Federation of Organizations: A Family Affair

Families have been and continue to be instrumental in the development and implementation of treatment and support options for people with mental illness. Founded by family advocates, for the last 50 years Federation of Organizations (Federation) has been developing an array of community-based,...

50-Year-Old Organization Reflects on Its Achievements and Hopes for the Future

Federation of Organizations is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its incorporation as a not-for-profit by the parents of people with serious mental illness and/or developmental disabilities. Fifty years ago, these parents dreamed of changing the system. That has certainly come true! We can see...

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...

Peers: An Essential Component to the Behavioral Health Workforce

What makes a well-rounded behavioral health workforce who can deliver innovative, person-centered services that can affect change for the better? For Federation, the answer is Peer Specialists. Peers have become an integral part of the behavioral health workforce and Federation has been a pioneer...

Senior Volunteer Programs Provide More than Service

The United States Census Bureau estimates that the 65 and older population will reach 73 million by 2030. Baby boomers are the fastest growing population in the United States and by 2029 will comprise 20% percent of the total national population. With that in mind, social service providers are...

Recovery and Employment Go Hand in Hand at Federation of Organizations

Employment and/or volunteer activities provide socially-recognized, valued roles that contribute to community integration and enhance and support the recovery process. Federation of Organizations has been employing consumers to deliver mental health services since 1981. By now 20-30% of our...

New Housing Venture in Suffolk County

Federation of Organizations was awarded the contract to operate the Transition to Community Residence (TCR) Program in Suffolk County, an innovative program that recognizes the need to address the complex medical conditions of individuals who have been living in state operated settings and moving...

Caregivers Plan for the Future with Federation of Organizations’ Financial Management Program

What will happen when I am not around? How can I protect the future of my loved one? These are some of the questions that caregivers ask themselves as they search for reassuring answers. After years of work helping families to prepare for the future of their loved ones, there is one point we cannot...

Family Support is Key When a Member is Hospitalized

Enduring a hospitalization as a result of a mental illness can be a traumatic experience not only for the patient, but for the family, as well. This is true whether it is a first hospital stay or one of many. In an effort to assist caregivers in their roles, Federation of Organizations, in...