...Family of Woodstock, Inc. Paper Delivery of Human Services BSHS/355 Family of Woodstock, Inc. Family of Woodstock, Inc. began as an advocacy group that believes everyone is entitled to their inalienable right to food, clothing, and shelter. The belief of the helper and help having a common ground creates a sense of a world united. The Family of Woodstock organization brought forward a non-judgmental attitude as it reached out as well as opened its arms to those in need. This is stated in their mission statement, “We maintain an attitude which is non-judgmental and non-directive, so that all individuals are encouraged to resolve problems in a way that honors their own diverse cultural and personal choices” (Woodstock). This attitude makes them committed to provide assistance of others while combining resources in a diverse manner to improve the quality of life for those in need at no charge. The Family of Woodstock Organization is a result of the Community of Woodstock’s view of its homeless and drug problem as not an issue of theirs. This was due to the radical youth of the time migrating to the area, seeking out the legendary site of the most memorable music festival. To prevent further imprisonment of the youth who came to the area to use or deal drugs, Founder Gail Varsi, gave the local police a hot line to contact her. (Gibbons, 10) That number to this day remains the number to the initial walk-in center located in Woodstock, NY. The organizations growth and development...
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...Family of Woodstock Family of Woodstock The Family of Woodstock was started in 1970, since then this program has grown as is still around today and still going strong. They called each individual FAMILY that walk through their door and confidentially help them with all kinds of information, crisis intervention, and prevention. Their staff is both volunteers and paid associates that work a large scale of issues and problems that may arise ("Family of Woodstock", 2015). In 1970 Family was founded by eight volunteering individuals who were trained to work with people who were high on drugs, they would go into the persons home or where they were and spend hours making sure that they were ok. Gail Varsi, who actually told police to call her if there was any problems, is the founder of the Family Hotlines, her home phone number is still used as the hotline number today. She even had friends and volunteers at her home to answer the phone is she needed to leave her house (Gibbons, 2010). Today there are signs all over their establishments that state “any problem under the sun” (Gibbons, 2010) to ensure their clients that they will help them help themselves. They do not tell their clients what to do, they do not tell their clients how to fix their problems. They do not judge their clients for what they have done or what they have not done. Family has an open door policy where anyone can use them when they need to, for example someone comes in one week needing a food source...
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...Family of Woodstock, Inc. was founded after the town was overwhelmed incorporated in 1971 after the 1969 rock festival in the Town of Woodstock, NY. The people seeking Bob Dylan who was not present at his home because he has gone to see to his ailing son. Since the 1969 show was held in the backyard of Bob's house, people were expecting him to be there but this did not happen. In such cases, people are usually arrested; therefore, in order to bring in an alternative to police action, a group of residents came together and formed a group while another resident, Gail Varsi provided her phone number on which people could call in case of any problem. Thus, Family came into existence and still exists till today as one of the oldest hotlines in the country. The line is open 24-hours a day and used to be first answered by Varsi herself and when she was away, her friend used to answer the calls; since then, volunteers were used as replacement and currently, paid staff are used (Family of Woodstock). Discussion The main aim of the agency was to help people and not burden them by judging their actions. It was a type of police service that would not harm anyone and just provide guidance and support. Instead of making decisions, the staff would listen to the issues of people and help them make the right decision. Most of the time, the staff would refer to existing services and whenever there was no service available, they used to do whatever they could to help people. The efforts...
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...Family of Woodstock Inc. Throughout the years there have been many programs that have been focused around helping and aiding those in need. One program in particular that pave the way for runaways and homeless young adults is the Family of Woodstock Inc. The Family of Woodstock Inc. provides services to those who were victims of runaways, domestic violence & sexual assault, substance abusers, and some who had family who just couldn’t care for them. The Family of Woodstock Inc. is not only an open gateway to teens and young adults but it is also a program to help support those in need to find their own strengths. Looking back on the history of Family of Woodstock I would be more than happy to work for this company. I believe with my inspiration to help others I would be a great candidate to work with the Family of Woodstock Inc. who shares the commitment to helping people by supporting their needs to move forward. Woodstock Inc. was created after the Woodstock festival in 1969. This festival brought teens and young adults from all over to experience the three to four day concert that involved lots of music, sex, and drugs. After seeing all the homeless teens and young adults that were left behind after the event, laying around on the streets and benches, hitchhiking, and looking for food and clothing, a nice lady by the name of Gail Varsi decided to step in and help. Ms. Varsi who was a resident of Woodstock decided to extend her hand to help those in need. She...
