Advocacy Resources

Important Contacts for Children and Their Families

Advocacy is a matter of giving the right person the right information at the right time." ~A. Kirwan

Advocacy/Legal Assistance

• Empire Justice Center: (585) 454-4060
• JustCause: (585) 232-3051
• LawNY, Inc.: (585) 325-2520
• Legal Aid Society: (585) 232-4090
• Rochester Housing Authority: (585) 697-6100

Asthma

• American Lung Assoc. of NYS: 1-800-586-4872
• Monroe County Department of Public Health – Indoor Air Quality: (585) 753-5075

Cancer Programs

• Cancer Support Community Rochester: (585) 423-9700

Child Abuse

• NYS Mandated Reporting | CPS: 1-800-342-3720
• Referral and Evaluation of Abused Children (REACH)/Bivona: (585) 935-7802
• Society for Protection and Care of Children (SPCC): (585) 325-6101

Child Care

• Child Care Council, Inc.: (585) 654-4720/1-800-743-KIDS (5437)
• Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester: (585) 235-5750
• Daystar Kids: (585) 385-6287
• IBERO American Action League, Inc.: (585) 256-8900

Clothing

• Asbury Store House: (585) 473-0950
• Bethany House: (585) 454-4197
• IBERO Fashion Works: (585) 546-1167
• Matthew’s Closet (Corpus Christi): (585) 232-5160
• Open Door Mission: (585) 454-6696
• Healthy Moms Children’s Clothes Closet: (585) 368-3030

Community Development

• ABC Head Start: (585) 325-5116, ext. 2
• Community Place of Greater Rochester, Inc.: (585) 327-7200
• IBERO American Action League, Inc.: (585) 256-8900

Disabilities Benefits

• NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA): 1-800-342-3009; TTY Line: 1-866-875-9975

Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence

• RESTORE Sexual Assault Services: (585) 546-2777; Hotline: (585) 546-2777
• Saathi of Rochester: (585) 234-1050
• Society for Protection and Care of Children (SPCC): (585) 325-6101
• Willow Domestic Violence: (585) 232-5200; 24-hour hotline: (585) 222-SAFE (7233); 24-hour text line: (585) 222-SAFE (7233)

Education/Development

• ABC Head Start: (585) 325-5116, ext. 2
• Bureau of Employment Skills Training (Job Training): (585) 428-6342
• CP Rochester: (585) 334-6000
• Early Intervention: (585) 753-KIDS (5437), option 1
• GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester: (585) 563-7487
• IBERO American Action League, Inc.: (585) 256-8900
• Mary Cariola Children’s Center: (585) 271-0761
• Person Centered Services: (888) 977-7030
• Rochester City School District: (585) 262-8100
• Rochester City School District Special Education Parent Support Hotline: (585) 262-8220
• School of the Holy Childhood: (585) 359-3710
• The Arc of Monroe: (585) 271-0660
• Universal Pre-K Information: (585) 262-8140
• Volunteers of America: (585) 647-1150

Environmental Health

• Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning: (585) 224-3125
• Monroe County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: (585) 753-5087
• Monroe County Department of Health Immunization Program: (585) 753-5150
• Monroe County Department of Public Health – Indoor Air Quality: (585) 753-5075
• Monroe County Department of Public Health (Rabies Control and Animal Bites): (585) 753-5171
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

Furniture

• Goodwill Stores: (585) 232-1111
• Salvation Army Family Store: (585) 987-9540
• Volunteers of America: (585) 647-1150

Formula

• Bethany House: (585) 454-4197
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC): (585) 753-4942

Financial Assistance

• Temporary Assistance: (585) 753-6298; Direct Application/Appt. Line: (585) 753-6960; 691 St. Paul St. 14605/111 Westfall Rd. 14620

Food Cupboards

• Bethany House: (585) 454-4197 (St. Bridget Dr.)
• Cameron Community Ministries: (585) 254-2697
• Foodlink: (585) 328-3380
• Open Door Mission: (585) 454-6696; 156 N. Plymouth Ave.; After Hours call: (585) 423-1825
• Salvation Army: (585) 987-9540 (Liberty Pole Way); (585) 527-9566 (West Ave.)
• St. Peter’s Kitchen: (585) 235-6511

