Youth Services

Rensselaer County:
ADOPTION - Home studies are conducted on families expressing an interest in adopting. A child is matched with adoptive parents as closely as possible with respect to ethnic and religious background and the ability of the adoptive parents to meet the child's needs. Services are provided to both the child to be adopted and the prospective adoptive parents. For more information call 283-2000 ext. 108.

CHILD SUPPORT - Anyone receiving Public Assistance must cooperate with Child Support Enforcement to locate absent parents, establish paternity and support orders. This service is also available to individuals not on Public Assistance who require assistance obtaining child support and are unable to afford a private attorney. For more information call 270-3943.

CHILD PROTECTIVE - Child Protective Caseworkers respond within 24 hours to all reports made to the State Central Register for Abuse and Maltreatment. If the allegations are found to be true, services are provided to the family to begin the healing process and keep the family together. Sometimes it is necessary to remove children from the family when there is imminent risk of serious harm. Cases involving domestic violence, sexual abuse or serious injury to a child are also prosecuted in civil court. To make a report of suspected abuse or neglect call 1-800-342-3720.

DAY CARE - Day care services are provided in centers or informally through a variety of funding sources. Child care is provided to Public Assistance recipients for employment and/or training leading to employment. Transitional child care along with Medicaid is offered for one year to Public Assistance recipients whose cases are closed due to employment. Low Income day care is available to working parents who are not eligible for Public Assistance and whose income is less than 160% of the poverty level. Child care is also provided through this funding to teen parents to allow them to finish high school. Low income day care is limited by available funding. Finally, day care is provided to children who are at risk of foster care placement due to abuse or neglect.

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services Website
          Child Care Main Page
          Parent Guide For Selecting Child Care
          Check on a Daycare's License Status

FOSTER CARE - Foster care replacement occurs when it is determined that a child is at imminent risk of serious harm due to abuse or neglect by a parent or, when the child has been adjudicated by Family Court, a Juvenile Delinquent or a PINS (Person in need of supervision). A child may be placed in a foster home, group home or institution, depending on the child's needs. While a child is in the temporary care and custody of the Commissioner of Social Services, services are provided to rectify the problems and reunite the family. For more information call the Foster Care Unit at 283-2000 ext. 219.

MANDATED PREVENTIVE - Services are provided to children and parents where there is a risk of foster care placement to prevent further abuse or neglect of a child. Day care is provided as part of the service to protect the child at risk and to allow overwhelmed parents respite. For more information call 283-2000 ext. 205.

Unified Family Services - Department for Youth; Phone Numbers General Information (518) 270-2960, Detention (518) 283-0500

New York State:
The Office of Children and Family Services - Serves New York's public by promoting the well-being and safety of our children, families and communities.

Department of Labor - Job Information

Federal:
U.S. Government - Family, Home & Community Information

U.S. Department of Labor - Employment & Training Administration; Directing business, adults, youth, dislocated workers, and workforce professional to training and employment services.

Youth - Summer Programs /Employment

Rensselaer County:
RPI summer job postings

New York State:
CareerZone is a free, career exploration and planning system designed especially for New York State students. The CareerZone website brings together multiple sources of career and labor market information to make career exploration and planning for the future a little easier. The CareerZone system is a product of the New York State Department of Labor.

Welcome to New York's Job Bank - Visit our site and see how we can help you find the job that's right for you. Thousands of new jobs are posted daily by employers searching for someone like you.

National:
Cool Works is all about you finding a seasonal job or career in some of the greatest places on Earth. Get a summer job in Yellowstone, Yosemite, or another national park wonder. Find a great camp counselor job to keep you busy all summer long. Ski resorts, ranches, theme parks, tour companies and more ~ they are just waiting for you. Ready to live out your own amazing adventure? Let Cool Works show you the way.

Welcome to America's Job Bank - Visit our site and see how we can help you find the job that's right for you. Thousands of new jobs are posted daily by employers searching for someone like you.

VolunteerMatch is the nonprofit, online service that helps interested volunteers get involved with community service organizations throughout the United States. Volunteers enter their ZIP code on the VolunteerMatch web site to quickly find local volunteer opportunities matching individual interests and schedules. This simple, effective service has already generated hundreds of thousands of volunteer referrals nationwide.