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...needs of runaways, who end up homeless, is the Family of Woodstock, Inc. The Family of Woodstock Inc. provides services to adolescents and young adults who are escaping the confines of the world they are living in such as; domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual assault, and some who couldn’t be taken care of by their family. The Family of Woodstock, Inc. is not only a gateway for adolescents and young adults, it’s an organization that helps provide the materials for individuals in need to find their own strengths and self-sufficiency. As an interviewee, learning the history of this organization and what it stands for, I would love to work for this company. I believe with my passion to help others, especially the young people of our country, I would be an excellent candidate to work with the Family of Woodstock Inc. who recognize that between dream and reality stands obstacles and challenges that have to be overcome. The Family of Woodstock Inc. was created after the Woodstock Festival in 1969. The festival attracted teens and young adults from all over the country to experience the three day concert that was filled with drugs, sex, and music. Once the festival was over, many of the “concert-goers” were still seen around the town living in tents, sleeping on benches, hitchhiking, and seeking out clothes and food. A lady by the name of Gail Varsi, who was a resident of Woodstock, decided to step in and help these individuals...
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...Family of Woodstock Jenny Munoz March 10, 2011 BSHS/355 The Family of Woodstock, a social service agency, was founded by those individuals who felt that certain factors presented the opportunity for them to start a social service agency as a direct result of the Woodstock Festival held in a town approximately 100 miles from their location. Many of those who attended the Woodstock Festival brought little, if any, personal belongings or food with them. They were sleeping in parks and spent time hunting down food and/or shelter. In many cases, the attendees were looking for shelter, food and clothing. The community came together with one resident by the name of Gail Vaisl offering her home as well as her telephone service to prevent the Festival attendees from roaming through the area and possibly being arrested for vagrancy. This began the Family of Woodstock whose mission is “to provide confidential and fully accessible crisis intervention, information, prevention, and support services to address the needs of individuals and families. The scope of the agency's vision allows us to bring to bear resources to address a broad spectrum of human problems.” (Family of Woodstock, 2014). The commitment that the staff at Family would not tell people what to do nor pass judgment on them, the staff was instructed to listen and encourage those who came for help to make choices that would be of benefit. The qualified workers goal was to refer them to the existing agencies, but be able...
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...Family of Woodstock, Inc. The Family of Woodstock was founded because of the Woodstock Festival that took place in a city 115 miles away. Many people liked the idea of being on their own and living carefree. Many young people were sleeping in the parks and roaming around. Many of these people brought very little with them and were looking for food, and shelter. Community people came together, and Gail Varsi offered her telephone service and also her home to prevent problems with the people roaming the area and to keep them from being arrested. This was the start of The Family of Woodstock. Now many volunteers and staff work to answer the phone lines and offer their help, a phone number that has been the same since the beginning. The agency was built to help people in need. The founder established a rule that the staff would not tell people what to do and pass any judgments on them. Instead, they would listen and encourage them to make choices that would benefit them. The staffs’ goal was to refer people to existing agencies but was also able to fill the gaps when needed. The Family of Woodstock has become a lead agency in Ulster and the surrounding areas of homelessness, domestic violence, emergency services, child services, and adolescent services. The Family of Woodstock has met the specialized needs of the community. They provide many shelters, and food programs for those that are in need. Such as Family House, a 14-bed runaway and homeless youth facility, the Darmstadt...
