THE RIVER FUND NEW YORK INC

THE RIVER FUND, BENEFITS ACCESS CENTER IN HELPING FAMILIES IN DISTRESS MEET THEIR NEEDS. SERVING ABOUT FIFTEEN HUNDRED FAMILIES ANNUALLY, RIVER FUND'S BENEFITS ACCESS CENTER PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH A PROACTIVE, FLEXIBLE, AND SENSITIVE APPROACH DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY NEEDS BEYOND THOSE BEING EXPRESSED. THE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE EVERY FAMILY'S CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ITS IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM NEEDS, AS WELL AS TO TAKE STEPS TO AMELIORATE THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC POVERTY.BENEFITS ACCESS AGENTS HAVE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING COUNSELING, HELP WITH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT, ADVOCACY WITH ACCESSING SERVICES AND ADVICE. THROUGH ITS DETAILED CLIENT-INTAKE PROCESS AND THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, STAFF CAN REFER CLIENTS TO MORE THAN 40 SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS RANGING FROM SNAP, IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE, HEALTHCARE ASSISTANCE, AND MUCH MORE.FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, RIVER FUND HAS PROMOTED ITS "FAMILY-BY-FAMILY" APPROACH TO BENEFITS ACCESS IN THE BELIEF THAT IT CAN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT OF QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME ADULTS, UNEMPLOYED, SENIORS, AND IMMIGRANTS. TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE, BEYOND THE MERE ACT OF OUTREACH, EASILY ACCESSIBLE ASSISTANCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF, OR PUZZLED ABOUT, THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND SUCCESS ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS IN URBAN SCHOOL SYSTEMS. FOR NEW YORK CITY TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL AND LASTING PROGRESS IN REDUCING INEQUALITY AND EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, GRASSROOTS EFFORTS FROM AGENCIES LIKE RIVER FUND ARE NEEDED TO INCREASE BOTH ATTENDANCE AND SUCCESS IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. RIVER FUND FIRST BEGAN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE CREATION OF THE MARY C. TIEDEMANN SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH OVER THE PAST DECADE HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED INTO A BROAD ARRAY OF PROGRAMS UNDER THE BANNER OF CRADLE-TO-COLLEGE.CRADLE-TO-COLLEGE GREW OUT OF RIVER FUND'S "RIVER TO SUCCESS" INITIATIVE, A UNIQUE EFFORT SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN THE HOME THROUGH THE ANNUAL PROVISION OF THINGS THAT MIGHT SEEM MINOR IN MORE PROSPEROUS HOUSEHOLDS, LIKE COMPLETE SETS OF GRADE-APPROPRIATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND BACKPACKS; REGULAR PURCHASES OF NEW SHOES; AND SLEEPAWAY CAMP DURING THE SUMMER. IN FACT, THESE EFFORTS BEGIN EVEN BEFORE CHILDREN ARE BORN, WITH RIVER FUND'S BABY SHOWER PROGRAM SUPPORTING NEW MOTHERS WITH EVERYTHING FROM WORKSHOPS IN LACTATION AND PARENTING TO PRENATAL VITAMINS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING THEM WITH POSTNATAL ESSENTIALS SUCH AS STROLLERS, CAR SEATS, BASSINETS, DIAPERS AND MUCH MORE.IN TURN, "RIVER TO SUCCESS" FEEDS YOUTH INTO OUR EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS PROGRAM, WHICH BEGINS DEVELOPING IMPORTANT SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT WHEN YOUTHS ARE IN JUNIOR HIGH BY OFFERING COUNSELING, TUTORING, AND A COMPUTER LAB, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEER WORK AND INTERNSHIPS. AS STUDENTS MOVE ON TOWARDS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, INVITEES TO THE MARY C. TIEDEMANN SCHOLARSHIP MAY ENROLL IN TWO- OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS ACCREDITED TRADE SCHOOLS. THE GOAL OF OUR CRADLE-TO-COLLEGE PROGRAM IS TO CREATE AN ACHIEVABLE PATH TOWARD COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL FOR ANYONE WILLING TO WORK FOR IT.