Social Services in City of Newburgh

March 27th, 2020

Social Services Resources in Newburgh

New York State continues to monitor and respond to developments related to coronavirus. Many of our nonprofits and human service agencies continue to provide services to people in need. Here is a list of nonprofits in operation and changes they have made to business operations due to coronavirus. This page was last updated 3/24/20 at 3:30pm.

 

RECAP
Orange County’s designated anti-poverty organization offering resources for low-income residents. Office is closed to visitors but services available via phone. Facebook page offers a demo on how to complete a Census 2020 questionnaire.
Phone: 845-568-3445
Website: www.recap.org/programs/newburghservices
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RegionalEconomicCommunityActionProgram

 

Cornerstone Family Healthcare

A non-profit community healthcare dedicated to seeing patients regardless of their ability to pay. Remains open for services. If you think you have been exposed to coronavirus and are experiencing symptoms call 845-563-8000 before visiting a facility.
Website: www.cornerstonefamilyhealthcare.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cornerstonefamilyhealthcare
Phone: 845-563-8000

 

Catholic Charities
Services continue for substance abuse and mental health treatment. Office is closed to visitors but services available via phone. Offering an online corona-theme workout.
Phone: 845-562-8255
Website: www.cccsos.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Catholic-Charities-of-Orange-Sullivan-and-Ulster-NY-132465336842873/

 

2-1-1 Hudson Valley Region

United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline is a free, confidential, multilingual service to assist the public with health and human services related questions. It is open 365 days a year.
Website: www.hudson211.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedWay211HV
Phone: 2-1-1

 

Newburgh Armory Unity Center
Enrichment activities for youth are available online and include Healthy Scholars, lending library of e-books, online chess club, and more.
Website: www.newburgharmory.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NAUCenter

 

Orange County Department of Social Services
Financial assistance, referrals for APS and CPS, foster care, medical assistance, Medicaid, and SNAP (food stamps).
Website: www.orangecountygov.com/841/Social-Services
Location: 141 Broadway
Phone: 845-568-5151

 

Newburgh Ministry
Winterhaven and Warming Station shelters will continue to house those most vulnerable. Non-essential programming is suspended including the Hospitality Center, Thrift Store, and Hygiene Closet.
Warming Station location: 104 S. Lander Street

Phone: 845-561-0070
Website: www.newburghministry.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NewburghMinistry

 

MISN (Maternal Infant Services Network)
Help with enrollment into state funded health programs (Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus), teen pregnancy prevention programs and perinatal health education and referral services. Services available via phone. Online breastfeeding class series.
Website: https://misn-ny.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MISN.NY
Phone: 845-561-3575

Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh
Closed for visitors. Visit website for a schedule of online activities, classes, social media challenges.
Website: www.bgcnny.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BGCNNY

 

Fearless! Hudson Valley (FKA Safe Homes of Orange County)
Locations are closed to visitors and staff are working remotely. Non-residential services including safety planning, crisis counseling, therapeutic services, legal support, and information and referrals are being handled remotely via 24 hour hotline. Court accompaniment is still being provided for family offenses petitions and our confidential emergency shelter and 24 hotline are always operational.
Phone: 24-hour hotline 845-562-5340, business office 845-562-5365
Website: https://fearlesshv.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fearlesshv

 

Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh 
Continue to serve existing clients and a waiting list is available. Call 211 for more food resources.
Phone: 845-562-3490
Website: www.mealsonwheelsnewburgh.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoWNewburgh

 

United Way 
Connections to volunteer opportunities during coronavirus including meal preparation and delivery and letter writing for homebound seniors. Lists of food pantries and soup kitchens, resources for phone and video conferencing, employment opportunities throughout the community, and military support.
Phone: 845-471-1900
Community Resources webpage: www.uwdor.org/covid19-communityresources
Facebook: www.facebook.com/uwdor
Helpers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/docommunitystrongresources/members

 

Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens List
Food pantries and soup kitchens in Newburgh are implementing health recommendations as they serve people in need. Indicated below are lists for local resources. These will be updated to reflect changes in operations. Before reporting to a center for food, please call ahead to learn about operational changes.

HVCS is also offering emergency food bags by appointment pickup only. Please call (845) 522-5753 for more information.

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COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline

March 26th, 2020

New York State has set up a hotline for residents to talk to someone about mental and emotional health issues during the coronavirus outbreak/pandemic.

Call 1-844-863-9314 any day of the week between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm.

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Consumer Advisory Board Meeting Postponed

March 24th, 2020

Our Consumer Advisory Board (HCAB) meeting has been postponed to an undecided date in the summer due to our office closure at this time. We will post more announcements when the meeting is officially rescheduled. HCAB is open to all current and former clients and we welcome them to provide us with feedback on our programs, direction and areas of potential growth.