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...Family of Woodstock, Inc. Paper India Larondos BSHS/355 August 24, 2015 Professor: T. Jones Family of Woodstock, Inc. Paper This paper will discuss the factors that led to the creation of Family of Woodstock. It will also discuss the changes that Family of Woodstock endured to meet the specialized needs of the community. To add, the paper will include the development and changes in values, attitudes, and beliefs over a 40-year period; and how these changes affected the way they deliver services. Lastly, this paper will explain how specializations became a trend across human services delivery, in general. Introduction In 1969 America’s youth was in search of utopia and found it at a music festival called Woodstock in Ulster County. Young people travelled from all over to partake in the Woodstock festival, nearly 400,000 young people came to attend the festival (Gibbons, 2010). However, after the music festival ended, people were stuck in that county which turned into a problem. Homelessness and drugs became a major problem, the young people slept on benches, camped out in parking lots, and searched for food and clothing (Gibbons, 2010). This also became a problem for the townspeople. The young people were getting in trouble with the law because of the drugs. One woman, Gail Varsi, recognized the problem and decided to do something. She first, gave police her home number and instructed them to call her whenever a homeless youth got in trouble. She then reached out to...
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...Family of Woodstock BSHS/355 Family of Woodstock Family of Woodstock is a helping foundation that started in a small town. It helps in a lot of different ways and they are always looking for people to join them, this author is going up for an interview but before that she should get familiarized with the history of this foundation. This author will discuss the factors that led the founders to create Family of Woodstock and how they have specialized to meet the needs of the community. This author will identify how the values, attitudes, and beliefs of this organization developed and changed over a 40-year period, and how these changes affected the way they deliver services. Finally, this author will identify how specialization has become a trend across human services delivery in general. Family of Woodstock was founded in 1969, it all started with the Woodstock festival. This festival took place in the city 115 miles away from the actual Woodstock town, but regardless of that the town became famous instantly. With all of this fame came America's youth who were searching for an escape from the world they were living in at that time. Which in turn led to those people sleeping on benches, hitchhiking in and out of town, and seeking for food and clothing. At this time is when Gail Varsi a member of the town recognized the problem and decided to do something about it, by opening her home and her phone line to these people. With the help of local businesses and residents Gail...
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...Jessica K Hirsch Family of Woodstock Paper May 5,2014 Professor Joyce Yip Green Family of Woodstock is more than a gate away for teens and young adults; it’s the exact opposite. As and interviewee for the upcoming position here at the organization, I would like to give you my full appreciation and any knowledge or reasoning of why I applied. When looking at what organization that I should apply for after getting my degree in human service, I was lending more to helping those young people of our country. Reading and learning what this organization has to offer for the young adolescents that are in need as well as the young adult, I felt right at home to where I need to provide my skills. Here is a little bit of what amazed me and what I appreciated this organization for. Preparing an organization is hard, understanding the needs of others and what they possess more of is difficult unless one has a heart for it. As the organization of Family of Woodstock began, the founders found several factors that led them to create such an inspirational organization. From learning and understanding exactly why young teens and adults just decided to escape the confines of the world they were living in and helping them get the proper material they need had to be grateful thought out. Once the problem was recognized, there were actual reasons to plan an organization that would help provided needs and materials...
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...Family of Woodstock, Inc. Chatisha Bridgeman BSHS 355 July 5, 2015 Melody Gaereths Family of Woodstock, Inc. Paper The field of human services is essentially designed to help people in need and to provide them with support and tools and resources which will allow them to find their way through various crisis or chronic situations. For some individuals the situations that they may need assistance with include coping with the loss of a job or income, meeting basic needs including the need for food, shelter or clothing or help out of a dangerous situation. For other individuals the challenges that they may be facing may be internal such as depression, a physical illness or disability or some other mental or physical health crisis. Throughout history, many people and events have influenced both the development and direction of the human services field. Human services agencies across the country have been formed out of the passion and desire of community members who want to help others and provide them with the tools and resources to live healthy and productive lives. Family of Woodstock, Inc. is one of those organizations with a long and rich history of helping people. The Creation of the Family of Woodstock, Inc. The Family of Woodstock, Inc. began in 1970. The founders created the agency based upon the beliefs that each individual is entitled to food, clothing and shelter. The Family of Woodstock maintains a non-judgmental mentality as the organization continues to...
