Who We Are

Family of Woodstock, Archive
Family of Woodstock, Archive

Family of Woodstock, Inc. (Family) is a multi-program human service agency providing services throughout Ulster County. Founded in 1970, Family’s principle focuses are crisis intervention services – Family runs one of the oldest continuously operating 24-hour-a-day emergency switchboards in the country, which is county-wide and toll free; and walk-in centers in Woodstock, New Paltz, Ellenville and Kingston – emergency shelters – Family House, a 14-bed runaway and homeless youth facility; the Darmstadt Shelter for the Homeless, a 19-bed shelter for men and women, primarily in recovery; the Family Inn, a 27-bed shelter for homeless families; the Washbourne House, a 17-bed domestic violence shelter, for women and their children; and MidWay, two supervised transitional living residences for up to six homeless adolescents each, and, when necessary, their children – child care programs – Family’s Child Care Council serves families, child care providers and the community in Ulster, Columbia and Greene Counties; and Child Care Subsidy Administration for the Department of Social Services of Columbia County – case management services – to such discreet populations as adults and adolescents struggling with issues of substance abuse or mental health, individuals involved with the criminal justice system, homeless individuals and families, victims of domestic violence, as well as the general public – and food programs – extensive food pantries at the walk-in centers in Woodstock, New Paltz and Ellenville and at the domestic violence shelter; and distribution of donated produce and food from local farmers to the county’s food pantries and feeding programs. The agency is leading a coalition whose goal is to improve the storage of donated foods throughout the county and better share resources in the network of food pantries.

Family provides non-residential services to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence including: an advocate at the Ulster County Family Court; groups for men and women who have been violent with a family member through the Evolve program; and supervised visitations authorized by the Family Court for non-custodial parents. The agency is leading the effort to expand strength-based and prevention programs which grow healthier individuals and communities, working with many of the county’s school districts, sponsoring Kingston Cares, a community collaborative focused on the area covered by the Kingston City School District, and participating in collaboratives in New Paltz and Ellenville. Family advocates for the creation of affordable housing and has taken responsibility to provide reentry support for those returning to the County from State Prison. To assist with this effort, the agency provides long term housing support for individuals and families with significant disabilities. Family is also providing leadership in an effort to identify and respond to the difficulties seniors are having in staying in their own homes as they age. Family assists with vocational training and employment support for those we serve. The goal of Family’s programs is to assist people to achieve self-sufficiency and self-respect.

FAMILY’s network of services is made possible through your generous donations and by contracts for services with the following agencies, whose confidence in the quality of our work is a testament to our talented and hard working staff.

Ulster County Departments: Mental Health, Social Services, Probation, Youth Bureau

New York State Agencies: Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Children and FAMILY Services, Office of Mental Health, Unified Court System, Department of Health, Department of Education

Federal Agencies: Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Federal Emergency Management Services (FEMA), Child and Adult Care Food Program, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Other agencies and governmental support: United Way of Ulster County, United Way of Columbia-Greene, Ulster County Workforce Development, Columbia County Department of Social Services, Kingston Schools McKinney Act Funds, Village of Ellenville, Town of New Paltz, Town of Woodstock.