Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) act for children in or at risk for foster care placement. When your case is assigned a CASA worker, you get a trained volunteer advocate who works to observe and understand the child’s situation. This person provides Family Court judges with impartial information about the circumstances of the children involved.

Services:

Trained volunteer advocates familiar with laws & courts

Home visits, interviews, and meetings with key people in the child’s life

Written reports that become part of the court record.

Having a CASA as part of your Family Court proceedings guarantees that there’s always going to be someone who’s purely on the side of those who matter most—the kids.

For details, or to learn about becoming a volunteer advocate, call 845-473-2500, ext. 1323.

Adult Protective Services is a mandated program created by law to protect vulnerable adults over the age of 18 from harm due to their inability to care for themselves or because of neglect or abuse by others. After receiving the report of an individuals suspected to be at risk, a unit worker will complete a home visit to assess the individual and current situation, then work with the individual and family to coordinate any recommended services.

Provides services for persons over 18 who are physically or mentally impaired and who are in a situation where they are harmed or threatened with harm by the actions of themselves or others. This often involves the frail elderly and adults who are physically or mentally disabled, seriously ill or alcohol/substance abusers.

Potential clients have no one able or willing to help them meet their essential needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and for medical care.

All calls are confidential and may be made anonymously.

For additional information, visit: www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/psa/

Chenango Health Network's(CHN) Community Health Advocate Program is part of a statewide network of agencies helping New Yorker's use their health insurance and access the health care they need. CHN advocates help individuals and families resolve their health insurance problems regardless of whether they are privately insured, publicly insured, or uninsured. Advocates also answer questions, provide information and offer support on a variety of health-related issues so that individuals and families get health care. Assistance may include finding a primary care provider or specialist, obtaining prior authorization for care, understanding medical bills and working out payment plans with providers, understand their rights and responsibilities under the ACA, understand their appeal rights for denial of coverage or care, and more.

Rockland County Department of Social Services

Steuben County Dept. of Social Services

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) helps people find and recommend businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. They set standards for ethical business behavior and monitors compliance. They handle disagreements between businesses and their customers.

A collaboration with Lifespan that includes outreach efforts to seniors, families, caretakers, and professionals about the importance of recognizing elder abuse, how to report it, and other steps needed to protect loved ones.

Safety monitoring

Linkages with other service providers (health, mental health, aging, etc.)

Assistance in obtaining benefits

Informal money management

Seeking appointment as a representative payee

Petitioning a court for appointment as a guardian

Other legal intervention

siegards@smha.org
Intakes are completed in 3 sessionns for counsleing anbd psychiatric services. SDOA application process for case management.