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...Family of Woodstock, Inc. Paper Maria Garcia BSHS 355 June 16, 2014 Family of Woodstock, Inc. Paper In 1969 an event started and is now considered a pivotal moment in popular music history began. This even was Woodstock. Woodstock was a music event that lasted three days. Although this event was not held in the actual town of Woodstock the name stuck. It attracted over an audience of 400,000 young people. There were 32 acts that performed to an audience outdoors. After this event began, it made the actual town famous. Prior to Woodstock, the town was once a quiet little town. After the event, many of the young people began coming to Woodstock to escape the confines of the world that they lived in. With all these young people arriving in the once quiet little town, the town began seeing these young people sleeping on benches, camping in parking lots, and seeing them looking and asking for food and clothing. Many of the young people also hitched hiked in and out of the town. A community member took noticed and believed that something had to be done. This person was Gail Varsi. Gail Varsi began to see all of these young people in the community in need of food, shelter, and clothing and decided to take action. Gail began to open her home and her own phone line to people who really needed it. Gail began to get help from local businesses, community members, and clergy. She had organized food drives, clothing exchanges, and she also raised some money to be able to send some...
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...BSHS/335 The family of Woodstock was founded because of the Woodstock Festival that took place in a city 115 miles away. Many people liked the idea of being on their own and living care free. Many young people were sleeping in the parks and roaming around. Many of these people brought very little with them and were looking for food, and shelter. Community people came together and Gail Varsi offered her telephone service and also her home to prevent problems with the people roaming the area and to keep them from being arrested. This was the start of the Family Of Woodstock. Now many volunteers and staff work to answer the phone lines and offer their help. The agency was built to help people. The founder’s committed that the staff would not tell people what to do and pass any judgments on them. Instead they would listen and encourage them to make choices that would benefit them. The staffs’ goal was to refer people to existing agencies, but was also able to fill the gaps when needed. Family of Woodstock has become a lead agency in Ulster and the surrounding areas of homelessness, domestic violence, emergency services, child services, and adolescent services. The Family of Woodstock has met the specialized the needs of the community. They provide many shelters and food programs. Such as Family House, a 14-bed runaway and homeless youth facility; the Darmstadt Shelter for the Homeless, a 19-bed shelter for men and women, primarily in recovery; the Family Inn, a 27-bed shelter...
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...Family of Woodstock, Inc. Donald Jones, Jr. BSHS/355 Delivery of Human Services 10 August 2015 Melody Gaeraths Family of Woodstock Inc The organization Family of Woodstock, Inc. is the result of one person seeing a growing need in the Woodstock community. This was after the 1969 festival which was named after the town of Woodstock that was an hour or more away from the site the festival had taken place. According to (Burger, 2011), “the once quiet little town of Woodstock was becoming overwhelmed with young people sleeping on benches in the town’s well known “green,” people hitchhiking in and out of the town, camping in parking lots, and seeking out food and clothing.” Burger, 2011 notes that Gail Varsi opened her home to those in need, which is something that no one would care to do in 2015. According to (Early Days at Family of Woodstock, 2013) “The late 1960s and early 1970s were idealistic times. A sort of smile-upon-your-brother-help-one-another feeling pervaded Family.” This is rare in our society today. While being started in the living room of Ms Varsi with a single phone, the number of services that Family now provides has grown tremendously over the past 46 years. Today, according to (Burger, 2011), “the agency services all of Ulster County, running programs such as the only domestic violence shelter in the county, a teen runaway shelter, several homeless shelters, several walk-in centers (still maintaining a “free store” and a food pantry) and case...
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...Family of Woodstock, Inc. BSHS/355 November 14, 2014 Family of Woodstock is a place where teens and adults are assisted in many ways. I am an interviewee for the upcoming position here at Family of Woodstock and I would like you to be aware of my knowledge and to let you know why I applied. I am a person that is really interesting in helping other people and that is the reason why I am graduating with a degree in human service. After reading and learning about the facts of Family of Woodstock, I became very interested in the working for the organization as I would like to take part of the people helping the young adults by providing my knowledge and skills. It is very difficult to prepare an organization as well as to understand the needs of the people. A person has to have the heart to be able to help others in need; otherwise that person will not be able to fully assist others. Family of Woodstock began as the founders found several factors that led them to create such an awesome organization. The people in need are the people that inspired the founders to open the organization. The founders had to learn and understand why so many teens and young adults had decided to run away or to escape the confines of the world they had been living in. Listening to their reasons and to understand why is what helped them plan an organization that would be able to assist them fully. The founders saw how people slept on benches, on parking lots, hitchhiking, and even seeking out...
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