Register now for Virtual Circles with Peaceful Schools

We are excited to partner with Peaceful Schools to bring Virtual Circles and a series of mindfulness videos to families and caregivers!

An Opportunity for Creative Artists and Activists

Deadline extended for Time for Reckoning microgrants

The deadline has been extended for applications for community microgrants provided in association with the Time for Reckoning symposium held throughout the month of October.

Webinar: How parents can earn their high school equivalency

Head Start and Early Head Start Family Service Staff are invited to this 1-hour free webinar about "How Parents Can Earn Their High School Equivalency".

Thursday, 12/17/2020, 11:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Currently, 13,000 NYS Head Start/EHS parents do not possess a high school diploma (or its equivalent) this represents over 24% of parents in Head Start/EHS in NY.

Webinar: Financial Planning for People With IDD

A Forum on Financial Planning for People With IDD

Tuesday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. ET

The ability to save is crucial in securing a life plan for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who often rely on public benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and housing and food assistance to pay for things that they need to live in the community. How do people know what public benefits they are eligible for?

Come to NYC Virtual Mental Health Film Festival

A 3-Day Free Virtual Event

Our 16th annual NYC Mental Health Film Festival (MHFF) will be our first ever online festival! We’re so excited to bring you a three-day, FREE virtual event, featuring great films, Q&As with filmmakers, and a few surprises.

Information on applying for SNAP and WIC during the COVID-19

Have you or your family lost income recently?

You may be eligible for programs that help you get the food you need.

Get information on applying for SNAP and WIC during the COVID-19 outbreak, and learn how we can help.

Community partners: For the 2.2 million people living in NYS households who struggle against hunger, COVID-19 presents unique challenges. As more schools, child care centers, and meal sites are impacted, additional families may lose access to the programs that improve their nutrition, health, and well-being. Hunger Solutions New York is working to provide updates on the operation of federal nutrition assistance programs that can help schools, community organizations, and families mitigate the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the food security of low-income people.

We work to promote and maximize participation in key federal nutrition assistance programs.

As a statewide organization dedicated to alleviating hunger, our mission is more important than ever. Keep updated on developments.

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) GoVoter Survey

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered is collecting the personal experiences of voters with disabilities for the 2020 Election in the 2020 GoVoter Experience Survey. Learning about these experiences helps election officials and others improve their voting services and helps disability organizations know where to focus their voter education.

KIDS COUNT: All Data Are Local

Virtual Conference Sessions

The virtual conference, KIDS COUNT: ALL Data Are Local, will showcase different data websites native to NYS and national sites that illuminate important topics for children and families. Since 1997, the Council has been a member of the state-level KIDS COUNT network, supported with funding by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Comment Open for OPWDD

Public Comment Open for OPWDD Comprehensive Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Amendment

The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is pleased to announce the opportunity for public comment on the draft OPWDD Comprehensive Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Amendment. OPWDD will be seeking an effective date of April 1, 2021.

9-8-8 Signed into Law

The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed into law on Saturday, October 17. This legislation will create a new 9-8-8 dialing code for suicide prevention, helping Americans who are seeking services for mental health emergencies. The National Council thanks our advocates for tirelessly leading the charge in making this hotline a reality. The success of 9-8-8 comes at a critical time for behavioral health services, as COVID-19 has contributed to increased isolation and unemployment, among other difficulties. Implementation of 9-8-8 now moves to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which recently set a deadline of July 2022 for the full, national implementation of the hotline.

For now, please call: 

1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline today.

Veterans should Press 1 to be connected with the Veterans Crisis Line.

Doors to Wellbeing Peer Specialist Monthly Webinar Series

Incorporating Youth Leadership into Treatment

This is the start of a new series. You need to register for this webinar even if you have attended in the past

Leadership skills are an essential part of life. Every person has leadership qualities. Come learn from these experts on how they have incorporated youth leadership into treatment plans to empower youth to see how their resilience is leadership.

Virtual small group discussions and individual interviews for Parents and Caregivers

Family Discussion for Parents/Caregivers of Children and Youth (ages 0 – 21) with Physical, Medical, Emotional and Learning Needs

Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) and The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at University of Rochester Medical Center is recruiting families to participate in discussions about how to best support families in New York State (NYS) who have a child or youth with physical, medical, emotional or learning needs. In addition, we are working with local health departments (LHDs) to compile a regional resource directory and training materials that LHDs can use to support children and youth and their families in the future.
 
WIHD and The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester Medical Center are engaged in this project through a grant from the NYS Department of Health.
 
We will be holding virtual small group discussions and individual interviews with eligible participants from May 2020 through June 2021.

Who is eligible?

• Any person who lives in NYS; and is
• A parent/guardian with caregiving responsibility of a child or youth (0-21) with physical, medical, emotional or learning needs; or
• An individual (18-21) with physical, medical, emotional or learning needs.

Discussion Group Details:

• 90-minute virtual group discussion; $75 compensation
• 60-minute individual phone interview; $50 compensation

 
Interpreters available and sessions in Spanish available

For more information:

In the Hudson Valley and Upstate Region of NYS
Call or Email:
Susan at 914-719-7774 or sburlazzi@wihd.org
Jeannie at 914-719-7761 or jrisucci@wihd.org
 
In the Western Region of NYS
Visit: https://bit.ly/3dyV7Ih
Email: Melissa at Melissa_Parrish@urmc.rochester.edu