COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES
Adriance Memorial Library - Largest and oldest library in Dutchess County, it serves Poughkeepsie and surrounding area. Superb local histories room which welcomes interns.
American Heart Association - Intern with good writing and organizational skills to work with director of communications on publications and special events.
Battered Women's Program - Students answer the "hot line" and provide crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy. Training (30 hours) is provided. Also, interns are required to attend a weekly supervisorÍs meeting on Sunday evenings.
Beacon Multi-Service Center - This service agency, sponsored by Dutchess County Community Action, offers assistance to Spanish and non-Spanish residents of Southern Dutchess in housing, welfare rights, nutrition, etc. Student projects will vary.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters - Provides children from single parent households between the ages of 8 - 15 with adult companionship and role models. Minimum requirement of five hours a week (weekends okay) for at least one year.
Child Find, Inc., New Paltz - National organization dedicated to locating missing children. Disseminating information to the press, answering parent inquiries, assisting with research are possible tasks.
Department of Labor - Help clients in the Resource Re-employment Center to become familiar with computers, faxes, resume preparation and other resources in the center.
Department of Social Services:
-Child Protective Services - Agency works with
abused children and their parents. Students can befriend children, assist
in groups for children and parents.
-Foster Care Unit - Unit supervises placements of children in foster
homes while working to reunite them with their biological parents.
Dutchess County Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Editorial assistant for newsletter. Writing and researching articles on issues related to domestic violence. Research in legal and professional journals as well as conducting interviews locally.
Dutchess County Cooperative Extension Service - Help develop programs for students between the ages of 5-19. Traditional livestock 4-H clubs (pigs, dairy cows, sheep, horses) research through Cornell on animals and then provide workshops and visits to these clubs.
Dutchess County Lighthouse Agency - Needs interns to read to the elderly blind.
Dutchess County Planning Department - Responsible for studying the needs and condition of the county and developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for the orderly development of the county. Will tailor projects to students' interests.
Dutchess County Tourism Bureau - Assist director with research, organization of calendar of events, preparation of advertising campaigns. Must have 12 hours.
Dutchess Outreach - Community agency which runs the local soup kitchen, provides emergency food supplies and counsels clients about availability of social services in the community. Intern needed to update web site, to help with on-line newsletters and yearly newsletter as well as brochure, flyers and press releases.
Evenstart - Work with families of non-English speaking immigrants (mostly Mexican). Tutor children.
Family Partnership Center - One stop shopping for human services. One of the two centers in America that does this. Intern needed to coordinate copy, edit layout, type and print the FPC monthly newsletter.
Girl Scouts of Dutchess County - The Living History--Pass It On Project. Intern needed to work on a team of four to lead and facilitate 20-24 young women through completion of the Council's new intergenerational initiative. One year commitment.
"Girl Power" program at Dover Elementary School. Interns needed to work in fostering self-esteem and self-empowerment.
Grace Smith House (Shelter for Battered Women) - This shelter for battered women needs people to staff a hotline, participate in counseling sessions, and help with childcare. Requires at least 6 hours per week. Also welcomes men to work in their child care program.
Hudson River Housing - Operates homeless shelters and
alternative housing and develops low-income housing.
-Hudson River Lodging - Shelter for homeless families. Students
can assist with casework or help in the child care program.
-Hillcrest House - Students can work in overnight shelter
(12 beds) or assist residents in supported apartment program that offers
social and rehabilitative services.
Independent Farmworkers Center - Outreach to rural migrant farmworkers in Ulster County. Help with food cooperative and distribution to the migrant camps. Car needed.
International Rotary Leadership Club (INTERACT) - Interns needed to help with agendas, student counseling and decision making. Interns would become familiarized with international and local Rotary Clubs, while assisting in high school elections, projects and activities.
Jewish Community Center - Projects: a lunch program for seniors and a book fair. Students would help out in the promotion and organization of community events.
Jewish Family Services - Assist with visits to shut-ins. Help with Community Volunteer Day.
Jewish Federation of Dutchess County, Inc. - Marketing position and a person who would help write for the Jewish newspaper, the Voice.
Lunch Box - This soup kitchen provides free hot lunches and can use volunteers to help prepare and serve the meals. Must be available during morning hours.
MARC (Mid-Hudson Alcoholism Recovery Center) - Depending on experience, can participate in everything from cooking to counseling at this sobering up station that encourages alcoholics to seek treatment. Screening and admission of clients, transportation to other sites, participation in staff's routine duties are all part of an intern's activities.
March of Dimes - Offers a variety of positions. Students can assist with public relations (writing news releases, public service announcements, developing handouts); help with fundraising events.
Multi-County Community Development Corporation - A multi-service agency which disseminates information about nutrition and energy and serves as an advocate for the elderly, the mentally and physically disabled, and AIDS patients.
New Hope Community Center - Interns will be involved with recreation and mentoring at a vibrant community center for youth.
Planned Parenthood of Dutchess/Beacon - Students working in their Poughkeepsie, New Paltz and Beacon offices take clients' histories, provide information about birth control, and assist clinic professionals in other ways. Also, you will be informing clients about the national and state positions concerning women's health issues.
Rose Women's Care Service, Community Resource Center, Inc. - This agencyÍs mission is to provide educational programs and information to women in the Valley to empower them to make informed choices for their health and well being. Work with staff members to match the mission of the Center with the mission of foundations.
Rural and Migrant Ministry - Policy research and advocacy. Also offers opportunity to work with Latino community of Poughkeepsie or as mentors to rural youth in Ulster County.
United Way - Countywide organization which raises funds for human services agencies; monitors the delivery of services; provides information and referrals; identifies unmet community needs and seeks to provide solutions for them.
YMCA: City Club - Inner city youth 10-16 would welcome Vassar interns to assist with basketball and other sports as well as to develop programs in theater, music, crafts, etc. Work with choral director on a youth choir. Must be able to sight read music and be a skillful piano player. Evening hours and some Saturday morning sessions.
YWCA Teen Parents' Program - Assist in outreach, referrals, program development, counseling and childcare for teen parents. Car necessary.