Due to the current health crisis, the CAB will not have their usual April meeting. As the CAB meetings are very important, and we value your input, HVCS is hoping to hold the next meeting in the summer. We will evaluate the health climate and take the appropriate course at that time.

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Syringe Exchange Program Still Open Despite COVID-19

March 23rd, 2020

HVCS’ syringe exchange programs (SEPs) will be operating on special schedules during the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak.

In Rockland County, we will be offering special arrangement SEP. Call us and we will arrange for a special individual exchange. Please call (845) 356-4400.

Effective Tuesday 3-24-2020 we will use the below schedule (reduced hours) to meet the needs of our clients through SEP services in the other counties where we run the program.

Tuesdays:    Newburgh 10 – 3:30 p.m.

Kingston 1 – 3 p.m.

Thursdays: Poughkeepsie 10:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Monticello 11 – 12 p.m.

If you have questions please call us at (845) 234-5225.

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Sex and COVID-19

March 23rd, 2020

We thought it important to share a letter from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

All New Yorkers should stay home and minimize contact with others to reduce the spread of COVID-19. But can you have sex?
Here are some tips for how to enjoy sex and to avoid spreading COVID-19.

1. Know how COVID-19 spreads.
You can get COVID-19 from a person who has it.
The virus can spread to people who are within about 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 when that person coughs or sneezes.
The virus can spread through direct contact with their saliva or mucus.
We still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 and sex.
COVID-19 has been found in feces of people who are infected with the virus.
COVID-19 has not yet been found in semen or vaginal fluid.
We know that other coronaviruses do not efficiently transmit through sex.

2. Have sex with people close to you.
You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex.
The next safest partner is someone you live with. Having close contact — including sex — with only a small circle of people helps prevent spreading COVID-19.
You should avoid close contact — including sex — with anyone outside your household. If you do have sex with others, have as few partners as possible.
If you usually meet your sex partners online or make a living by having sex, consider taking a break from in-person dates. Video dates, sexting or chat rooms may be options for you.

3. Take care during sex.
Kissing can easily pass COVID-19. Avoid kissing anyone who is not part of your small circle of close contacts.
Rimming (mouth on anus) might spread COVID-19. Virus in feces may enter your mouth.
Condoms and dental dams can reduce contact with saliva or feces, especially during oral or anal sex.
Washing up before and after sex is more important than ever.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
The NYC Health Department may change recommendations as the situation evolves. 3.21.20
Wash sex toys with soap and warm water.
Disinfect keyboards and touch screens that you share with others (for video chat, for watching pornography or for anything else).

4. Skip sex if you or your partner is not feeling well.
If you or a partner may have COVID-19, avoid sex and especially kissing.
If you start to feel unwell, you may be about to develop symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
If you or your partner has a medical condition that can lead to more severe COVID-19, you may also want to skip sex.
Medical conditions include lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system (for example, having unsuppressed HIV and a low CD4 count).

5. Prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy.
HIV: Condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and having an undetectable viral load all help prevent HIV. For more information, visit nyc.gov/health and search HIV.
Other STIs: Condoms help prevent other STIs. Visit nyc.gov/health and search STIs.
Pregnancy: Make sure you have an effective form of birth control for the coming weeks. Visit nyc.gov/health and search birth control.

For more information about COVID-19, visit nyc.gov/coronavirus.

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HVCS’ Response to Coronavirus Pandemic: Office Closures

March 20th, 2020

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, starting on Monday, March 23, 2020, HVCS will be closing all its offices. Staff will be working from home.

All face-to-face meetings, testing, and support groups are suspended until further notice. Our THRIVES and Emily’s Pantry nutrition education clients will receive, mostly, vouchers to purchase food at local stores.

SEP vans will be operating on a reduced schedule of one day per week. Special arrangements will be made for Rockland County syringe exchange clients who need access to new syringes; we are also beefing up our ESAP program (vouchers for new syringes from pharmacies). We will be using telemedicine services to connect our Health Hub clients with Dr. Gomez for suboxone (buprenorphine) prescriptions.

If you have any critical needs or questions for HVCS, use our online contact form to connect to us.

 

 

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HIV+ People & Coronavirus: HVCS’ JanetLynn Remy-Decastro Interview

March 19th, 2020

Are HIV-positive people at greater risk for COVID-19? One reporter from Spectrum News asked that question and contacted us for perspective. JanetLynn Remy-Decastro, one of our peers, sat down for a television news interview with reporter Dominic McKenzie. He also talked with Jennifer Deekens, an infectious disease nurse practitioner from Cornerstone Family Healthcare for the medical side of this issue.

