FAMILY SERVICES INC

CENTER FOR VICTIM SAFETY & SUPPORT CVSSCVSS PROVIDES 24-HOUR NON-RESIDENTIAL, COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER CRIMES THROUGH A PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVORS' RIGHTS, DIGNITY, HEALING, AND SELF-DETERMINATION. IN 2024, 2410 VICTIMS OF CRIME FOUND SUPPORT AT CVSS, INCLUDING 276 ADULT OR CHILD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND 1971 ADULT OR CHILD VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. CVSS STAFF RESPONDED TO OVER 5,600 CALLS ON OUR 24-HOUR HOTLINES, HELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND/OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WITH FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, CVSS ASSISTED 10 FAMILIES WITH STAYING SAFE IN THEIR HOME BY ASSISTING WITH RENT, UTILITIES, OR SAFETY MEASURES SUCH AS CAMERAS OR LOCKS. CVSS ASSISTED AN ADDITIONAL 11 CLIENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WITH RELOCATING TO A NEW, SAFE HOME WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS FUNDING.THROUGHOUT 2024 CVSS STAFF STRIVED TO CONNECT WITH RESIDENTS OF DUTCHESS COUNTY AND COMMUNITY PROVIDERS ALIKE, TO CONNECT AND SHARE INFORMATION AND EDUCATE ABOUT OUR SERVICES. THIS YEAR WE ATTENDED OVER 20 OUTREACH EVENTS FROM COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTIES, PRIDE MONTH EVENTS, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, TO HEALTH FAIRS AND PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES. ADDITIONALLY, CVSS PROVIDED OVER A DOZEN TRAINING COURSES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY, OFFICE OF PROBATION, LOCAL HOSPITAL STAFF, AND MORE.CVSS STAFF PROVIDED TRAINING ON TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACHES FOR WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF CRIME IN CRISIS AND CVSS SERVICES TO MID-HUDSON REGIONAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT STAFF THROUGH EARLY MORNING TRAINING SESSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DUTCHESS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND CVSS STAFF ORGANIZED A UNIQUE CROSS TRAINING SESSION WHERE VALUABLE INFORMATION ON PRE-TRIAL SUPERVISION AND CVSS SERVICES INCLUDING SAFETY PLANNING AND THE HIGH-RISK TEAM WERE SHARED WITH PROBATION OFFICERS, MEMBERS FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CVSS AND GRACE SMITH HOUSE STAFF, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.IN APRIL, CVSS HOSTED OUR 11TH ANNUAL VISIONS OF HOPE AND HEALING ART SHOW IN CELEBRATION OF CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS "HOW WOULD YOU HELP?". A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DETECTIVE FROM THE DUTCHESS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE POLICE COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICER AND AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FROM THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT WERE ALL HONORED AND ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO VICTIMS AND BEING CHAMPIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SURVIVORS. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH WAS PACKED WITH EVENTS INCLUDING THE PURPLE LIGHT PROJECT, WHERE HUNDREDS OF PURPLE LIGHTBULBS WERE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS DUTCHESS COUNTY TO SHOW SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STAFF, AND CLIENTS WALKED IN SOLIDARITY AROUND THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP CENTER. THE EVENT ENDED WITH WALKERS WRITING THE NAMES OF LOVED ONES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON PURPLE FLAGS TO BE DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. IN ADDITION, OUR PROGRAM COLLABORATED WITH GRACE SMITH HOUSE TO SHOWCASE THE CLOTHESLINE AND SILENT WITNESSES PROJECTS AT DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.IN SEPTEMBER, CVSS HOSTED A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR HOMICIDE VICTIMS AT FAMILY SERVICES. THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES TO VIOLENCE. FINALLY, DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, CVSS PARTNERED WITH ARLINGTON PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 2393 TO COORDINATE THE ANNUAL ADOPT-A-FAMILY EVENT WHERE SURVIVORS OF CRIME ARE PROVIDED WITH GIFT CARDS TO PURCHASE HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND FOOD FOR THEIR HOLIDAY DINNER. THIS YEAR, APPROXIMATELY $15,000 WAS RAISED TO SUPPORT 68 FAMILIES INCLUDING 147 CHILDREN.

THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP CENTER (FPC) IS THE HEART OF THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE. SINCE ITS OPENING IN 1997, THE FPC HAS BEEN HOME TO MANY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. TODAY, 20 NONPROFIT AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER ONE ROOF, COLLABORATING AS PARTNERS TO OFFER A ONE-STOP LOCATION FOR ENHANCED SERVICES. THE FPC PARTNERS PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, YOUTH PROGRAMMING, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, CRISIS RESPONSE AND PREVENTION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND OTHER SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP CENTER ALSO HOSTS COMMUNITY EVENTS ORGANIZED AND SPONSORED BY BOTH PARTNER AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.MULTIPLE CAPITAL PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WITH THE GOAL TO CREATE A MORE WELCOMING AND SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT RECEIVE SERVICES IN THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS FOR THOSE COMMITTED TO WORKING DILIGENTLY TO DELIVER THEM. REPLACEMENT OF THE FPC GYMNASIUM WINDOWS WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2024, FOLLOWED BY THE REPAVING OF THE REAR PARKING LOT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ANNEX BOILER IN OCTOBER 2024. THESE PROJECTS WERE CRITICAL TO HELP IMPROVE SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY ON OUR CAMPUS. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THE COMMITMENT TO PREVENTING INTERRUPTIONS IN ACCESS TO SERVICES WAS EVIDENT AS THOSE INSTANCES WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. TO ENSURE THIS, GREAT DETAIL WAS PAID TO TIMELY COMMUNICATION WITH PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING LOGISTICAL MODIFICATIONS FOR BUILDING ACCESS AND CURRENT PROJECT SCHEDULES. ALL PARTNERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE THROUGH COLLABORATION AND COOPERATIVE PARTICIPATION.THE DIVERSITY OF PROGRAM OFFERINGS WITHIN THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP CENTER WAS EXPANDED IN 2024 TO INCLUDE CELEBRATING THE AFRICAN SPIRIT, AN ORGANIZATION AIMING TO ACKNOWLEDGE, ARTICULATE, RESEARCH, AND COMMEMORATE THE LIVES OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. EDEN SHARE, A NEW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WAS ALSO ADDED AS A PARTNER IN 2024. EDEN SHARE'S MISSION IS TO CHAMPION REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE WHICH PROMOTES HEALTHY FOOD AND LAND, HEALTHIER BODIES AND MINDS, AND A WELCOMING SPACE FOR OTHER NONPROFITS AND THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO OPERATING THEIR OWN DEDICATED PLOT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AT THE FPC, EDEN SHARE HAS ALSO ASSUMED OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THE EXISTING FALL KILL COMMUNITY GARDEN.