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Behavioral Health Volunteering in Times of Crisis
When a call for support goes out at the onset of a disaster, we commonly recognize the basic needs: shelter, food, water, clothing. Behavioral health needs – mental, emotional, and spiritual care – have been an afterthought, if included in the response plan at all. This is beginning to shift....
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The Many Benefits of Volunteer Programming
Like many nonprofit organizations, The Bridge welcomes volunteers who are willing to donate their time and expertise to further our mission and enrich the lives of our clients. Founded in 1954 as a self-help organization for adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness, The Bridge has since...
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How Volunteering Benefits the Mental Health of 124 “Foster Grandparents”
Florence, a senior citizen who volunteers in the Federation of Organizations’ Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), donned a wide-brimmed hat to teach a second-grade class about the history of the Kentucky Derby. Florence read “Seabiscuit, The Wonder Horse,” which discusses the history of the...
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NYS Governor Hochul Announces $9.5 Million in Federal Funding to Support the Delivery of Addiction Prevention Services
Governor Hochul recently announced the availability of $9.5 million to expand evidence-based practices for substance use disorder prevention services to youth, families, and communities in New York State. This federal funding will help support providers who had delivery of their services impacted...
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From Seeding to Eating: A Program Grows With Volunteerism
In her own words, Kathy Hagendorf, a two-decade volunteer leader with The Guidance Center of Westchester (TGCW), shares how her passion for gardening has helped participants in the Personalized Recovery-Oriented (PROS) program learn, work, and thrive. One of the true joys of summer for me is...
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The Respite and Recovery Peer-Run Crisis Service Model
Recently, Recovery Options Made Easy, in partnership with Spectrum Health and Human Services and Western New York Independent Living Center’s Mental Health Peer Connection, has developed a new model of crisis response and hospital diversion services. This center is the first of its kind in New...
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Burnout and Why You Should Volunteer Your Time
“Honestly this might be the most rewarding work I’ve done in Psychiatry yet,” one of my co-residents Alex told me recently after completing an evaluation at SUNY Downstate Asylum Clinic. The clinic, completely run by medical students and resident and physician volunteers provides free medical...
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Elevate Your Agency’s Work with an Associate Board
When you work in the nonprofit sector, there is always more work to be accomplished. Volunteers can play a major part in a nonprofit’s success, but the process for building out a volunteer program is not always easy and often fraught with challenges. One way to improve your ability to maximize...
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Volunteers: A Critical Support for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System
Volunteers at The Mental Health Association of Westchester play a critical role in improving the lives of children and families served by the child welfare system. Through two unique programs that rely on trained, supervised community volunteers, we advocate for the well-being of youth in family...
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Buprenorphine Misuse Decreased Among U.S. Adults with Opioid Use Disorder From 2015-2019
Data from a nationally representative survey indicate that in 2019, nearly three-fourths of U.S. adults reporting buprenorphine use did not misuse the medication in the past 12 months. In addition, buprenorphine misuse among people with opioid use disorder trended downward between 2015-2019,...
