Astor Home for Children

The Astor Home for Children Counseling Services provides mental health treatment services that are accessible, comprehensive, cost-effective and responsive to the needs of children, adolescents and their families in Dutchess County. Astor's Counseling Services is contracted by the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DCBCH) as the provider of children, adolescent and family services for all Dutchess County residents and are licensed by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH).  The programs enjoy full accreditation from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

To be eligible for Astor’s Counseling Services, applicants must be 18 years or younger. Clients must have a mental health concern that interferes with individual, family or community functioning. The programs accept all forms of insurance and work on a sliding scale basis for those without coverage. However, no client is denied service based on the ability to pay.

Astor’s Outpatient Counseling Centers are located in Beacon, Poughkeepsie and Red Hook with satellites in Wassaic and Pine Plains Central School District. 

To make an appointment, call the Dutchess County HELPLINE at 877-485-9700.

Child Advocacy Center

The Child Advocacy Center was the first in New York State. Beginning in 1994, this community collaboration began serving child sexual abuse victims and their families. We provide emotional support and an array of services through the collaborating agencies during the investigation phase of a child abuse allegation. Center staff works with CPS workers and police officers stationed at the agency. Following the interviewing process, the multi-disciplinary team comprised of the CAC team members, attorneys, medical staff, therapists, police officers, probation officers, and the Department of Community and Family Services Caseworkers meet to ensure that the needs of the child victim and their family are met, and that the perpetrator is kept from jeopardizing the safety of the child victim.

Child Advocacy Center
35 Van Wagner Road
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12603
845-454-0595

If you suspect child abuse (familial), call the N.Y.S. Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-342-3720 

Crime Victim Specialist/New York State

Under an agreement with the New York State Crime Victims Board, the State Police maintain eight Crime Victims Specialist (CVS) positions in each of the upstate Troops. The Crime Victims Specialists work closely with both police and local victim service agencies to best meet the needs of the victim. They: 

• Assess the specific needs for each crime victim; 
• Provide crisis intervention, short-term counseling, and follow-up support; 
• Assist the victim with safety planning; 
• Assist the victim in applying for and obtaining compensation; 
• Explain victim’s rights, legal options and procedures; 
• May accompany the victim throughout the criminal justice process and make home or hospital visits when necessary; 
• Provide information to the victim on case status; 
• Refer the victim to resources in the community, such as medical treatment, specialized counseling, emergency housing and legal services.

Troop K Headquarters/Poughkeepsie
2541 Route 44
Salt Point, N.Y. 12578
Phone: 845-677-7377 

HELPLINE - Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health

Call the HELPLINE for direct crisis counseling and information about and referral for emotional problems, mental illness, alcoholism, or substance abuse.

24-Hour Hotline: 845-485-9700

Family Services Center for Victim Safety and Support

The Center for Victim Safety and Support provides 24 hour comprehensive assistance to all primary and secondary crime victims (i.e. domestic violence, sexual assault, robbery, assault, etc.) in the form of crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, advocacy, accompaniment (courts, police department, medical, social services, etc), individual and support group counseling, information and referral, children services, assistance with filing a claim through the NYS Office of Victim Services for compensation, and 24 hour crisis hotlines for domestic violence, rape crisis, and crime victims.

As a victim of a crime in New York, you have a number of rights afforded to you by law.
You have the right:

• To be informed of Victim Assistance Services and have an advocate present throughout the criminal justice process
• To certain kinds of compensation and financial assistance
• To be protected from threats or intimidation from the suspect or the suspect’s family
• To make a statement at the time of the defendant’s sentencing, if you are the victim of a felony
• To have restitution that can cover your out-of-pocket losses
• To be notified of certain steps in the criminal justice process if you give the DA your address and phone number. You can be notified about: the arrest of the accused; the initial appearance of the accused before a judicial officer; the release of the accused pending further judicial proceedings; proceedings in the prosecution of the accused; the final disposition of the case
• To submit a written victim impact statement to the Parole Board or make an oral presentation before the parole board when the decision on the inmate’s release is being considered

Family Services, Inc.
29 North Hamilton Street
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 

Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline 845-485-5550
Rape Crisis/Crime Victims 24-Hour Hotline 845-452-7272
Business Line: 845-452-1110

Grace Smith House

Services provided include shelter and transitional apartments for women and children victims of domestic violence-crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, groups, children's programs, follow-up services. Non-residential services are also provided to males.

24-Hour Hotline: 845-471-3033 or 518-789-6977

House of Faith/House of Hope

This facility is a domestic violence shelter with 14 beds in Southern Dutchess New York and provides 24 hour assistance, counseling and crisis intervention. The mission of the facility is to eliminate sexual assault and domestic violence through sensitive prevention, intervention, and treatment. We believe "There is Hope" for every person.

House of Faith
P.O. Box 1326
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Business lines: 845-765-0293, 845-765-0295; 845-765-0296
Hotline: 845-765-0294 

United Way 2-1-1 Hudson Valley Region

2-1-1 provides callers with referrals to and information about health and human services both in times of crisis as well as for every day needs.  The 2-1-1 service is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Call 2-1-1 or if you are unable to connect to the 2-1-1 number, call the toll-free number at 800-899-1479.