Family Peer Services
Talk about challenges with someone who knows how you feel.
Northern Rivers Family of Services offers family peer support programs for families of children from Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties with children in out-of-home placements in Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) and other facilities. Residential and community family peer advocates serve as bridges between families and service providers and can help families navigate complex systems of care to achieve better outcomes.
The Northern Rivers Difference
Our family peer support programs are staffed by knowledgeable, caring professionals who specialize in trauma-informed care and are invested in the success of everyone in our care. From the moment services begin, we work with each family to identify challenges, develop resources and community supports, and build on strengths.
Families United Network
Support for families of youth in Northern Rivers' Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) in Albany and Miriam House residential program. Helps families navigate the residential service system, provides peer-to-peer support, teaches parenting skills, and empowers families to advocate on behalf of themselves to promote shared decision making.
Services
- Peer-to-peer emotional support
- Referral and information services
- Individual advocacy within the educational, juvenile justice, mental health, and child protective arenas to help families access needed services
- Outreach
- Social and recreational activities
- Educational programs for parents
- Training regarding the parent–provider relationships
- Home visits as requested
Benefits
- Improved family access to the needed appropriate services for their child and family
- Increased ability to cope with difficult behaviors and to care for children at home or when they return home from residential programs
- Improved parental advocacy for their own children
- Developed natural support system in their own community
- Better understanding of the parent/caregiver “experience”
Getting Started
Families United Network is open to families of youth at Northern Rivers' Residential Treatment Facility and Miriam House programs. To learn more call 518.729.7574.
Schenectady Peer Support Program
This new family peer support program Work with families whose children are living at Residential Treatment Facilities or other out-of-home placements to helps families navigate the residential service system, provide peer-to-peer support, teache parenting skills, and empower families to advocate on behalf of themselves to promote shared decision making
Services
-
Peer-to-peer support to families in the community through groups and individual services.Peer-to-peer emotional support
- Referral and information services
- Individual advocacy within the educational, juvenile justice, mental health, and child protective arenas to help families access needed services
- Outreach
- Social and recreational activities
- Educational programs for parents
Benefits
- Improved family access to the needed appropriate services for their child and family
- Increased ability to cope with difficult behaviors and to care for children at home or when they return home from residential programs
- Improved parental advocacy for their own children
- Developed natural support system in their own community
- Better understanding of the parent/caregiver “experience”
Getting Started
Schenectady Peer Support Program services are available to Schenectady families who have a youth placed in a residential treatment facility. To learn more, call 518.729.7574.