to their meetings which feature “meet
and mingle” sessions, they organize
activities such as moms’ nights out, toy/
clothing sales, and other family events.
POISON EMERGENCY
n Upstate New York Poison Center
24 Hours A Day, 365 Days A Year
1-800-222-1222
www.upstatepoison.org
Calls are
answered
by Special-
ists in Poison
Information
(SPIs), regis-
tered nurses,
and pharmacists trained in toxicology.
Specialists provide the most efficient
and up-to-date poison information avail-
able. Physicians and toxicologists are
on-call 24 hours a day for consultation
purposes. Text “POISON” to 797979 to
save the poison control contact informa-
tion in your smartphone.
SPECIAL NEEDS
For a complete listing of special needs
organizations, visit the DD Info Link at
http://www.211wny.org/search/ddin-
folink/ which provides a multitude of
resources related to developmental dis-
abilities. The resources can be broken
down by age group, and then by service
types, such as daily living, education,
in-home services, recreation, respite
and more. If you do not have access to
the Internet, call 1-888-696-9211.
n Parent Network of WNY
1000 Main Street
Buffalo, New York 14202
Information & Referral:
716-332-4175
www.parentnetworkwny.org
This community resource provides all
the tools necessary for parents and
professionals to take an active role in the
education of children and young adults
with special needs. They offer a wealth of
seminars, workshops, information and re-
ferral services, a newsletter, family train-
ing services, all FREE of charge. If you’ve
struggled to find the right services for your
child, or are lost in the maze of rules and
regulations in the Special Education Sys-
tem, these are the folks who can help.
n Down Syndrome Parents Group
of Western New York
716-832-9334
www.dspgwny.org
Provides support to persons with Down
Syndrome and their families through in-
formation on educational programs and
community services. A Parent Support
Program connects new parents with vol-
unteers who can share their experiences
and provide support. A phone call, hospi-
tal or home visit is available upon request
by calling Barbara at 716-983-2140. They
host activities throughout the year.
n Support Group for Parents
of Children with Autism
7 Community Drive (Aspire),
Cheektowaga
www.wchob.org/autism
Provides a welcoming environment for
parents and other caregivers of children
with autism spectrum disorders to meet,
share experiences, ask questions, and
receive support. The groups meets one
Wednesday per month, October 17;
November 14 ; and December 19 are
the remaining dates for 2018. 6:30pm-
8:30pm. Contact Jana Mertz, jmertz@
kaleidahealth.org or call 716-323-6435.
AT THE END
OF YOUR ROPE?
n Family Help Center
(formerly Joan A. Male Family Support Center)
24-Hour Parent Help Line
716-892-2172
www.familyhelpcenter.net
Did you ever get the feeling that being
a parent is a bigger job than you ex-
pected? The stress continues every
day! Raising a family is a big job and
sometimes it’s an overwhelming one!
Since 1973, the Family Help Center has
been providing services to families rais-
ing children and gives the support you
can’t always get from family, neighbors,
or even parents. They operate the only
24-hour, 365 day a year family crisis
intervention and support service in Erie
County, and offer immediate assistance
with no application procedures, no
eligibility requirements, and no waiting
period. They provide in-home support
services to all of Erie County, as well
as a NY State licensed daycare facil-
ity. Their Family Help Center Daycare,
at 60 Dingens St., Buffalo, offers full
day, before, and after school care, and
school-age summer programs.
n Because I Love You (BILY)
www.bily.org
Since 1982, Because I Love You, Par-
ent and Youth Support Groups, has
been helping families in crisis. Meetings
are attended by parents who have chil-
dren (of all ages) with behavioral issues,
such as a negative attitude, truancy,
drug and/or alcohol abuse, running
away, and verbal and physical abuse.
Their program works with parents and
youth, offering support and guidance, to
improve communication, promote struc-
ture and cooperation in the home, and
achieve the goal of family preservation.
Meetings are run by volunteers, are free
and there are no membership dues or
requirements.
Buffalo
Contact: Rick, 716-990-2452 or
[email protected]. Call or email for
meeting locations and dates.
n Crisis Services
Serving Buffalo & Erie County
www.crisisservices.org
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131
24-hour Addiction Hotline: 716-831-
7007
24-Hour Erie County Domestic Vio-
lence Hotline: 716-862-HELP
For Shelter: 716-884-6000
Provides crisis intervention and sup-
portive counseling to all callers in Erie
County. Provides immediate assistance
for people who are in acute emotional
distress; who are or perceive them-
selves to be in life-threatening situa-
tions; who are a danger to themselves
or to others; or who are hysterical,
frightened or otherwise unable to cope
with a problem that requires immediate
attention.
n Crisis Services
Kids Helpline: 716-834-1144
The Kids helpline is a part of the Cri-
sis Services Counseling Program and
is dedicated to serving school aged
children, adolescents and parents by
providing immediate and confidential
support 24 hours a day, on a variety of
issues related to youth and their fami-
lies.
Parenting Resources Parenting Resources Parenting Resources
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