SARATOGA COUNTY – A $25,000 grant from the William Gundry Broughton Charitable Private Foundation, Inc. gifted to Saratoga Center for the Family will allow COVID-19 specific counseling services, therapeutic groups for COVID-19 specific issues, and educational supports for the greater community.
“With the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a large increase in need surrounding mental wellness supports,” states Rebecca Baldwin, Executive Director. “The public health crisis has not only escalated our current clientele’s trauma responses and mental health concerns, but it is leading many community members to reach out for COVID-19 specific support services as well. With this funding, we are dedicating 20 hours of clinical time per week for COVID specific individual, group, and family counseling.
Baldwin explains that a specialized therapist will be assigned to these COVID-19 cases, groups, and educational programs, and will focus specifically on the unique needs and concerns of those being affected by the pandemic. She anticipates being able to fund this program for one full year with this grant.
“We are so thankful to the William Gundry Broughton Charitable Foundation for this grant funding,” says Baldwin. “The need for mental health services is on the rise and we want to serve as many as we can, regardless of one’s ability to pay. With funding and support from such generous foundations, we are able to meet the needs of our community in a timely manner.”
According to Saratoga Center for the Family’s Clinical Director Wendy Tedesco, LCSW-R, “This funding will allow us to run support groups aimed at providing social support for those feeling alone, isolated, or simply in need of some connection during this difficult time. The group will emphasize social support, interpersonal connections, fostering resilience, and discussion around how to maintain emotional wellbeing. The program is a good fit for people who are feeling isolated as a result of the current health crisis, do not have sufficient support from their current social circle, and would like to make meaningful connections with others, and would like to build inner resilience.”
Tedesco says that group members will have the opportunity to share their experiences, fears, and to support each other through the ongoing crisis.
The group is open for registration at this time; however, space is limited for both individual and group services. For more information, visit www.saratogacff.org/our-services/covid-19-specific-services.
Saratoga Center for the Family works to strengthen children, families, and the community by reducing the effects of abuse, trauma, and family dysfunction through advocacy, education and mental health therapy. Services include clinical programming via outpatient mental health individual and group counseling at the main Center as well as satellite locations in Mechanicville and Corinth, and through school-based programs in local school-districts. The Center also runs an array of educational, preventative, and empowerment programs such as Anger Management, Child Custody Stress Prevention, Parenting Classes, and Heel to Heal; and, mandated reporter training, as well as educational programs for area schoolchildren about topics such as safe touches and internet safety. Additionally, Saratoga Center for the Family runs the Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center, which provides victim advocacy and support services along with a multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse.
For further information about services through Saratoga Center for the Family, visit www.saratogacff.org.
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