Community Action Partnership for Madison County (CAP) is part of a national network of Community Action agencies who are committed to changing people’s lives and improving communities. May is Community Action Month, recognizing the tireless work CAP agencies all over the country do to make our communities a better place to live. CAP’s Kinship and Family and Youth programs work together with families that have children to ensure a better future for our community’s youth.
The Kinship Care program supports caregivers in Madison and Chenango counties who are caring for children, from birth to age 18, that are not biologically their own. The program helps caregivers negotiate the legal system for possible custody, assistants families apply for financial supports, and make appropriate linkages to supports in their community to ensure the stability of the children in kinship care.
The Family and Youth program encompasses both our Mentoring and Family Action programs. The Mentoring Program seeks to strengthen our youth through increasing their opportunities for positive interactions with adults. Madison County Youth, ages 8-18, are linked with a positive adult role model in their community. Each match is based on specific needs, compatible interests, talents, resources and geographic location. The Family Action program is intended to increase the safety and permanency of children in their homes and eliminate out of home placement. Home visitors assist families in making long-term life changes leading to healthy self-reliance and provide information, referrals and support. Referrals to the program are only accepted through the Department of Social Services.
The Kinship Care program recently had an event at the WILD animal park in Chittenango for families in the program. They enjoyed watching and feeding the animals as well as the bounce house, followed by a picnic lunch. This was a great opportunity for families in similar situations to bond and share stories.
For more information on Kinship Care, call Chris at 315-684-3144 ext. 26. They currently have openings. For information on all of CAP’s programs, visit their website at www.capmadco.org, and follow them on social media; Facebook- @CAPforMadisonNY, Instagram- @capmadco.