News
October 20, 2016Parsons Awarded up to $1.5 Million to Develop Adoption Support Program
Parsons Child & Family Center, a member agency of Northern Rivers Family of Services, was selected by the State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to receive funding to establish a Regional Permanency Resource Center (PRC) to provide post adoption supportive services. The grant, $300,000 awarded annually for up to five years, will allow the agency to provide in-home services to adoptive families across an eight-county service area.
“Adoptive families face unique challenges in parenting children who have experienced separation, loss, and, for some, abuse, neglect and other traumas,” said William T. Gettman, CEO of Northern Rivers. “Our 300 years of experience in working with children and adults who face these issues will help us provide the support to keep adoptive families together.”
The project goal is to serve 45 families and 125 children per year across Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties beginning in December, 2016. In-home and in-office sessions will be held throughout the service area, building on the existing resources of the organization. Program supervisor Kate Schofield, MSW, will lead a team of case managers, therapists and other staff will provide assessment, advocacy, connection to community resources, parent training, peer support and mentoring, therapy and crisis intervention.
“We thank OCFS for choosing us to serve this region, allowing us to expand upon the post-adoptive services we have provided in these counties since 2001,” said Gettman. “We understand the unique challenges of being an adoptive family in each of these counties, and as someone with extensive personal and professional experience with adoption, Our experienced team brings the right mix of qualifications to help change lives for the better.”
