Child/family agency wins $160K grant
Tadd Gero
The Independent
Tuesday, October 21, 2008

HUDSON - The Hudson River Bank and Trust Co. Foundation presented the Northeast Parent & Child Society (NPCS) with a ceremonial check representing two grants totaling $160,000 October 16.

The grants will fund programs for children and families administered by the Schenectady based organization that serves Columbia County out of its branch in Hudson.

NPCS provides services like foster care, giving children a safe and nurturing environment when their original home environment becomes otherwise.

The society also provides parenting classes with the goal of creating a safe residence for children who may be moved into or are are currently in foster care, with a goal to return foster children home. If return is not a possibility, NPCS works to find adoptive parents for a child. The organization provides its services in 22 upstate counties.

The society's vice president of communications, Laura Alpert, says the work the organization provides is essential for the Columbia County and upstate community.

"When a child is at risk of being moved from their families," says Ms. Alpert, "our staff work in teams on a case with the goal of family preservation. We have a 96% success rate in keeping children at home. Many of the children we work with may have been neglected, abused, or have a significant history of getting in trouble, though we stop short of violent crime. We do not offer a locked facility, when children get to that level."

Ms. Alpert also says that the organization served 70 children and family members in 2007 in Columbia County and 5, 00 people in upstate New York.

The Northeast Parent and Child Society was founded in 1888 and this year celebrates its 120th year.

To contact reporter Tadd Gero, email TGero@IndeNews.com