Health Insurance

• Child Health Plus (CHP): 1-800-698-4543
  Family Health Plus: 1-800-541-2831
  The Official Health Plan Marketplace
  Helpline 1-855-355-5777
• Facilitated Enrollment (to help patients apply for health insurance)
  Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI): (585) 328-5190 or (585) 613-7662
  IBERO American Action League, Inc.: (585) 256-8900
  LawNY, Inc.: (585) 325-2520
  St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center: (585) 325-5260
• Family Planning Benefit Program (Free Family Planning Services)

MEDICAID:

• MEDICAID & Child Health Plus Helpline: 1-800-698-4543
• Medicaid Managed Care and Health First: 1-866-463-6743
• Monroe County Department of Human Services (DHS): (585) 753-2760

Homeless Resources

• 211 Lifeline: 2-1-1
• Monroe County Emergency Housing Unit (16-17 years old): (585) 753-6000; After Hours Placement Line: (585) 442-1742
• Regional Health Reach - Healthcare for the Homeless: (585) 368-3720
• Open Door Mission: Email zsheradin@opendoormission.com for immediate housing needs; (585) 454-6696

Housing/Shelters

• Bethany House (women and children): (585) 454-4197
• Brightstar Community: (585) 690-2994
• Center for Youth Services (kids and teens): (585) 473-2464
• Family Promise of Greater Rochester: (585) 506-9050
• Hillside (homeless children and teens) 24-hour hotline: (585) 256-7500
• Hope House for Women Salvation Army: (585) 697-3430 (press 3)
• House of Mercy: (585) 546-2580
• Jennifer House: (585) 288-1074
• Monroe County Emergency Housing Unit (16-17 years old); After Hours Placement Line: (585) 442-1742
• Nielsen House: (585) 328-0801
• Open Door Mission (families): (585) 454-6696
• The Housing Council at PathStone: (585) 546-3700
• The Women’s Place (single moms and kids): (585) 436-5452
• YWCA: (585) 546-5820

Job Resources/Training

• Bureau of Employment Skills Training (Job Training): (585) 428-6342
• Rochester Education Opportunity Center (REOC): (585) 232-2730
• Rochester Works: (585) 258-3500 (N. Goodman St.); (585) 266-7760 (Waring Rd.)

Laundry

• Asbury First United Methodist Church: (585) 271-1050

LGBTQ

• Center for Youth: (585) 271-7670
• Rochester Rainbow Union (formerly Out Alliance): (585) 244-8640
• Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
• Trillium Health: (585) 545-7200

Mental Health Services

• Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center: (585) 275-8686
• Catholic Charities Family & Community Services: (585) 546-7220; ext. 7000
• East House Affinity Place: (585) 563-7083
• Genesee Mental Health Center: (585) 922-7770
• Hillside Family of Agencies- Mental Health Outreach Program: (585) 256-7500
• Liberty Resources Behavioral Health Clinic: (585) 410-3370; After hours:1-855-778-1200
• Mental Health Association: (585) 325-3145
• Mobile Crises: (585) 529-3721
• Rochester Mental Health Center: (585) 922-2500
• Rochester Regional Health: (585) 368-3950
• St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center: (585) 325-5260
• Strong Behavioral Health: (585) 275-8575
• Suicide Hotline: Call 2-1-1

Nutrition Resources

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program S.N.A.P. (formerly FOOD STAMPS)
• Monroe County DHS Office: (585) 753-2740
• OTDA (Office for Temporary Disability Assistance) Hotline: 1-800-342-3009
• LawNY, Inc.: (585) 325-2520
• myBenefits NYS.gov
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC): (585) 753-4942
• Growing Up Healthy Hotline: 1-800-522-5006

Older Adult Services

• Lifespan: (585) 244-8400

Parent Support/Home Visiting

• Healthy Baby Network: (585) 546-4930
• IBERO American Action League, Inc.: (585) 256-8900
• Mt. Hope Family Center Building Healthy Children: (585) 275-2991
• Nurse Family Partnership: (585) 753-2229
• Parents as Teachers/Hillside Family of Agencies: (585) 354-3190
• Society for Protection and Care of Children (SPCC): (585) 325-6101

