St. Catherine’s, in expansion of services, opens new office in Columbia County

In partnership with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, St. Catherine’s Center for Children — a leading, regional human services agency — held a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 20 at 886 Columbia St., in Hudson to open its new office. (Provided photo)

In partnership with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, St. Catherine’s Center for Children — a leading, regional human services agency — held a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 20 at 886 Columbia St., in Hudson to open its new office. The event, which marks an expansion of St. Catherine’s services into Columbia County, was attended by several local elected officials and community partners.

“We are thrilled to have a new base of operations to offer our services to Columbia County residents,” said Kevin Doherty, St. Catherine’s executive director. “Our agency has worked with foster families and kinship families within the county for several years. This new office in Hudson will now allow better access to services for those families while enabling us to expand the number of programs we can offer to those in need in the region. Our doors are open and we are ready to serve Columbia County.”

In its 140th year serving New York’s Capital Region and beyond, St. Catherine’s Center for Children offers a comprehensive range of human services including: Foster Care, Kinship Caregiving, Children and Family Treatment and Support Services and more. St. Catherine’s also operates Homeless and Housing Services in both Albany and Columbia counties.

“Every child and family deserves stability and the chance to thrive. St. Catherine’s Center for Children has been a lifeline in our region, bringing compassionate and supportive services to some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Sen. Michelle Hinchey. “We’re glad that state funding is helping St. Catherine’s expand their services in Columbia County and establish a welcoming home base in Hudson so that more families can access the care they deserve.”

St. Catherine’s Kinship Caregiver Program and Permanency Resource Center services, now expanded to serve Columbia County, offer case management activities, 1:1 counseling, peer support groups for adults, children’s support groups, respite care, family engagement events, and educational activities such as valuable parenting skills development. Additional programming and services out of the Hudson office will include Children and Family Treatment and Support Services and Children’s Health Home Care Management.

“The wide range of services offered by St. Catherine’s actively addresses community members’ needs, and we are happy to be expanding those offerings in Columbia County,” said Mark Quail, Associate Executive Director for Permanency and Family Support. “In addition to our homeless and housing services currently operating in Columbia County, we are adding kinship caregiving and permanency resource center services in our new Hudson office. Through funding from the Office of Children and Family Services these programs support adoptive parents, guardians, and kinship caregivers.”

While based primarily out of the Capital Region and Hudson Valley, St. Catherine’s programs and services have an impact throughout the state. From Albany to Buffalo and the North Country to Long Island, St. Catherine’s Center for Children serves 10 New York State regions, 37 counties, and 54 school districts.