Families First New York and Our Affiliates
Families First New York represents the alliance of four independent nonprofits -- the Family Partnership Center, Hudson Valley Mental Health, Family Services, Inc., and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ulster County. These organizations have come together to leverage resources, achieve economies of scale, and enhance their management, governance, and administrative capacity. Families First facilitates their work and helps them to build sustainable, long-term, collaborative relationships that improve how they function as organizations. Through their connection to Families First, these organizations work together to accomplish goals that alone would be more difficult (or impossible) to achieve. Our key activities include consolidated business functions, joint purchasing and insurance procurement programs, the implementation of information systems, and sharing of best practices to improve the quality of services.
Of course, collaboration is never simple and demands a high level of flexibility and innovative thinking. As Families First works to strengthen ways in which our four affiliates and other nonprofits work together, we will continue to evolve in order to meet the needs of those we serve.
Our Services
If you are interested in learning more about how Families First New York can help, contact us at 845-452-1114 extension 3413 or info@familiesfirstny.org, or use this form.
Our expertise is accessible to nonprofits in a variety of ways:
- Administrative Services – Through our MSO (management services organization), Families First New York handles the day-to-day administrative tasks for our client organizations. Services are available ala carte or as a complete package in the following areas:
- Communications and Marketing
- Finance, Accounting, and Grants Management
- Fundraising and Development
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Management Assistance – Following a period of growth or significant change in an organization, new systems or structures might be needed. Interim plans may be required while an organization positions itself for the future. Families First New York can help organizations adapt by creating restructuring opportunities, providing leadership solutions like a leased Executive Director, or offering training and technical assistance tailored to the specific needs of an organization.
If you are interested in learning more about how Families First New York can help, contact us at 845-452-1114 extension 3413 or info@familiesfirstny.org, or use this form.
Our Approach
We believe that healthy, thriving, and sustainable nonprofits are an integral part of healthy, thriving, and sustainable communities. We also recognize that the management concerns of nonprofits and other community service organizations are unique. As are result, we don’t believe that community organizations must strive to be simply “more businesslike.” Rather, they require particular strategies for financial management, human resources, information technology, fundraising and marketing, and achieving social impact. We have a history of developing creative solutions and tools that address their specific needs. To accomplish this, our staff remains on the forefront of innovative, creative thinking in the nonprofit sector.
Board and Staff
The chief strength of Families First New York is the expertise and experience offered by our staff and our volunteer Board of Directors. With backgrounds spanning across the for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors, our people help us to provide innovative thinking and creative problem-solving to our client organizations.
Management Team
Carlton S. Mitchell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Natalie Borquist
Director of Finance
Stephen Cerini
Director of Information Technology
Pamela Spieler
Director of Human Resources and Risk Management
Board of Directors
Alexander Reese
Chair
Jackie Bucelot-Mills
First Vice-Chair and Treasurer
Sheila Appel
Second Vice-Chair
Gerald Jacobowitz
Secretary
Joseph Davis
Gail Duncan
Patricia Ellis
Donna Goodall
David Horton
Victoria Kossover
John E. Mack, IV
Carl Meyer
Arthur Pritchard
Ita Rahilly
Nancy Ramos
Isaac Rubin
Client List
Administrative Service Clients:
Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum
AHORA – Association for Hispanics to Obtain Resources and Assistance
New York State Association of Family Service Agencies
Association for Senior Citizens
CEY Partners:
Beulah Baptist Community Development Corp.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County
Family Partnership Center
NECAP
Nubian Directions
Protect the Dream
Weed and Seed Coalition of Poughkeepsie
Affiliate Organizations:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ulster County
Family Partnership Center
Family Services
Hudson Valley Mental Health
