues, Thurs, Fri
Hotline: 24 hours

FAMILY of New Paltz
51 North Chestnut Street
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 255-8801
Fax: (845) 255-3498
Email: fnph@familyofwoodstockinc.org
Program Hours: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm Mon – Fri
Hotline: 24 hours

FAMILY of Woodstock
16 Rock City Road
Woodstock, NY 12498
(845) 679-2485 / 338-2370
Fax: (845) 679-8490
Email: fowh@familyofwoodstockinc.org
Program Hours: Walk-ins: 9:15 am – 9:45 pm
Hotline: 24 hours

Are you running low on food? FAMILY operates Emergency Food Pantries in Woodstock, New Paltz, and Ellenville. We know how hard it can be to balance unexpected bills or just stretch out your resources through the whole month. Whenever possible, we provide enough food for your family for three to four days.

Do you need a place to stay? Call any of our hotline numbers. FAMILY has emergency housing for individuals and families at our recently renovated Darmstadt Shelter and FAMILY Inn in Kingston. During the day, a referral from the Department of Social Services is required. After hours and on weekends, FAMILY uses federal emergency funds, when available, to provide a single night’s stay in an area motel.

Are you out of fuel for cooking or heating?  During the winter months, call any FAMILY hotline number to access emergency fuel to get you through the night or weekend. If you need help paying your fuel bills, a Family Case Manager can help you gain control over your budget, receive benefits you may be eligible for, and help you advocate for a payment plan.

Do you need clothes or household items? There is an endless supply of quality clothing, cooking items, and even furniture available through FAMILY’s Walk-In Centers. Stop by and have a look or check the “Donations” book for furniture items offered for pickup.

Donations of unopened food items are always welcome. We also use your cash donations to purchase perishables and other items to keep the Food Pantries stocked with a variety of foods. Holiday donations of food and gifts are a great way to share the holiday spirit (check out the Donate To FAMILY section of this website)!

Have items you’d like to donate? Great, but please call first. Each of our centers has limited space!