FAMILY AND CHILD SERVICE OF SCHENECTADY INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of Family & Child Service of Schenectady, Inc., (FCSS) is to enrich the lives of vulnerable individuals and their families by providing highly personalized in-home and community based services.
About This Cause
Overview 2021 marks the 91st anniversary of Family and Child Service of Schenectady, Inc. (FCSS). Our agency is constantly evolving to meet the changing and essential needs of the most vulnerable individuals in New York's Capital Region. Our mission is to enrich the lives of vulnerable individuals and their families by providing highly personalized in-home and community based services. Our dedicated and compassionate team provides all our services with a total budget of only about $1,500,000. Less than 5% of our budget comes from donations. Bequests, memorials, honoraria and other gifts enhance our existing programs, and assure the agency’s sustainability and growth. Our Programs Self Direction Services Our Self Direction Program was established in 2018 to meet changing priorities in services to intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals throughout the Capital Region, a population that we have been serving since 1994. We work with individuals with intellectual and developmentally disabled adults and youth, ages 3 and older, as well as their support systems in Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie, Rensselaer, and Albany Counties. The Self Direction program is a NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Home and Community Based Waiver service that offers these clients greater flexibility to select their own mix of supports and services, thus establishing care personalized to their own needs and interests. Our role is to serve as a “co-employer” for their self-hired staff, by managing the budgets for the services outlined in their self-direction plans. Our Fiscal Intermediaries and Brokers are person-centered and strive to provide each individual with the highest quality of service. In 2021, we will start provide SEMP, or Supported Employment to individuals with disabilities. SEMP helps individuals with disabilities find meaningful employment in integrated, competitive market workplaces. Family Support Services The Family Support Services program has several components, including Respite Care; Community Habilitation; Family Grants; Social Activities Program (SAP); and FCSS’s unique Integrated Behavioral and Family Intervention Program (IBFIP). Respite Care is designed to give the parent or caretaker of an individual with a developmental disability the opportunity to attend to their own needs, explore their own interests, or attend to other family members. A trained direct care staff person supervises their loved ones and ensure that his or her safety is maintained. Community Habilitation is designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities. Individuals work with one of our highly skilled direct care staff who members who assist them with acquiring the skills necessary to meet their valued outcomes. The direct care staff members also provide support and assist individuals with exploring new activities and making new relationships in their community. The Family Support Services (FSS) Reimbursement Grant program supports and enhances the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. These reimbursement grants help individuals remain in their homes and access supports and services otherwise not affordable or covered by other funding sources. FSS reimbursement grants offer funding in two categories. The first is for goods and services; recreation opportunities; and respite. The second category is emergency funding for utilities and rental assistance when an individual’s health and safety is threatened. Emergency grant requests are prioritized and reviewed as soon as they are received. The Social Activity Program was established to provide structured and planned activities for individuals to promote social interaction and integration. It also provides non-traditional opportunities for new life experiences and personal skill development. The Integrated Behavioral and Family Intervention Program is designed for individuals for whom behavioral problems have been identified. This program provides time-limited, integrated intervention services. The focus of the intervention is twofold. First, a Behaviorist helps identify and develop a behavioral plan to meet the specific needs of the individual. Next, a Family Therapist provides education and guidance to family members to support the individual’s Behavioral Plan. The program is designed to create sustainable changes for the individual and family.