Watch the piece here: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/coronavirus/2020/03/19/are-people-with-hiv-at-great-risk-for-coronavirus#

 

 

 

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Positive Feedback from HVCS Client Survey

March 18th, 2020

HVCS is conducting Client Surveys from March through April for several of our programs. So far the results have been overwhelmingly positive. This is truly a testament to the hard work and caring spirit of our staff.

Participation in this survey is completely voluntary and the information collected is completely anonymous. We take the results seriously and welcome constructive feedback and to ensure that we are providing the best level of care and service possible.

HVCS is conducting Client Satisfaction 

If you are an HVCS Client enrolled in one of the programs below, please CLICK HERE to complete the Client Satisfaction Survey. 

  • THRIVES
  • Emily’s Pantry
  • Transportation (Lower Hudson)
  • Transportation (Mid Hudson)
  • NOEP
  • HCP (ADAP)
  • Part B ESS Case Management/Health Education
  • AI Housing Program
  • Tri-County (Part A) Housing
  • Psychosocial Support Services
  • Emergency Financial Services

 

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HVCS’ Response to Coronavirus Crisis

March 18th, 2020

Starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020 we will be operating our offices with smaller staff on duty each day.

Contingency plans also include:

  • For program specific information, guidelines and schedules, please contact your HVCS care/case manager or specialist.
  • All face-to-face meetings with clients are suspended until further notice, and there will be no walk-ins in any office.
  • All groups and educational sessions are suspended until further notice.
  • We will continue to provide regular food pantry bags. Until further notice, clients will need to call ahead to arrange for a food bag pickup. We will post flyers with a number to call on our doors.  Food bags will be left outside of the office door, so there is no physical contact. All food bags will need to be pre-packed (no client choice options). During this time, toiletries may not be available due to supply chain issues. If you are in an emergency situation and need food, bags will be provided outside our office space.

These plans will remain in effect for two weeks (until April 1). During this time we will continually re-evaluate our situation and may need to take further steps if we are required to do so by governmental authorities.

Remember these precautions:

  • Frequent handwashing is your best defense!
  • Practice social distancing: stay 6 feet away from others as much as you can. Greet people with a wave rather than physical contact.
  • Keep spaces clean and disinfected. Light switches and phones should be disinfected too!

More plans and news will be forthcoming as they become available. Stay healthy!

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Coronavirus Case in New Rochelle + Comparison to Flu Epidemic

March 5th, 2020

We received more Coronavirus information from an official press release from Westchester County. We’re sharing it to ensure we are providing you with relevant, non-repetitive news about the coronavirus.

  • 1 resident of New Rochelle has tested positive for COVID-19 and he is currently in a New York City hospital. Officials are investigating his community contacts and travel patterns.
  • If you have any concerns about COVID-19 please call 211 – they will have the most up-to-date information and they are here for you
    • 8am – 10pm  SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
    • Please call them – use this resource
  • If you think you are symptomatic – DO NOT GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM – YOU MUST CALL AHEAD BEFORE ARRIVAL.
  • 12 residents are currently in voluntary quarantine in their homes.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

AS OF RIGHT NOW – STEPS TAKEN

  • With Coronavirus spreading globally, the CDC has issued travel health notices.  To date, residents should avoid nonessential travel to  China, Iran, Italy and South Korea given the number of cases in these countries.
  • Older residents and those with chronic medical conditions should consider also avoiding travel to Japan.

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WHAT CAN YOU/RESIDENTS DO

  • Children are not overtly at risk
  • Stay informed, calm and don’t be alarmed
  • Wash hands -at least 20 seconds with soap and water
  • Stay home when sick
  • Cover your mouth when cough or sneeze  – elbow or tissue
  • Clean with non-green products (i.e. bleach-based) [note: cleaning kits were distributed in our offices to help keep our offices cleaner]
  • Get your flu shot

Some perspective from Cornerstone Family Healthcare’s Dr. Avi Silber, Chief Medical Officer:

It is important to view the Corona Virus in perspective. In the US in the ordinary 2019-2020 flu season so far,

  • 32  million people have had flu illnesses
  • 14 million have had flu medical visits
  • 310,000 people have been hospitalized for the flu
  • 18,000 people have died.

And these numbers are just in the US! Dr. Silber reemphasized the guidance that has already been provided and which is available in the easy-to-read flyers from the CDC. English Spanish

  • Wash your hands and wipe down your work space
  • If you have a fever and a cough, check with your medical provider, especially if you’re in a high risk group (elderly, diabetic, heart or lung disease)
  • Stay home if you’re sick

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