Presentations

Rebecca Baldwin, MSW, Executive Director, Saratoga Center For the Family gave a presentation of current data regarding an uptick in clients and families presenting themselves for a number of the facilities services. (see presentation attached to this article online).

“At Saratoga Center for the family we take a comprehensive approach to preventing and treating child abuse, neglect, trauma, and family dysfunction. We do this through an array of services both at our Center at 359 Ballston Avenue and in the communities and schools in Saratoga County and the surrounding area.

“We offer educational and preventative programming such as anger management and parenting classes. We are the Child Advocacy Center for Saratoga County – the CAC is a child friendly space where we bring together a multidisciplinary team to investigate suspected cases of child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse.

“Our CAC is fully equipped with everything needed for these investigations, and is staffed with a victim advocate, a forensic interviewer, a law enforcement coordinator, and pediatric forensic nurses who provide forensic rape examinations.

“We also provide mental health therapy and trauma treatment to individuals, children and families. Our mental health therapists are trained in evidence based, trauma informed treatment models, and they specialize in working with children and families.

“We are still seeing waitlists for mental health therapy services, despite having twenty mental health therapists on staff. The trend in our community is a three month wait for mental health counseling services at nearly every counseling agency in the area.

“Additionally, many mental health practices do not accept Medicaid, managed Medicaid plans, or Medicare, and the cost of copays and deductibles alone are making mental health counseling cost prohibitive for individuals and families. At the Center, we know that when an individual or family makes the call to seek help, they need services right then, not in three months. We also provide financial assistance to anyone seeking our services who cannot afford to pay.

Anyone wanting to get involved with Saratoga Center for the Family, or who needs services can , please visit their website: saratogacff.org or call: (518) 5878008.