Our Services
Our Services
“Even if you’re at your lowest, you are not worthless. You are always important and you always have value.”
—Amanda Milano, referring caseworker
Helping Children Feel Safe and Building Their Self-Worth
Our programs and services aim to give children items for sustainability, a healthy self-concept, and a foundation to start healing. Things of My Very Own, Inc. provides crisis intervention services to children who have been impacted by extensive abuse and/or neglect. We also provide services to children at-risk of a Child Protective Services intervention due solely to not having basic items needed for sustainability. The organization works to keep children with their non-abusive family members and out of the foster care system whenever possible.
Services we provide
Transitional Assistance
The transition out of an abusive situation is often sudden and unexpected. It is not uncommon for children to be removed from their home wearing nothing more than a sheet. When a child is removed from an abusive situation, the non-abusive parent must be able to prove to Child Protective Services that they have items to sustain their children, otherwise they risk their children being taken from them and placed in foster care.
Things of My Very Own, Inc. works with non-abusive parents to provide them with everything they need to avoid an unnecessary separation from their children. We also work with children who must transition into foster care, making sure that they have everything they need to start over in their new home. Transitional Assistance is available on a referral basis within four hours of contact. Packages vary by age, but generally include: clothing, outerwear, undergarments, bedding, mattresses, hygiene products (e.g. diapers, baby wipes, shampoo, deodorant, etc.), emergency food and medical supplies, school supplies and more.
Education Programs
Many of the children that we work with have missed significant amounts of school as a direct result of the abuse and/or neglect that they endured. Extended absences from school greatly impact students’ academics as well as their ability to develop and maintain friendships. The organization provides several educational series designed specifically for these children in order to get them back on track for academic and emotional success. Program series include: Entomological and Archaeological Adventures as well as educational experiences in marine biology, literacy and financial management. Our organization strives to expose each child to enriching activities that identify individual talents and enhance development, thereby broadening opportunities.
Family Crisis Recovery Initiative
The Family Crisis Recovery Initiative (FCRI) works with children and families with trauma-induced mental health conditions who are also at-risk of a child protective services intervention. The program provides intensive case management. The program was developed by Things of My Very Own in partnership with caseworkers and social workers from ten major health and social welfare organizations within the NYS Capital Region. This program is directed at those families that inadvertently fall through the cracks due to a lack of specialized support within the social services system.
We are especially grateful to CAP COM FCU for its support of our Family Crisis Recovery Initiative.
Life Skills Development Programs
Things of My Very Own, Inc. programs reintroduce children to fundamental life-skills needed to develop into stable, confident individuals with healthy levels of self-confidence and self-esteem. An emphasis is placed on building and maintaining healthy relationships as well as reducing the possibility of future victimization.