Herkimer County

We provide accessible mediation and conflict resolution services to help neighbors, landlords, tenants, families, and community members resolve disputes constructively and without court intervention. Our trained mediators facilitate respectful dialogue to find common ground and lasting agreements.

Community Resource Navigators offer short-term case management for Rensselaer, Albany, and Schenectady Counties. For more information, contact the program.

Provides a wide range of services to individuals of all ages with developmental and related disabilities and their families. CCDS currently operates sixteen residential programs in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties. The agency serves as a resource for 11 counties.

The programs and services available include the following:

• Individual Community Supports
• Environmental Modification (EMOD)
• Family Support Services
• Prader-Willi Syndrome Services
• Residential Services
• Respite Services
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Services

Residential Location in Rensselaer County:

• Gypsy Lane IRA, Brunswick, NY 12180

Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline: 315-866-0458

The program offers crisis and supportive services to victims of domestic violence and their children. Services include: safe, temporary shelter for battered women and children; supportive counseling; support, accompaniment, and advocacy through legal, medical, housing, and social services systems. We provide support group activities as well as information and referral. Community education and professional training programs are also offered.

The program safeguards the emotional, mental, sexual, and physical safety of children that have been affected by unfortunate events, while allowing them to have a positive contact with approved individuals, typically a biological parent. 
 
Supervised visits are ordered by family courts and participants are referred directly from the Columbia or Greene County Department of Social Services.

Parent Mentoring Program:

The program strives to improve the quality of parent-child interactions. Parents dialogue with visitation monitors about visits and work on furthering their growth in the area of parenting. 

The program is available to a portion of parents enrolled in the Facilitated Supervised Visitation Program and families directed to the program through a court order.

The Food $en$e Program, a monthly food-buying co-op through the Food Bank of Central New York, offers high-quality groceries at a reasonable price. For just $20.50, participants receive a package of 12-15 staple grocery items, with an estimated savings of up to $15 per unit compared to retail prices. Monthly specials like stuffed pork chops, lasagna, and chicken tenders can also be added. Bonus items are also available for purchase, and SNAP is welcomed.

Order Your Package: Visit www.foodbankcny.org or call 315-894-9917 ext. 254 for current menu and dates for placing in-person cash or EBT orders.

Health Insurance Information and Assistance (HIICAP) is a federally-funded program from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and administered by the New York State Office for the Aging, the Herkimer County Office for the Aging, and Catholic Charities. HIICAP provides clients with free, unbiased, and confidential information relating to Medicare, low-income subsidy programs, EPIC, Medigaps, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D, billing issues, durable goods providers, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, Patient Assistance Programs, and other health insurance issues. Trained staff and volunteers answer questions, advocate, handle enrollments and disenrollment situations, and refer clients for additional services.

Health Insurance Information and Assistance (HIICAP) is a federally-funded program from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and administered by the New York State Office for the Aging, the Herkimer County Office for the Aging, and Catholic Charities. HIICAP provides clients with free, unbiased, and confidential information relating to Medicare, low-income subsidy programs, EPIC, Medigaps, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D, billing issues, durable goods providers, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, Patient Assistance Programs, and other health insurance issues. Trained staff and volunteers answer questions, advocate, handle enrollments and disenrollment situations, and refer clients for additional services.

The Herkimer County Prevention Council is dedicated to preventing alcohol and substance abuse by working in partnership with individuals, families and communities.

HCPC provides comprehensive substance abuse prevention education services as defined by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports Services targeting individuals, families, schools and communities in Herkimer County.

The service approaches used by the HCPC include; classroom education (K-12), student assistance counseling, information dissemination and referral & community education and training.

The store provides quality used clothing and household items to families and individuals, regardless of income or geographic location. Donations are accepted from consumers for items obtained, with the exception of households who have been given a  referral from a school, church, or agency. Kateri’s is located on the ground level of the Little Falls Community Center.

• Affordable, quality clothing and household items for all
• Open to everyone—no income or geographic restrictions
• Donations from the community help support those in need

Clothing and household donations are welcome and can be dropped off during regular store hours. 

Through education and outreach efforts this program's goal is to increase awareness and decrease stigma related to mental health challenges. Various community trainings such as Mental Health First Aid are available upon request. This program also provides evidence-based curricula for Herkimer County School Districts.

OASAS is New York's lead agency for addressing overdose, substance use disorders and problem gambling. Under Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, the office is working to make services more accessible, more effective, and more compassionate than ever before.

The office funds, regulates and supports a wide range of programs, from school-based prevention to community-based harm reduction to state-run treatment centers, so that no New Yorker faces these challenges alone.

The office offers clear pathways to recovery and growth, supporting you whether you are seeking help or advancing your career in addiction services.

RIDE Transportation Program (Retired Individuals Driving Elderly)

The mission of RISE Recovery Community Outreach Center is to provide superior peer based services that support and empower individuals in recovery from addiction and that are responsive to the needs of the individual, the family, and the community.

RSVP provides seniors, 55 years and older, the opportunity to share their talents, interests, and compassion through direct service in their communities. RSVP volunteers serve as dispatchers, data entry assistants, tutors, program coordinators, counselors, transporters, food pantry workers, friendly visitors, store clerks, clerical assistants, meal servers, crafters, council and agency advisors, and more. RSVP focuses on addressing critical community needs, working to improve the quality of life.

Funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the goal of the program is to identify at risk and trafficked youth and to respond by identifying a variety of supportive services including food, clothing, shelter, case management, transportation assistance, public assistance linkages and vocational and recreational therapy.

In addition, the Safe Harbour Program has joined with community partners and stakeholders to develop an Outreach Program to identify, educate and support the needs of at risk youth in our community.

The Safe Harbour For Exploited Children Act (2008) defines a sexually exploited child as any person less than 18 years of age who has been subject to sexual exploitation as a result of their loitering for the purposes of prostitution or their engagement in an offer to exchange sexual conduct in return for food, clothing a place to stay, drugs, or a fee.

This law was created to protect sexually exploited children from being charged with a juvenile delinquent offense in appropriate cases.

Human Trafficking is the practice of exploiting individuals, including children, as commodities in conditions of sexual and labor servitude.

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is one type of child sexual abuse. It is defined as the sexual exploitation of a child (under the age of 18) in return for cash or in kind goods or services provided to the child or a third person or persons. Examples include sex trafficking, child pornography, stripping/dancing, cyber-enticement, intra-familial sexual exploitation and survival sex.