Prescription Assistance

• Baden Street Settlement House: (585) 325-4910
• Catholic Charities Family & Community Services: (585) 546-7220 (N. Clinton Ave.)
• Salvation Army: (585) 987-9540 (Liberty Pole Way)

Refugee Resources

• Catholic Charities Family & Community Services: (585) 546-7220
• Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach: (585) 270-8626
• Refugees Helping Refugees: (585) 563-7747
• Saints Place: (585) 385-6860

Spanish Language Resources

• IBERO American Action League, Inc.: (585) 256-8900

Substance Abuse

• Alcoholics Anonymous: (585) 232-6720
• Al-Anon/Alateen: (585) 288-0540
• Catholic Charities Family & Community Services: (585) 546-7220
• Coffee Connection: (585) 978-8960
• Huther Doyle (Drug Treatment Center) (East Ave.): (585) 325-5100
• NYS Smoker’s Quitline: 1-866-697-8487
• Rochester Mental Health Center: (585) 922-2500
• Rochester Regional Health: (585) 723-7366 or (585) 368-3950
• ROCovery Fitness
• Strong Memorial Hospital Strong Recovery Chemical Dependency: (585) 275-3161
• Villa of Hope: (585) 581-4673

Teen Services

• Bureau of Employment Skills Training (Job Training): (585) 428-6342
• Center for Youth Services (kids and teens): (585) 473-2464; 24-hour Hotline: (585) 271-7670
• Family Planning Benefit Program (free family planning services)
• Jordan Health Services Holland St.: (585) 423-5800
• Metro Council for Teen Potential (MCTP): (585) 445-6771
• Planned Parenthood: (585) 546-2771
• Rochester Adolescent Maternity Program (RAMP): (585) 275-2962, ext. 1
• Teen Empowerment: (585) 697-3464
• Villa of Hope: (585) 581-4673

Transportation

• Medical Motor Service (transportation for Medicaid recipients): (585) 654-7030
• R Community Bikes: (585) 234-2008
• Reconnect Rochester: (585) 340-7555
• Regional Transit Service (RTS): (585) 288-1700

Violence Support Services

• Rise Up Rochester: (585) 454-3060

Youth Activities

• Kids Out and About.com: (585) 633-8400, ext. 701
• Action for a Better Community: (585) 325-5116
• Boys and Girls Club of Rochester: (585) 328-3077
• Community Place of Greater Rochester, Inc.: (585) 327-7200
• Girl Scouts of Western New York: 1-888-837-6410
• Hillside Family of Agencies: (585) 256-7500
• IBERO American Action League, Inc. (bilingual): (585) 256-8900
• Rochester Dept. of Recreation/Youth Services: (585) 428-6755
• Rochester Public Libraries: (585) 428-7300
• Scouts of USA: (585) 244-4210

Child Advocacy Clearinghouses

Local & State:

• Hoekelman Center: (585) 273-5942
• The Children’s Agenda: (585) 256-2620
• The Children’s Institute: (585) 295-1000
• Finger Lakes Addiction Resource Center
• PLC Community-Based Organization Partners

National:

• Annie E. Casey Foundation - KIDS COUNT Data Center
• Kaiser Family Foundation
• Children’s Defense Fund
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• AAP Community Pediatrics
• AAFP Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies

Contacting Representatives

Local (Monroe County) Contacts:

• Local Representatives
• Board of Elections: (585) 753-1550

State (NYS) Contacts:

• State (NYS) Assembly Members
• State (NYS) Senators

Federal Contacts:

• Federal Representatives
• Federal Senators

Legislative Advocacy Links

• Project Vote Smart
• Vote411.org
• Doctor's participate in VotER registration

Other Links to Make You Think

• Medical Report: The Hot Spotters (New Yorker 1/2011)
• The Future of Medicine: Squeezing Out the Doctor (The Economist 6/2012)